Ethan's POV
Just thinking about my date with Iza made me restless. It felt like my first real date, and I could sense something raw and beautiful for her—something I'd never felt before. As scared as I am, it feels stronger than my desire to be with Meliza.
I was shocked when Vince barged in early, wearing a basketball jersey that read "Adriana's Farm" with the number 12. Thankfully, Jonathan had already left for his run.
"It's early. What's up?" I asked, watching him lean against the door with a serious look.
"You win," he said softly, leaving me stunned by his words.
"Iza and I can only be friends, and she made that clear last night. Hearing about your date really hurt. I knew I'd lose to you, but I still hoped she'd give me a chance," my cousin added, and my heart raced.
"Do you think I have a chance with her?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. Vince's expression grew serious.
"I'm not sure. But I'll help however I can, as long as you promise you'll never break Meliza's heart," he replied.
"Vince, have you seen me like this? I've never been this crazy about a girl. I want her to be mine," I answered.
"I didn't want her to reject me, Vince. I wanted her to like me, and I was afraid our date would be a disaster," I added.
Vince's expression shifted—his eyebrows raised, his gaze intense. I could see surprise and curiosity in his eyes as if he were seeing me differently.
"Wow, I didn't know you felt this strongly. Just win her heart with your charm. Believe in yourself; you always have girls swooning over you," he let out, and I sighed.
"Iza's not like other girls, you know that," I muttered.
"I agree, you should take the car," he said, handing me the keys.
"Thanks. I just want to inform you I'll be taking my car—it's more convenient. Also, I need a favor. Can you help convince Nina to give me Saturday off?" I asked.
"And please, don't mention this to my father—not yet. Once I'm with Iza, I won't hide our relationship, but I don't want to jeopardize my chances with her," I added.
"Don't worry, I'll tell Nina you're helping me with an errand," my cousin replied, and I chuckled.
"Thanks, bro. I owe you," I said, rising from bed.
"Don't mess with her feelings, or I'll be your enemy," he warned.
"Stop it. I've already told you I'm serious about Iza," I replied firmly.
"I just wish she wouldn't see you as her boyfriend, but I know it's selfish of me to stand in the way of her happiness. She never looked at me the way she looks at you—like she does when you're not paying attention," my cousin admitted, and my heart fluttered with excitement.
"Do you have any tips for me?" I asked, trying to hide my joy, not wanting to hurt his feelings further.
"Talk to her best friend. Ruby knows Iza better than anyone. They grew up together and were inseparable. That's why Nicole and the others envied them," he replied.
After Vince left, I went in search of Ruby. Vince was right—she was the only one who could help me with Meliza.
"Got a minute?" I asked, finding her at the back of the house, watching Vince do his daily workout under the morning sun.
"What's up?" she replied, glancing at me before turning her attention back to my cousin, a sweet smile lighting up her face and a glint in her eyes.
"It's about your best friend. Can you help me?" I asked, meeting Ruby's gaze.
"It depends," she said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she fully turned to face me.
"What do you mean by that? If you're after money, you know I don't have enough right now—it's not payday yet. But I swear I can pay you, no matter the amount," I said. Ruby's laughter echoed through the air, causing Vince to stop and glance at us with a confused look.
Ruby quickly turned to face me, her cheeks flushed.
"It's not about money, lover boy. I know you're not like Vince—his family's loaded. Is it true your father works as one of their drivers?" she asked, and I nearly gagged. I hadn't known that's what they'd told people about why Vince and I were best friends.
"Yeah," I replied, feeling down. I'm Isagani's son, yet I'm struggling because of my own mistakes. I wish I'd handled things differently—I could have had Meliza's full attention.
"That's cool! What's it like living there?" she asked, curious.
"Just fine. But how do you know all that about me?" I asked.
"I overheard Nicole and her friends gossiping, but I haven't told Meliza. She doesn't seem interested in you, and if I did, she'd make me keep quiet," Ruby said, and my heart sank.
"That's why I need your help," I muttered, frustration creeping inside me.
"If I give you something, you'll need to give me something in return," she said.
"I just want to know everything about her," I replied.
"Well, it's not going to be free," she answered, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What can I give you besides money?" I asked, and her cheeks flushed as she looked away, glancing at Vince, who was still doing push-ups.
