CLARA

“Lara baby look at him.... He is your brother. Big brother Leo.”

I still remember that day when my dad introduced him to me on a dinner at our house. I was just a 3 year old toddler then running with a chocolate in my hand as if my life depended on it.

“I won't dive (give) him cochot (chocolate)” I glared at him on the first day of our meeting.

“I don't even want your chocolate.” He rolled his eyes. He was only 16. A typical age, where everyone gets frustrated easily.

“Daddy....” I grabbed my dad's face in my both hand then turned him towards me saying “Leo't (Leo's) bad.” I pouted.

I was thinking about old days that's when I felt something flicked my forehead.

His pen.... He flicked my forehead with his pen.

“Why didn't Sara come today to study?”

He teaches us Sara and me... And today, Sara got her period, but am I going to tell him? Nope.

“Ask her yourself.” I glare at him.

“Focus on your studies instead of glaring,” he lectured me, and I rolled my eyes.

“One day, I will pull out those eyes of yours,” he said, and I showed him my tongue before running away.

“Clara Jones, you're still not done with your studies!!!! Come here!!!!!” he said calmly, way too calmly, and I know that means a storm is coming, but I didn't listen and ran towards the door.

But what the heck!! The door is locked. I looked back at him only to see him jiggling keys on his index finger.

Okay, I am doomed.

“Come back here..... RIGHT NOW!!” he pressed the last two words.

“Ahh!! My leg is hurting.” I tried anything not to study. “But you were running just now,” he raised an eyebrow.

“I—I mean my head is hurting,” I stammered.

He looked deep into my eyes before sighing. “Stop making lame excuses. Your exams are in three days. Maybe Sara is reading her ass off. Come here,” he called me again.

Making a pout, I walked sluggishly towards him before sitting in front of him.

“So here's how we do logarithms... log10 means...”

“Leo...” He was explaining, but I cut his sentence off.

“My birthday is coming in two weeks. I am turning sixteen,” I said, hope etched on my face.

“And?” he looked at me.

“Can you stay this year?” I asked.

“I am actually quite busy that day. I will send your gift,” he replied.

“I don't want any gift. I want you... you to stay at my birthday. Please,” I pleaded.

“Sorry, Lara. But this time it's an important mission,” he said.

“All important missions only come on June 9th of every year, right?” I glared at him, my eyes glossy.

He stayed quiet.

“Leo, I am sorry for my past behavior. I promise that I...” I tried to say, but “Lara, let me explain logarithms first. We are changing the topic.”

I lowered my head before nodding. I tried so hard to hold back my tears, but still, a drop fell on my knuckle. He stopped explaining.

“Wipe your tears.” He handed me a tissue. I quickly wiped my tears before composing myself.

“We will continue tomorrow,” he said, and I nodded. “I am sorry if I bothered you earlier.” I bowed deeply before taking the keys and walking out of his room.

The tears I had held back in his room fell freely as soon as I stepped into my room.

I took my teddy, which Leo gave me on my 12th birthday, and started telling him everything that's eating me inside. That's what I do when my mind is overwhelmed with emotions.

“You know I tried to say sorry. I tried to say that I won't do like in the past. Still, he is not staying. What should I do?” I cried, hugging him.

“On my 8th birthday, I thought he turned me down because I was too young. At my 10th birthday, he said, ‘I love you too, as a big brother.’ On 12th birthday, when I confessed, ‘I love you, Leo, not as a brother... please understand!!!!’ he just handed me the gift and turned around, leaving me standing by the poolside. Do you remember, Zeko? That was the last time he appeared on my birthday. Since then....”

I couldn't stay any longer; only tears streamed down my face as I remembered those days when I waited for him with a birthday cake laid out in front of me, but he never returned—only sent me gifts. Now, I don't even celebrate my birthday. Yes, it's been two years since I stopped celebrating my birthday. Either I go to Sara's house or go to the riverside where no one disturbs me. Dad and Mom asked why I don't want to celebrate anymore... I just shrugged my shoulders and chuckled, “Come on, guys, I am a grown-up now. I don't like celebrating it like kids do.”

