XERA'S P.O.V.
He walked out the canteen. Is it really him or is it not? Who will I believe in? My cousin whom I shared my whole life with or in that Man who knows nothing but to play with people? Psh, Of course I would believe in my cousin.
I know it's bad to think of this but I've always thought that Jeremiah liked me. He just treats me so special that I can't understand what it means. I just erase it on my mind because I think I'm the only one imagining that. We're COUSINS.
Lunch break was finished and I got back to class. After 4 hours of class, We were dismissed. I have a Volleyball training for today so I started going to the girls' locker room and changed to my training clothes.
"Hey, Xera!" Ash, my teammate. "How're you?"
"Never been better." I chuckled.
"How's that boyfriend of yours? Hmmm?" She asked, teasing. I didn't respond so she went quiet. "Oh, I'm sorry."
"Nahhh! I have a new boyfriend now!"
"Yeah, right! I heard it!" We both laughed. "Jeremiah right? OMG So lucky of you! He's like every girls' dream!"
"Pfft! Not really! He's just nice." She rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Really, girl? How dare you!" She said, laughing before waving her hand and walking out the room.
I followed her to the gym and started warming out with other teammates. We played ball after before doing workouts.
We're currently doing our squats when Ash and I saw Jeremiah walked in the gym. He waved at us. Ash waved back but not me. How dare he walk out from me and just wave at me after that?
I looked away and continued what I was doing. After our training, I showered and changed clothes before walking out the gym. Jeremiah was walking beside me but I just ignored him.
"Xera." He called so I looked at him with no emotions. "Why are you mad?"
I looked down. Why am I? Even I don't know why. "I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"No, I'm not." I said calmly even though I really am pissed.
"You are."
"I am NOT!" I shouted at him and started to walk faster towards the school gate.
"Where are you going?!" He shouted from afar. I didn't respond. I was just walking when he was suddenly beside me. "Where the fuck are you going? Melantha?!"
"Home."
"Where's your driver?"
"Not here! I'm taking the bus!"
"No. You come with me right now!" He audaciously said.
"I will not follow all your commands. You're just my cousin." I whispered.
"What did you say?!"
"You're just my cousin." I said louder.
Silence.
I hear heavier footsteps.
Suddenly, I WAS FLOATING!
He carried me on his shoulders. I moved so he would release me but he didn't. He carried me from te school gate to the parking! Wasn't I heavy?
He put me down in front of his car and looked at me in the eyes. "Go in. Now!" I grumpily went in the car and put my seatbelt.
He was starting the car when he looked at me. "What's with that? You know I don't want you going home on your own! You're a Clavienta! You know what could happen! People could kidnap you for ransom! Are you out of your mind?!" I was angry when he just started to shout at me.
"Shut up, Je! You're nothing but my Cousin! You do not have the audacity to say that to me just because you're a year older! Tell me, what puts you in the right to tell me tha—"
I couldn't continue what I was saying when he just suddenly..
He..
Did he just...
KISS ME?!
We kissed for a while and I couldn't move in shock. I pushed him when I got back to my senses.
He looked in front and wiped his lips with the back of his hand, breathing heavily.
"What did you just do?!"
"I kissed you." He whispered while driving.
"What— Wha— I—" I couldn't talk and just sighed. "We're cousins, right?"
"Yeah, so?" I looked at him in disbelief before looking disappointedly in the window.
"J— just take me home." I whispered and he just nodded. The whole ride was covered in silence. He stopped in front of our mansion and I quickly got out the car and went in the mansion.
I walked directly to my room, giving my things to the helpers for them to take care of.
I lied on my bed and covered my eyes with my wrist.
Why would you do that, Jeremiah? That's a sin. It's a fucking sin. I rushed to the bathroom and washed my face. I looked at myself in the mirror for a while but interrupted when my phone rang.
"Hello? Who is this?"
[Xera..]
"Pardon? Who is this please?"
[It's Zwayne.] I was about to hang up but: [Please don't hang up! Please! I have something important to tell you!]
"What is it? Faster!"
[I— I— I— I was paid by Jeremiah to do that to Javeon.]
"What?! Is this true?"
[Yes! Yes! I promise! I have proof! Listen!] I kept quiet and heard him setting up his recorder.
[[Keep this a secret. All I need you to do is hurt him, Javeon.]] I was shocked when I heard Jeremiah's voice but continued to listen. [[Here's 100,000 Pesos. Keep this a secret or else I'll kill you.]]
[[Yea— Yeah sure.]] Zwayne replied.
The record stopped. I hang up and quickly changed my clothes. I called my driver and went to Jeremiah's Mansion.
"Je!!!" I shouted after walking in. He rushed down the stairs and walked towards me.
"What? It's late."
I didn't talk and showed him my phone. I played the record from the phonecall earlier and he listened to it.
"Xe- Xera that's not true!"
"That's completely your voice! You Liar!"
He held both of my shoulders and leaned on it. I felt his breathing on my neck.
"I'm so sorry." He said, sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Xera." I kept quiet. "I just gave him what he deserved." I pushed him in shock when he started laughing. "He deserves it! He hurt you!" He smiled at me while crying.
"You're crazy! Let's stop this, right now!" I pulled the contract from my pocket and tear it in front of him.
I walked out the door and went in my car. I called Javeon while on my way home.
[Hey, Xera.] He answered in a deep voice.
"Are you okay? How are you?"
He chuckled. [I'm good, I'm good.]
"Hmm. It's confirmed that it was Jeremiah."
[Really? Why did he do this to me though?] He asked, laughing. It's not the right time to joke.
"Will you sue him for that? It's okay, I can help you. I know what he did was crazy. I can lend you my lawyer."
He chuckled again. [No! It's okay. It will heal.]
I just kept quiet. He kept quiet. I hang up the call.
I can't take it anymore. Too many problems, too many responsibilities; I have no time to manage my social life for now.
It's time to go back to my true color.
Black.