それでも…愛

A SOFT smile tugged the side of Cassandra's lips as she gazed at the outdated photograph inside her most treasured girly box given by her mommy on her last birthday. The small black crate was engraved with red roses with a safety lock that she thought could not be opened even by his older brothers.

The lovely smile on Cassandra's lips suddenly replaced with a frown when the door of her room was shoved open. A smiling Sky peeked inside followed by his twin brother, Cloud who was as usual wearing his serious face. 

Nothing is new to that. 

He wouldn't be Cloud Hunt if he wouldn't wear his infamous long-serious face anyway. 

Cassandra barely rolled her eyes before she lazily closed the box she was clutching. "What?" She rasped and plopped the box on the bedside table.

"What's inside that box, Cassandra?" Sky raised a question curiously, sauntering forward and when he got closer, he forthwith snatched the box and stared at it intently.

"Gah, Sky! Don't you know what the word privacy is? Like hello?" She yelled and hastily took the box from her brother's hand. 

As usual, Cloud remained in the stillness on her bed. He's sort of the silent type while Sky is the opposite for being an annoying, and loud male species. 

"C'mon, sis," Sky countered Cassandra's phrases. "We are your brothers so no need for your so-called privacy anymore, okay?" he added while rolling his eyes and was about to steal the box she was holding however, she instantly pulled it away from Sky's reach and quickly slapped his hand while looking at Cloud. "Cloud, oh! Sky is being nosy," she complained with a small pout.

Cloud only glanced at the two of them before getting up.

"C'mon, bro. Spare our baby sister," he mumbled while grinning. 

Cassandra's forehead furrowed when she noticed the smile that he was trying to suppress. 

"Cloud!" Cassandra immediately yells at once. 

If there's one thing she hates the most, it's to hear her brothers, even Liam call her baby sister or kid. Like hello? She's no longer a baby. She's a grown-up lady already. She's turning sixteen the next month, for goodness' sake! 

"What?" Cloud responded, still wearing his annoying smile. 

"Stop calling me baby sister!" She snapped at him, which made Cloud and his twin brother; Sky laughed. "And stop making fun of me or I'll report you to Daddy!" she added up while her eyebrows were almost knotted from irrational annoyance. 

"But you will always be our baby, Cassandra. Regardless of our ages even when we are no longer on the calendar, you are still our baby." Sky reacted while grinning. 

Cassandra's irritation abruptly disappeared. Her eyes watered as she quickly approached her two brothers who were both lying on her bed.

"You are both annoying!" She sobbed and wiped away the tears that were running down her cheeks while sitting in front of them. 

The two got off her bed and hugged her tightly. "Stop crying. Big girls don't cry, okay?" Cloud said, followed by a soft laugh. "Or I will call you baby again." he teased. 

Cassandra once again frowned and walked away from them. "You two are so mean. You love to make me cry, eh?" she mumbled as a faint smirk made its way from the corner of her lips. 

Shaking his head lightly, Cloud stood up and shook his crumpled clothes. Cassandra furrowed when she finally noticed that the two were fully dressed. 

"What's up?" She asked curiously. 

Is there something that she does not know? 

"Get dressed. We're going to SeventhStone." Sky simply replied. 

"And, why?" she asked while raising an eyebrow. 

"Aunt Iris and Uncle Garett are going to the BookNerds Café and, of course, Travis, Aidan, and Azul are with them as well." 

Cassandra's eyes instantly sparkled with delight from what she heard from Sky. Aunt Iris is like a second mother to her. Like her Mom, she was also a vampire. Her Aunt Iris was once a human but was eventually converted. 

BookNerds Café is located in SeventhStone and it was her Aunt Iris' very first Café before she decided to set up a branch in the Ambrose territory where they live. BookNerds Café in SeventhStone is currently run by her aunt Cross who was the wife of her Uncle Finn, his Daddy’s Beta. 

"Really?" Cassandra asked with extreme excitement as she tried to control the unspeakable joy from her voice. 

Her Aunt Iris rarely goes to the main branch of BookNerd's Café as she's busy helping in governing their pack as a Luna and managing the branch in Ambrose. 

"Yes! So get dressed now. Brother Liam is already waiting for us downstairs," Cloud informed as he began marching out of the door. 

When the two finally got out of her room, Cassandra squealed. 

"What the hell, Cassandra!" 

She heard Liam shout downstairs. His voice was noticeably full of irritation. 

Well, the typical Liam Hunt mood. What else would she expect from him? 

Cassandra giggled. She couldn't help herself not to imagine Liam frowning while his brows forms one line from distress. 

Liam is like a living robot. Yes, a robot! He was very stiff and is always serious. The word fun is the last thing in his tons of priority list. 

Cassandra gradually took strides towards the walk-in cabinet and chose what to wear. She has to be exquisite. Anton Bren Falcon would definitely go along with her Aunt Iris and Uncle Garett. 

The man of her dreams, yay! 

Cassandra once again screamed, enough to annoy the three Hunts who were patiently waiting for her downstairs. And that moment, she didn't just hear one thundering voice but three! Liam and the twins both yelled in annoyance. Cassandra only frowned but still didn't lose the happy smile on her lips. 

"Killjoy." Cassandra rolled her eyes and whispered. 

"We can hear you loud and clear, Cassandra!" Liam clapped again. 

Cassandra snorted. It was nice to have a killjoy brother like Liam. Yeah, right! Perks of being a vampire and, werewolves.

After taking a bath, Cassandra shortly put on her chosen clothes. A fitted turtle neck white shirt pair with a red skater skirt. She also wears black ankle boots on her feet. She applied bloody red lipstick on her pouty lips and light makeup on her cheeks. She also painted her cat-like eyes with liquid eyeliner to make them slightly rounded. She smiled merrily when she was finally satisfied with her looks. She dry her hair and made a ponytailed style while she slightly ruffled her bangs that were barely reaching his eyebrows. 

"Perfect!" she whispered as she starred in the full-length mirror, simply adoring herself. "You're such a goddamm goddess, Cassandra," she added with a soft grin on her lips. 

"Damn, sis! That's enough," Sky shouted. His voice seemed to be bored already. "Let's go!" 

Cassandra turned around and picked up the red handbag that was lying on her bed. She once again took another glance in the mirror and when she was pleased with what she saw, she then took her steps out of her room. 

"Damn but what did I do in my past life to deserved these brothers of mine?" she mumbled while walking down the stairs. 

"We are just simply adorable and handsome, sis," Sky answered her query. "You are so blessed and lucky to have us. Be thankful"

She rolled her eyes and mentally snorted, 'What a dumbass thick-faced brother!'

She heaved a sigh afterward.

She couldn't wait to see her man again. It's been a month since she last saw him on Travis' birthday and she couldn't deny the fact that she missed him already.