Under the Clear Night Sky

Silence surrounded us for a few moments while enjoying our chips and drinks until he broke it.

"Hey Amazon, listen to me-"

"Shh..." I cut him off when I saw a shooting star quickly dash across the sky, and as if on cue, a meteor shower started to appear in front of us.

Gladly the sky is clear. This is another reason I want to be here tonight. I have been monitoring the news about this meteor shower that only happens once in a century, and it is so beautiful.

From my peripheral vision, I saw him look at the sky and we both watched it silently for some moment before he talked again.

"They say, when two people watch a meteor shower together, these people will stay together," he said that suddenly made me chuckle.

"That's funny Javier, I can't believe that I'll ever hear that from you. You must be drunk. So, what do you mean by that?" I said, but he did not respond which made me turn my gaze from the meteor shower to him.

He was looking at me with amused wide eyes and almost a mouth drop.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're smiling." He said in disbelief. "No, you're laughing."

That is when I realized what I just did. I bit my lip and looked away from him and back to the sky

"S-so?"

"I never saw you do that." He answered, still in a surprised voice.

"Just get over it, stupid jerk." I said in an annoyed tone, hoping that he'll eventually get over it.

He hisses. "You just laughed, and all of a sudden You're being a brat again. You're unbelievable."

I did not respond and placed my attention on the meteor shower. He would just annoy me and would not let it go if I responded.

"It suits you. You should often do that." He added and looked back to the breath-taking view in front of us. "Anyway, listen to me. I don't feel like paying a debt, and I don't like it." His voice suddenly became serious which made me look at him again.

He looks back at me.

"I owe you a lot, Amazon. You can have everything that you want, and I don't know how to make it up to you. So, I just thought of doing what I can do." He pauses. "From this day on, let me be your protector. From now on I'll protect you from those kinds of people until you'll get over your fear."

"What?" I asked in confusion and disbelief.

What is he talking about?

"Are you drunk already? You're talking nonsense, Javier."

"I mean it." He just looked at me with serious eyes. I stared back and while looking at it, something tells me that he is really serious and sincere about what he just said.

"Whatever."

I looked away from him and shifted my glance back to the meteor shower, which is about to end. However, I could not keep my mind away from what he just said.

What does he mean by being my protector? What a stupid crazy idea. I do not need that, and I will never want to have such a thing. I can handle and protect myself, on my own.

He did not speak another word again, so I tried to let it go. What he just said is complete nonsense.

We stayed there for a few more minutes until he stood up.

"We should go now. I don't want to go against your brother." He said and prepared to go.

I looked at my watch and saw that it was already eleven o'clock.

"Yeah." I did not notice the time.

I was about to stand when my leg suddenly felt numb and lost my balance. I expected to fall back on the ground, but he immediately grabbed my arm and pulled me up.

"Be careful." He calmly said in a flat yet husky voice.

"T-thanks." I said, still stunned by what happened. I was caught off guard.

I picked up his coat while he took our trash and leftovers. Neither one of us spoke another word until we got back to his car and drove me home. I suddenly felt exhausted, but I had fun.

When he was about to go after I got out of his car, he turned to me and said, "I'm not drunk, Amazon. What I mean about the two people watching the meteor shower together is that from this day on, you can count on me as long as you need me. I will just be here, always. I still owe you my life, and I can't let my savior be in danger again."

He smirked at me before he drove off leaving me dumbfounded.

Is he really serious about that idea? He has been unbelievable lately.

***

Everything goes smoothly after that day, things become normal except for the fact that Ace and I are not fighting anymore. This is our new normal, I guess.

Well, we are not fighting anymore, but he is still damn annoying. It turns out that his newfound hobby is to annoy me every single day. He even kept on urging and teasing me to smile which I deliberately ignored because I am not that stupid to just smile for no reason.

"Hey Kenz, are you alright?" Kate suddenly asked as we walked out of the studio where we just had our photoshoot.

It is Friday afternoon and the six of us head straight to a magazine photoshoot after class. The magazine wanted to feature us for one of their monthly issues as future heirs of our companies.

I frowned at her question, "Of course?"

Why wouldn't I?

"Well, we just noticed that you're a bit off these past few days." Renz answered.

"You also look a little tired," Andy added which made me realize what they were talking about.

"That," I said in realization. "Don't mind me, there is just a lot of stuff to do for the company. I was sleeping later than usual." I answered flatly, hoping that it would satisfy them because they would not stop asking questions if not.

The recent cloth line launch was a success and brought more demands from the company's new and major clients. For this reason, Sam and I had to increase our efforts to assist the processes within our branch. Mum and Dad will be back home next week, hence, Sam and I will get busier for a few more days.

This was not new to me, it actually happened a number of times since we started helping out the business and we were able to finish it smoothly. However, I have been feeling tired lately. I am quite guilty of overworking myself, maybe that's the reason.

"See? I told you, she's being a workaholic again." Kate pouted.

I roll my eyes at her.

Vince hisses and grins playfully. "You're too young for that Kenz, you should not be dealing with that stuff yet.

"Mind your own business, okay?" I said in an annoyed tone.

As soon as we reached the car park, I gave my things to my driver to put it inside the car. I cannot wait to go home and have my peace away from them. They are my friends, but they are too loud and nosy.

"Well, technically, it is our business to mind your business." Andy grinned.

I raised an eyebrow at them. Did they talk about this?

"Will you lessen your grouchiness?" Ace said from behind me and ruffled my hair with his hand that I annoyedly shove away.

"What the hell?!"

"Hey, don't fight in here," Kate said. Then, in a matter of seconds, she smiled as if she suddenly had a great idea and I think I know what it would be. " You know what, why don't we go to the mall first? To wind down or something, especially you Kenz."

I knew it.

"That's a good idea!" Andy.

"I know a new mall downtown, let's go there for a change." Kate added

"I'm in. It's still early and I don't want to go home yet." Renz grinned.

"I'm tired, I'll pass-" I was about to grab the door of our car to open it when Ace suddenly grabbed my hand to stop me.

"She means, she's coming." He said, then he looked at my driver. ". I'll take over from here, you can go now. I'll bring her home after. I will talk to Sam, don't worry, and don't worry about her, she won't fire you." He added before he pulled me to his car.

"What? Who says that you can do that?!" I said annoyingly and harshly pulled my arm back.

"Me."

"Nice one Ace!" Kate chuckled before she went inside Renz's car.

"Stupid jerk." I glared at him.

"I'm just teaching you how to live normally." He walked towards the driver's seat and opened his door before he looked at me with his annoying grin. "You can choose, get in or I'll pull you inside?" He smirked and entered his car.

I just glared at him in annoyance before I opened the door and hopped in.

"You're the one who's not normal, stupid."

He is getting worse.