Zein's Point of View
I can't help but feel annoyed with Ate Allison for what she said earlier. I get it—she doesn't like Ace—but that doesn't give her the right to try and ruin things. If she has nothing good to say about my boyfriend, she should just stay quiet.
I clutched my phone as I walked toward the kitchen, scanning the area to make sure she wasn't around. I wanted to avoid her as much as possible. Only Tita Mira, our long-time housekeeper, was there.
"Oh, Zein? Do you want something?"
I shook my head and poured a glass of milk from the fridge. "Did Ate leave?" I asked.
I sat on a high chair and took a sip. Aunt Mira gave me a look. "Who?" she asked, making me frown.
"Sister Allison. Do I have another sister?" I asked, laughing, though her expression seemed slightly worried.
"A-Ah? Yes—no, maybe she's just outside." She quickly turned back to her work.
I put my glass in the sink and grabbed an apple just as my phone vibrated on the table. I practically lunged for it. My heart skipped a beat when I saw Ace's message:
> "Can't stop thinking of you."
>
I bit into the apple, feeling like a complete idiot. Just one message and my heart was racing. I replied with shaking hands, feeling like a starstruck fan.
> "Get settled... No night out, please."
>
Ace usually prefers staying in, but his brother Raze is a different story. Raze is a handful, and I know he's a bad influence on Ace's peace and quiet.
I felt someone pass by and focused on my phone. It was Ate. She was getting milk too.
"Did mom and dad leave, Auntie?" she asked.
"Yes, a while ago." Aunt Mira wiped her hands. "I'll leave you two for now. I'm going to the store; we're out of stock."
What?! Just me and Sister Allison? I didn't want to be left alone with her. It was bound to be awkward.
"Auntie, is it okay if Zein and I go shopping with you?" Ate asked.
I looked at her. She had to know I was avoiding her. Why was she doing this?
"Are you okay, sissy?" she asked, calling me by the nickname she used to use. Tell me... how can I say no?
"I'll drive," I suggested. Sister Allison is a reckless driver. She doesn't care about rules—red lights are suggestions, and speed limits don't exist to her. Allison Shion is a "hell driver."
"Are we using Mom's car?" I asked, seeing it in the garage.
Ate shook her head, a mischievous smile appearing on her lips. That's never a good sign.
"WHAT?!" My jaw dropped. "No way."
She was looking at her motorbike. I wanted to cry because I knew, no matter how stubborn I was, I'd end up following her lead.
"Yes, sissy." She hopped on and revved the engine. I almost fainted at the sound.
I climbed onto the back, trembling. I felt the vibration of the machine as she buckled a helmet onto my head.
"How about you?" I asked, noticing she only had one.
"My little sister's safety first..."
I hugged her tight as the bike moved. Tita Mira opened the gate with a smile. "Bonding, huh?"
"Hold on, sissy. This will be fun!" Ate shouted as we blasted out of the gate.
FUCK IT! We were going so fast that the wind was whipping past us, but I could still hear Ate's laughter over the roar of the engine. People were honking at us as she overtook every car in sight. I saw a red light approaching, but she didn't even slow down. I squeezed her tighter and closed my eyes.
*God, help me.*
I didn't open them again until I heard her laughter stop and the engine cut out. This was definitely the last time I'd ever ride with her. I felt nauseous, but she just kept laughing. She loves seeing her passengers miserable.
Still, I realized I had missed this—her laughter, her teasing. It had been so long.
Inside the mall, I held the list while Ate pushed the cart. We hit the meat section, and she looked bored.
"This is boring..." she whispered.
I shook my head. What isn't boring to her? Gunfire? Blood? She and Raze are way too similar.
"How's Raze?" I asked while grabbing milk.
"We're not that close, stop asking," she snapped, her tone full of irritation. She's never like this with men, but Raze seems to be getting under her skin.
"He's a jerk," I added.
"Yeah, and an asshole," she agreed.
We joined a long line at the checkout. Suddenly, Ate looked at me with fake concern. "Zein, are you okay?!"
People started staring. I was fine—unless a stray bullet had hit me and I hadn't noticed.
"Are you feeling unwell?" she asked loudly.
"Wha—"
"GHAD! This will harm the baby! The doctor said the attachment is weak!"
Oh my God. I knew exactly what she was doing. I wanted to vanish into the floor.
"Oh, sister, you're first in line now," she said as the people in front of us hurriedly moved aside to let the "pregnant" girl through.
I bit my lip, avoiding the worried eyes of the strangers.
"Your condition is dangerous, mother," an old woman behind me whispered. "You shouldn't be out."
I smiled weakly while glaring at Ate, who was hiding a grin. When we were done, I practically dragged her away.
"What was that?!"
"A better plan. I hate boring."
"Where are we putting the groceries?" I asked, remembering the motorbike.
She took a small device from her pocket. "Two minutes," she whispered into it.
I hit my forehead when I realized I'd left my phone on the table at home. Ace might have replied, and I was missing it because Ate had scrambled my brain.
Less than two minutes later, a man in a black blazer and sunglasses appeared. Ate handed him the bags, and he disappeared as quickly as he arrived.
"I'm hungry," she said, touching her stomach.
I chose a fast-food place with the red bee figurine. We sat down with our order number.
"I thought you liked vegetables," she teased as we ate. Ate always encouraged me to eat healthy, but I guess a certain man's influence had changed my tastes.
Her phone rang, and she smiled at the message. "Finally, he accepted my deal."
"Uh?" I asked, confused.
She wiped her mouth with a napkin, her aura radiating excitement. I could feel the "action" coming back.
"I have a deal with someone," she told me. "If he wins, I won't talk about his brother to you. But if I win... he'll stop nagging me." She laughed.
I held my breath. "W-Who are you dealing with?"
She grinned. "A race deal... with Raze Silvenia."