Three

After an hour of gest, we all went to the buffet on the hotel's first floor.

Since I had made reservations for a party of ten, we easily got our table. Once the waiter brought us to our table and asked for our drinks, the men all got up at once, stampeding towards the buffet line.

I look at the girls, and we all shake and sigh. It was already embarrassing when a few people around our table looked like we couldn't hide our faces. The guys returned with two plates in each hand, mountain loads of food.

The girls and I are not questioning their glutinous behavior since Effie and Claire cook three times more for the men and the kids. The kids are nothing to worry about. Leo isn't picky, and Zara can eat anything.

We girls went to get our plates and came back with one dish.

"How do you eat all that and can't get fat?" Jordyn asks and watches the guys stuff their faces. 

Men's bodies are different from women's as testosterone is ninety percent lower in women on average. So, we build muscles faster," Liam replies as he shovels pasta into his mouth.

"Yeah, Jo," Ares says and swallows, then adds a scoff. "I wouldn't eat that if I were you, if you want to fit in your jeans and make Duke Spencer love you. He likes thin women more than someone who eats like a pig."

Uh oh!

"Kuya!" Effie hissed at our brother for mentioning what word Jordyn does not like to hear. 

I watch Jordyn waiting for her to explode. She can take any insults, but the one thing she hates the most is being called a "pig."

Jordyn's childhood wasn't easy. Although her father and brothers love her, she is insecure about her weight. Her lust for food results in free food at her family restaurant.

She would often get picked on at school when the kids went too far and pushed her into the mud. I was about to kick their asses when Ares showed up and did the work for me. You can say that because he has experienced being bullied, he stood up to the weak ones. Since that day, Ares and Jordyn became best friends, and at the same time, she fell in love with him. She was so in love in middle school. Jordyn exercised with her brothers; during that time, she used her weight as a weapon and scared the kids who picked on her.

Jordyn became strong and lost a lot of weight to her current size. She and I ruled. She maintained that figure by going to the gym weekly and eating less. But since she's on vacation with us, she decided to get a full plate of food.

Jordyn's face turned red, and her hand gripped the steel fork. She bent it quickly, and it was not those magic trick utensils to fake it. She is pissed but seeing how people surround us. She needs to hold back her temper before something terrible happens.

"Jo," I whisper to her as she glances up. Her eyes were dark, and the bomb inside would explode any minute. "Take a deep breath."

"I'm. Fine. Thea. Lets. Just. Eat." Jordyn grits her teeth as her eyes twitch, picks up the knife, and stabs the stake. Everyone at our table is watching and feeling uncomfortable in this situation while my dumbass brother is stuffing his face as if he's not reading the room.

I let out a sigh, very concerned.

"Psst...Thea," Seth leaned and whispered. "Jordyn is giving off a murder vibe here and killing the mood."

"Don't poke the balloon, or else it will explode," I warned him, hiding my mouth with my hand. "Jo is compassionate with the word P-I-G."

"Thea," Terry leans over Seth. "I think having them in the same room will make it worse. It's best to separate them until they have cooled down."

"No, they have to work this out because we did not spend thousands of dollars to be in between them and fight like children." I disagree with Terry's suggestion. "And besides, they are staying with Don and Claire. If anything, Don can separate the two."

Don isn't as tall as Rex, but he's pretty significant with extra muscles because he served in the Marines and became a mercenary. If anyone can handle two adult children, then it is him.

After dinner and relief, Jordyn did nothing to Ares because of that word. But throughout that time, they glared at each other like dogs and cats. It was intense, but I was able to fill myself with food.

Once back in our rooms, Ares and Jordyn fought to see who would go first inside. They were pushing and shoving, and thanks to Don, he picked them up and dragged them inside simultaneously.

I rub the temples on my head until someone touches my shoulder. I turn back and find Claire with a small smile.

"Don't worry, Don and I will watch those two." She assured.

I place my hand over hers. "I know it's supposed to be about me and my engagement and my family, the people I cared about, and this..." I exhale sharply. "I don't want them to ruin our vacation over some boy."

Claire chuckled as she understood the phrase. "Give them time. I mean, it's quite shocking that Jo gave up Ares and started dating someone he doesn't like. Don't you think she's doing this to get your brother railed up?"

"Now I think about it, I've never seen Ares act like that over some rival."

"His reaction when Jo told him about Duke usually got me too, and he wouldn't care who she dates."

"That's true," I say, and let another sigh. "Ares has never been in love and mostly dates girls who only have half a brain. But Jo is smart and beautiful. He doesn't see that potential in her."

"Are you saying Jo is too good for him?" Claire asked, piquing her curiosity.

