Affair With My Sister's Fiancé [MATURE ROMANCE – ENGLISH]

Chapter 4

“No, you did not.” Jeff shook his head while convincing himself.

I only raised a brow. Seconds later, I heard him gasp like he just ran out of breath.

“You’re insane!” he hysterically muttered and drank his glass of margarita.

I just rolled my eyes at him. “Don’t make a big deal out of it, Jeff. It’s not like I don’t have a plan?” I sarcastically asked.

“So, what’s your plan?” he hissed. “You’re so reckless. Do you think he won’t tell Elena about what you did? You even brought him breakfast. That you made… yourself! Aren’t you too excited?” He’s almost standing now. He’s just sitting in front of me but because he was too fired up, it seems like he wanted to pull each strand of my hair to knock some sense in me.

I rolled my eyes again. “I told you, I just grabbed the opportunity! What do you want me to do?”

“You should’ve pretended that you didn’t care about him. Make him chase you. Gosh…” He fan himself out of frustration.

“Pretend like I didn’t care but will flirt with him the next few days? That’s weird. And, we’re both from Saint Arellano dela Paz. We practically know each other, well, aside from he’s my sister’s fiancé. It would be a shame if I ignored him,” I reasoned out. Jeff actually has a point but I don’t want to make myself dumb because of my decision.

I shouldn’t have did that.

But then, it already happened, and he seemed like he enjoyed the breakfast I did.

So it doesn’t matter if I stepped to… low?

Jeff exaggeratedly hissed. “Wow! I couldn’t believe I’d hear those words from you! Shame? What a word from Miss Congeniality and social butterfly.” He shook his head. “There are bunches of men chasing you. Name it! A celebrity—oh, celebrities rather, CEO of…” He looked up as if he had the list of those men trying to win me. He sighed before he continued, “different companies, a pediatrician, an engineer, too many to mention… you just have to choose from them, Akira! Of all people, why Gregory? Are you bored and looking for… thrill?”

I only pursed my lips at him, mocking.

Thrill?

Maybe, I am, or I want to prove them something.

I drank my glass of Cuervo and raked my fingers through my hair before getting my purse and stood up.

“What? You’re leaving? Already? Wow! The night is still young…”

“Gotta change for someone…”

“Tsh..”

I gave him a kiss on his cheek and bid goodbye.

Given that it was still early, there weren’t many patrons at the club tonight. It’s not even eight o’clock and here I am on my way home. On a normal night, as always, it would take me until dawn here. If I don’t have a reason to go home, I will stay longer.

I was a little tipsy when I went out but when the cold December breeze welcomed me, it helped me sober a bit. It was quite dark in the parking lot where my car was parked so it took me a while to find the key fob.

When I successfully found it, I immediately hopped inside because the cold makes me shiver. I quickly drove back to the condo and as I approached the elevator, my phone rang.

Mommy is calling.

I cleared my throat before pressing the answer button.

“Mom!” I cheerfully greeted.

“How are you?”

The background seems quiet so maybe my cousins and nephews are already asleep. They have a week of vacation in Cebu because my cousins asked the whole family to go out.

“I’m doing great. Is there a problem?” I straightened my back. Mommy doesn’t often call me to ask how I was doing so it’s a bit… weird.

I pressed the close button and watched the door slowly closing.

“How was your date? Elena mentioned to me that you were with a guy last month.”

Oh, that? I remembered who I was talking to that Elena told Mommy about. Maybe… Harvin?

“I-It was fine. Uhm, we met again last… night,” I almost couldn’t continue what I was saying when the elevator opened and saw Gregory standing in front. We locked gazes for a moment as he went inside quietly, I quickly tore it off.

He seems like he just went back from outside because he was holding a paper bag.

I swallowed hard and give my mother my attention.

She gasped. “Really. Tell me more about your date!”

I looked up and saw that it was still on the second floor. s**t. My unit is on eleventh floor.

“Uhm.. w-we just had dinner. We didn’t stay long because I was a little sleepy,” I reasoned, but the truth is that Harvin was not the one I planned to see last night.

I quickly glanced at Gregory’s broad back. I was standing just behind him. I was looking at him through our reflection, though I’m pretty sure he won’t notice it but I quickly scanned him over his body.

He's in his white shirt, black khaki shorts and a pair of sliders. His left hand was inside his pocket while the other one lazily held the paper bag.

“Invite him this Friday. We’re going to Palawan. We’ll have a two-day stay there because your nephews wished to go there. Your Grandma was disappointed last night, Akira. She said she misses you a lot so you should’ve stayed longer. Well, come with us this Friday. If it’s fine with Harvin, bring him with you. I heard Elena and Gregory will come, too...”

