Zach's POV :
It was almost 45 mins ride to school and as I reached, I parked my car some distance away from the gate. I quickly got down from the car and closed the door before I walked into the campus in search of him. As I walked further in, I heard a commotion. Thinking that it is just some kids playing around, I decided to ignore them when,
"Haha! Look at you cripple!" One of them cooed and I heard the kids laugh.
I had an idea of what was happening and I couldn't ignore that. So I followed the source and that's when my gaze fell on him not so surprisingly sitting next to the ice cream truck, not just that, the sight had me squint my eyes in displeasure. It was the scene that I had faced when I was young, the things I dread. It was Wes getting bullied by his seniors.
"Looks like he's bound to be this way, what do they call that?" the other one asked the group.
"Wheelchair-bound! Haha!" everyone laughed.
"Hold on guys!" A guy walks in wearing a soccer jersey with a ball in his hand.
"Where are your parents again? Did they leave your crippled ass too? So sad" He cooed with a sympathetic smile and everyone laughed as the girls cheered him.
I clenched my fist as I was so ready to use them as my punching bag but then I realized one thing. When I was in his place, my brother always stood up for me but I wasn't proud of it. I always wished to stand up to myself without any help. So I decided to hide and wait until I'm required. I was more amused to find Wes having ice cream leisurely, ignoring them.
"Seems like someone's excited for a Lil punishment from me because NO ONE would dare to ignore me-" and before I could realize it, he threw the ball at Wes.
*bang*
Before it could hit Wes, he held his fist to the ball without any effort and the ball flew in the other direction.
"I'm sorry that my permanent disability has caused you a temporary inconvenience but stop being 'that' kid who tries to bully everyone he sees just because he's desperate to keep his reputation and yeah, just so you know, it's not worth it", He said and the guy looked surprised. Not just him but me too. When I was in his position, I couldn't stand up for myself but I'm glad he did. I feel like a proud brother as the others went away clearly irritated by his behavior.
Since it is time that I show myself, I slowly crept towards him from behind.
"BOO!" I yelled as I held his shoulders and he looked startled at my presence.
"Bro! Don't you Boo me! What are you? 4?" He rolled his eyes at me. "Definitely not 5 since I don't boo people", He said trying to turn his chair which didn't go unnoticed by me.
"You were startled anyway, so my effort didn't go in vain" I shrugged as I helped him, push his wheelchair not before looking back at his seniors playing on the ground as I walked back to the car. I opened the door, carried him in bridal style, and placed him on the seat.
"Yeah, whatever. Seems like we got replaced with our age" He scoffed and before I close the door, he slammed the door shut. I shook my head and folded the wheelchair and placed it on the back seat. I walked up to the driver's seat and took a seat as I closed the door. I leaned back as I inserted the car keys turning on the engine.
"The older you grow, the more you miss living with this childish behavior in one's self, you know?" I sighed as I glanced at him with a smile and he did the same. We looked at each other for a while before he slowly nodded at me.
"No. I don't since I'm still 5" He replied and my smile slowly turned into a frown.
"And yet you act too mature than your age" I whispered to myself and he simply rolled his eyes at me. I shook my head as I pressed the accelerator and drove away.
________________
I dropped Wes at his home and finally reached the mansion. Let's say no one has ever waited for me but the scene in front of me has my heart melting. None of my previous relationships made me feel this way but here she is standing next to the door, waiting for me. Everything she does has me wondering like 'do I deserve this?' and most of all 'do I deserve her?'.
'What if she gets to know your past? She will definitely leave you alone' my brain mocked.
"....Definitely not", I replied as the fear crept through me.
'Hey! Trust me she won't. You know when it's about relationships, you need to listen to your heart right?' My heart asked.
"Yeah?" I asked, hesitantly.
'Yep. Your brain doesn't know what she makes you feel but I do. Trust me and tell her about your past, she'll support you' my heart said, raising a small hope in me.
'Yeah, that's what your heart said during your previous relationship and she left you alone. Not just that, you got to know that she was with you for money but lucky for you, Xander caught her' my brain mocked.
"Hey! That was you who suggested she was good, not my heart", 'That was you! Not me!', I and my heart said simultaneously.
'Whatever but this girl will definitely leave you if she finds you talking to us like a maniac', My brain said and this time my heart hummed in agreement. That's when I realized what I'm doing and I shook my thoughts away before glancing to the door to find her missing.
"Haha. They said you so!" I whispered to myself as I unbuckled the seat belt.
