Chapter 9: Deal
Zein's Point of View
I couldn't help feeling annoyed at Ate Allison because of what she said. I get it, she doesn't like Ace, but that doesn't mean she has the right to badmouth him. If she doesn't like my boyfriend, why not just shut up, especially since nothing worthwhile would come out of her mouth anyway.
I gripped my phone tightly as I headed to the kitchen. I looked around first to make sure Ate Allison wasn't nearby. As much as possible, I'd just avoid her. I continued walking and went straight to the kitchen, where only Tita Mira was there. She had been our house helper for a long time.
"Oh, Zein? Do you need something?"
I shook my head and took some milk from the fridge, pouring it into a glass. "Did Ate leave?" I asked while pouring the milk.
I gulped down my milk. I sat on the high chair and gave Tita Mira a look.
"Which Ate?" she asked, furrowing her brows.
"Ate Allison, is there any other sister I have?" I asked with a laugh, which seemed to slightly worry her.
"Ah? Oh—no, maybe she's just outside." She quickly turned away from me and returned to what she was doing.
I put my glass in the sink and grabbed an apple from the table just as my phone vibrated on the table. I almost tripped running to it.
My heart seemed to jump when I saw his message.
"Can't stop thinking of you."
I bit into the apple I was holding as I read it. Shit! One message from him, and I already felt like an idiot. I tightly shut my eyes to calm the chaos inside me.
I quickly replied while nibbling the apple. My hands were still trembling, like Ace was some celebrity replying to a superfan. Damn it!
I quickly replied to him while nibbling on the apple. My hands were still shaking, like Ace was some celebrity replying to a superfan. Damn it!
"Get yourself together… No night out, please," I replied.
Ace wasn't really the type to go out much anyway, and he usually preferred staying inside our condo with me—but with his older brother around. Raze was an ass, and I knew that wouldn't be good for Ace in any way.
I felt someone pass by my side, so I decided to just focus on my phone. It was Ate. She probably got some milk too.
"Mom and Dad left already, Tita?" I heard her ask.
"Yes, some time ago." I saw Tita Mira wipe her hands before turning to Ate. "I'll leave you two for now. I'm going grocery shopping, the stock's all gone."
What?! Me and Ate Allison? GHAD!
I don't want to be stuck with her, and now it looks like it's just the two of us? That's… awkward, right? Or am I the only one feeling this? Damn, Zein.
"Uh? Tita, is it okay if it's just Zein and me going grocery shopping?"
I glanced at Ate, who was staring at her glass of milk. I wanted to resist what she said. She must know I've been avoiding her, right? So why would she do this? UGH!
"Is that okay with you, sissy?" I tightly shut my eyes when I heard her use the nickname she used for me before.
Tell me… how can I say no? UGH!
"I'll drive," I suggested because I didn't want Ate Allison to drive.
She's a reckless driver! Damn! She'd probably kill everyone in the car with how fast she drives! She doesn't care about rules. Red lights are still go for her! There's no limit to her speed.
Overtaking even when the signs say no. Allison Shion, the hell driver.
"Are we going to use Mom's car?" I asked when I saw that Mom hadn't used her car sitting in the garage. They probably just used Dad's car, which they often do.
Ate Allison shook her head, her smile gone—and I'm telling you… that's not a good sign.
"WHAT?!" My jaw almost dropped when I saw what we were going to use. "No way…" I shook my head as I stared at the motorbike we were supposed to ride.
I wanted to cry at moments like this because I knew that even if I tried to be stubborn, in the end… she'd still get her way.
"Yes, sissy." She hopped on her motorbike and started the engine. I almost went deaf from how loud it roared, a grin still on her lips.
OH GHAD! What have I gotten myself into?
Maybe I could still back out? Make an excuse? Stomach hurts? Diarrhea? Headache? Toothache? Heartache?
"No excuses, my dear little sister." She laughed. Damn!
I shakily climbed onto the back of her motorbike. My whole body trembled as I felt it come to life. I bit my lip while letting her fit the helmet onto me.
"How about you?" I asked, since she only had one helmet.
"My little sister's safety comes first…"
I hugged her as I felt her slowly rev the bike. Tita Mira, opening the gate, greeted us with a smile.
"Bonding, huh?" she teased, making Ate laugh.
Once we were out of the gate, she stopped the bike for a moment. "Hold on, sissy. This will be fun!" She shouted as the motorbike surged forward.
FUCK IT! Even though we were going insanely fast, I could still hear Ate's laughter loud and clear. So many people were honking at us because of what she was doing. She was overtaking almost every vehicle.
