Can I Court You?
Cheska’s chin is just resting on her palm while watching the guy walking away with a girl.
The girl seems so cheerful while talking to that guy. How is she doing it?
The guy seems uninterested in everything. He’s still sipping on his drink. What a surprise she’s still up for a story-telling.
She clenched her chest because of a strange feeling. She feels heavy. It’s almost the same feeling before when she woke up from a nightmare.
Unfortunately, she can’t remember anything from that dream. Even the fragments.
So…why is she feeling the same thing as that guy? Why is she feeling pain? Sadness? Anguish? Sorrow?
How could she feel those things to a stranger? To the guy whom she barely knows? To the guy whom she only met for like...minutes?
She shook her head when it started to ache. She should stop thinking about things that don’t make sense at all. Maybe it’s nothing.
Right. It’s just nothing.
There’s no way there’s another meaning for it. She doesn’t know him. There’s no way there’s something about it.
Surprisingly, the pastry tastes really really good. Her eyes sparkled while staring at nowhere. She unexpectedly paused because of a surprise to its palatability.
“Ms. Park?”
Her eyes went to the guy who called her. It’s their driver.
Her dessert is already done and she’s starting to get bored when he came. She decided to stay in that place since she has no idea where to go anymore.
At least in that place, she’s sitting. She doesn’t want to walk that much.
“Mr. driver…is Joshua already done?”
“Not yet, Ms. Park. It might take longer than he’s expecting so he asked me to take you home.”
“Not yet done? How about him?”
“I can come back here after I take you home.”
Cheska stood up silently and walked away without saying a word. That’s a surprise for the driver.
After hearing her fight with her brother earlier, he’s expecting to hear another protest from her.
On Cheska’s side, she’s already bored, and going home is the best thing to do now.
Their driver is right on time so she’s sure Joshua saw this one coming. She’s certain Joshua assumed she’s now getting bored.
His brother surely knows her well.
“How did you know where to find me?”
“Mr. Park told me, According to him, you might be resting now or staying in one place because of boredom. And since you like sweets, he assumed you’re here.”
There’s no doubt to it.
Cheska only winced at it. His brother knows where to find her.
That made her think. If she intentionally hid from him, will he be able to find her? She still hasn’t done that so she can’t tell. She sees no reason to hide from him too.
If she asked him to find her, she doubts Joshua will accept it. And if she hid without his cooperation, he will never find her.
“Do you want me to prove you she’s single?”
Lorenzo sighed while his one hand is gripping the steering wheel. He’s in the parking lot together with Alex while patiently waiting for Ralph and Xander.
They decided to stay there since he cannot be seen with those two. There’s still a possibility they might encounter the guys who infiltrated their mansion on the public.
“I told you, she’s not. She’s with a guy this morning. They’re eating in a fancy restaurant. There’s no way nothing is going on between them."
“You still can’t tell that? They can be friends or what?”
“They’re sweet,” he said. “You haven’t seen it so don’t convince me anymore.”
Alex chuckled at it. “Wow! I still can’t believe that girl caught your heart. I thought Kenneth was just messing up. But looking at your reaction now? You’re in big trouble, Lorenzo!”
If he can only plaster Alex’s mouth, he might have done it a long long time ago. That guy surely doesn’t know when to stop his mouth just to tease him.
His seniority is ineffective. He even doubts Alex sees him as a senior. He’s surely Xander’s older brother.
“Oh!” his eyes widened. The sudden presence of the person in front of them abrupted his laugh. “That’s her, right?”
Lorenzo’s eyes widened a bit. They’re just talking about her and now she’s right in front of them? Talk about timing.
“Alex—”
He just cursed when he realized he already left his seat. The sound of the door being closed made him sigh really deeply.
He is really going to do what he was proposing to him a while ago. He wants to stop him but he doesn’t want to leave the car.
He doesn’t want to be seen by Cheska.
He thought he’s only hiding from the guys who went to their mansion. But now, he realized, it’s not only them he’s hiding at.
Great.
“Cheska!”
They both turned to him. The driver instantly went in front of Cheska to protect her from an unfamiliar face.
Cheska blinked repeatedly. “Alex?”
