"PLAYA "

Chapter 27

"Won't you give Grandpa a hug?" Dante said, and Rayan frowned.

"What are you doing here?" Rayan asked.

"That's not the way to welcome a family, but anyway, I'm OK with it." Dante smiled and looked at Titus.

"It looks like you brought a friend along."

"Brothers, actually," Titus cut in, and Dante laughed.

"You kids don't have to be serious with me. There's a place nearby. Let me take you guys out, " Dante said, and the boys looked at each other.

"I'm not going to do anything. Why would I hurt my own grandson? " Dante scoffed, entering the car.

"Should we follow him?" Titus wispered to Rayan.

"We have to. I need to know what he's up to, " Rayan said and entered in the car as well, followed by Titus. One by one, the five cars left parking lot.

Rose finally came out of her hiding spot.

"Who is that man, and why was he calling Rayan his grandson?" She muttered to herself. Her phone rang, and she brought it out. It's a message from Zara reminding her about their plans for the family day. She got in her car and drove out as well.

Marissa walks at the back of the school building to find a quiet spot to read her book.

"I didn't know you like reading as well," the voice came. She turned around and met Melvin. He was leaning against the tree.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I should be asking you that." He said

"I came to read. The campus is always noisy. This place is the only quiet area, " she said, and he nodded.

"And you, what are you doing here. Where's your best friend? " she asked, looking around.

"Which best friend?" Melvin looked at her.

"My cousin, of course. Aren't you two close? "

"Ooh, yeah," he muttered and went quiet.

"Don't tell me you two had a fight," she asked.

"How did you know?"

"Well, it's easy. Eric is not the type to keep friends, "she said, and he sat down next to her.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm not going to gossip about my cousin to you," she said, and he chuckled.

"I don't consider that as gossip," he said.

"Yeah, you're right," she smiled,

"You see, Eric is the possessive type," she said.

"Yeah, I've noticed that about him," Melvin agreed.

"He's possessive and arrogant at the same time. He acts like he doesn't care when he actually does. He tries as much to masked up his feelings to people, " Marissa explained.

"But why is he like that. He doesn't have to be arrogant all the time. It will only keep people away from him. "

"Well, you should ask him that," She said, and Melvin frowned.

"If you know, why can't you tell me?" he asked.

"It will be best if he explained himself to you, and you two should settle your fight," she said.

"He will have to apologise," he muttered.

"But wait, what's the fight about?" she asked.

"Go and ask your cousin," Melvin said and got up.

"Hey, don't use my words against me," she frowned, and he chuckled.

"You know what, go to hell. You and Eric are just the same. " she hissed.

"Haven't you heard the saying " birds of the same feathers flock together? " he winked at her and walked away.

"Stupid." She scoffed and continued her reading.

The table was filled with a lot of different kinds of dishes.

"You don't have to buy this much food. We can't finish everything, " Rayan said, staring at the food.

"It's my money, I can do anything with it. I can spoil it anyway I want. " Dante smoking from his pipe.

"So why did you bring us here?" Rayan asked.

"No reason. I just wanted to hang out with my grandson, " he said, and Rayan scoffed.

"You can come visit me anytime you want," he added, but Rayan ignored him.

Rose and Zara sat down on the soda, writing a lot of things for the family day.

Drinks, food, and so many things.

"This is a lot of things," Rose said, looking at the long list.

"We should pick a day to go shopping," Zara said, and Rose nodded.

"Uhm, Zara, I've been meaning to talk to you," Rose said and faced Zara.

"Thanks for coming into my dad life. I've never seen my father or Carrie this happy before. After mom death, a lot changed in my family, but I'm glad you have brought back the light. Thank you, " she said, and Zara smiled.

"I also want to thank you as well for understanding me. I know it's kinda hard to accept a total stranger like me, " Zara said and chuckled.

"But I want you to know that I genuinely care about you, Carrie, and your dad." She added, and Rose noded in agreement.

"You don't have to do it alone. We are all here to help, " Rose said and hugged Zara.

Rayan and Titus just got through with their dinner with Dante.

"Thanks for the dinner, sir," Titus said.

"You don't have to be too formal. You can address me as grandpa... just like Rayan, " He said, looking at Rayan

"And when did I call you grandpa?" Rayan scoffed.

"It's late now. You boys should return home, my men will see you off, " he said and signalled for two men to escort Rayan and Titus back home.

"You guys can call me if you need anything," he said.

"And what can we probably need from a man like you?" Rayan looked at Dante.

"A lot of things, kid," Dante said and smircked.

Rayan and Titus enter the car and drive off.

"Your grandson has a sharp tongue," his guard said.

"Sometimes a leader needs to be cheeky," Dante said and got in his car.

Eric walked in the house and was shocked when he met Marissa home. He usually comes home before her. She was even preparing dinner.

"It's a wonder you're back home early," he said, and she looked at him.

"What are you making?" he asked, coming closer.

"Salade," she said.

"And you where are you coming from. I smell liquor all on you. Don't tell you went drinking, " she gasped.

"None of your business," he hissed.

"Yeah, none of my business," she scoffed.

"Do you think drinking will help your situation? Just go and apologise to him, or your ego won't let you do that, " she said, and he looked at her.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"I met up with him today. Why did you fight him? " she asked, and he remained silent. The fact that Melvin admitted that he's gay still haunted him.

"You see, this is why you don't keep friends. You are always too harsh and possessive. I wonder if you will ever get a girlfriend, " she groaned.

"Do you think any girl will want to handle this attitude of yours?" she asked.

"When you talk to him. Was he angry or something? " he asked, and she smiled.

"Well, I can't remember," she said, and he frowned.

"Don't joke with me now, Marissa." Eric groaned.

"What do you want me to say. Of course, he's mad at you, and I don't think he's willing to talk to you, " she said, and he sighed.

"It's not too late for you guys to settle things," she said, and he nodded

"Thanks," he said before running out of the house.

Melvin was on a video call with Marcus.

"What are you making?" Marcus asked.

"Noodles. I just want to eat something before going to bed, " Melvin said with his focus on the noddles while Marcus watched him through the phone.

"Do you know that you look kind of sexy in those pyjamas?" he said, and Melvin looked at himself.

"Oh really," he looked at Marcus.

"Why do you always wear crop tops at night?"

"Well, because it's more comfortable to sleep in," Melvin said, and Marcus nodded.

"Anyway, I have some work to do. We will talk when I'm free, " he said, and Melvin nodded and off the call.

He got through cooking and took out some food for himself. He walked into the dining room and was about to eat when he received a knock at his door.

"Am I expecting any visitors tonight," he thought to himself. He got up and walked up to the door. He got the shock of his life when he opened the door.

"W... What are you doing here?" He stuttered upon seeing Eric at his doorstep.

"Can I come in?" Eric said, and Melvin looked at him before allowing him to enter. Melvin closed the door and turned around to Eric.

"How did you....."

He was cut off when Eric pulled him into a tight hug. He turned stiff immediately and didn't know how to react with this sudden emotion.

"Why were you avoiding me on campus?" Eric muttered against his shoulders.

"I wasn't. It's just that I don't want..."

"I don't care if you're anything, and I'm sorry for making you feel uncomfortable. I must be a bad friend, right? " He asked, and Melvin went speechless. He's still trying to process anything.