Chapter 25: The Rivalry Begins

**Sebastian's POV**

They were discussing who would be Jasmin's partner for Grace's wedding.

The wedding is in the afternoon, so they still have time to argue about it. Meanwhile, I'm just sitting beside Jasmin, with Jacob on her other side.

Since we arrived here, Jacob hasn't left Jasmin's side. The way he acts, you'd think he's her boyfriend. Tsk! And he's even trying to court her!

**"At least he knows how to court someone. And you?"** my inner self mocked.

Not to brag, but I don't need to court anyone—girls come to me.

"Jacob can be her partner," one of their friends suggested.

I clicked my tongue, catching their attention.

I just crossed my arms while leaning back in my chair.

"Why not Sebastian?" someone else suggested.

Oh, that's a good idea.

"What if Jasmin just chooses between the two of them?" another girl suggested. I don't know their names, and I don't plan to find out.

"I can walk alone," Jasmin replied.

Good answer. Better than choosing that tofu-looking guy beside her—so pale, he looks like a block of tofu.

I know she wouldn't pick me anyway. She still seems annoyed with me. But I don't mind... it seems like not a day goes by without her being irritated with me. And I enjoy it—seeing her face turn red with annoyance. It's so cute, I just want to pinch her cheeks.

"That's not allowed. You're the only one without a partner."

Why is this girl always against everything? So what if Jasmin doesn't have a partner?

"Alright! To make it fair for our two handsome gentlemen, let's have a contest to decide who will be Jasmin's partner. Game?" one of the girls suggested.

"Game!" tofu boy (Jacob) replied enthusiastically.

"Ugh, do whatever you want!" Jasmin said in frustration. She stood up abruptly, but not before kicking me in the shin before leaving.

Jacob and I both stood to follow her, but the other girls blocked our way to stop us.

We had no choice but to sit back down, glaring at each other.

Now we're at the copra-making area. This is where we'll compete for Jasmin's partnership.

"Alright, here's the task. You'll race to peel ten coconuts as fast as you can," one of the girls explained.

"Jacob already knows how to do this, but Mang Isko will demonstrate for you, Sebastian," she added.

Tsk! This game isn't fair! Why not just let us fight it out?

After Mang Isko demonstrated how it's done, Jacob and I took our positions. But before we started, Jacob took off his shirt, earning squeals from the girls.

"Wow! Jacob has abs now! It wasn't long ago that he had a belly."

Of course, I wouldn't let myself be outdone. So I took off my shirt too, showing my perfectly sculpted body.

"So hot! I feel like having coconut soup!" one of the girls exclaimed.

I smirked to myself at their reactions. I glanced at Jacob, who was also looking at me.

I smirked at him.

He just clicked his tongue.

Admit it—you're intimidated by me.

Then my gaze shifted to Jasmin, who had been quiet all this time. I smiled at her, but she just glared at me.

"Alright, let's start before we start drooling over your bodies, hahaha," one of the girls joked.

We each grabbed a coconut and positioned it on the sharp blade used for peeling.

"1... 2... 3... Go!"

We started peeling. I cursed internally because I thought it would be easy.

But it wasn't. It looked simple, but it was really hard.

It took me almost a minute just to peel one coconut. Eventually, I got the hang of it.

I had peeled three coconuts and was working on my fourth when my hand slipped, and it hit the sharp blade.

"F*CK!" I yelled as my palm got cut and started bleeding.

"Oh no, are you okay?" the girls rushed to me to check my wound.

I ignored it and was about to continue peeling when Jasmin grabbed my injured hand.

"Stop it. Can't you see you're already hurt?" she said. She took out her handkerchief and tied it around my wound.

---

We returned to Grace's house, and of course, I lost. I only managed to peel three coconuts, while Jacob peeled five.

Jasmin made me sit down and went inside the house. When she came back, she was carrying a first-aid kit.

She cleaned and treated my wound while I just stared at her face. I reached out with my other hand to tuck her hair behind her ear.

She looked up at me and met my gaze.

"Jasmin, you're next for makeup," one of the girls called out.

Jasmin quickly looked away and turned to the girl who called her.

"Alright, I'll finish this first," she replied.

After treating my wound, she wrapped it with a bandage. She packed up the first-aid kit and stood up without a word, walking back inside Grace's house.

I just watched her walk away.

"You like Jasmin, don't you?" one of the girls said, sitting where Jasmin had been earlier.

If I remember correctly, she's one of Jasmin's friends, but I forgot her name.

She's the second person to ask me the same question Alex asked me before.

"No!" It took me a while to answer.

"Come on, don't deny it. It's obvious you like Jasmin," she teased.

I chose not to respond and stayed silent.

"From the way you look at Jasmin, it's clear you have feelings for her. You better realize it before it's too late—before someone else takes her away," she added before leaving.

What nonsense is she talking about? Tsk! How does she know more about my feelings than I do?

So what if I look at Jasmin differently? Does that automatically mean I like her? Can't I just find her beautiful?

Tsk! And why would I care if someone else gets to her first? Even if she dates other guys, it's none of my business!

---

"Oh my gosh! Jasmin, is that you? You're so beautiful!"

I snapped out of my thoughts and turned my attention to Jasmin. I couldn't see her clearly because her friends were blocking my view.

Without realizing it, I stood up, unable to take my eyes off her as her friends stepped aside, revealing her.

She was stunning.

She wore an off-shoulder pink dress that reached just above her knees, with a flower crown on her head that matched her curled hair.

I just couldn't take my eyes off her.

Our eyes met, and my heart raced.

But she quickly looked away when someone else caught her attention. It was Jacob!

I clenched my fists as he held her hand.

I wanted to pull her away from him. No one else should hold her hand but me.

She's mine!

Jasmin is mine.