Season 5 Chapter 3

Today I decided to take a leave of absence and meet my brothers as I promised them. I took a warm bath and dressed up in a turtleneck sweater and blue jeans. I straightened my wavy hair and put hair gel on them. Before walking out of my room and heading towards the café where we met last time. Taking out a chewing gum from my pocket, I unwrapped it and put it inside my mouth while placing my hands inside my pockets. I chewed the gum while advancing towards the café. I prayed that King didn't show up with a random date during our meeting. Over the years it has been quite disappointing the way he has been treating himself. While trying to take revenge on our father, he has been walking on the same dark path that father took during his youth. It hurts watching King ruin his life out of spite.

As I stood at the opposite end of the street, patiently waiting for the traffic to subside, my gaze drifted towards King, who was stationed near the café. There, I observed him bidding farewell to a male companion with a tender kiss, a sight that left me perturbed. Crossing the road, I couldn't help but furrow my brow in disapproval, arms folded in a display of my growing restlessness, silently questioning his demeanor.

Me: Seriously, even men aren't safe around you? (I sighed)

King: What? I am a bisexual. (He pouts) jeez, stop judging me. (He says before hugging me tightly and kissing my cheek)

Me: Yea whatever (rolls eyes and pushed his face away)

King: Come on now, Stop with that judgmental look. (He pouts still holding me) Right now you are giving me; Leo vibe. (He said before leaving me and opening the door and bows) After you, milady. (He grins)

Me: Cheesy pick-up lines. I don't know what those people see in you, that they want to date you in first place. (I rolled my eyes)

King: Maybe...my charm? (He grins) and my kind and caring attitude, which you choose to ignore? (Snickers)

Me: blah blah blah. (I mocked him before entering the café. The familiar aroma of coffee surrounded me, making me forget all my troubles for a second as we sat beside a window to enjoy the scenario along with a good beverage. The waitress walked up to us with her notebook.) One Expresso.

King: Make it two. (he said before winking at the waitress who blushed in return while nothing down our orders and walking towards the counter). See? I have natural charms. (He laughs)

Me: Hope your 'natural' charms doesn't get you into trouble in the future. (I said facepalming)

King: Aww, is my cute little sister worried about her elder brother? (His eyes sparkles with expectations as he pinches my cheeks)

Me: (I puffed my cheeks getting pissed) Fuck off. (I raised my middle finger)

King: So cute!!! You look like a puffer fish when you are angry. (He laughs while cupping my cheeks)

Me: Ahhhh!!!! I hate you!!!! (I said getting embarrassed) Who calls their sister, a puffer fish?!!

King: Me. (He grins shamelessly)

Me: I give up. I cannot win an argument with you. (I sighed)

King: you shouldn't have tried in the first place. (He laughs as the waitress places two cups of expresso along with her number in front of us.) Thank you. (He says with a charming smile)

Waitress: Mr. King, hope you will call me. (She blushes before walking away)

King: Hey Anne, what's better than being a Playboy? (He smiles)

Me: being a famous playboy? (I rolled my eyes)

King: Bingo! (He winks)

Me: Someday, you will receive consequences. Either you will get in trouble, or I will fall for a guy who is playboy like you. (I said while sipping my expresso)

King: (his expression darkens) Who would dare play with my little sister? (He grabbed the cup tightly)

Me: Maybe I will fall for some playboy deliberately to teach you a lesson. (I sighed)

King: (he grabbed my hand tightly) Please don't speak nonsense. I am not going around breaking people's heart. I am just fixing those with broken hearts. It's not the same thing. (He said getting desperate)

Me: How? I don't understand what nonsense you are speaking. (I said withdrawing my hand)

King: I….I can't explain to you. But just trust me. Okay? Your brother King that worse of a person. (He smiled)

Me: (I sighed) I know. I just can't watch you ruining your own life.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something then looked away with depressed expression over his face. There was a long silence after that. Neither of us felt like starting a conversation. The silence was occasionally broken by the vibration of his phone, but he choose to ignore. The phone kept ringing as he frowned finally getting irritated at the constant vibration.

King: Agh. (He pinched his nose bridge tapping on his phone frustrated)

Me: Just pick it up. Maybe it's something important. (I urged)

King: Nothing. It's just an annoying bug. (He said feeling restless while standing up) Excuse me. I will be back in a minute. (He said before heading towards the door.)

When he was about to open it, a woman with dyed brunette hair walked in and hugged him tightly. King's eyes moved towards me for a second before he pushed the woman back bit gently and grabbed her wrist hurrying out of the café. I frowned watching the scenario unfolding in front of my eyes, I couldn't decide, if I should interfere or mind my own business while I sipped the coffee and stared out of the glass window. I could see them arguing in front of the café, tears rolled down from the woman's eyes, and King seemed helpless and frustrated at the same time. I sighed before getting up and paying the bill and walked out of the café. As I pulled open the door, I could clearly hear their argument.

Freya: Why are you doing this to me?! (She bit her lower lip staring at King) I thought we had feelings for each other! (She says in disbelief)

King: Freya, stop speaking nonsense. (He said calmly) I think you are forgetting our deal. Before starting to date, I made it clear that neither of us should have feelings for each other. We are dating for mutual benefits. I will help you heal from your last relationship while I can get over my loneliness. (He rubs his forehead) I make it clear with every person I have ever dated.

Freya: But….you didn't fulfilled your end of the bargain. We were supposed to date for atleast two months before parting ways. But you quitted just after a week. (She said while fidgeting her fingers getting uncomfortable)

King: (he runs his fingers through his hair) Because you lied to me. And I despise liars. Freya, you never had a boyfriend in first place. You made up a story to draw my interest. I think it's better if you leave, instead of further embarrassing yourself.

Freya: That's because I have feelings for you! I love you! I didn't know how to make you get interested in me, so I lied…..(she looks down, there was sadness and desperation in her eyes)

King: (he sighs rubbing his forehead getting frustrated) Listen Freya. I am sorry, but you fell for the wrong guy. I am not someone who is emotionally available. I am not a good person, it's better if you move on and fall for someone who would truly value your presence. (He smiled warmly)

Freya: (slaps King hard over his face  , her eyes red with anger and moist with tears that she held back) you will regret ignoring me. (she says before walking off)

He stood there for a moment, silently observing her departure. His clenched fist betrayed not anger towards Freya, but a simmering self-loathing. As he turned towards me, a witness to the unfolding drama, his eyes shielded his inner turmoil, his jaw set firm. A crimson mark marred his otherwise flawless complexion. Leaning in, he tenderly brushed his hand over my head, wordlessly conveying a complex mix of emotions.

King: I am sorry kiddo, for ruining our date. Maybe next time we will have more fun. (He smiled faintly)

Me: (I touched the red area on his cheek. It felt like someone was stabbing my heart, it was the first time I saw King feeling defeated.) King...(I pressed my upper lip against my lower lip hard, unable to find any words of consolation but I was anxious, as if a tornado was about to hit my elder brother)

King: Hey kid. Don't worry. Your brother is a strong guy. (He grinned) You should get going now, or else Leo will give me an earful of lectures. (He said before turning around hiding his face due to embarrassment) I am sorry for being a useless person. Unlike Leo…..I am a nobody. (He said before walking off)

I yearned to intervene, sensing his defeat and pain like witnessing a valiant warrior brought to his knees before adversaries, pleading for mercy. Yet, paralyzed by indecision, I stood frozen, unsure of my role. The impulse to embrace him tugged at my heartstrings, but before I could act, he vanished from view, leaving me to rue my inaction as I emerged from my reverie.

To be continued....