"Of course," Ariana answered.
Ariel sighed, seeing her, who was busy eating, and even took Aiden's portion while Asher just looked at her lovingly. Ariel can even swear that he can feel full without eating just watching his sister eat. Ashton, however, paid no attention to anything and just played games with his phone.
Suddenly,
"Ariana? Is that you?"
A stranger's voice began to echo near them.
With a mouth still full of food, Ariana looked up to see who it was that called her name. Apart from Lily, she doesn't have any other friends that she mingles with on the outside that can call her with a friendly voice like this.
Dun-Dun-Dun!
"What a coincidence, right?" That person said again, still being friendly.
Seeing who the person is, Ariana's eyes started losing focus.
Carefully, she chewed the food in her mouth and swallowed it before slowly pushing the containers of the food she had eaten a while ago to Aiden who was sitting in front of her. As if she was trying to escape from the reality that she was the one who ate all of it earlier.
Seeing all the piles of trash that were now near him started to make Aiden raise an eyebrow. But seeing his little sister look frustrated is much more of his concern.
Ariana didn't pay attention to the curious face of her brother that was shown to her because she was in a state of panic. Using the available napkin, she quickly wiped her mouth to look a bit decent before acknowledging the one who was talking to her.
"He-Hello... Zayn. " She let out a slight stutter as she said that made her brothers there to be in alert mode.
Ashton, who was engrossed in playing with his mobile phone just now also stopped doing so and started watching the unfamiliar young man with his hawk eyes.
After gathering herself back to normal, Ariana began to introduce her brothers, not wanting Zayn to think differently about why she was going out with so many men. At late night at that!
"They are four of my elder brothers. Real brothers. " She even deliberately emphasized the last sentence.
She didn't know why, but she saw a little relief on the man's face. Or she just misunderstood? Did her mind play tricks on her each time she faced the man? But, whatever, he didn't want to think too much about it. Not like it's important!
"Ah, hello, I'm Zayn. Ariana's friend." Zayn kindly introduced himself like that even though he and Ariana also just knew each other. Thanks to the roses!
"I'm Aiden, the eldest one. Do you guys really friends? Why don't you look like someone the same age as Ariana?"
Ariana's sweat dropped in her place. Knowing very well where all this will end.
She didn't think Aiden was the person who started first even though he usually doesn't do that. Usually, Ariel will be the first to interrupt. Of course, the introductions and questions don't stop here. Or should Ariana change the word 'question' to 'interrogation'?
"Well, not being the same age doesn't mean we can't be friends, right?" Zayn still kept his smile.
As if not affected at all.
'Uh-huh... Looks like flower boy is tough. ' Ariana can't help but be relieved.
"Ashton, second brother. Do you know any martial arts?"
Now, Ariana doesn't know what to do in this situation. She can just glare.
'Why on earth did he ask Zayn about martial art in the first place?! Isn't that sound weird?'
But Zayn wasn't even flinched. He looks calm as water!
"I have several black belts in various martial arts. Currently, I practice jiu-jitsu out of curiosity. It is my hobby to always learn."
Ariana, who also heard it for the first time also became a little stunned.
'This flower boy also likes martial arts? ' She couldn't help but feel happy to have shared interests with others. She even grinned outwardly in satisfaction!
Of course, her four brothers realize this and are not happy with that.
Asher, who was still smiling after hearing all the talk, now started to speak.
"I'm Asher, the third brother. Do you maybe like roses?"
That question from Asher makes Ariana's heart jump out of her chest.
At this point, Zayn's face seemed to change slightly, before smiling in satisfaction.
"Do you take care of the roses well? You put the roses in a container filled with water to keep them longer, right? " Zayn didn't answer the question instead he looked at Ariana and asked about that.
For him, this was more than enough as an answer, right? He actually knew what the question really meant.
Well, the question was asked so Ariana had to answer.
"I and my mother put the roses in a vase filled with water. She loves the roses as I do."
"If you want to make it last longer, you can dissolve 3 tablespoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in the water. You'll be surprised to see how long they can still be fresh."
Ariana's eyes shine from learning new things. She even forgot about her four brothers that were there.
"I plan to dry the roses when they wither and make bookmarks or use resin to make more beautiful things." Ariana even blurted out her plan unconsciously.
"I'm happy." Zayn looked so happy it made Ariel uncomfortable.
"Make sure you show me the result," Zayn added.
"Sure!" Ariana became excited just thinking about what she was going to do.
"Ahem! I'm Ariel, her fourth brother. " He just introduced himself while staring coldly at Zayn which had no effect.
"Then, nice to meet you all, elder brothers of Ariana. But it's a shame I can't be here for a long time. Hopefully, we get more opportunities to talk to each other someday, and Ariana, see you next time." As if getting no warning from Ariel, Zayn confidently spoke what was on his mind.
"Sure. See you around." Ariana was finally able to breathe properly because she actually couldn't wait to finish this conversation.
She could already feel all of her brother's murderous aura surrounding them even though she didn't really know why they were behaving like this.
Then, not long after Zayn left, the siblings also started their journey back to their mansion. In their van, there was only silence that made Ariana feel a bit suffocated because her brothers were never this quiet, except for Aiden who was naturally quiet.
As soon as they arrived, they all accompanied Ariana to the front of her bedroom as they usually do each time.
"Okay now, good night," Ariana said casually, but before she closed her bedroom door Ariel finally spoke up, posing a question to her.
"That guy just now... Do you like him?"
Hearing that, Ariana looked lazily at her four brothers.
'What is this feeling? Are they getting that sister complex disease or what?! ' Of course, Ariana didn't dare to say it out loud. She didn't even dare to know!
"Well, yes. Definitely. " As if not thinking, she answers fast.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!
All four brothers felt as if a huge rock was hitting them from above.
"How about you think back about your answer my dear little sister?" Asher is smiling creepily now.
Aiden nodded, agreeing with Asher while fixing his glasses that had slipped down due to Ariana's answer earlier, while Ashton started warming up his hands, as if ready to punch something... Or someone?
Ariel looked at Ariana again, waiting for her to answer again.
While Ariana is Ariana. She didn't get why she needed to answer this and that when clearly her answer will still be the same, but to entertain all of her brothers she repeats her answer, now, slightly extended.
"Of course, I like him, a lot." She will never back off.
Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!
Now, the four brothers started to feel like their hearts were being stabbed by an invisible knife.
"More than us, your brothers? Just imagine you have one free day will you choose to spend it with him or us? " Asher is trying again. His last straw.
Ariana started feeling a little annoyed.
"What kind of question is that? Of course, a normal person will choose to hang out with that kind of handsome man over their own siblings, right? Besides, he got something that the four of you don't have. " Ariana started imagining Zayn's flower shop that she couldn't wait to return without realizing her brothers were already thinking too far.
Irk marks started to form on the heads of each of her brothers without her realizing it.
To them, this little sister of them never had a boyfriend in her entire 19 years old of life and suddenly a very handsome, tall, good-shape young man came out of nowhere and threatened them with his friendly smile to take away their one and only princess.
They as her brother will never let that happen. Not before they confirm his worth! That's how far they've been imagining while Ariana and Zayn are not even in that kind of relationship... Well... Not yet for now.
"Ugh, is there anything else? Make it fast. I'm tired already. " Ariana has lost her patience.
"Reason." Ariel suddenly said.
Ariana tilts her head. Not really understand.
"What's the reason?"