CHAPTER 3: CHILDHOOD FRIEND?

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Xia turned around fast just to know that the unexpected voice came from Vincent, who was apparently sitting on top of the railings of the balcony. He is dressed comfortably with a blue hoodie and ripped jeans. "What exactly do you want, stalking me won't do you any good" Xia said with her arrogant tone. "My lady, are you accusing me for something unreasonable?" Vincent disappointingly opposed. "I can call Ann to testify for me" Xia said as she broke off each other's eye contact. Vincent went silent and followed Xia's gaze towards the city.

"Mind telling me why you trespassed my property" Xia asked. For her, it seemed weird that Vincent managed to break in without alarming anyone in the vicinity, it's almost as if he also has skills high in infiltration. "Well, I have my ways" Vincent jokingly said that made Xia a bit irritated. (knock, knock, knock) the door is opened by Ann who looked left and right as if looking for someone "Ann what brought you here?" Xia said, she also looked for Vincent who should be with her a few moments ago. "Strange, Xia is anyone with you just now?" Ann asked out of curiosity. "No, I'm the only one here" Xia said with a straight face in order to erase Ann's doubts. Ann shrugged and went to open the door. "Come on, let us have dinner" Ann invited. Xia approached the door but before closing, she scanned the room one more time but found no traces of him. Xia came down to the dinner table with Ann and forget everything that has happened.

Vincent climed back to Xia's balcony, laughing quietly. He jumped of to a nearby tree the same time Ann went inside the room. "That was close, but it seems that my friend doesn't remember me anymore" Vincent's phone rang. "Ok, Im already leaving this moment".

Xia returned to her room and found a calling card left on her desk. "This is Vincent's" Xia disregarded the card but she couldn't seem to find the heart to throw it away, sighed she kept it into her drawer right below her desk. Xia changed into her pajamas and went straight to bed. A silhouette is seen at the balcony, suddenly disappearing into the woods.

Ann woke up early today only to realize that Xia is already out in the woods. Huffing snd puffing, Ann continued to run deeper into the forest to find Xia. Ann is so busy thinking about where Xia is that she wasn't looking where she is going. "Ann look out!" Ann immediately snapped back but was too late. Ann bumped her head into the trunk of a tree. Ann lost her balance but was caught by Xia, "Silly Ann, I left a note for you at my desk, didn't you see it?" chuckling Xia flicked Ann's forehead. Ann pouted and averted her gaze from Xia who seemed to be enjoying the show.

The two went back to the manor, Xia treated Ann's bruise from hitting the tree. "Happy that you left me" Ann caught Xia smiling, unable let go of what just happened. "I still can't believe that you just actually bumped you head at a tree" Xia teased, Ann just kept pouting with her arms crossed at her chest. "You're lucky, the bruise isn't that bad to leave marks on your face" Xia said as she started to clean up the medical kit.

"Miss, your grandfather called" A maid said coming in Xia's room. "What is it?" Xia asked, "Miss, you should greet your brother who is downstairs this moment" Xia halted and faced the maid "Don't joke with me, I know brother won't be here until next week?" Xia asked, "So, I'm guessing that my little sister don't want me to come back early" A smart and cool voice appeared at the door. Xia couldn't believe her eyes, A handsome young man dressed in a formal suit with a smile on his face wave at Xia and Ann. "Xander!!" Xia pounced a hug to Xander who returned earlier to surprise his sister. Xander flicked Xia's forehead, giggling to her brother's gesture Xia asked "I thought you're gonna come next week" "Is it a crime to come back for my little sister" Xander explained.

Xander looked at Ann who is enjoying the little sibling reunion. "Ann thank you for being a good company to my sister" Xander pulled out a box that holds pearl earrings, a small gift but Ann is reluctant to have such thing so she refused. Xia took the box and personally placed it on Ann's hands "Take it, it's the least we can give to thank you" Ann saw another one of those rare gentle smiles in Xia's face. Sighed, Ann gave in "I'll leave you to for the moment so that you can catch up on things" and with that Ann left the room along with the maid who was standing quietly at the corner.

