CHAPTER 2

It's been weeks and I never went back to Aira's house after that incident. I was hoping not to see him again. My parents didn't know about what happened that night, they were just shocked that I went home so I told them Aira's brother drove me home. They were shocked because they never knew she had a brother.

But seems like heaven is trying to mess up with my life, there is going to be another school project again, this time, it's only me and Aira only, I can never choose another group mate aside from Aira, it's either she's in my group or nothing.

She insisted that we'd do it in their house. "No, we should do it at my house this time," I insisted, I would never want to go back and see his brother again, I gave him all the trouble of going back his way right after he went home. I even made him drive me home.

"We always do it at my place," She insisted,

"Exactly, you come over this time," I said. She couldn't help but agree with me, she went on my ride with me. We went home and started building a house model using sticks. We had already bought the materials on our way home and all we need is to start choosing what model to do.

We spent hours and hours trying to build the house and at 9 pm, we finished almost half of it.

"It's fine, we still have a week for this," she said,

"No, we only have 3 days, we wasted the rest remember?"

"It's still fine,"

"No, it looks very awful, Aira,"

she looked at our project and nodded.

We had passed a lot more awful projects that we had done both before but still manage to get high grades, it doesn't matter, we just need to submit it at school.

KNOCK KNOCK

I looked at a door, "Come in!" I said and my Yaya Tonie came inside,

"Miss Aira, someone is downstairs to get you,"

"Oh, my ride is here," she said and put all her things in her bag, I helped her do so and walked with her downstairs so I can see her off.

"What are you doing here?" I heard her say when he saw who was downstairs, it was Zach.

I was surprised too, I was expecting his driver. He didn't answer and just glanced at her and looked at me. I felt like something snapped when he looked at me from head to toe.

WTF is that?!

"I don't know why that guy is here, wish me luck," Aira whispered to me as she hug me goodbye. I don't know what to say, I never wanted to see him again, but yet he's in my house.

"G-Goodluck I guess?" I whispered back. I noticed that he was looking at us both when we were whispering something to each other.

They left and I went back to my room. "What the hell was that for?" I asked myself as if I could answer it. I looked in the mirror and I am wearing normal clothes that I wear at home. An oversized shirt and denim shorts. That look made me very conscious.

The next day, Aira told me what happened.

"I asked Leah about it and he told me, they were eating dinner when mom asked about me, Dad said I was at your house then he suddenly volunteered on picking me up."

"Why is that?" I asked.

"I don't know, he's acting very weird, he wanted to pick me up all of a sudden,"

"He must've thought about starting to talk to you," I said.

"No, he didn't talk to me while we're in the car, it's annoying," she said and pouted. Later that night, we went to my house again to continue the project, this time, asked me if our drivers can drive her home.

I eventually said yes and went with her to their house too. I stayed inside the car while she was going down and I saw his Mercedes-Benz in their parking lot. He's home I guess.

"Bye," Aira said and kissed me on the cheek.

"Bye, see you tomorrow" She went out of the car and I looked at her as she walk to their house. When I looked in the other direction, I saw a girl walking on the property. She's pretty, blonde, and slim, she's wearing a cropped tee and denim shorts paired with a pair of high-cut shoes.

When I looked at where she came from, I saw Zach following her. What I saw was enough for me to think that they are dating. 'Let's go," I told the driver.

I got preoccupied that night again and I had trouble sleeping without knowing why.

The next day, I don't even want to listen to Aira complaining about him not talking to her. He is bringing girls into the house and can't even talk to his own sister.

I didn't ask her about the girl, there's nothing to ask about, they're in a relationship.

"Let's do it at home this time," she suddenly said.

"Why?" I asked her.

"Mom wants you for dinner at home tonight, go back home and bring it home so we can do it tonight,"

"What? What's wrong? Is something worth celebrating?' I asked her,

"Nah, she wants us to taste a new dish she learned how to cook,"

"Ahh," I can't help but agree with her since her mom asked for it, he's going to be there at dinner again tonight but I couldn't care less. I noticed that he's occupying my mind too much lately, I shouldn't pay more attention to him.

I brought the project along with me, I went with my oversized shirt and denim shorts with a pair of sneakers.

"Xhyrah," her mom greeted me.

"Good evening, " I greeted her back. Her mom is very nice to me,

"Long time no see," she said and I smiled at her. This is why I feel very welcome at their house, her parents were very nice to me and they don't mind me coming day after day.

She escorted me to Aira's room and left to cook for dinner, I went to Aira and she was still on her bed. "Hey, I'm here," I said but she didn't answer. "Aira?" I put the project on the table and went to her, she's sleeping?

I thought something is wrong with her so I put my hand on her forehead. I immediately went down to call her mom. She was sick but didn't say anything. How stupid.

As turns out, I need to finish this project tonight alone. And since she can't come down, I am going to come to dinner alone, I'll be fine with just her parents but her brother will be there. But I thought I won't pay more attention so I calmed myself down and started building the sticks alone again.

