Bea quickly composed herself and walked to her boyfriend's side but she went unnoticed. The implied relation couldn't be seen at first glance but now that they stood near each other, it was easy to compare as the two shared similar hair color and their aura overlap with one another.
"Bonie! You're here!" She watched in surprise how vibrant Carlyle's face became. Carlyle had never expressed that kind of emotion to her. He always smiles and gives tender looks but she felt it was always guarded and constricted. Seeing her boyfriend offering an unguarded and loose expression, a bit of uneasiness crept into her heart and her curiosity and irritation doubled. She wants to be introduced quickly. She studied the kid, who she saw earlier from her phone, there was something unlikable about him that she couldn't place her fingers on.
Her heart itched from the boy's bright smile.
"Hehe. Were you surprised? I was bored at home, so I decided to surprise you! I bought mom's cookies!"
Bea squinted her gaze at the kid, her feelings turning sour. She grabbed Carlyle's hand and pull Carlyle towards her side, still facing Brooklyn with arrogant eyes.
"I'm sorry but he doesn't like sweets."
Carlyle stared a bit shock by Bea's behavior. He shrug of the hand apprehensively and look at Brooklyn. Brooklyn saw it and felt his heart gloat for David.
Bea bit her inner cheek and grabbed Carlyle's hand again, who by this time didn't shrugged it off to her relief.
Brooklyn glanced at the tall woman. She was even taller than him! His heart cried at how small he was between these two giants as Bea's height stopped near Carlyle's cheeks and his height barely reached Carlyle's shoulder, he needed to look up, which he wasn't fond off.
"Huh? Who are you?" Since the moment he entered he had already paid particular attention towards the woman, studying her silently, he felt repulsed at first glance but he was willing to be blind and give a chance but it seems like Bea didn't like him too. Good. There was no point in playing the good guy.
"Bonie? Remember that person I told you?" The soft tone from Carlyle's lips was like begging Brooklyn to pardon and understand him. Knowing what of a perfectionist Carlyle was, he surely didn't want his prospect partner and his brother to meet this way. He would have preferred a formal dinner and proper introduction. Such a perfect brother, he doesn't belong to this psychotic bitch.
"Ah, the one you're dating?" Carlyle nodded and sigh in relief as he saw that Brooklyn understood his meaning.
"Yes. Her name is—"
"I'm Nathalia Beatrice Dean. You can call me Bea. I'm Carlyle's girlfriend." Brooklyn's eyebrows shot up.
He glanced at Carlyle who was wearing a surprise face. Their eyes met. Carlyle expressed his apology and plea. He sighed in his mind. At least he didn't need to do a thing anymore. He would let this woman dig her own grave.
"I'm Brooklyn, Carlyle's younger brother." Brooklyn took the offered hand lightly and let go. This caught Bea off guard and she paused for a bit feeling awkward in her heart. She admitted that she didn't like this kid at all but was she being obvious? She didn't think so. But why did it feel like the kid didn't like her too?
Brooklyn didn't feel the need to be bothered by her. He looked at Butler Wang and grabbed the readied wet wipe. Not caring whether Carlyle would get angry by his rude behavior though he cared about Carlyle's reaction. Well, he wasn't the first rude person here so it's fine. He could also use that to test Carlyle.
He looked at Carlyle, he could only see Carlyle looking at Bea tentatively, his eyes full of calculation, and for a split second, he could see doubt. Carlyle noticed his gaze and looked at him, their gaze met and Carlyle's gaze became soft and a smile appeared. He smiled back as he smirked inside his head.
Brother dear, if only you would learn to look at the person beside you then you would never need to worry about your love life anymore. David was rich, sensible and he knew him! He was the best candidate! Sometimes he just wanna bash Carlyle's head with a bat and hope to god that this brother would clear his head.
Bea was irritated, wasn't the kid being rude to her? Why haven't Carlyle reacted? Wasn't he supposed to reprimand Brooklyn as the older brother? She had never been insulted like this. Was her hand dirty?! Was she filthy?! Why does everyone around her boyfriend didn't like her? Carlyle even warned her that David was important to him but didn't explain why. She was understanding and didn't pry much. Now, this rude kid shows up and disrespects her. Where is her boyfriend?!
None.
This was her boyfriend's younger brother. She should understand. Right. There must be a reason. Right.
She clenched her teeth and heard Carlyle mumble, "Sorry about that, my brother just came out from the hospital and his health is still recovering. I hope you understand."
Her eyes widened, taken aback by her reaction. She forced a smile and said, "N-No. It's fine. I understand."
If he just got out of the hospital, then why is he here?! And sick? Her eyes scanned the bubbly meaty sunshine. What part?!
"Brother! The cookies will turn cold if we do not eat them now!"
"Oh. We can go inside and eat it, okay? Put it inside." Butler Wang bowed and excused himself.
Bea grabbed an inch of Carlyle's clothing, with a furrowed gaze and murmured. "Didn't you tell me that you didn't like sweets?"
Brooklyn heard it with his sensitive ears and slanted his head like a confused puppy and said, "No. My brother loves pastry. His favorite is our mother's cookies." You can't refute me, I'm his brother.
"Oh? People change..." Bea mumbled before she could stop herself from earning a deep look from Carlyle.
Carlyle hated what he heard and he hated it more that it came from the mouth of the woman he thought was the one. He hated that word because when change happened, he lost his parents, and just recently he almost lost his brother.
Sensing the cold atmosphere Bea added, "Or not..? Babe, why would you forget to tell me that. If I had known I would have baked you your favorites!"
Then she laughed dryly but no one went with her. She choked her laugh and stopped. She cleared her throat. The air was rising stiff and awkward.
Darting her gaze to Carlyle and Brooklyn she turned around and went back to the sofa, her every move felt like a rusted mechanic, and her embarrassment made her more uncomfortable. She closed her eyes and picked up her bearing and with a smile, she turned back bringing the lunch box with her.
"I also bought a snack. It's Japanese, I don't know if you'll like it though." Brooklyn raised his brows interested.
"Does it have sashimi?" Hoping for a favorable impression, Bea's smile widened. "Yes. It also has—"
"oh... But brother..." Brooklyn glanced at Carlyle with warry eyes.
"Brother David is allergic to fish."
===
To be continued…