HER brows creased when she saw Arie at the staircase landing, she was standing there with her arms crossed as she stared at the doorway. Aera’s gaze turned in the same direction. Two men were coming in carrying a big jade vase that they put near the staircase.

“Where did it come from?” she asked her sister when she reached the landing.

Aera knew her mom was fond of vases, but she doubted that her mother would buy that jade vase. It looks expensive.

Arie’s lips pursed, pointing outside the house. Her eyes immediately widened when she saw Drace talking to her mother.

“I guess your fiancé was bribing our mother with that jade vase.” Her sister sneered. “And mom accepted it. I can’t believe this is happening!” Arie rolled her eyes.

“This is wrong,” Aera said.

“Yes, that’s very wrong, sis!” Arie clutched on her arm. “Jade is a bad omen!”

She turned to her sister with furrowed eyebrows.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, puzzled.

“Goblin, jade ring. Legend of the Blue Sea, jade bracelet. Mystic Pop-up Bar, jade ring. Whenever this jade thingy was associated with lovers, they always ended up with an ill-fate. It’s a bad omen. So, if I were you, I will return that jade vase to Drace.”

Aera’s jaw dropped.

She poked her sister’s forehead.

“Aww!” Arie complained.

“That is what you get from watching too much Korean Drama!”

“Wait…” Arie cocked her head. “On second thought, you don’t have to feel bothered. You’re not even lovers in the first place.”

It was her turn to roll her eyes. Aera left her sister and marched outside the house.

She grabbed Drace by the arm, but she immediately let go of him when she felt an electrifying current traveled from her hand all throughout her system. What the hell was that? Aera shook her head and pulled herself together.

“What are you doing here?” she asked with a raised brow.

He turned to face her, with his hands inside the pockets of his jeans. And here he goes again, looking so divine just like that. Aera felt something tickles in her chest.

‘Why the hell is this happening to me?’, her mind asked.

“Oh, I was just paying a visit,” Drace answered nonchalantly.

Aera narrowed her eyes on him. Was he toying with her or what? The other day he told her that he didn’t know her address. And now, he was there in one flesh paying a visit?

“What’s with that vase?” She turned her gaze to her mother, who was looking at her with guilt in her eyes.

“It was a gift.”

“For what?” Aera pressed her lips together when she turned to him again.

Drace shrugged. “I just thought that it’s a little awkward to come empty-handed. Your mom loves it.”

“Thank you again, Hijo,” her mom said.

“Anyway, I have to go.” Drace leaned closer to her. “See you soon, Aera.”

She sucked her breath when Drace’s hot and minty breath fanned her face. Aera couldn’t speak, she just watched him walk to his car.

What is wrong with her? Why does Drace never fail to make her feel… She shook her head. She doesn’t like the thoughts her mind processed.

“Aera…”

She turned to her mother when she called her.

“Mom.”

“I know you already love someone else.” Her mother heaved a sigh. “But he’s long gone, sweetie. You don’t even know where he was. Why don’t you give Drace a chance? He may look like an arrogant man and treat you cold sometimes, but I can sense that he has something—”

“Mom, is that your way of thanking him for the vase that he gave you?” Aera couldn’t help but raise her brow.

“I thought he came here for you, but he came to visit your dad, Aera. And he was checking on us…”

“And you think that makes him a good boy?” Aera snorted.

“Aera…”

She doesn’t like the tone her mom used. It sounded like she was reprimanding her.

“What now?” She pouted her lips.

“No matter what, you should treat her well. Drace is your husband to be.”

AERA strummed her guitar. It was out of tune; her sister must have played with it again. She stood up and went to Arie’s room.

“Did you play with my guitar again?” she asked as the door opens.

Arie turned to her, grinning.

“Sorry…”

Aera sighed. She strode inside her sister’s bedroom and joined her on the bed. She lay down and stared at the ceiling.

“It seems like the wind has changed its course,” said Arie.

She already knew what she was talking about.

“How many times am I going to tell you that eavesdropping is bad?” She glared at her.

“What’s bad with that when we are family?”

She made her laughed at that. Aera lay on her side and propped her hand on her head.

“Mom must have been fond of Drace now. Fuck that vase.”

It was Arie’s turn to laugh at her.

“What a cruel world, isn’t it?” Her sister poked her forehead. “But seriously, you should listen to Mom. You must treat him better, or else you’ll live in hell for the rest of your married life.”

“Really, huh?” She hissed.

“If I were you, I will teach myself to love Drace. He is a good catch, after all.”

Aera couldn’t believe what was happening around her. First, it was her mother, and now it’s Arie.

“What’s eating you? Now you sound like mom.” She patted her chest. “My heart already belongs to someone else, you know.”

“When will you stop holding on with that puppy love of yours?” Arie shook her head.

Aera jokingly kicked her sister.

“Who told you that it’s just puppy love?”

“For Pete’s sake, you were in senior high school back then, sister!”

“Believe it or not, it’s not puppy love. He’s my one great love!” Aera insisted.

“One great love, my foot,” Arie smirked. “You’re just obsessed with him because he was that someone you never had. He got away when you felt there was something between you and him.”

She stilled. Obsession? Could Arie be right? She shook her head. Her heart would not betray her. She knew her feelings very well. It wasn’t a mere obsession; it was love.

“Don’t tell me you’re still waiting for that boy to come back? Nah, as if he would still remember you.”

“Shut up,” Aera snapped.

She left the bed.

“Why are you leaving?” asked Arie.

“I hate you,” she said.

“Does reality hurt you so bad?”

She walked to the door without answering her sister’s question. Aera heard Arie clapped her hands.

“Walkout queen, that’s my sister!”