Gathering

"Everyone is here. Let's start eating." Joel said while eating the starters served.

Aided raised his eyebrows, "Juan and Lyra are yet here."

Joel glanced at his friend, "Lyra is not feeling well. So she will not join us. Juan has some work in the office, he will join us in some time. So dig your food."

"She is sick? Why didn't she tell me? She didn't return home yesterday." Aiden said with furrowed brows.

"Don't worry. Juan was with her, I guess. You can go meet her in her place later."

"This brat. Is she taking herself as an adult? She is just nineteen now." Aiden said annoyingly.

"Hehe. She is annoying." Joel added playfully earning a glare from Aiden.

Tara and Oona chuckled.

"Sigh* How long has it been? You know it feels strange yet wonderful to gather with friends outside and have a meal." Tara said while fully enjoying herself meeting with her friends.

"And Oona let's go visit her after this. She was looking bad yesterday. we shouldn't have left her alone" Tara added looking at Oona.

Oona coughed as she didn't want the boy to know about Tara's feelings as everyone was aware of Lyra's love for Juan including Juan himself. She knew that they will immediately stop Tara. Aiden would obviously not let his sister watch her love with her friend every day. While Joel, definitely had nothing against Tara, between Lyra and Tara, it was obvious who he would support.

Oona didn't want them to meddle in this as Lyra already decided on something. Though she felt guilty for not encouraging Lyra to try to have her happiness, she can't do anything now. Both were her friends. She can only do as to what Lyra's wish is.

"Shush! Let's eat. The food is getting cold." Oona diverted the topic swiftly and others let it go as they didn't see anything suspicious.

"Let's eat!"Tara exclaimed happily while having a prawn starter.

Right at that moment, the private cabin door opened and there stood Juan looking so handsome.

Tara's face immediately beamed in happiness as her eyes glowed so brightly that all the other things diminished.

Oona noticed her changes and immediately glanced at Joel and Aiden. As expected, they were watching Tara too with furrowed eyebrows. But they brushed it off not thinking much about it. They just took her reaction to a teenage girl looking at a handsome hunk in a suit.

Oona sighed inwardly seeing that they didn't react much. While Juan made his way in between Aiden and Tara.

Tara looked starstruck at him while Juan turned to face her.

"How are you?" Juan asked in his deep voice.

Seeing that Tara was not on earth Oona kicked her leg under the table waking her from her dream.

"Huh?" Tara looked so cute with her animated eyes and confused expression.

But Juan didn't show any reaction. He just continued staring at her.

"How are you?" Juan repeated again.

Tara's face went red, realising that he was talking to her, "I- I am good!"

"H-How are you doing?" Tara asked hesitantly not knowing what else to talk about. But she wanted to hear his voice more.

"Hmm. Good." Juan replied shortly just like he did with everyone except Lyra. The only person whom he would waste his breath on talking to is Lyra.

Tara nodded happily at his reply and the group went back to eating their dinner. The group engaged in random talks and had fun. Tara kept glancing at Juan observing everything he was doing.

The group finished their dinner and went separate ways to retire for the night.

Aiden drive his way to Lyra and got her chicken porridge on the way from her favourite place.

Aiden too entered the door without knocking on the door and entering the password

"Lyra, brother is here," Aiden announced as soon as entered. When he didn't hear any noise he got worried if she was very sick.

He placed the porridge in the dining and saw that there was a thermos with hangover soup with a note. He went ahead and checked her in the kitchen. Seeing that she was not there he walked towards her bedroom.

He knocked on her bedroom and waited for some time. Still no noise. He furrowed his sharp brows and knocked loudly again.

"Lyra, Are you here? I am opening the door." Aiden said and opened the door slightly.

The lights were turned off but he saw a small figure on the bed under the blankets in a fetal position. He rushed to her side and placed his palm on her forehead, checking her temperature.

"Damn, she is burning. Why is being pathetic now? What is she doing here not telling mom, not coming home. Idiot." Aiden muttered angrily. He immediately brought a towel and water and placed the wet towel on her forehead.

He lightly tapped her shoulders, "Lyra, wake up and eat something."

Lyra opened her eyes drowsily and saw Aiden looking down worriedly at her. She clutched her head weakly from the pain. She tried to get up and groaned in pain

"Dummy, Do you want to die? Why are you here? What happened?" Aiden asked her.

Lyra furrowed her brows and whined to him, "Head, Head, someone is playing the drums inside. And my whole body is aching, also I am feeling very tired. Did you beat me up in my sleep?"

Aiden glared at her, "How I wish I did? I should have thrashed you! Brat, Don't change the topic. I asked if there is something bothering you. Don't give me nonsense. I will drag you to mom if you talk nonsense"

Aiden threatened her and Lyra's eyes immediately flooded with tears. Aiden panicked seeing her crying suddenly. Lyra threw herself in his arms and bawled her eyes out.

"Brother! I hate this! I hate everything!" Lyra wailed and hiccuped from all her crying

Aiden got worried seeing her like this but he didn't say anything and just let her cry. He waited till her crying ceased and asked her patiently.

"Brother... T-Tara likes J-Juan" Lyra said while glancing down.

"What!" Aiden exclaimed in shock and looked at his sister as if she was pranking him. Seeing that she was about to cry again, he patted her head and asked her again.

"What are you even saying! Are you serious?" Aiden asked slightly shaking her shoulders.

Lyra felt her head spin even from that. But she suppressed that feeling and looked up to meet his eyes.

"Hmm. Tara told us yesterday." Lyra continued.