"Who said what?" a voice asked and I squealed in horror. I swiftly turned my head to my side to find Eshana laughing with a hand on her stomach.
"Y-you! Squealed like a g-girl! haha!" She laughed out loud not realizing that I got down from the car and unknowingly, a smile formed its way across my face as I continued to look at her.
I slowly walked up to her and her laugh died as she noticed the distance between us. She was about to run away when I caught her wrist and pulled her to me. I raised my hand, brushing the strand of hair away from her face and my eyes flickered to her eyes. Brown was always my favorite color but her chocolate brown eyes gave me one more reason to love it. I leaned down and slowly placed my lips on her cheek for a while longer before pulling away to find her cheeks red. I always wanted to kiss her but not until she is okay with it because, for her, I'd rather wait an eternity than let her go.
"Ahem. If you are done with your makeout session, we need to go" A voice interrupted us. It's obviously Eshana's friend Ridha or Maddy. I turned my head towards the voice to find Ridha.
This girl is another version of Maddy or maybe worse. I don't really find a difference between them but I do get along well with Maddy if we team up but this one? Definitely not. Every time I look at her, deep down I already know that we'll never get along well since the first time we spoke on call and she already interrupted my moments for the 3rd time or maybe more. I shook my thoughts away realizing what she just said.
"Go? Where to?" I asked her before my eyes flickered down to Ana. She widened her eyes before punching my arm lightly.
"I was waiting for you to inform me about the plan but y-you..." She stopped as a blush crept through her cheeks "I then forgot about that" She said trying to avoid my gaze.
"About what?" I asked as I tried not to smirk.
"Um... Aunty planned to take all of us on tour since we are here for the first time so..." Her voice trailed as she twirled her shawl thing which she tends to do when she's nervous.
"So...?" I mimicked her.
"OH, GOD! She meant to say 'so... can we get ready if your done playing around', Cherry?.. " Ridha said sarcastically with a fake smile at me and I heard Ana laugh at that, clearly finding it more amusing. Told you so.
"Stop calling me Cherry!" I rolled my eyes as I walked towards the door, passing by them.
"Well... Your name sounds more cherry-like... Zacherry" She said and Ana hummed in agreement making me squint my eyes at them.
"Oh really? Uh-huh. You find it funny, hm? Well you see, you'll have a surprise from me, today" I said as I turned around giving a fake smile before holding Ana's wrist, leading her in leaving Ridha in a daze.
"Zach? What surprise? Knowing you for a while you both definitely don't get alone and now a surprise? Tell me!" Ana continued to ask as she followed me upstairs. I entered my room not before pulling her in and closing the door as I pinning her to the wall catching her by surprise.
"Don't worry about the surprise, angel but for you to know, the surprise will surely be the best one", I smirked leaning down over her, pressing the side of my face next to her head before breathing softly into her ear.
"But for now, let's talk about this. Do you find my name funny? Za-cherry huh?" I whispered, teasingly as I placed a light kiss on her earlobe and I felt her shiver.
"Z-zach...let me go" She placed her hands on my chest trying to push me away but clearly not working.
"Nuh-huh. Not until you say yes or no" I continued to tease her as I ran my finger down her arm feeling her goosebumps raise as she gulped.
"N-no." She stuttered.
"No? no, what?" I asked as I pulled away not too away just to see her face as I continued to caress her arm with one hand and my other hand on the wall, caging her.
She licked her lips before looking at me "No. I don't find it funny, Zach. Now let me go, everyone must be waiting downstairs." she said as she began pushing me away. This time I let her go not before a peek on her cheeks.
About the surprise earlier and remembering what Ana had told me about their meeting with Maddy and Brad at Airport, I could feel Ana's gaze as I quickly dialled a number.
"Yo dude! Sup?" A voice on the other side asked as he picked up the call.
"Hey man. You free now?" I asked him.
"Yeah, but didn't Aunt Amelia plan on a trip? I'm heading over" He said taking me by surprise.
"She asked you to join?" I asked in curiosity.
"Nah, but Maddy did. She said it was urgent and I'm required. Everything okay there?" He said and I couldn't help but smirk. She's definitely my sister.
"Yeah dude, and I am glad that you are coming over," I said and hung up. I turned around to find Ana looking at me in confusion.
"Brad? He's coming?" She asked, hesitantly and I hummed in agreement. Before I could say further, she squealed in delight and stepped out of my room not before slamming the door shut. It was my turn to be confused as I glanced at the door in displeasure.
'She seems to be too happy knowing that he's coming over.' I scoffed at myself before going for a quick shower not wanting to get late for the trip.