Actually, I feel quite cursed. My mum died giving birth to me, and then Leo—somehow, it's me who sent him away. “And this year, I am also not celebrating my birthday for sure, and I am returning his gift too. I don't need anything, Zeko.” I hugged my teddy tighter before drifting off.

“Sweetheart,” I opened my eyes as someone was caressing my cheeks and calling me sweetly. It's Luna, Leo's mom.

“Good morning, dear.” She caressed my hair.

“Mmmh, morning,” I replied.

“Why are your eyes puffy? Did you cry?” she asked, worry etched on her beautiful face. Well, she is no doubt beautiful, with flawless skin and a shapely body.

“No... Maybe I studied too much last night,” I lied.

She studied my face for a good minute before smiling warmly. “Well then, come for breakfast. Your dad and I are waiting.”

“And Leo?” I asked instantly.

“Ohhh!! So you only miss your brother, hm?” she teased, but I impatiently waited for her answer.

“Well, he is also waiting downstairs. Come fast,” she replied before getting up from my bed and heading downstairs.

In 10 minutes, I got ready for school and went down.

As soon as I got down, I sensed that a very important discussion was going on, and it stopped as soon as I sat down on the chair beside Leo.

“What happened, guys?” I looked at everyone's faces.

No one answered at first, then his mom started... “Look, sweetie, isn't your brother old enough for marriage? He is 29 this year. So I was just saying we should meet my friend's daughter.”

I felt like the ground beneath me had slipped. Marriage?? Him??? Never!!!!!

“But who marries this early nowadays, Mom?” I asked. I didn't look at Leo because I knew he was already looking at me.

“Early? No, it's definitely not early! It's the ideal age for marriage. And besides, he has already achieved a lot of things... He is the CEO of the top 5 companies in California... What more does he need to achieve?” His mom argued.

“Yeah, he has achieved many things, but that's not the end. He should enjoy his life more before being bound to a vow, I guess.” I also didn't stop.

This whole time, Dad was silent, so he finally decided to interrupt, “Well, as your mom says, it's the ideal age for marriage. But we won't pressure you, Leo. You can freely tell us your opinion.”

“I...” Leo started, but I cut him off in the middle of his sentence, afraid to hear more.

“Well, guys, I am getting late for school. I am going.” I got up from my seat.

“Wait!! I am going that way. Let me drop you,” Leo said. I tried to deny it, but he grabbed my school bag from my back and headed outside.

I looked at him for a moment before following him outside.

He is doing things he shouldn't do. I want to erase my feelings for him. But how can I when he is behaving like this?

He threw my backpack in the backseat before signaling me to get in. I opened the backseat door to sit; that's when he asked, “Do we need to pick up Sara?”

“No. She is not going today. She has a fever,” I said, settling into the backseat. I was about to close the door, but he held it, leaning against the car. “So we are not picking Sara up... And it's just the two of us... Do you take me for your personal driver? Where are your manners?” he lectured.

“Manners? They went to dive in the Pacific Ocean. Now start the car; I am getting late.” I crossed my arms over my chest, looking ahead, not at him.

He pinched the bridge of his nose before continuing, “Get in the passenger seat.”

“First of all, I never asked you to bring me to school, and second, I am not moving. Do whatever you want.” I don't like anyone ordering me around, and he does exactly that.

“Well then, don't blame me.” He clicked his tongue before grabbing my arm and pulling me out, almost throwing me onto the passenger seat.

“What the heck, Leo!!!!!” I screamed.

“The heck is you're way too stubborn.” He leaned down, buckling my seatbelt. I turned my face in another direction, trying not to get too addicted to his face.

He got into the driver's seat before starting the car. I turned towards the window, trying not to stare at him.

“Thank you,” he said suddenly.

“For what?” I asked.

“For saving me at the dining table,” he said, eyes focused on the road.

“Hmm,” I replied, still looking outside the window.