My body trembled as I saw the light turn red, but Ate kept going. I held on tighter and just shut my eyes.
God, help me.
I didn't open my eyes again, hearing only the honks and Ate Allison's laughter. This is seriously the last time I'm ever riding her bike, I swear.
When she parked the motorbike, I almost felt nauseous while she just kept laughing. She was genuinely happy seeing her passengers miserable. It was like her goal was to make everyone riding her bike feel like this.
I pouted. Somehow, I missed this. I missed Ate's laughter, her teasing me. It's been a long time… Ate, I missed it.
I was holding the shopping list while Ate pushed the cart. We went to the meat section and grabbed the meats listed. I glanced at Ate, who was pouting.
*"This is boring…" *I heard her whisper.
I just shook my head. What isn't boring to her? Shooting? Gunfights? Blood? Life-or-death scenes? UGH! This one's truly abnormal, totally a match for Raze.
"How's Raze?" I asked while picking up the boxed milk.
We were almost done. I was getting hungry too, so we'd probably just eat at a fast-food chain here in the mall.
"We're not that close, stop asking." She said coldly.
I laughed because her tone clearly showed irritation. Ate had never been like this with the guys who fawned over her, but this time… she might actually lose. Raze, huh? Is he really the match for an Allison Shion?
*"He's a jerk…" I added.
"Yeah, and an asshole." She added too.
We got in line to pay. The line was kind of long, so we'd probably be wasting a few minutes here.
"Zein, are you okay?!" Ate asked, concerned, which made me furrow my brows.
A few people around glanced at me too, so I felt embarrassed. What's she talking about? I'm probably fine unless some stray bug hits me without me noticing.
"Do you feel sick?"
"Wha—"
"GHAD! That's going to be with Ace's baby. The doctor even said the baby has a weak grip."
OH MY GHAD! I knew exactly what she wanted to happen, and I just wanted to disappear from where I was standing.
"Ah Ate, you go ahead in line, okay?" And a lot of others went along too, so now we ended up at the very front of the line.
I bit my lip while avoiding the worried looks of the people around us.
"Your condition is really delicate, young lady. You shouldn't be going out too much." I heard an older woman behind me say.
I just gave a simple smile while giving Ate Allison a look, she was trying to hide her grin.
"You're too young to have a child… Oh, the youth these days."
When we were done, I pulled Ate away from there.
"What was that?!"
"The better plan… I hate boring." She said with a grin, and I just wanted to go home.
Honestly, I'd probably prefer boring over this. Ate had gotten even worse, and she needed someone to handle it, someone only Raze the jerk could manage.
"Where do we put the groceries?" I asked, remembering that we were on a motorbike.
She took a small device from her pocket and pressed something on it. "Two minutes," she said to the device before putting it back in her pocket.
"What's that for?" I asked, but she just shook her head.
"Two minutes." She said it again, and we did as told.
I smacked my forehead, realizing I'd forgotten my phone on the table. GHAD! Ace might have replied already. Why did I forget it? UGH! Because of Ate, she had shaken up my system so much that my thoughts were a complete mess.
Not even two minutes had passed when a man appeared in front of us. He was wearing sunglasses and a black blazer. Ate handed over the groceries and exchanged a look with the man, who quickly disappeared from our sight.
*"I'm hungry…" she even held her stomach.
I had been the one to choose our food, and I picked a fast-food place with a little red bee figurine.
"You sure? You really want this?" She asked. I told the cashier our orders and was given a number.
We sat at a vacant second-row table and placed the number on the table.
"I told you, vegetables, didn't I?" she said.
Ate Allison had encouraged me to like vegetables, but so much had happened. I still liked vegetables, but I couldn't ignore the influence of a guy in my life.
Our orders arrived, and we ate quietly until her phone vibrated. I watched her read the message, a grin spreading across her face.
"Finally, he accepted my deal," she said with a grin.
"Uh?" I replied, confused.
She smirked at me and wiped her mouth with a tissue. I could feel the excitement radiating from her. I could sense action again, but this time, what kind of action is it now?
*"I have a deal with someone…" she told me. "If he wins, I'll stop badmouthing his brother to you. But if I win… he'll finally stop pestering me." She burst out laughing.
My brows furrowed before her words fully sank in. GHAD! What did she just say?
"W-Who did you make a deal with?" I asked, even though I already knew who she meant. I held my breath while waiting for her answer.
"A race deal with Raze Silvenia."