Rodney stared at Zaijan, who was silently drinking champagne. He looked at his plate, and the guy only ate half of his meal.
"Zayn, is something bothering you?" Rodney, who could not stay silent, asked Zaijan with curiosity. "When I was in the Navy. Did something happen to you?"
Rodney joined the US Navy after completing college in the US several years ago. He came back to the country two years ago, but he noticed that many have changed in Zaijan.
He became more silent than he was already. Rick, a technology geek, Vincent, and Zaijan are the ones who love to study while he, Tyler, and their other cousins are constantly engaged with adventures.
Even so, Zaijan would join a lively conversation when their cousins were together. But when he came back home, Zaijan seemed more into deep thoughts and preferred to be alone most of the time.
When Rodney asked his mom, she only said that Zaijan had an important role in the Clan and that being the President of Lopez Corporation is a big responsibility on his shoulders.
However, he knew something was not right with Zaijan's temperament now. But his cousin doesn't open up to him.
"Stop bothering yourself about me. You better finish your food." Zaijan said without casting a glance at Rodney but stared at the liquor in his hand.
Rodney frowned at what Zaijan had only responded to his concerns. He treated him like a kid with his answer. Oblivious that he wanted to avoid the topic.
"Zayn, I always think of you as my older brother. But you cannot always treat me only as your little brother. I know there's something that is bothering you. Why don't you try to talk to me? Is it about your engagement? Do you want me to help you?"
This time, Zaijan looked at Rodney. He knew this guy would notice his gloomy mood. But he is not prepared to talk about the things that trouble him. And he is not ready to share anything with him when he has never had the experience of having a relationship.
The only people he could talk to about it were Jessa and Vincent. Gladly, there are people who he could turn to if the weight in his heart were unbearable already. It was the reason he drowned himself with work. That way, it set aside the overwhelming feeling he wanted to burst out any minute when he remembered it.
Then yesterday, Jessa told him she had seen someone. Jessa offered help to locate her, but he could not decide. Maybe he is truly a cowardly person, masked with a cold temperament to hide his true emotion.
They are all adults now. How can he not face it and get other people involved in his pain? Jessa is happily married, while Vincent deals with his own problems. Rodney offers a hand, but this guy isn't serious in his life. He is more likely innocent when it comes to a relationship.
Making up his mind, Zaijan forced a smile when he looked at Rodney. He keeps to the deepest part of his heart whatever bothers him like the usual in the past, so he cannot let Rodney read through him.
"And what would you do to help me free from my engagement?"
Zaijan raised an eyebrow and challenged Rodney's capability when he never involved himself in any relationship.
Rodney, as naïve, takes Zaijan's taunt so easily.
He said,
"It's simple! Why don't you create a scandal like Vincent? See? It's very effective!"
Zaijan stares at Rodney with a shocking face. 'This guy who hates girls is actually suggesting to me to have a scandalous issue?'
Zaijan shook his head and muttered, "I should have known what was running inside your head. If you think so, why don't you try it first?"
"What?" Rodney suddenly paled and realized that his joke wasn't appropriate at all.
Zaijan smirks, seeing the expression on Rodney's face. He knew this guy was just too good to make fun of others. But if he was in a situation, he was a coward to take part.
"Tsk. Tsk." Zaijan mouthed before emptying his glass and filling it again with sparkling white wine.
"Don't joke like that! Why would I worry about myself?" Rodney stressed out.
"Since you had this brilliant plan. You were upset that your mom was arranging a blind date with you. Why don't you show it to me? Then why don't you try it to see if it's effective like Vincent does?"
"Shut up! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Zaijan had rendered speechless. He was wondering…
How did this guy survive in the navy with his childish attitude?
It was what was in his mind, in which he answered his question to himself.
Rodney has been attached to him ever since they were kids. He would follow him like he was in his shadow. It was unavailable that he lasted for five years in the navy. And now, he's back at his usual self—a brat.
"Alright. Since you are done eating. I'll go back to our suite." Zaijan announced, putting down the empty glass.
"What? Are you not joining us upstairs?"
The third floor of this hotel is a private pub where guests can enjoy some music and good drinks.
"No. I need to attend a board meeting with Ashton," said Zaijan. It was daytime in the US, so he wanted to attend their conference.
Rodney was thinking of attending too, but this line of work was Zaijan and Vincent, who knew more than him.
"Vincent is also joining, right?"
"Yeah."
"Okay. Aunt Hilda told me that Vincent moved in with his girlfriend. So where is he living now?" Even though he knew they had nothing to worry about him, as he owned several condominiums and penthouses. But their aunt Hilda would not just sit around.
"I heard Vincent is living at Crescent Penthouse. The place is fully guarded, so aunt Hilda cannot insist on entering the penthouse."
"Vincent seemed to know what he's doing. I still could not believe he could disobey Aunt Hilda."
Rodney looks at Zaijan with a meaningful stare. Zaijan, on the other hand, understood what message Rodney wanted to convey to him. Vincent is younger than him. Why cannot he follow in his footsteps instead?
It's not about having a mistress but standing on his feet and having had the backbone to fight his mom. However, every case is not the same.
Zaijan only shrugged his shoulders and ignored Rodney. His cousin sighed inwardly and gave up persuading him.
"Alright. I'll escort you back. I want to wear a more casual shirt when I join Matt and Christian."
Zaijan nodded. He and Rodney left the dining hall without looking around.
On the table near the piano is Jesse, who has been fuming since she arrived in the hall, as Zaijan only ignores her. But what she fretted about was Zaijan's cousin.
Ever since this guy has come back, he is deliberately embarrassing her in front of Zaijan, which she cannot fight back because she is trying to look pitiful. So that she could win Zaijan's sympathy, but it always goes in vain!
Jesse has done it many times, but it always fires back to her because Zaijan is only siding with his cousin, who is like a little brother to him.
She tried to make a good impression to win Rodney's favor. However, she only dug a pit when she did that. When she persuaded Rodney, he told Zaijan that she was flirting with him, accusing her she skewered both cousins.
That enrages her. She is putting good intentions to win the people close to Zaijan but only snubs her. Even their older cousin Jessa. She could tell that Jessa was only nice to her out of politeness, but she actually didn't like her.
But that doesn't matter to her. As long as she is engaged to Zaijan and works in the same company, others can do nothing that she is the future Mrs. Lopez.
"Humph!"
Jesse cast a glare at Rodney's receding silhouette at the door. On the other hand, the guy feels a chill down his spine.
"Argh… I felt like a witch cast a curse on me," Rodney muttered to himself but loud enough for Zaijan to hear him.
"What?" Zaijan didn't understand Rodney at all.
"It's nothing. Maybe an ugly witch that is also a b*tch is fuming right now."
Zaijan glanced at Rodney with a baffled look on his face. This guy is mumbling so many things today.
'Maybe it was an effect of Aunt Hilda's pressure on him.' Zaijan thought to himself, then ignored the guy, who continued twitching his mouth, mumbling something.