It was a great evening for the young couple. At the highest peak of their hometown, under the starry sky, alone with your favourite person. A goal which Angela had in her mind eversince Ryan confessed his feelings to her. It was really surprising to see an oblivious girl have such romanticism deep inside her.
Ryan always wanted to make Angela feel special, feel how much she meant to him. He would spend most of his free time, imagining things that would make her laugh and feel satisfaction like taking her to beautiful spots, rehearsing romantic gestures and thinking of lovely dialogues. He never thought it would be enough for Angela to casually let go of her annoyance for his petty jokes but it worked, surprisingly.
But what Ryan always felt for Angela was both love and lust. Lust in form of love, actually. For many days his eyes seemed to deeply focus and notice Angela on a intimate scale. The stares would become so intense he would forget that he is even looking at her. Focusing mainly on her plumpy, sexy parts, Ryan would feel caged, imprisoned by his own thoughts and fear that he can't do it, that he couldn't do it. It would become uncontrollable, almost tempting to see her in a short attire and so close to him...alone...in his own ROOM! Talk about self control.
However, this was much different. The time spent on that cliffe was, like the first date, romantic and heartwarming. He didn't notice any erection nor did he feel any sexual urge as he was alone up there with her. Was it because Angela wasn't wearing short clothes or was it so out of place to do it there? Whichever the reason, it felt good. Mike was right, Ryan had nothing to fear about.
The couple reached their residence just in time for dinner. The elder couple were busy on their own to even notice that the youngsters had arrived. Sitting down the couple joined in on the conversation.
"That went smooth. Considering how skeptic those bussiness dealers were, it wouldn't surprise me if they had asked the same question multiple times." Charles said, noticing Ryan joining the dinner table.
"Must be hard, Charles. Why don't you let them come over here next time? Why should you travel all the way there for there? " Brenda spoke honestly.
"But bussiness is bussiness, Brenda. We need to be aware of everything. It would be in our best interest to establish links everywhere, especially eastern asia."
The couple continued their bussiness chatter, until, after a few minutes, Brenda remembered something.
"Oh, that's right. Ryan, Charles and I are, for a few days going to Washington."
Ryan looked up, stopping his chewing.
"Washington? Did aunt Emma call you again?" Ryan rolled his eyes.
Sipping vine from his glass, Charles continued.
"So worked up in your life that you forgot you have a sister, too?"
The fork fell from Ryan's hand to his plate as he looked up in awe.
Gulping, Ryan replied with haste "Katherine?! She's coming back for real?"
Angela could see the excitement welling up on Ryan's face as his parents nodded.
"Some brother you are, Ryan." Brenda mocked.
Ryan could just smile at his own awkwardness.
"You look excited." Bernard remarked.
"Of course, I am. She will lose this time for sure. Haha" Ryan sounded evil.
"Oh, jeez. Not this again." Brenda held her face in embarrassment.
Angela looked up to see Charles groaning, too.
Why?
"Jeez, Ryan. You're meeting her after so long and that is the only thing you can think of?" Charles said.
Ryan just smiled and nodded.
"When will you two grow up?"
Angela looked from left to right, trying to understand what was going on. But noone seemed to notice her confusion.
"Which reminds me. Angela, do you wanna visit your grandmother? Im leaving tommorow first thing in the morning."
Angela looked at her father with a slightly surprised look.
"Virginia? Why? Is something wrong with granny?"
Angela sounded worried.
"Oh, hahah. Don't worry she's fine, with the garce of almighty. She called, asking about the Knoxville property situation so I thought I'd visit her, let her know about...everything. She says hi by the way."
Angela went into deep thinking as Bernard explained the situation.
"Hmmm."
Her mind kept on thinking about what to do. To rather go with her father and leave the well being of her new home to the ignorant and irresponsible Ryan or to stay with Ryan alone. It wasnt a big decision but both choices seemed to be fun.
As Angela was thinking about what to do, Ryan joined in on the conversation.
"For how long, exactly?" Ryan asked.
"5 days, a week at most. You never know."
'What?! A week? You gotta be kidding me?'
Ryan felt a bit tense as he heard him say 'a week'. That was long. Ryan didnt want to be away from Angela for that long. It would be boring without the beauty giving him the love and comfort...or was it love alone that he was worried about. He just came back from a meeting and now Angela was gonna go? That was unacceptable.
"You seem unhappy with the conditions." Brenda mocked, noticing Ryan's expression.
"Nah, It might be good for her to get out of the house once in a while, right?"
Ryan reassured.
'Come on, man. I dont wanna be alone in such a big ass house. Please, please, please, stay.'
Angela looked at Ryan with a genuine smile, clearly satisfied with his statement.
"Nah. Maybe later, Dad. I'm not in the mood to travel. Plus, I cant leave the house with this guy now, can I?" Angela said confidently.
Ryan gasped slowly as he heard the mocking reply. He acted as if he was fine with either decision but deep down, he wanted to scream his heart out in happiness.
