CHAPTER 13

Adela's Point of View

It's Ares' birthday, so I went shopping for appropriate clothes. Ares' birthday celebration will be held at the resort and will start in the afternoon.

Olivia is in the room while I'm picking out what to wear.

"Why not just copy my outfit? I'm wearing a summer dress too!" she said as she took one of my dresses from the bed.

My summer dress has long sleeves and goes past my knees.

"Okay, sure," I replied as she threw my swimsuit at me.

"Wear it underneath the dress," she said, while my cheeks heated up.

"Do we really need this?"

"Yes, of course. We'll have a night swimming later! Don't tell me you haven't worn a swimsuit yet?"

"I've worn one before, but I feel shy. I don't know the people we'll be with," I said, and she burst out laughing.

"Then just ignore them! I also want to see you in a swimsuit, so go for it!" she said with excitement.

"Okay." I pouted and reluctantly followed her advice.

I entered the bathroom in my room and changed. I bit my lip when I saw my reflection in the mirror wearing the swimsuit.

My body looks fine in a swimsuit, but I still feel embarrassed. Oh well, whatever!

I put on the summer dress over the swimsuit and came out of the bathroom.

"There you go, you look beautiful! Your hair is fine the way it's let loose, and for the sandals, wear those strap sandals," Olivia said, pointing at the sandals, and I followed her suggestion immediately.

"Is it okay now?" I asked, standing up properly so she could see.

"Yes, let's go. The event will start soon," she said, and we headed out.

"Miss!" Demeter called out to me, and I turned to her.

"Sir Archer said he'll accompany you," she said, and I exchanged glances with Olivia.

"O-okay? Where is he?" I asked, nervously, while Olivia raised an eyebrow.

"He's coming down now, Miss," Demeter replied, and I nodded, waiting with Olivia.

"Why is he joining us? Is he covering for you so he can be with Margareth again later?" Olivia whispered to me, her forehead wrinkled.

"I'm not happy with Archer's actions, even though he's my cousin," she murmured to me, so I looked at her.

"Let it be, he's only here until Tita Helena arrives," I declared, shrugging.

"Well, it's your decision. But I still think you're better suited for Primo, even though he's younger than you," she retorted, making me laugh nervously.

Whenever I hear Primo's name linked to me, I don't feel happy. I can't explain the anxiety I feel.

"He's a womanizer, so I can't fully trust him," Olivia whispered, and I just smiled at her.

After a few minutes, Archer finally came down. He was wearing a polo shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and khaki shorts. His outfit was simple, but I couldn't deny the strong impression it made on me.

I mean, I like him, that's why he looks so attractive to me.

I admit, feelings for Primo have started to grow within me, and I want to stop it early on, however it seems like nothing has changed with my feelings for Archer, after seeing him again.

Every time I see him, my heart still beats fast, just like before, and I feel excited and inexplicably happy in my heart. I get nervous around him, and I can't even look him straight in the eyes.

"Let's go," Archer said when he came down the stairs.

Olivia and I followed him, and she lightly hit my arm.

"Hey, what's that? Your drool almost dripped when Archer showed up! Have you really been hit by Cupid's arrow? Maybe you should pull it out, you know?" she whispered, and I blushed because I understood what she meant. She was referring to Archer's name, which means "mamamana" in Tagalog, which translates to inheriting or catching love. She said I should remove the arrow that hit me since he doesn't feel the same way about me.

It's true, but it still hurts.

"Pull it out and find someone new," she whispered, giggling.

"I will go with you two until the first part of the party with the other adults is over," Archer said, and I just nodded.

I didn't have anything else to say, so I kept quiet. I didn't want the conversation to drag on, so I just agreed.

When we reached the venue near the sea, a short walk away from the pool area, Olivia greeted her mom.

"Hi Mom!" she said, kissing her mom's cheek and looking at me and Archer.

Her mom gasped and shook her head. I couldn't understand what she did, but when she looked at me again, she smiled.

"Hi dear, how are you?" she asked me.

"I'm fine, thank you," I replied with a smile.

She nodded and turned to Archer, who was just watching us along with Olivia's mom.

"Fix everything earlier than you can, Archer. Your mom will get mad, and you won't like it," she said, tapping Archer's arm.

Before she said goodbye and left, she looked at me again and smiled.

Olivia and I made eye contact when her mom left, and she sighed.

"She knows; you can't hide anything from her that easily. She is too observant," Olivia said, and I shifted my gaze to Archer.

He was looking at both Olivia and me, but then he sighed and looked away.

