12

Lana’s POV

I laughed.

I laughed because I had been caught and I had no other reaction.

“W-who said I was?” I scoffed and looked away from his face when his gaze on me got intense.

“You are not really good at hiding that you have a crush on my brother, Lana. I am sure that the only person who doesn’t know is the bastard himself.”

My body tightened and my heart felt as if it wanted to fly out of my chest. What did he mean by everyone knew? Their parents knew about my crush on Paul?

Embarassment took my whole being. It felt like my tongue was full of pins. I wanted to defeend myself but I had nothing to say. He knew the truth so what was the point of denying it?

“I–”

“Yes?”

I frowned and looked up at him. He had a sly look on his face and I wanted to smack it off him.

“You know…” He drew close and came closer. “I can help you get his attention.”

My eyes widened at his words. What did he mean by that?

“Excuse me?”

He shrugged. “No offense… It's just… It would be best you let him know you have feelings for him. If he rejects you, you move on, if he doesn't, you try your best to make him want you. What I'm trying to say is, confess to him and get his eyes on you.”

“What if he rejects me?” I asked, feeling that it was a good idea but a bad one.

“You will still have his eyes on you and that's where I come in. We toy with his heart and make him question his feelings.”

“So…manipulation.” I deadpanned and he laughed.

Paul kissed his teeth and sighed then poked my forehead. He took the food from my hands and handed me back my phone before mounting his bike.

“Get on. Let's head back home and I'll tell you more.”

I stared at him for a few seconds before doing as he said. Whatever he had planned, I hoped it would work.

+++

We walked into the living room, with me walking behind him. As we walked further into the room, I noticed that Paul stopped walking. I eyed his back in confusion before walking to a stop beside him. My mood immediately deflated when I saw Drake and Nina standing beside each other, looking at us.

My eyes shifted to Nina’s arm wrapped around Drake’s before looking away with clenched jaw.

“It seems you two are having fun,” Nina said and giggled.

“Lana, go to my room. I'll meet you there,” Paul said and I looked at him, coinfused again.

He smiled down at me and cupped my cheek, stunning me. What was he doing? He stroked my cheek with his thumb before dropping his hand. I swallowed and side-eyed Drake. He had a blank look on his face and I wished he had a reaction to his brother touching me but as always, he was oblivious.

I nodded and walked away from him. As I walked past Nina and Drake, I made eye contact with him. He parted his lips as if to say something but hardened his expression and looked forward.

With a heavy heart, I walked on.

+++

I got up from Paul's bed when the door of his room opened. He shut the door and crossed the room to where I was.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“I'm good. Why did you tell me to come here?” I asked and peeped at the time on my watch. “It's getting late and I need to get home.”

“Why don't you call your mom and tell her you're sleeping over. Besides, you have a room here.”

I thought about it and he was right. I needed to be away from home because I knew mom would not let me dwell in my emotions.

“Okay.”

Paul smiled and climbed the bed then laid beside me. He patted the space beside him and I laid down on my side, facing him.

“I want you to tell Drake about your feelings.”

I sighed. “You said that before. And I don't think that's a good idea.”

“I know it's not but I need you to. I want you to be free of this torture. If he rejects you, I want him to feel bad for hurting you. Either way, his attention will be on you. Drake really cares for you and getting him to like you can be easy.”

I furrowed my brows as I thought about what he was trying to say.

“You want me to confess to him then somehow make him want me?”

Paul turned his head and smirked. The look in his eyes gave me the answer to my question.

“Yes.”

“How do I do that?”

Paul laid on his side and stared at my face. His eyes on my face made me feel as if his eyes were peering deep into my pores, making me feel queasy.

“Use me.”

I blinked. “Huh?”

“Drake gets protective and possessive over what's his. Even though you're his friend, he gets very sensitive about you. Sometimes, we tease him saying you two might as well be a couple.”

My face flushed over his words. Drake was possessive and protective over me? The discovery made me feel butterflies in my belly.

“Once you tell him you like him and he rejects you, you will use me to rile him up. Use me to make him go crazy for you.”

I swallowed as my heart beat increased. Paul scooted closer, making me feel heated. My buried feelings for him was not about to come out of the corner I had put it in. I needed to control myself and Paul saying I needed to use him to make Drake want me, was not helpful.

I gasped when he cupped my cheek and rubbed the pad of his thumb against it.

“I want Drake to suffer for hurting you. And you being mine will make it happen.”

I swallowed.

“What do you say we act like a couple to rile him up?”