"Dinner's ready," I heard someone call from outside the room, I stood up, and I heard my knees crack as I stand up. I have been sitting for so long. I stretched myself up and looked at Aira peacefully sleeping.

This bitch did me dirty, now I got to do it all alone.

I walked downstairs and went to the dining table, Luckily, he was not there. Her mother asked a lot about me and her Dad just peacefully reacted to our conversation. I thought it was going to end smoothly but I was wrong. Because he came home a few moments after.

"Good evening," he greeted everyone. Aira's mother kissed him on the cheek.

"Son, sit, " his dad said. He glanced at me before sitting in his seat.

"Aira??" I found it surprising that he asked for Aira.

"Sick," His mother said sadly.

"Sick?"

"I don't know, she had a cold. She's resting in her room. And they are supposed to finish something, I'm sorry about it Xhyrah," now, I am feeling bad about cursing Aira earlier because her mom is apologizing.

"I-it's fine, Tita," I said and smiled. I continued eating while they are talking about business with Zach. From time to time, her mom is asking me about the food and I would answer it was good every time.

"What are you supposed to do together again?' she suddenly asked me,

"A house model using sticks," I answered.

"I can help you with that," I immediately looked at him when he said that. He's looking at me too with serious eyes.

"No, I can do it alone, We're almost done, I think I can finish it tonight," I refused.

"It's fine with me, Aira is sick, I can help you with it instead,"

"No, really, I'm fine finishing it alone," I refused again.

"What's wrong with me helping you?" He suddenly asked me, I paused, I looked for words to say, I got so embarrassed because of the question, He looked at me in the eyes and I couldn't help but look away.

"You just came from somewhere, you must be tired so I thought It'd be a hassle for --"

"It's fine, I'll come later," he said as if I already agreed that he can help me.

I thought about refusing and stopping him but I couldn't say something because they started talking about something again. I finished eating and went back to Aira's room again and found her still sleeping.

I don't want him here, it'd be very awkward again. I don't like the atmosphere when he's around, he makes me very conscious. And the fact that he doesn't talk makes everything worst.

I sat down and continued making the model, I need to finish it before he comes in, though I already know that was not going to happen. It's already hard making the model with just the two of us, and doing it alone is worst than expected.

A few moments later, someone knocked at the door. And Zach went in wearing casual clothes and damp hair, he has just gotten out of the shower. I glanced at him and pretended to continue what I'm doing.

"That looks awful," I was frozen in my seat because of what he just said as he sat down inf front of me, I couldn't even say anything. "When did you start making this?" he asked me.

"Probably just a few days ago," I answered.

"And you're going to pass it tomorrow?" he asked and took the glue gun and a few other sticks.

"Y-yeah," I said. I am left with nothing to do because he never let go of the glue gun. He stacked the sticks like what I was doing. He's good at it, the stacks are very straight and precise. I am embarrassed to let him see what we have been doing these past few days.

As expected, everything si awkward, I was left with nothing to do other than looking at him do the thing. "Uhm.." I said and looked around, I need another glue gun to help him, I went up and went to Aira's drawers but I could see nothing. I should've brought mine along with me,

I was left with no choice but to go back to my seat and do nothing. A few minutes have passed and he has done more than I expected I could've done right now. He's fast. "If you're tired already, you can switch up with me," I offered.

"It's fine," I was disappointed by his answer. I couldn't help but sigh, He glanced at me and glued a stick and took the basket of sticks, and handed it to me, "Here, hand me the sticks," he said.

I knew he did it because he realized I am not good about doing nothing. I hand him stickers whenever he's done sticking the other ones. I am looking at his every move and couldn't help how pretty his hands looks. It's prettier than mine. It doesn't look like it was a girl's hands, it's long and slim and fits perfectly for the job. It looks very delicate while he's using it to stick the sticks onto the model.

He suddenly glanced at me and noticed where I am looking, I immediately shifted my gaze. "You're good at it," I complimented him.

'I have done this before, mine looks better,"

His honesty is annoying, he doesn't need to tell me that.

His hair is so black and it fits perfectly with his white fair skin. It's my first time seeing his hair down, and I think he looks good with both. I couldn't see any resemblance between him and Aira, it's probably because Aira doesn't look like her father at all.

The girls are right, he does look good.

"Aren't you staring at me too much?" he suddenly asked. My cheeks started to heat up, I looked down and pretended to play with the sticks.

A few minutes later, We finished the whole model, He straightened his back and stretched his arms. "I'm sorry for bothering you with this,' I apologized to him,

"It's fine, I offered this in the first place,"

"I did nothing," I said,

"Are okay with this? We can paint it," he said as he look at the plain house model.

"N-no, I need to go home, my driver is arriving at ten, and I don't have time," I told him.

"Tell your driver not to come, I'll bring you home tonight," he said with his head tilted to the side and his arms on the bed.

Seriously, what is wrong with this guy? How can he say that so casually? No, it's nothing to be embarrassed about, there's nothing in it, he's just asking casually, why am I putting malice on it? I am the same age as his sister, I shouldn't look at things that way.

He's just helping us.

"O-okay, I'll call him,"