"Does Tito Stanley know about this?" Archer asked, scanning the area as if looking for someone.

"He doesn't know about it. Just don't make it too obvious if you don't want to end up far away from Margareth in a way you won't like," Olivia said, and Archer nodded in response.

We walked towards Ares, who was talking to his friends.

"Happy Birthday, Ares Montero!" Archer said, grinning, and he tapped Ares before sitting beside their friends.

"Happy Birthday, Ares," I greeted with a smile as I handed him my gift, and he accepted it with a smile.

"Happy Birthday, Kuya!" Olivia said, playfully punching her brother's arm before giving her gift to Ares. Ares just grinned at her antics.

I chuckled at their interaction. Olivia and I used to be like that with my brother too. We used to wrestle and play fight a lot. But that was before he got married, and now he's not as playful and mischievous. Well, he still likes to tease me sometimes, but his wife, Ate Seira, always scolds him. I used to tattle on him, hehe.

"Don't you have a date? Didn't you say you're pursuing a doctor? Where is she?" Olivia asked as we sat next to Ares.

"Thank you for these gifts," Ares said, showing the presents we gave him.

"Tsk, how can he take her out if she's always busy?" one of their friends, if I'm not mistaken, Xian, said.

"Shut up, Xian," Ares replied, not seeming amused.

"I don't know what's up with your brother, Olivia. He seems to have a thing for women who are busy with work. At first, he pursued the vice mayor's girlfriend. She was so busy, and that's why he didn't succeed," another friend of theirs added, which made Archer and Olivia laugh too.

"Oh yes! The current vice mayor! Vice Mayor Thalia! Hahaha!" Olivia said.

"She's so young, but she dreams of being in politics. That's tough," Olivia said, shaking her head.

"And now, a doctor, a surgeon even!" Xian added.

"Calix, you know that intern surgeon that Ares likes? They would have been a great match, but she rejected him, saying she might not notice him because of her work! Hahaha!" Xian added again.

"Oh, that's why he's a sad boy again," Archer commented, which made them all laugh more, while Ares just grinned and seemed to ignore their teasing.

"I won't bother with that anymore. It's always work as an excuse, tsk," Ares said irritably, shaking his head.

"Don't talk shit, Ares," Olivia said, laughing and lightly hitting her brother's arm.

"We'll just drink later, anyway. It's getting late, and our parents will probably go home soon," Calix, one of their friends, suggested.

"What about Primo? I haven't seen him. Where is he?" Xian asked, looking around. I gulped at the mention of his name. Yeah, where is he? I haven't seen him since this morning. My eyes met Archer's, and he raised an eyebrow, seeming to ask silently.

"Margareth, too?" Xian asked Archer, looking around for Primo. Archer pointed at me, and Xian nodded.

"Oh, I see. Hello, Adela," Xian greeted as he looked at me. I smiled and nodded in response.

Several hours passed while we were eating, and the adults had left, leaving only us friends behind.

There were still many people around because they almost had the place to themselves earlier.

"Adela, follow me," Archer commanded, and I just nodded.

Olivia looked at me and smiled softly before saying, "I'll be here."

As Archer and I reached the back of a cottage near where the party was being held, he faced me.

"I know my brother is always bugging you. I also noticed that in the past few weeks, you've been getting close," Archer said calmly.

"I sense that there's something different in the way he looks at you. It's up to you whether you'll pay attention to him. And if there's any improvement between you, that's fine with me. I'll cover you up for it, and you'll cover me up until Mom and Dad go home," he said, and I swallowed nervously.

"So you mean we'll cover for each other? Okay, great. But I am not going to have something with your brother."

"No problem for me, I'll cover for you and Margareth," I added.

"I'm not entirely sure, but my brother never had feelings for someone he didn't pursue," he said, grinning at me, which made me gulp.

"You seem to be pimping me to your brother," I said, looking away.

"If that's the best way for you to deal with the others. I don't want to hurt you, but if your feelings for me continue, I'm sorry I will hurt your feelings."

He knows what I feel about him because I already told him before, so he's just denying me even more.

"No worries, I'm ready."

"Well, it's up to you, but I know Primo, he won't give up that easy."

"By the way, I won't be able to send you back. Margareth will be here."

I started to walk away while swallowing hard.

He's right, Primo doesn't give up that easily.

I sighed and shook my head. I'm still pushing myself to forget everything I feel about Primo, and I want to stop. For me, it's not a good look to go for his brother just because he rejected me.

Anyway, I will stop my feelings for you, Primo. This is as far as it goes, it won't grow more than what I have right now, I swear!

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