It was true. Ryan was in love and he couldn't spend 24 hours being away from her, how would he survive a week? Aside from love, he loved her very presence. To him, it would be impossible to imagine his house without her in the picture.
"Ooo, Burn, Ryan. Didn't know you were this 'respected' by your pupil." Brenda mocked her son again making Ryan realise that he was trolled.
Looking at Angela who was smiling sarcastically at him, Ryan nodded. That nod was enough to let Angela know that Ryan was about to reply back and of course about her nose.
'Oh, no you dont!'
"Well, she does have a--Ow, SHIT!"
Angela kicked Ryan's knee making him groan and burst out in pain.
But he said a dirty word...infront of his parents. All eyes were on him. Brenda controlling her laughter while Charles eye balled him nonstop. His eyed were widened, showing nothing just surprise.
Ryan could feel it, what Charles was thinking. Realising what he said, Ryan briskly apologized.
"I'll be back." Ryan stood up and started to walk away.
Before walking away, he looked at Angela who smiled mischievously at him, making him feel shy thay his plan backfired at him.
Angela continued her meal, feeling satisfaction from her diabolical act.
After dinner, Angela picked everything and even washed the dishes herself. She never minded working even after being forbidden from doing so but to her old habits died hard.
As she assembled the plates, Charles approached her from behind.
"Whatchya doing, kiddo?"
Angela turned around, wiping her hands with her apron.
"You are the first and final person to disobey our wishes, you know that?"
"Well, I can't live here doing nothing, right? At least I owe you for giving me and Dad so much."
Smiling Charles replied
"You don't owe us anything. You deserve it."
Angela nodded but she still wasn't convinced. Her mind still wasn't accepting her free presence in their home.
"Anyways, can ya do something for me?"
Angela felt strange seeing her boyfriend's father ask like that out of the blue.
Angela hummed.
"Listen, Ryan's an ass-hat. Sure, he does his job but he's not actually the guy whom I would feel comfortable giving the whole house to. Keep an eye on the house for us, okay? And also that idiot." Charles said.
Angela scoffed at the cute insults Charles made on his own son. Not something you hear everyday.
"Yeah, absolutely. I wouldn't trust him either."
"And control him, you know. He gets too lazy when he gets alone. Ignores mails, calls, and guests, a total dumbass quality. Be hard on him and help him if anything was to happen."
Angela nodded excitedly, as if she was given a mission she was waiting for so long.
"You don't need to worry, Sir. Im always here for you all."
Charles brushed Angela's scalp, making her giggle softly.
"Thanks, kiddo."
Angela smiled warmly at Charles before she remembered and shook her head.
"So what's with Ryan and your daughter? I mean, you and Brenda both looked annoyed when Ryan said something about her losing."
Charles looked confused. Probably, because he didnt know that Angela didn't know about that.
"Ryan didn't tell you? What a shame."
Angela removed her apron whilst listening to Charles.
"Katie and Ryan, well are more like competitors than siblings. Basically, they compete in everything. Trophies, events, badges, you name it. There was even a time when they had a beer chugging contest. Beat the crap out of both of em that night."
Angela laughed making Charles scoff too.
A competition? Between siblings? It seemed fun.
"And why is he excited now? What's he done now that makes him so confident."
"Hmmmm. Maybe because he has invested in a small business and is receiving well from it."
"What? He did?"
Angela was surprised. She didnt know Ryan did something like that and didnt even tell her about it. It was to be a surprise, it seemed.
"Yeah. He just wants to see his head held high as he shows himself. What kind of a brother would think like that? To abandon greet and focus on being superior."
Charles chucked at his own statement.
Angela could see how much Ryan loves Katie. How much there was rivalry between the siblings, it was cute.
"Or maybe that achievement is you." Charles said as he left the kitchen.
Angela stopped.
'Me? Is it seriously me?'
Angela thought for a second in awe but soon shyly smirked at the thought.
'Me? An achievement? His pride, huh? I love it!'
Clank
The door opened to reveal Ryan on his night suit using his phone on his bed.
Ryan looked up to see a sarcastic Angela standing with a cheeky smile.
Ryan looked back down and said
"Satisfied?"
Angela closed the door and stepped near the bed with the same smile.
"Who told you to say that? Me?" Angela acted innocently but sarcastically.
Hmmm!
Ryan groaned loudly and huffed.
Angela sat, took of her slippers and sat on the bed.
"Are you mad at me? 'Baby ' " Angela pouted and started to come closer.
Ryan diverted his eyes noticing her insults were to getting him. He really felt annoyed.
"Are you gonna stay mad at me?" Angela came even closer to Ryan. A few centimetres away from his face.
Getting closer and closer, Angela whispered
"Sorry. Some of your annoyance has rubbed on me too."
Cup
Angela kissed Ryan's cheek and quickly got out of bed to head toward the bathroom.
The door closed, leaving Ryan in awe as to what she just did. That kiss...it was out of nowhere and wait. Did she just apologise? For what? It was Ryan's plan which backfired, why was she sorry?