"Xia, I heard about the your predicament with the Fin's" Xander came straight to the point. "Yes, everything is settled. There's gonna be a board meeting three days from now, since the both of us are shareholders I believe that you have to come" Xia replied. "Like brother, like sister" Xander knew that Xia will make him come to the meeting even if the both of them would rather do the opposite. The siblings talked on and on throughout the afternoon.

Meanwhile in a nearby mansion, "Sir Xander is back in the country" a man in a suit said. In a dark room, a man stood looking out of a huge window smiling a sinister smile. "It seems that getting close to her will be much more harder now" Chuckled he turned around and face his assistant "You may go now, if it weren't for you it'll be a surprise to find out he has returned" the assistant bowed and left the door in an instant.

"Xia, you are full of surprises. I'm very interested, what will you do next?" talking to himself he opened his phone and gently caress the woman in the wallpaper "One day you will remember, one day you will be mine".

The next day, Xia, Ann and Xander left the manor. Ann was dropped off at her place then the siblings decided to stop by at their grandparents' place. They didn't stay long and went back to their mansion. "Xia, does father come by often?" Xia just lowered her head at this question. Xander sighed, he saw disappointment in his sister's eyes. Xia then received a warm hug from his brother, "I'm sorry, I wasn't here when you need me" Xia smiled and faced her brother "It's not your fault, I am doing just well here. No need to worry" Night passed by quickly and morning came. At the kitchen a sweet smell of cooking is present. Xander took a peek at Xia who is busy preparing pancakes topped with berries and syrup partnered with french toast and fried egg as well as orange juice.

"Xander come and eat, the food is ready" Xia invited Xander who was just leaning against the door. "Well prepared breakfast I see" Xander gave Xia an applause "I had to welcome you for your arrival" Xander was touched for the simple arrangement. "Okay, come on let's eat, you need to go to school right. Might as well drive you there" Xia brightened by Xander's offer.

"How's everything in school?" Xander wanted to make up for everything that he and Xia missed on those years that he went abroad.

"Everything's cool, well except for the people there" Xia, being different has always been different to the public. Fitting in is simply a bit hard but Xia didn't want to adjust to please others. Because of this, she is distant and have social issues.

"Xia, if you need anything. Don't hesitate to call me, okay?" "Of course, I know very well that only you and Ann can be trusted" Xia always feel warmth when she is with her brother, something that the outside world couldn't give to her.

"Brother, do you remember when we we're kids. We made a promise to each other then" Xander held Xia's hand, his hand is bigger compared to Xia who's hand is slender and smooth. "Why would I forget such beautiful memories? We vowed to never leave each others side. Even though I am miles away from you these years, never forget that we are still connected"

A car came in front of the gate of the university. It is new look, no one knows whose car this is, curiosity and excitement raised in the air. A young man came out first, his face is gentle and charming yet familiar. When Ann saw him, she knew who is going to appear next.

The young man went to open the door of the passenger side and out came woman who looks like the young man who opened the door for her. Everyone was at awe, neither of them expected that it was Xia who is with the gentleman nor did the chance to see the cold and indifferent campus belle smiling.

Her smile left eveyone speechless, Xia was known to be charming but her smile gave off a shining aura. It felt like a goddess has came down on earth!

Ann approached the both of them "I've never seen you smile upon a crowd before Xia, what change in attitude" Xia just rolled her eyes with Ann's teasing, *seems to me that my girl woke up with a good mood today* Ann took the advantage of Xia's good mood to talk about old times before Xander left the country.

But behind the crowd, with clenched fists he stared at the guy beside Xia with anger "So, you want to take her away from me once more? Is it Xander? Don't worry you won't succeed this time" and with that he left.

Xander sneaked a peek through the crowd and held Xia's hands tightly. *he's back again. No, I will make sure that no harm will come across my sister*.