Two men are busy looking at each other in the living room.
What Nick witnessed earlier is beyond belief. "Did she blackmail my innocent best friend," he wondered. "My best buddy was absolutely enchanted and smitten by the evil heiress and even took her home."
The long, silent moment was broken by Erick's sharp voice, which made no attempt to conceal his annoyance. He is concealing his true nature by sitting on the couch like a predator. It was quite different from the submissive and timid face he had earlier displayed to Thea.
"What brought you here, Nick?"
Nick feels a shiver run down his spine as a cold sweat forms on his forehead. He has seen Erick's icy glare before, but only when it concerns his mother and sister's safety. Nick finds it difficult to understand why his friend would be hostile to him.
"Th-the c-chief instructed me to tell you that you need to report to the base tomorrow because of an emergency with the Bravo Team at Western Support Military Base. He also apologized for interrupting your vacation."
Erick gave a nod. "That's all it is?"
Nick stammered, "Y-yes...th-all."
Erick stood up and said while nodding. "Then you may leave."
"Y-yes, I'm leav- WHAT!!" he said.
In a severe voice and with a hand motioning to the door, Erick stated.
"I said... you can leave now Nick."
Erick still finds it difficult to understand why Thea was so shocked when she first met Nick; he understood it was her first encounter with his best friend, but the despair and anguish were plain to see on her face, however, it is obvious that Thea feels uncomfortable around Nick. Does she have any acquaintance with him? Erick wonders, but he is even more upset by the idea that Thea knew Nick before he did.
Nick exhaled in frustration at Erick's defiance.
"Huh!...considering that we still have a problem here, how can you make me leave, Erick, brother?"
"..."
"And why is that woman in your apartment? I previously warned you that she was dangerous; you already knew that she didn't like you, and we all knew that she was just taking advantage of you."
"..."
Nick keeps talking even though Erick seems to be mindlessly not paying attention while tapping his finger on the armrest. Nick continues speaking.
"I can't believe you, Erick, and yet here she is acting sweetly beside you, don't you find it weird? I already knew that woman is dangerous." Nick sighed." Erick listened to me, I'm here to protect you. Maybe that woman planned this all. Did you not hear what she said about you during her birthday party, she said that she will never get married to a mediocre general."
"..."
When Nick notices that his best friend appears to be lost in thoughts yet acts as if he doesn't hear what he is saying, he stops for a moment before asking.
"Hey... bro, are you even listening to me?"
"Have you met Thea before?" Erick questioned.
"Are you serious?" Nick was perplexed by what his best friend seemed to be asking him while ignoring all of his words.
"Just answer me Nick, have you met her before?
"No... Why do you ask? I just met her today. "
"But it seems like Thea knows you." Are you certain you haven't seen her before?"
Nick nodded, raising an eyebrow in wonder, "Besides, if I ever saw her someplace, I'm sure I'll remember her, who will forget that face, despite the negative things about her, at least she has a lovely face and godly body," but Nick quickly regretted his comments after noticing Erick's frightening air.
"Hey, hey, dude, I'm just stating the obvious here. Okay, everyone knows that the La Roche heiress has an attractive face and is well-known on social media, but of course, her sister is more gorgeous than she is."
"..."
"And here I am lecturing my best friend about his relationship but not even listening to my words, you are simply concerned whether I met her before you," groaned Nick, slamming his entire body onto the couch.
"..."
"Are you jealous, Erick?" while grinning broadly.
When Erick looks away and decides to ignore his best friend, he can hear plates clattering in the kitchen, and his face is plastered with a smile.
"Who are you? " Nick asked, perplexed by Erick's bright grin on his face.
"..."
But Nick chose to tease Erick even more, so he sat down next to him and put his arms around Erick's shoulders. Nick laughed, "You know what Erick when the La Roche heiress saw me earlier I thought she knew me by her expression... don't you think she has a crush on me... like love at first sight."
Nick's arms were taken off of him by Erick after he gave him a frown and took a firm hold of Nick's wrist.
"O-ouch...it hurts you know... I'm just kidding."
"Nick, don't talk nonsense."
Nick found it odd that Erick was acting jealous toward a woman for the first time.
"You're a hopeless case, but did aunt and your sister know about your engagement?"
Before speaking, Erick glanced at Nick and said, "You better not inform her before me, Nick," adding" Mother knew about the engagement but not my younger sister."
"Well... I know... how stubborn your sister is, she will become crazy about you getting engaged...hahaha," he said before continuing, "Just so you know bro... I'm still against about your engagement."
Erick laughed and shook his head at his friend, saying, "Who needs your permission anyway?"
Nick retorted, "YOU-.."
Before Nick can continue, Thea appears in the living room's corner.
"Erick, Are you finished chatting with your friend? The breakfast is ready,"
"Yes we're done"
The moment Erick saw Thea wearing his cooking apron and with her hair styled in an updo, and experienced a warm feeling in his chest.
Thea nodded "Then hurry up before our breakfast gets cold" and glance at Nick "You can also join us, sir"
"Uh-oh, sure, thank you,"
Erick followed Thea to the dining table while glaring at Nick and saying, "You better behave Nick."
"..."