"I like your cousin. You're not the only one with feelings for someone," she said, and my jaw dropped.
"Wow! That's… interesting!" I managed to say after recovering from my shock.
"Yes, I'm in love with your best friend. If I help you with Iza, you'll do the same for me. Tell me everything about Vince. I wish he liked me, too. In exchange, I'll give you tips on how to win my best friend's heart," Ruby declared.
Deal. It's a win-win situation. If you help me, I'll do everything I can to make Vince fall for you," I replied, and her face lit up.
We found a spot in the garden, and after hearing everything Ruby shared, I became even more fascinated with Meliza. I could see how exceptional she was, and how much she cared for her family truly warmed my heart.
"Thank you so much, Ethan," she said with a radiant smile after I shared the highlights of my cousin's life. I couldn't tell her that Vince and I were related, though.
"I just have one question: why him and not me?" I asked, and she laughed, shaking her head.
"You're really full of yourself," she teased.
"You're definitely hot and handsome, but you're just not my type," Ruby added.
"Are you sure about that?" I asked, intrigued.
"Honestly, everyone has a crush on you, including me—it's because you're physically appealing. But what I feel for Vince is different. It's something deeper I can't really explain," she said, her honesty making me smile.
"Is it because of his stature in life?" I asked, and her face immediately dropped.
"Of course not," she replied quickly, shaking her head. "I don't care about his money or status. I love him for who he is. His kindness, his sweetness—he's a true gentleman. Something you're clearly lacking."
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sting in her words. "That hurts," I muttered, half-laughing.
"Well, you have a reputation with girls," she added, a teasing smile on her lips.
I scoffed. "I haven't hurt anyone."
Ruby didn't miss a beat. "Except Nicole. You rejected her in front of everyone. You could have been more considerate and talked to her privately."
I shifted uncomfortably, memories of that moment creeping back. "She deserved it. What she did to Meliza… spreading those rumors. I couldn't just let it slide."
Ruby's expression softened, and a small smile tugged at her lips. "If Meliza's the reason, then I'd actually be proud of you."
I smirked, my chest puffing up slightly. "Well, of course. Why else would I have bothered? I might get into trouble with our manager, but I'm not just some pretty face."
She laughed and slapped me on the shoulder. "Yeah, right. Keep telling yourself that."
If you want Iza to like you, maybe you should tone down the conceit. Keep it simple. Don't keep praising yourself," she suggested, raising an eyebrow.
"Is being honest really that bad?" I asked, trying to defend myself.
Ruby shook her head. "Honesty's fine. But you don't need to remind her how handsome or amazing you are every five minutes. We all know it already. If you keep going on about it, that's just boasting."
I shifted, feeling a little embarrassed. It was a bad habit, but I hadn't realized it came off that way.
Ruby smiled, clearly satisfied with her point. "Okay, now I've told you enough about Iza. Your turn—tell me about Vince."
I grinned, eager to share. I filled her in on everything I knew about my best friend, enjoying the moment.
"Good luck with Iza tomorrow. If you take her to the beach, I'm sure you'll have a great time," Ruby said with a wink, turning to leave.
Then, just as she was about to walk away, she paused. "Oh, and one last thing—she likes love songs," Ruby added, glancing back at me with a mischievous glint in her eye before walking off.
The day of our date finally arrived, and I parked my car in front of the farmhouse, my nerves kicking in as I waited for Meliza. The girls stepped out onto the porch, greeting me with cheerful hellos and small talk. I casually mentioned I was waiting for my date.
I could see Nicole's expression shift. Her smile faltered, replaced by a sour look. She quickly whispered something to her friends and motioned for them to follow. I thought they'd head back inside, but they lingered on the lawn, watching.
Time seemed to stretch on forever as I waited, my mind racing. Then, finally, the door opened. Meliza stepped out with Ruby by her side. Ruby caught my eye, giving me a quick wink and mouthing, "Good luck."
My heart hammered in my chest as my gaze locked onto Meliza. She looked absolutely stunning.
Her makeup was light, accentuating her natural beauty without overpowering it. Her curly hair shimmered as it fell over her shoulder, and the innocent look on her face made me want to get to know her even more.
I couldn't help but smile, feeling a rush of gratitude that she actually showed up. I wasn't sure what I'd have done if she'd stood me up. But now, all I could feel was excitement for the day ahead.