“Just 'hmm'?” he asked.

“What else do you want? Should I clap and dance?” I said sarcastically.

“Watch your tone, Ms. Clara Jones,” he said calmly. The worst habit of his is that, whatever happens, he doesn't raise his voice, and that's my ultimate weakness.

“My tone, and I will use it however I want,” I replied. He stared at me for a few minutes before shaking his head and focusing on driving again.

After about 3-4 minutes of silence, he asked again, “What reward do you want?”

“Reward? For what?” I asked, this time looking at him.

“For saving me,” he said, and I scoffed. The man is literally acting like I saved him from World War III.

“What's with that scoff?” he asked.

“Please drive fast; I need to reach school on time,” I ignored his words.

“Dare to ignore my words?” He looked at me before asking again, “What reward do you want?”

I stared at him for a second before answering, “You to be present at my birthday.”

He poked his tongue into his inner cheek. “That's not possible. Ask something else.”

“Then take me to your penthouse,” I asked.

“Not now.” I chuckled, looking outside the window again.

“Well, I guess I have everything. Actually, Dad gave me everything. I don't need anything else from anyone. Stop the car.”

“You're asking for absurd wishes,” he said before pulling the brake because we reached the school gate.

“And I am sorry for that.” With that, I got down from the car, heading inside the school.

Today’s going to be boring as hell; Sara isn’t here. I dragged my feet towards the school building. Somehow, that’s when I heard some commotion going on at the back side of the school.

Well, I love trouble; that’s why I headed towards the area. As I reached almost near, I was sure that there were all boys gossiping about something.

“Wassup, guys?” I slapped Ryan's back before looping my left arm around his shoulder.

“Nothing. Girls aren’t allowed,” they said in unison.

“Ohh, so you're from the 19th century? Well then, go on.” As I was about to turn around, someone blocked my path. I looked up and there was Duke, our senior, a final-year high school student, and definitely the school's heartthrob.

I raised an eyebrow, looking directly at him. He looked at me for a few moments before glancing at the guys behind my back. “Come on, guys, why didn't you tell her? There's nothing to hide. We are living in the 20th century. Men and women are equal in these days,” he said before putting his hand on my shoulder and turning me around towards the boys.

“So, Clara, right?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Well, Clara, we are going to a club on June 9th to celebrate our basketball victory. Wanna join?” he offered.

“But we are not of legal age!?” I looked at everyone.

“So what? If you want to come, then meet us outside the Moonlight Club at sharp 7:00 PM,” he said.

“What if they don't let us enter?” I asked.

“Don't worry. I have connections,” he replied.

Connections! That's a great weapon.

“Alright, I will come,” I said, winking.

Finally, I found something to celebrate my birthday...

Finally, freedom!!!

Finally, a step ahead to forget him...

I promise, Leo Fernández, I will forget my feelings for you.

“See you on June 9th, guys!” I waved at them before finally getting out of there and heading towards the classroom.

The whole day, I couldn't focus on the class. My mind had been drifting to the conversation from earlier. Am I making the right choice? Whatever it is, I don't care, I am going there and that's final, I shrugged off any negative feelings. Finally, the last bell rang, and it was time to go home. I was hoping for a black Ferrari waiting outside my school gate, but as soon as I reached there, his bodyguard was waiting.

What the hell was I thinking? He will come to pick me up? I chuckled.

I sighed. Suddenly, my phone vibrate... It's Leo.

“Hello?” I said.

“Did the bodyguard reach?” he asked.

As I was about to answer, “Ahhh, please no!!” I heard a voice in the background.

A FEMALE VOICE!!.

A cold shiver ran down my spine. He... he is with a girl?

“Hello??” he asked.

“Are you with someone?” I blurted out. Silence...

“No,” he replied after a long pause.

Liar!!!

“The bodyguard reached. Thanks for sending him. I need to go to Sara. Bye.” I said in one go before ending the call abruptly.

A tear rolled down my face.

He... he is with someone!!! With a girl.