Chapter Twelve

Kevin handed Jacel a cup containing gelato. He felt a little guilty for making his sister—well, he still hated the fact that they were now step-siblings—suffer. The girl took a deep breath and took the glass.

Kevin then sat beside her. "Did you enjoy the ride?" he teased.

Jacel hissed. She then took the gelato into her mouth and nodded. "So much," she replied, with much sarcasm. "Thank you... wait a moment. On what date were you born?" she asked suddenly.

Kevin frowned but answered the question anyway. "Sixth of November. How about you?"

"November 6? Really? Hahahahaha…" Jacel laughed happily – she even seemed to have forgotten her ordeal riding on some of the extreme rides that Kevin forced her to do. While Kevin looked at her confused,

"Why are you laughing like that, eh? Hey, everyone is watching you, Jacel Kim!" exclaims Kevin.

Jacel then stopped laughing, but her face was still red from holding back laughter. "Then call me your older sister, understand?"

"O-older sister?!"

She nodded. "I was born on the twenty-third of May. Meaning, I am five months older than you, Kevin."

Kevin's eyes narrowed. He didn't even know that the girl was a few months older than him. He thought her age was below him. But how can he call her an older sister? It felt so awkward.

"Nope. I do not want to!" Kevin refuses.

Suddenly, Jacel's face changed again. She pouted and finished her gelato without looking at Kevin again. "Why?"

"Huh?"

Jacel took a deep breath and looked at Kevin again. "Why don't you want to call me your older sister? We're siblings now, right? Or is it because…"

Kevin sighed, seeing the girl's change in attitude. Well, he shouldn't have said that. But knowing that they are five months apart is the worst reality he has ever received, besides having to be step-siblings.

"Jacel, don't misunderstand. But I won't call you my older sister, because that means I recognize you as my sibling."

She was silent. She tried to understand every word Kevin just said. And there was only one conclusion that she understood. Kevin still has great faith that their relationship will be more than just sibling hood.

"We have to go back, Kevin," said Jacel, who then got up and walked away from Kevin.

Kevin took a deep breath and ruffled his hair in frustration. "Jacel, wait for me!"

*****

Blaze took another sip of his coffee—well, his coffee was almost finished because he continued to drink it with two-minute breaks. Actually, he was a little nervous since Hans' sudden arrival and immediately asked him to have lunch with him. They actually know each other quite well, because he has been friends with Hailey since the beginning of the lecture period. But since Hans decided to move to Germany, they never communicated again.

He looked at the man who was finishing his lunch while he wasn't hungry enough to accompany Hans to eat. So, Blaze only ordered coffee. He took a breath. "Hans, is there something you want to talk about? I have a lot of work, so…"

Hans suddenly looked at him. "If you had a lot of work, you should have refused to come to lunch with me earlier. I never forced you to come along, did I? You have a choice, Blaze."

He becomes silent. The man's words are true. Well, maybe it's a habit. He almost never says no to someone. And he was smart enough to be able to say no to someone or something that ended badly.

"You want to talk about your sister's problem, don't you?" he said.

Hans put away the empty plate and took a sip of his drink. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and focused on Blaze. "Are you sure I came home just for Hailey's sake? Even though he is one of the things I want to talk to you about."

"Okay, then say it."

The man looked at him closely. "Well, first I just wanted to say that I was right because, in the end, what I said ended up being true."

Blaze frowned. "About what?"

"About Hailey not loving you, Blaze. I said it once, before I went to Germany. But at that time, you were still in a state of infatuation with my sister. But let it go. That's all over, isn't it?"

"Oh, that. Yes, congrats then. Your words are correct. Then what about the second one?" he asked.

Hans smiled faintly. "This is the second," he said, handing him a folded piece of paper. "Do not take it wrong. I just wanted to help you."

He read the contents of the paper, and the next second, he looked at the man angrily. "Thank you, but no thanks. I don't have depression or any mental disorder, Hans. So, this medicinal prescription will be of no use."

"Oh, believe me. One day, you will need it, Blaze. I'm just trying to be nice. Then third… oh, I guess that's all I want to talk to you about. Everything else is a matter of our family,"

Blaze is now really fed up with the man's attitude. In the past, he might have been able to endure his attitude because of Hailey, but now he has no reason to hold back. In fact, the twins were the same.

"You're done talking, aren't you?"

He then left the restaurant. He didn't want to lose his pride just because of Hans. And he hopes that he won't have any business with the Reyes family other than work.

After Blaze left, Hans took a deep breath and rubbed his face. He cursed himself for not being able to act better in front of the man. "Shit, what did I just say?! Hans Reyes, you really are a genius. You didn't come home to make Blaze hate you even more, did you?"

*****

Siegfried glanced at Cameron, who had entered his room. His cousin casually sat on a sofa while continuing to watch him, who was busy with some documents.

"Sonny Kim's land dispute issue has been resolved. One of the lawyers from Jordan Reyes' law firm will renegotiate with them and try his best to avoid trial," said his cousin.

He just mumbled. Well, according to him, it was Cameron's job. He is too busy to intervene to resolve the dispute. After all, the factory on that land is his cousin's responsibility. In addition, he is still annoyed with the man who takes his jokes about being gay seriously. Even to the point of telling it to Stephanie. That's so embarrassing.

Cameron looked at him seriously. "Hey, any other problems? Ellie said, you told me to go back to Grandpa's house. What's the problem?"

"I don't think it's anything serious. Except they might be discussing my marriage. Again," said Siegfried.

"Oh. But there seems to be something more bothering you right now. When it comes to marriage, usually you will…"

Cameron covered his mouth when Siegfried looked at him seriously. Well, he really knows that expression. It looks like something went wrong. Or rather, he had made a mistake. "W-why are you looking at me like that?"

"You told Stephanie about my joke."

Cameron took a deep breath. "Which joke?"

"Geez, Cameron Carter!! You told Stephanie that I was gay!" Siegfried said impatiently.

Cameron gasped. "O-oh. That? But you know…"

"For heaven's sake, Cameron. Can't you tell which is a joke and which is not?!"

"Well, I can't tell if I can't read your facial expressions clearly myself. You often make jokes with a serious expression. So don't blame me. Besides, why do you have to take being gay as a joke? Hey, you can be sued," his cousin said defensively.

Siegfried took a deep breath. "Go back to your room, Carter, and don't talk about this matter in front of Grandpa and the others. If you bring this up again…"

"Okay, I won't say anything, I promise," said Cameron quickly. He then got up and walked towards the door. But then, he turned around. "Ah, I forgot to mention the name of the attorney from the law firm Kang's office that handles the land dispute. His name is…"

"I don't care, Carter. That is your problem."

Cameron hissed. "Well, you should care, Sieg. Because the lawyer is Blaze Schift. Benice Schift's brother and the person you saved at Siargao resort three weeks ago," he said, then left the man's room.

While Siegfried cursed himself. "Will I see him again?"

*****