Ryan wasn't mad at her, he just was embarrassed. And Angela, well, her mocking was getting to him but her way of getting him consoled was, just like how Ryan won her back.
A few minutes passed.
Angela came out in her night attire. The same type she wears everyday. Thin, black, short track pant with a white tank top. Everyday, she wore and everyday Ryan found himself mesmerized by her...and also erected.
'Shit, man. Look at her! Why does this always happen at night? Jesus, she is driving me crazy.'
Angela had her eyes on Ryan. She noticed Ryan was shaking his head and shutting his eyes tightly in the process. Maybe he thought of something horrible? Horrible? Where did that come from?
Sitting by Ryan's side, Angela asked
"Still mad at me?"
That voice brought Ryan back to the real world.
Looking suddenly at her Ryan blinked a few times before he said
"Oh, yeah, I mean no. Its nothing, its nothing."
That didn't come out right. That sounded weird, even by Ryan's standards.
Narrowing her eyes at the situation, Angela had no idea what to say next other than to change the topic.
Laying right next to him, Angela cuddled, indicating to turn off his phone.
Ryan was already feeling an erection and now Angela was so close to him, he could feel her thick legs rubbing his.
What? What was she doing? Was she...giving him a hint? Or was she trying to be romantic?
'Damn it! This is making me so turned on! What do I do?'
The rubbing continued and Angela wrapped her arms around Ryan's chiseled chest and rested her head on it as well.
'Do...I do it now? Should I make the first move?'
Ryan kept on arguing with himself. To either do it now and just shut up and fuc--sorry "fight" another day. Why was he so scared? Normally, Accoring to Mike, Ryan would talk to anyone and anything with full confidence. But things are in his favor. He is with his love who loves him unconditionally. Why be so afraid?
"Ryan?"
Huh?
Ryan woke up...again... from his dreaming.
"What are you thinking? I think there is something that is bothering you."
'Do I say it? Should I? No, no, no. Just wait.'
"Oh, nothing. Just work, you know."
Angela lifted her head to take a better look at Ryan.
"You're a bad lier, Ryan." Angela whispered.
'Shit'
"Come on, tell me. What's going on? You act so weird at night. You look like you've seen a ghost or something. You stutter and make up lies all the time. Tell me, whats wrong?"
Angela spoke up with full confidence.
'She noticed? Damn it, I thought she was oblivious. What do I say?'
Angela kept on staring at him. She demanded answers.
"I..uh. I, uh. I, just..." Ryan sighed.
'Just say it. Tell her.'
"I...Uh...dont think you would...under-understand..." Ryan kept his head down. He didn't want to maintain eye contact. More like he couldn't.
"Ryan." Angela placed her hand on Ryan's lap "Do you not trust me? Is there something that I should not know about? If there is something that is bothering you, do you plan on hiding it forever? Acting like that thing isn't important and then just living in regret?"
Ryan sighed. She was right. Angela was speaking sense and Ryan could feel that it was time to tell her.
"If I have a problem or I'm going through something, I will tell you because you're the only person I can tell. You should know that yourself. You dont know this, Ryan, but you...you are my best friend, too. I love you and I also think of you as my freind." Angela also looked down in shyness. For some reason she felt her face redden as she finished her sentence. Her words were genuine but also shy.
Ryan looked up, noticing her face. Those words..."best freind", they were like a unexpected news to Ryan. A friend? Ryan never thought of it that way but Angela seemed to push that idea into his mind now. His heart skipped a beat...why? Was he nervous? It was just the truth but he felt like Angela confessed her feelings for the first time.
'Friend? Did she...Im also her...?'
Ryan felt his mind boggle. Thoughts were all over the place.
"I...think of you...as a freind, too..."
That came out right, right? It wasn't what he wanted to say but something essential.
"Then why are you scared of me at times like these? Dont forget I love you and you love me, why be afraid then, Ryan? I dont like seeing you like this."
'She what? She doesn't like me like this? Angela cares so much about me.'
Ryan was getting his confidence back. His nervousness was decreasing, being replaced by confidence now due to her words.
'Maybe I should just tell her. Or should I make a move.'
"I...uh...I... I want to--"
"Angela, sweetie, can you help with the bags." Bernard's voice came from outside their room.
...
Silence.
Nothing but silence left in the room.
Ryan felt his mouth paralyzed. His whole body stopped.
Angela looked to the left to reply to her father.
"Coming, Dad."
She then looked at Ryan, who held a disappointing look, because he finally was about to tell Angela but fate was cruel.
The build of confidence felt useless to Ryan now. All this time spent on wallowing was better spent in something else. Angela was really ready to hear Ryan out or help him out. But fate was fate.
Angela smiled awkwardly.
Cup
Angela kissed Ryan.
"Im gonna help Dad out." Ryan said slowly and left the room to help her father, leaving Ryan in his thoughts and disappointment.
Looking up at the ceiling for a few moments, Ryan was processing what Angela said, what she meant, it was the perfect moment to tell her.
"I should wait...like every other day."
Ryan whispered sadly to himself.