My Not So Forbidden Love

SARAH'S POV It's a wonderful morning in the beautiful place of Xavierville. Today is our final exam, and we'll finally be free from school, waking up early, staying up too late, and everything exhausting. I just finished my breakfast and got ready to go.   "Mom, I'll get going," I said and kissed my mommy Elena's cheeks. "Oh! Where's Andrew? Isn't he going to drive you to school? I thought he's on leave?" She asked, cupping my face. "Nah! It's okay, mom, just let him rest. Besides, I can handle myself. I'm not a little kid anymore," I told her, showing my sweetest smile. I picked up my things and got ready to go when we heard footsteps coming from the stairs. "Who said I'm going to let you go by yourself today?" It's my brother Andrew who kissed our mother's forehead. "Good morning, mom", and now approaching towards me, "Good morning, to you, my little sweet sister," and he kissed my forehead as well. "Good morning," I greeted back, smiling. "I'll drop you off at school," he said, showing me his very handsome smile that always made my day extra special. Yes. I admit I like my brother Andrew. However, I am not making such a forbidden act because we are not blood-related nor in the papers. His parents, mommy Elena and daddy Robert adopted me when I was nine years old after my last parent, my father, died in a car accident while my mother died after giving birth to me. They're best friends and business partners. My father's last words were asking daddy Robert to take care of me like his own since I don't have any relatives left because my parents are also the only child of their parents, just like me. That's why I'm so glad that I have someone to call siblings now, Michelle and Andrew. Michelle, Andrew, and I, never had a hard time, liking and knowing each other since we used to play before when my father is still alive. After all, their parents are my godparents as well, so we're really like siblings ever since. They love me like their own, even every single relative they have, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, niece, nephew, including their office staff and anyone else. No one ever dares to treat me out of place, that's how they love me, and I love them too. But no one knows about my feelings towards Andrew except his twin sister, Michelle. Yes, she knew it once, every time our parents left us to play in a room to have a meeting, and whenever Andrew didn't go with them, I always kept on asking her Andrew's whereabouts cause I felt bored, and I always missed him, making fun of things and making me giggle. Every time she noticed it, she just laughed at me and told me I look cute. She also once told me that I should grow fast and beautifully if I want Andrew to recognize me. Andrew grabs my wrist, pulling me out of my thoughts. "You're getting late." He told me, still wearing the smile I always wanted. But sometimes, I wouldn't say I like it. But I hate my feelings because this can't be. Our family surely doesn't want and allows it as they always said we might not be siblings by blood but by heart. Michelle also stopped teasing me about my feelings towards him since their parents officially introduced me as a member of their family. But she can't help but sometimes smile when she notices me blushing with Andrew's sweet gestures to me. I just can't help. "I saw you were coming home late last night. Then why are you up so early? I thought you'll be sleeping for the entire day," I asked while he keeps on pulling my wrists towards the car. "Therese is coming. I'll pick her up at the airport." He announced. "Hmm, I see." 'Ouch!' My heart cried "Yup!" So that is the reason he takes a leave from work, though he never did that even if it means staying up all day and night. Unless there's no important affair to do, he loves to occupy himself with paperwork. Therese is his girlfriend for over two years now, and she's the only woman who stayed that long with him. He never had a serious relationship before until he met her. I like her. She's beautiful, with fair skin and perfectly built curves. She treats me like how Andrew treats me, sweet and caring but sometimes annoying, just like her boyfriend. Especially, she keeps on teasing me about having a boyfriend already. "That is why I want you to be a good girl and wait for Peter after your class. I asked him to pick you up together with Pauline." We're inside the car already while he's starting the car engine. "I won't. I'll just ride the bus." I recused, looking out the window beside me, feeling tired for the day after hearing his news about Therese. "Come on, little sweet, don't be stubborn, you can't be late for tonight's dinner, mom and dad will be leaving early tomorrow, so they want us to be there complete at least at dinner." He explained, looking ahead on the road, still smiling. I sighed deeply again. I stayed quiet on our journey, not in the mood to argue because not in his knowledge that his best friend's sibling Pauline, who is my best friend, knew about my feelings towards him. Certainly, Peter knew about Therese coming and already told Pauline, and I don't want her to know the reason behind my uneasiness today. That's for sure I will be. She will just mock me. "Hey!" He reached for my hand with him while the other kept the wheels. "Is there any problem that I don't know about?" He asked worriedly, slightly squeezing my hand. "Nah! There's none. It's just that I think about my last days in school. I'll miss my friends for sure and about Peter, you know he is always making fun of me! He is so annoying!" I said with irritation while trying to put some energy. He laughed, putting back his hand on the steering wheel. "He just loves teasing you, but he's a good man. You know he loves you like how he loves his sister Pauline." "Hmp! Even though!" I said, rolling my eyes, looking back outside the window. 'Love me like a sister, yeah! Just like you do.' My inner self said, and he just laughed at my reaction. We stayed quiet along our journey until he stopped the car in front of the university gate. I unbuckled my seat belt when he grabbed my hand and slightly squeezed it. I looked up at him, and he smiled, looking back at me. "Enjoy your day, little sweet. Good luck with your exam." "Could you please stop calling me that! I'm not a little kid for you to call me that," I mumbled with annoyance, but with a smile because I love it when he calls me that. "Oh, come on! I've called you that ever since I was already used to it. Why can't you?" He told me and kissed me on my forehead. "Besides, it suits you, MY LITTLE SWEET SISTER." Again, emphasizing each word. And then he winked at me. "I hate you," I mumbled. "What?" He asked. "I said I hate you!" I said aloud. "Not that I hate you, that I wanted to punch you straight in your face, but I just hate you mocking at me," I told him, pouting my lips. "Really? But you love it, don't you? Huh, don't you little sweet?" Mocking me more while giving tiny tickles beside my waist with his fingers, while his other hand still held mine. I laughed, pulling out my hand from his grip. I opened the door and was about to get out of the car when he said, "Don't be stubborn and wait for Peter, little sweet. I'll ask Pauline to tie you up in case you think about escaping. I don't want you to be late for tonight's dinner." He sweetly warned me, "Whatever," I said, sticking my tongue out, and then I get out and close the door. I waved goodbye to him while smiling, fighting the emotions I felt, thinking that Andrew will surely be busy with Therese. How I wish she would not come back anymore and just live with her dreams away from him, but I know how Andrew loves her so much, and I can't afford to see him sad and sure I will hate her if she does.