5 CHAPTER 3: Another Sleepless Night

Eric P.O.V

I took a shower and dressed in a pair of blue faded jeans and a white two-button shirt. Then I made my way downstairs towards the kitchen. It was evening and dinner still had some time. I decided to watch a good movie on Netflix as I grabbed a can of soda and a packet of chips before walking towards the lounge.

I hadn't even turned the LCD TV on yet when my phone rang. It was Zack. I received the call as I put the can and chips on the table.

"Bro, we are going to a club for a party. Wanna come?" His voice echoed through the phone.

"A party? And you're telling me at the last minute?" I said as I switched on the LCD TV.

"Actually, we were not planning to go there, but when Owen insisted so..."

"Which party and why the hell is he insisting at the very last minute? I'm not coming." I hopped on the couch as I picked a chip and munched it.

"Helen issues..." He audibly sighed. I got his point as a sigh escaped my lips, too.

"Fine, you go. I can't come."

"Why?"

"I'm too lazy to get up and dress up." I shrugged even though he couldn't see me.

"Seriously! You just have to wear your jacket and that's all."

I looked at my outfit. He was right though, but I still said, "Bye." And cut the call.

After searching for a while, I was about to start the movie, when this time, Rosalyn decided to interrupt. She plugged the switch out and the screen went black. That made a growl leave my mouth, and I looked at her with a deadly glare.

"What?" I huffed.

"Get up," she titled her head. I gave her a questioning look.

"Time to clean up all this mess, brother dear." She smiled sweetly at me. I raised my brows and gave a quick glance at my surroundings.

The area around me had scattered cans of soda, beer, whiskey, and wrappers of chips, and some other snacks. If brother would see this, that would be the death of us without any doubt.

"Later." I dismissed her with a smirk, and motion my hand to put the plug back. She smirked. My smirk vanished. Her smirk said too much. I was stupid because I didn't move until she said,

"I just got a call from Brother Nick, and he's in New York. Probably be here anytime soon."

As soon as the words left her mouth, I jumped down from the couch. I didn't waste any more seconds and I started to clean. First, my sister laughed at my horrible state, but then she took pity on me and started to help me.

Not more than 15 minutes later, the house was giving a clear-cut view.

"So, if we try, cleaning is not a big deal," I stated proudly.

"Yeah, only if we try." She laughed. "Where are those chunky-monkeys, by the way?"

"At some party," I said and internally praised myself for not going with them.

"Hmmm." She hummed. I was about to ask her what was with that long hummed when we heard our brother's voice.

"Guys, I'm back." Nick Xander, my big brother announced loudly as he placed his luggage in the living area. Rosalyn ran towards him.

"I missed you so much." She hugged him as she said. He kissed her forehead. "Me too, sweety."

Then he looked at me. I looked at him.

"I hate you," I said before launching at him for a bear hug.

He laughed at me as he retorted, "I hate you more than you do, idiot."

Only we knew the meaning of this specific hate.

Nick Xander was our big brother and a very well-known lawyer. He handled the legal stuff of many businessmen, and that explained why he always travel from here to there. Because of our parent's early death, he was the one who took all the responsibility on his shoulders and work hard to give us an extra-luxurious life.

As a brother, I'm so proud of him.

"I'm so hungry. Is dinner ready?" Nick asked, falling on the couch.

"Umm, I don't think so." Rosalyn shook her head and looked at me.

"Don't worry when chef Eric is here!" I smirked arrogantly.

"Nick, you go and get fresh, and you devil, come help me in making dinner," I ordered both of them.

"Yes, your honor!" They both said in unison and I smiled.

We made Pastrami sandwiches for all of us. I put them on plates, Rosalyn settled them on the table. Lastly, I grabbed the cans of soda from the fridge and made my way to the table, and there we waited for Nick.

Once he came out dressed in trousers and a V-neck shirt. We started to eat my wonderful sandwiches. My cooking skills were heaven so I had every right to brag about them.

"OK, I have to admit this. It's delicious, but you know it doesn't suit a bad boy personality to cook food." Rosalyn commented after taking her first bite.

"Pleasure is all mine." I smiled at her which turn into a smirk soon, "Besides, girls love you devour delicious things. It doesn't matter if it's me or my food."

"Eww!" She made a face.

"Gross, Eric, mind your language." Nick scolded me. "Though, this sandwich does taste amazing," Nick said with a glare. I bit back my chuckle. "How about you pursue a career in this, something that relates with your natural talent?"

I was about to reply when Rosalyn said with a wink, "Trust me brother when I said a player can't handle serious matters."

"What does it mean?" Nick looked at me with his lawyer questioning gaze.

"Nothing, she is talking nonsense." I shrugged, giving her a brief glare. She chuckled and muttered under her breath 'yeah yeah'.

Well, Nick didn't know much about my player habits, all dating, fighting, one-night stands, and so on. He had a little idea but he believed that I knew my limit. A limit that was long forgotten.

"Your school is starting tomorrow, right?" Glady, Nick himself change the topic. I breathe in relief.

"Yep." Rosalyn replied, popping the 'p' with excitement.

"Why vacation has to end so early?" I groaned.

"You naughty boy, pay attention to your studies if you want to get into some Ivy league University. You need to have a good GPA for universities like Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and so on. Do you want to do something in your life or not?" He was seriously lecturing like a father.

But, I think I'm already doing too much in my life, no? It's not easy to maintain a bad boy profile.

"Exactly!" Rosalyn added, pointing her fork at me. I shoved my fork at her.

"Behave! No fighting on the table," Nick said and again turned to me.

Why am I the only one getting a lecture here? Doesn't Rosalyn need some scolding too?

"Think about it what I said to you. Hmm?" I nodded at him. What else could I do?

"By the way, I have good news for you two." Nick smiled, coming back to his brotherly self.

"What?" Rosalyn asked.

"I'm going to stay in New York for more days than usual." He said, making smiles broke down on our lips.

"Really? That's great!" Rosalyn hugged him.

"Oh great!" I high-fived him. "But any specific reason?" I asked, sensing the upcoming so many restrictions.

"Why? Do I need to have a reason for staying in my own house?" He rose his brows.

"No-no! Of course not. I was just asking." I shook my head frantically which made both of them end up laughing.

After dinner and a long brotherly catch up talked with Nick, he told us about France, Paris – the city of lights, and about his visit to the art Louvre Museum, he told us that the pieces of art were breathtaking beautiful such as Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, liberty leading the people, the Raft at the Medusa, The Wedding at Cana, the virgin of the rocks, the seated scribed and so on. And of course, Mona Lisa, the most well-known painting in the world, was a half-length portrait painted by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci.

When I came back to my room and fell on the bed to sleep. I couldn't stop it when her face again appeared on the wall of my mind. I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling, again wondering about her.

I couldn't stop myself from thinking about her, and that explained why she was like a nightmare. She made me unable to sleep since I saw her for the first and last time.

Who was she? Why did she slap me?

She was indeed beautiful with her dark green eyes almost emerald eyes, long black hairs, cute lips, and little pointed nose. She seemed like an arrogant beauty to me. If I had ever cheated on her then why would I not remember her?

And... Why was I so dumb to ditch a girl like her? Then again... I didn't remember ditching her. I was sure that I hadn't seen her before.

Then again, if I never ditched her then why would she slap me in front of the whole club?

And here all questions again connect to who was she?

Groaning in annoyance and frustration, I hopped out of the bed. Gabbing my jacket and bike keys, I texted Zack: 'Send me your location if you're still in the club.'

And here goes another sleepless night, and looked like there are more to come.

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