Chapter 2

"Qian are you drooling right now?"

My eyes widened as I saw Mae pointing at my face mocking me. I made face as soon as I realized that she and Pat were laughing hard.

"Come on just go talk to him"

I scrunched up my nose as I leaned back in my seat. I stared at Mae and Pat who was busy trying to pick which food they're gonna eat. Mae and Pat are both engineers and are on the same department as Josiah. 

And they're both my housemates in the apartment I am living in. And unluckily, the only ones who saw through my facade of not having a crush on Josiah. I placed my chin in my palm and just stared at the stairs leading up to the engineering department before checking my phone.

Not a little while later, a message popped up.

From: J

Happy Birthday 

I lied.

This wasn't a simple crush anymore and yes, we had already been talking. And yes again, I made the first move. I was the one who messaged him first, feigning ignorance and talking about work related stuff. Then I threw in some hobbies that we both share and voila we're here now. I swear sometimes it's just so easy to get men's attention.

But then I had to admit that simple greeting was enough for me to plant a smile across my face and leap out of my chair to go back home.

"You leaving?"

Mae asks and I just feel my smile widening.

"It's my birthday, gotta get back home"

"Is that friend of yours gonna pick you up?"

I looked at Pat and saw how he was blushing. I raised an eyebrow at him when I realized that he was swooning for Pierce. I let out a laugh.

"Why? wanna see him?"

Pat blushed harder while Mae elbowed him as she teased him.

"Too slow, I'm gonna get going. Bye"

I said quickly, almost sprinting out of the office and towards Pierce's car which was outside. Pierce was waiting in front of the passenger side of the car, arms crossed in front of his chest.

"Pierce!!"

He raised an eyebrow at me as I practically skipped to where he was standing.

"20 minutes Harriett, be grateful it's your birthday because if it isn't —"

"He greeted me"

I cut him off as I excitedly told him but Pierce's face contorted into that of confusion.

"Who?"

"Josiah"

I happily exclaimed as I told him the details. But I stopped when I saw how Pierce's eyebrows were meeting in the middle, his face the utter depiction of hurt.

I quickly grabbed his arm and looked at him only for him to steer away his gaze from me.

"Hey what's wrong? Are you hurt? Are you injured? Should we just take the taxi home?"

Pierce smiled sadly at me before shaking his head. He blew out a couple of breaths before placing his head on top of mine.

"Just exhausted, I'm sorry to burst your bubble. Happy birthday Harriett"

He said endearingly before pulling me into a hug to which I gladly gave him back. Once I did, I felt his hold tighten, his face buried in the nook of my neck. I patted his back.

"That's okay, you're not bursting any bubbles. Thank you even though you're tired you still always pick me up Kael"

I felt him chuckle as he broke our hug. His face was back to that of my best friend, the arrogant and womanizer one.

"Still curious why you call me Kael on times like this"

"What? It's oddly endearing and I love that name so I don't want to overuse it"

He chuckled again before ruffling my hair and opening the car door for me.

"Well then Birthday Girl, we should get going, if you want to celebrate your day"

I laughed as he acted like he was bowing to me while he held the door open. I sat in the passenger seat as Pierce walked around the car to his side.

I fished out my phone and typed a message for Josiah.

To: J

"Thank you"

I typed quickly before charging my phone in the car's charging port. I smiled suddenly, feeling like my 21st birthday was more special than my previous ones.

"Hey I need to make a quick stop at home, is that alright?"

Pierce asked as he started his car and I could only cheerfully say yes. It's not like I can say no especially when he's the one driving.

"Oh, are your mom and brothers home?"

Pierce glanced at me before nodding.

"You can stay in the car if you're uncomfortable with them Harriett, I'll just go grab something quick from my room"

I nodded as an answer. Pierce's family isn't exactly the welcoming type when it comes to his friends, especially to me. I know his mom has a pretty good reason to hate me but that still doesn't take the sting out of it. 

"Give me five minutes" 

Pierce said as he frantically ran up inside their house which is basically a villa now. I stepped out of his car and stood in front of it looking at their house. With its towering walls and high gate enclosed a four storey house with its own pool and backyard. Sometimes I can't help but think how we live in the same neighborhood but our houses couldn't be more different from one another. 

Pierce's family is considered to be the richest one out of all in our neighborhood, well his parents do own a large engineering company so I think that one's a given.

"Oh it's Qian, Happy Birthday sissy"

I turned around and saw one of Pierce's older brothers and smiled. He walked towards me and immediately gave me a hug.

"Hey Kuya Pete, thanks"

I returned back his hug only to see that he wasn't alone. Behind him were their two eldest brothers and mom. I walked towards them with heavy feet as I took Aunt Bia's right hand and placed the back of it on my forehead as a sign of respect. 

"Happy Birthday Qian"

Aunt Bia greeted me shortly to which I thanked her. I glanced at Kuya Price and Paulo and nodded at them as they just stared at me. Pierce is the youngest of them and out of everyone, it's only Kuya Petyr whom I'm actually close with. 

"Are you waiting for Pierce?"

"Yes uhmm he said he was gonna get something real quick"

"I see"

Aunt Bia rubbed her two fingers on her lip, a habit Pierce shares with her. It was not long before she stared at me straight in the eyes and instantly the chills envelop my spine. That's how it always is with Aunt Bia.

"Qian I want you to stop hanging out with our Pierce"

Blunt as ever but I do have to admit that it caught me off guard. I knew that Aunt Bia had always hated me for what had happened to Pierce when we were kids but to bluntly tell me to stay away from Pierce was a first.

"Mom? what are you doing?"

We all turned to see Pierce on the gate holding a paper bag. His glare a murderous one as he stared at his mother and older brothers.

This won't end well.