“R-Really? Then we’ll go to Palawan!” I couldn’t hold back my excitement. I watched Gregory’s back again and checked if he knows what I’m talking about. “I’ll try to talk to Harvin, then..”

My mother talked about some more things before deciding to end the call. I was really listening to her because I kept on glancing on his broad back.

I pursed my lips, wanting to ask Gregory if he had talked to Elena but I stopped myself.

I need to act like I don’t really care.

The elevator stopped at our floor. No one dared to talk. I’m sure he heard our conversation provided that we were the only ones inside the elevator and even though the call wasn’t on loudspeaker, I’m sure he heard everything. Thanks to my Mom’s loud voice.

He went out first and I just followed him from behind. Until he reached his unit, he didn’t dare to say a word!

The next day, I decided to go to the gym. I still have three days to prepare myself to that vacation. Palawan is a very nice place, I’m sure Elena will ask us to visit he beach. I will also try to talk to Harvin tomorrow.

I don’t even have an idea how my Mom and Elena ended up talking about me and Harvin. I couldn’t even remember how we saw each other last month and how Elena remembered it.

Maybe because she thought we’re still a thing?

I focused on cardio and did some planks when a familiar guy approached me.

“It’s good to see you again, Akira..”

“Good to see you, too..” I greeted back, uninterested. He is somehow familiar but I can’t remember his name.

“I thought you’re staying in Europe. You’re an F.A., right?

“Ah, yeah.” My agency gave me a three-month vacation so I think I have a lot of time to spend. “I was just on a vacation. How about you?” I wiped my sweat using my towel. I stopped for a while to rest and let myself talk to him. He seems nice, how did I met him again?

I quickly glanced at the clock and it reads six in the morning. I’m going to leave in a minute.

“Vacation, too. Anyway.. I want to invite you to my birthday party this weekend. Harvin’s gonna come!”

Oh, right. This is Harrison I’m talking to, Harvin’s cousin.

“Oh, advance happy birthday!” I genuinely greeted. I was smiling when I noticed from my peripheral vision that someone entered the gym. Tall and dominating.

What the f*ck.

“Thank you, Akira. I would be expecting you. I’ll wait for you.” He chuckled and waved at me.

I waved back as I simply checked Gregory who’s heading to the treadmill after putting his duffel bag on the bleacher.

He was wearing a plain white sleeveless shirt and a black shorts.

I mentally checked what I’m wearing.

I’m in a black sports bra and black leggings. My hair was in a clean bun earlier but because of my routine it became a little messy. I put some stands behind my ear and checked my reflection on the glass wall. I still look good with this style though.

I absentmindedly continued my cardio and core routine.

I was supposed to leave but..

I was ignoring all the guys that tried to hit on me, but now I am all smiles at them. I was trying to ignore them because I don’t feel like socializing right now. I only talked to Harrison because I didn’t expect him to invite me to his birthday party.

And now that Gregory is here, I suddenly had the urge to talk to everyone.

“Do you need help?” says a guy, pertaining to the ten-kilogram dumbbell I was lifting

“Ah, sure..” I sweetly retorted.

The man smiled widely and effortlessly showed me how to lift the dumbbell. He almost supports me, even though I can carry it myself.. I am a regular here. I have to admit that in the beginning it was difficult for me, but I have gotten used to the weight of it.

The guy left afterwards so I started doing some squats. Some men stepped closer to me and began performing shoulder presses. They had been at the gym’s far end earlier.

“That’s not how you do it.”

I stopped what I was doing when a man suddenly went to me. He looked like a foreigner. He came to me and held the dumbbell I was holding.

“Face your legs with your palms. Your feet should be shoulder-width apart, and your knees should be slightly bent. Your head and neck should be in a neutral position, and your shoulders should be directly above your hips,” he instructed. While he was saying that, he was supporting my grip on the dumbbell with one hand. He tried so hard not to touch my waist.

I just followed what he said and the dumbbell actually got a little lighter because of what he taught. My lips parted and chuckled.

“There..” he chuckled.

“Thank you..”

“No worries...” He held my waist and was about to support me.

“She can handle it alone, Win.”

The man and I both stopped when someone suddenly spoke. Gregory stood proudly while wiping his sweat. I put the dumbbell down as I glanced on his arm.

“I just think she’s having a hard time doing her routine.” The guy, named Win, shrugged. He looked at me and reminded me about what he taught. I thanked him again and watched him leave.

“Be careful with those kind of guys. They’re just trying to find a way to touch you..” He turned his back on me and went straight to the bleacher for his duffel bag.

