Chapter 14: Same Room

"Where are you going?" my brother asked authoritatively.

"Ah... Uhmmm... I'm planning to hang out with Allanis today," I nervously said.

As I said, that was just an excuse. I don't even know if Allanis will be able to help me with this. Well, if not, I can go to the mall on my own.

I just don't want to be in the same room with this guy behind me. It's suffocating. Even with the four walls of our home. Because even if this is a big place, it feels so small whenever he's here.

Plus, whenever I see him, I can't forget about my embarrassment and the scandalous scene.

And I was right. He knew.

"Liar," Lucas said.

I rolled my eyes and faced him.

"Why'd you say so?" I raised my brow and crossed my arms as I asked.

"You're just making excuses because I know you don't want me around." He said, not tearing his eyes off me.

I then returned my stare to Jedric who has a stoic face while watching me and Lucas argue. When he saw that I gave him my attention, he arched his brows.

"You're stayong for today Jiana. We have a lot of guests. Not just him." he said harshly before he walked away.

I was actually surprised with the tone of his voice. He never used that to me before. I became nervous because I knew he is giving meaning to my interaction with Lucas just now.

I groaned. "Fine," I exclaimed, walking away to go to my room to take a shower, leaving Lucas alone in the kitchen.

I purposely took my time to fix and prepare myself so I wouldn't have to go downstairs immediately.

I dressed up since we have visitors. I wore my simple yet elegant black dress that ended just above my knees and paired it with a white flats.

I tidied my gold necklace hanging around my nechk who has a gold pendant with my second name, Achilla.

I brushed my now blowdried hair before I boringly went down. I was just at the end of the staircase and I can already here the echoes of laughters.

I had a glimpse of the wallclock and saw that it was already twelve noon. I realized that it was lunchtime so I assumed they are having their meal at our backyard so I went there.

Because this is an open house, I can see them from a distance. They set up a long table near the poolside while some sun loungers are adjacent to it.

When I got close, I confirmed that they were already having lunch.

"Ah, my sister's finally here," Joaquin shouted from the other end of the table so everyone heard him and they all turned their attention to me.

I blushed because there are too many of them. I assume that ther are about twenty which was way far from what I assumed. But majority of them are boys.

He spread his arms widely, as if waiting for me to hug him.

Upon seeing that, my eyes also caught the one who was sitting next to a pretty girl. She looks like Lucas so I assume that it's his sister.

My eyes widened. "Chance!" I called my classmate who was in Calvin's group and walked towards him to give him a hug.

"Ouch," I heard Joaquin said when I ignored his waiting arms and instead gave my hug to my friend.

They all laughed at that as I sat down between him and Jerich.

"She's already sick of your brotherly gestures, Quin," one of his friends teased.

I turned to my brother who was just smiling and shaking his head.

"You didn't tell me that you were coming here!" I turned to Chance who is seated infront of me.

"I thought I'd surprise you and I think I succeeded at that." he laughed and I began to eat.

I laughed with him but my eyes went to Lucas who I saw staring at me with dark eyes, just two seats away from Chance.

I raised my brows at him but ignored him, eventually.

"I didn't know you're close to my brothers. In fact, I had no idea that you knew each other!" I told Chance with my agitated expression.

"Ahhh, yeah, kinda. I'm actually blood-related to these idiots," he pointed at the guys and girl beside her. "Except for those four girls," he then pointed at those girls who, from what I know, is my brothers' flings or whatnots.

Wait, what? Except for them? So does that means...

"You're cousins with Lucas?!" I said as quiet as possible with gritted teeth. But id didn't seemed quiet enough since Lucas heard it.

Or maybe he was just good at eavesdropping.

I blushed, otherwise and became awkward. Chance laughed at my reaction but still confirmed my theory a while ago.

"Yeah. Isn't it obvious? Well, maybe. Since I'm way more handsome than him," Chance said as he quickly looked at Lucas to see his reaction.

I saw him glare. "Shut up, Chance,"

After eating, they went back to the entertainment room to continue whatever they were doing there. This room is one of the biggest in our place. It can actually house twice the number of our visitors today so we can fit without bumping into each other.

It has two big sofa set and one full sized TV. It could pass as the ones from a mini theatre, actually. There, we watch and play PlayStation. Beneath it is a widerange fireplace. There are speakers attached to the ceiling.

There are also lots of bookshelves filed with books and other designs, plus my sketchpads. Parallel to it is a full glass window where you can see our backyard and the whole city.

Behind the sofa sets are long desks where our CDs, Music Albums, vintage cassette players, and more gadgets are placed and stored. There are even leather chairs scattered.

All of our visitors are all over the room while Chance and I chose to sit at the back so we could talk peacefully. Maristella, Lucas' sister, was tailing us, though. But it's okay,

But to be honest, I still can't get over the fact that Chance and Lucas are cousins.

I then turned to Lucas. He was playing Fortnite with the others so he was busy. But when I saw that he was about to turn his head on our direction, I immediately looked elsewhere.

I just watched the screen. But when I decided to look at him again, our eyes met. He was the first one to tore it off but I saw him stiffle a smile by biting his lips.

"Let's now play basketball!" one of his cousins said which they all agreed to.

They all stood up and left while I went straight to the bathroom to take a pee.

I took longer than usual inside since I was listening if there was no people left in the entertainment room.

When I heard nothing and the door closed, I went out.

But unfortunately, I almost hid myself back when I saw Lucas was still there, looking at something near the bookshelves.

Oh great god! I wanted to get away grom him so bad but now, we're alone in the same room!