“Yes!” he smiled at her widely. “Do you mind if I ask you something? I’ve been dying to ask you this one.”
She nodded in confusion. She asked the driver to step away and explained to him that he is her classmate.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo, his brows are just knitted. He’s going to ask the question directly?
Is he insane? Does he have no shame?
Wait, why is he still asking that?
“What is it—”
“Can I court you?”
Cheska’s and Lorenzo’s jaws dropped. The driver blinked repeatedly. Alex’s wide smile remains as if he didn’t just say something surprising.
While Joshua who came into the situation at the most perfect time stopped walking.
What did they just hear?
“H—huh?”
This is the first time someone ever asked her that question. It’s just out of the blue. Not to mention, Alex seems not serious about it. It’s all over his smiles—the mischief.
She can feel her cheeks in embarrassment. Same goes for Lorenzo. Funny how they’re the ones feeling that instead of the most guy who’s doing something embarrassing.
“Can I court you?”
Joshua’s brows knitted. He’s not just hearing things. Someone is indeed asking that ridiculous question to her sister.
He resumed his walk and stopped beside her. She flinched. She didn’t even feel his approach.
It’s almost the same as when Cj stopped her from gripping Julie’s neck. And when the guy she met earlier walked away.
She heard no footsteps. She felt no presence. They just vanished and appeared.
“Who is he?”
“Oh…” Alex muttered to herself. “Lorenzo isn’t lying at all…”
And it made him sigh. He shook his head in disappointment. That’s what he gets for not listening.
“I thought you’re still not going home? What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to tell something to the driver. He’s not answering his calls so I assumed you’re in the parking lot already,” he explained. “So, who is he?”
“U—uhm…”
“H—hold up! I was just kidding! Sure, you’re pretty and I like your personality but I have no intention of courting you!"
Cheska’s lips parted. What is she hearing now? A confession? From Alex?
Lorenzo’s eyes closed tightly. That awful stranger surely has no shame. He has no shame.
“I actually asked that just to know if you’re taken. Looks like you really are—”
“Taken?” Cheska and Joshua asked together.
“Aren’t you two…together?”
Both of the siblings' eyes blinked repeatedly, processing what they just heard.
Later on, Cheska giggled and Joshua scoffed.
“He’s my brother!”
Alex’s jaw dropped together with Lorenzo’s. His eyes went to the guy beside her.
He’s sure that’s the guy she’s with this morning. They’re wearing the same color of blazer.
So…that’s his brother?
Not a…boyfriend?
“That’s not new…” Joshua muttered.
“B—brother?!” Alex stepped back in surprise. “I—I thought…you don’t look alike at all! Anyway, that was just nothing. I don’t mean to court your sister!”
Cheska is still laughing. Alex is really funny. Really.
“Wow, you really are not taken huh? Hah, I’m right! What a relief!”
Cheska’s amusement vanished into thin air. His reaction changed in a blink as if he’s not just scared of Joshua’s sudden appearance earlier.
And what is he talking about?
Joshua gave no attention to it anymore and looked at his watch. He only asked for a 10-minute break. He still has more time.
However, in the middle of it, his brows suddenly furrowed when he felt someone looking at him. His eyes instantly darted to one car like an arrow.
That caught Lorenzo off guard. Did he just feel his presence? He’s looking right at him. Right on his eyes.
But the car is tinted…and it’s far from where they’re standing?
“Is that your car?”
“Car?” he looked at it. “Oh yes. That’s mine.”
“Do you have someone with you?”
Alex isn’t expecting it as well. How did he know that? He has now the same questions as Lorenzo. The car doesn’t look like it has someone inside.
“How did you…know?”
Cheska looked at his brother, seeking an answer from him. How did he know it? Even she can’t help but feel curious.
The car looks like…just a car. A simple car.
Joshua left that one unanswered. He went to their driver and gave him few instructions after taking her sister home.
Before leaving for good, he looked at the car again. And again, their eyes met.
Lorenzo only watched him as he takes his steps away from them. So it wasn’t just a coincidence that he stared right at him. He knows exactly where to find him.
He went inside the mall without looking at anyone.
His forehead is still creased, wondering and analyzing. What a strange feeling he felt when their eyes met.
“Who is…he?” he muttered under his breath.