I didn’t waste any more time and immediately went to my own stuff. I only had a cellphone, a towel and a tumbler with me so I didn’t have any trouble following him.

“It’s fine with me, I was actually having a bit of a hard time with the positioning of that routine..” I uttered.

He simply nodded at me.

Someone greeted him so they talked for a while.

I went out first because I had nothing else to do there. I’ll probably just go back to the condo to take a shower and have breakfast.

I entered the elevator first and tried to hide my smile when I saw Gregory walking towards me. I moved a little to give him some space.

“Did Elena tell you already? We’re leaving for Palawan this Friday,” I started the conversation.

“We talked last night.”

“Really?” I wasn’t expecting that. “That’s good! Harvin is also going, with me. So, you’re going, then?”

“Yeah. I was planning to make up with her..”

“Oh..” was the only thing I could say. “I can help you! You might not be asking… but I’m good at that. Maybe we could bake something for her. Like cookies? Elena love pastries.”

I glanced at him when he did not speak, after a few moments he just nodded.

When I got into my unit, I called Jeffrey to ask if he still has Harvin’s number. I think I deleted it before. When he forwarded his number, I immediately called him.

“Hello? Harvin?”

“Who’s this?” his voice was a little husky, seems like he just woke up.

“Wow, I couldn’t believe you’d forget me” I chuckled.

“Akira— wait, Akira?”

“Yup!” I said, popping the ‘p’. “Are you free this weekend?”

“Wh-What? No. Are you asking me out?”

“Only if you’re free.” I opened my fridge and checked some ingredients for Elena’s favor cookie. I checked for my stock of ingredients and realized that I’m running out almost all of it. Maybe I need to go grocery tomorrow?

“I’ll cancel all of my appointments, then.”

“Hey, it’s okay if you’re busy!”

I should not force him to come just to introduce him to my family as my fake boyfriend. I can just say that he’s busy or that we already broke up.

But the latter would make them mad at me even more. They know I haven’t had a serious relationship yet so they’ll think I wasted Harvin. My Dad would marry me off to one of his friend’s son if I won’t bring anyone with me.

Well, of all the flings I’ve had, I could consider Harvin as one of the most handsome and responsible.

Iko and Liam also know him so my Mom wanted to meet him.

I could just tell Harvin to pretend like we’re still together.

“Nothing important, Aki. I can reschedule it.”

We talked more for about an hour. Just a casual catching up.

Unlike my other flings, Harvin is very cool. No strings attached. No feelings involved. So when we ended things, we’re still friends.

“Let’s talk more tomorrow evening. Drinks and catching ups, just like before.”

I chuckled. “Okay, just like before.”

I stayed in my unit.

I received an email from the airline, they said I can add up another two months for my vacation. I rolled my eyes.

The owner of that airline, where I am working, is my father’s high school friend. He probably told him that I’m going to manage our business.

Just as what I’m expecting, Dad called me that day to talk about my work and our company. If it wasn’t for Grandma’s birthday, I wouldn’t have come home

I should be in Europe right now and busy with flights. I didn’t come home for two years, so when Mommy called me to celebrate Grandma’s eightieth birthday, I considered coming home for her. I don’t really plan to attend. I already greeted my grandmother and sent my gift but my mother kept on pestering me. So after my flight, I immediately went home.

That was also the time when Daddy told me that I have a three month vacation, which was even increased by two, so that I could think about handling our business.

I don’t know why all of a sudden they wanted me to handle our business when it was already certain before that it was Elena who’s going to do it. That’s why there is a merging of our business and the Arellanos.

Well, I am not sure. Maybe that has something to do with the postponement of their wedding.

Daddy asked if I am going to Palawan. I also told him that I’m going with Harvin. Between Mommy and Daddy, Mom is more in favor of Harvin while Dad prefers that I find a man who is good at business. Although, Harvin’s family owns a business, too. I just think that my Dad doesn’t like him.

My Dad is strict, very. But when it comes to business and the thought of me marrying a businessman, he could be kinder. He just hated that... I always disappoint him. That always happens no matter what I do.

I remember him talking about my marriage with the heir of the Arellanos. I don’t know how to feel about it.

The next day, I turned my phone off to avoid Daddy’s calls. He will just talk about marriage and that I should only date the sons of his business partners.

I’m not interested in dating anyone else.

I texted Harvin that we should meet at Jeffrey’s bar at seven in the evening. I went out a while ago to buy some food and ingredients for cookies we’re going to make

I had a long tiring day since I also did a general cleaning in my unit. It’s not that messy or dusty because there is maintenance even though I haven’t been home here much in recent years.

I thought about fixing some things and buying some more because I think, for the next five months, this is where I will be staying.