"I'm just saying, like me, I wanted to be a teacher and teach high schoolers like you and my dad, but I figured I would be the worst teacher with my temper and personality like my mother. Teaching at a school isn't cut out for me. So, I decided to attend and care for the elderly because they are more fragile and gentle, and it's an easy job if you ignore all the complaints and nagging, and almost lost a finger, working in an elderly home is great."

I've experienced the worst in that last part. Between teaching high schoolers and caring for the elderly, I prefer oldies rather than teenagers. I don't know how Jordyn does it, but I respect her for being a teacher. 

I remembered telling my parents for the first time that I wanted to be a teacher and teach high schoolers like my dad, but I wasn't cut out for it. The goal changed when the Fergusons took me in and realized that no matter how old they were. They were willing to care for a troublemaking kid such as me. I know Dad will be sad I didn't continue my studies for teaching, but I will be proud of the person I was raised to be. 

"Anyway, it's good that Jo has moved on and finally found a guy who is into her. But I must turn the tide on them if things get out of hand during our vacation. " I curled my hand into a fist, my knuckles cracked.

"I just felt a chill," Claire rubs her arm. "But if things get out of line, let Don and Imehandle it, okay?"

"Thanks, cuz," I smile.

"What are families for?" Once the last smile before returning to her room, I could hear Jordyn and Ares arguing as she opened the door. I immediately went to my room and shut the door.

"Good luck," I muttered with worry, cheering for Don and Claire to handle the situation.

"So, they are still arguing?" Effie appears out of her room, and Logan hangs out by their bedroom door. 

"Apparently," I tell her, then rub my face in frustration. "This was supposed to be a relaxing and memorable vacation, and right now, I'm not relaxing but getting the biggest headache because of those two."

She sighs and crosses her arms. "I don't know what's the big deal. So what? Jo finally found a guy she likes. She has a one-sided love for Ares, but he doesn't care. I was cheering for the two of them, but I'm happy she has moved on."

"That little sister is because our brother is dull about love and relationships," I look down, then glance at her. "Have you ever wondered why our brother only dates and never has a serious relationship?"

Effie shrugs. "Beats me; I've been isolating myself from the world rather than being concerned with our brother's love life."

"Don't you ever ask him?" Logan chimes in and takes a seat at the island table.

I scratch my head. "Actually, no. We assume he doesn't do commitments like Liam once."

"My twin had his reason," He states. "But if this is Ares we are talking about, it could be something that had happened to him during his youth. A psychological thing."

What Logan says makes sense. It couldn't be that the death of our parents made him feel abandoned or unloved. But that wasn't the issue concerning our little sister surviving the crash, and Ares was worried and relieved that Effie was alive.

Then what could it be?

I tried to think of all the possibilities for making Ares act that way towards Jordyn, dating a guy. I know he hates the guy because his fame was supposed to be for Ares, and I had forced him to give up fighting for money now that he would run a billion-dollar empire.

"Ate."*

I look up at Effie. Her face has fallen, and I sense she has the theory for Ares' behavior. "Yes."

"I remembered when Ace and Jo were..." Effie paused and stepped, standing nebesideogan, who wrapped his arm around her waist.

I forgot about that.

I don't intend to remember it and make Ares relive it.

"Were what?" Logan asked, curiosity.

Both Effie and I stayed quiet as the emotion started to arise. I didn't want to remember, but tears formed in my eyes and fell once Effie mentioned it.

"Effie, babe," Logan got up and brought Effie into his arms. "I'm sorry, I asked."

The tears won't stop as I rush to my room for comfort.

"Thea, baby?" Rex called out my name from the bathroom as I sat on the bed. "Baby? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

He sat next to me and pulled me close, rubbing my arm.

"It's okay, and you don't have to tell me. Cry all you want," Rex said tolmly and soothingly, making me cry even more.

I didn't answer him, hid my face in his chest, and muffled my cries. It is so hard to stop knowing what Ares and Jordyn went through.

I had those memories locked inside my brain and kept in the dark, never to be released to picture the guilt Ares had shown after that day. His mind was blank and lost as if his soul had been taken away. Ares was never the same after that day, and like his older sister and guardian, there was nothing I could do. For a month, he kept to himself until he suddenly became normal. Except there were a few changes; he got into trouble and had more fights at school, and every girl he brought home daily. It annoys me that they eat my food and leave.

But when Jordyn dates guys, he makes fun of them. Now that she's dating a guy Ares hates so much, something has suddenly triggered.

Sometimes I don't understand what is going on with my brother and that mind of his, but hopefully, his behavior towards Jordyn won't make her remember that day.

The day that almost cost her her life.

* Ate - (pronounced A-teh) - in Filipino means older sister or a woman older than you.