---

At the bar, the atmosphere was lively, filled with the hum of chatter and laughter. The dim lighting and the soft clink of glasses added to the charm of the night. I was halfway through my drink when a lively, unfamiliar voice cut through the noise.

“Hey, Cal! Let’s play a game, shall we?” an unknown woman said, her tone brimming with excitement.

I turned my head, raising an eyebrow at her. “Vera? What game this time?” My voice carried a mix of confusion and curiosity as I swirled the drink in my glass.

“Let’s play Winning His Heart!” Vera announced, practically bouncing in place. Her enthusiasm was hard to ignore.

I shot a sceptical glance at my best friend sitting next to me. “Jasmine, be honest. Does this game sound like trouble?”

Jasmine took a measured sip from her glass, then shrugged with a playful smirk. “Trouble’s what makes it fun. I’m in.”

I sighed, shaking my head, before looking at the rest of the group. Julane, our friend since high school, looked intrigued, her lips curling into a small smile. Brynne and Gabrielle, who had been steadily downing their drinks, exchanged amused glances but nodded along. The collective agreement was clear—everyone was game.

“Alright!” Vera clapped her hands together, thrilled by the unanimous participation. “I’ll be the host for this round, so listen carefully. Here are the rules:

Rule one: Everyone picks someone they’re interested in—whether it’s someone here at the bar, a colleague, or whoever comes to mind.

Rule two: Over the next week, you have to try and win their heart, without directly confessing. Subtlety is key, folks.

Rule three: If anyone makes their interest too obvious or gets caught, they’re out of the game.

Rule four: Whoever makes the most progress or secures a proper date wins.”

The group erupted in a mix of cheers and laughter, though I couldn’t help but feel the weight of Vera’s words. “This game sounds ridiculous,” I muttered, though my lips curled into an amused grin.

“You scared, Cal?” Vera teased, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

“Scared? Hardly,” I replied with mock confidence, trying to shake off the unease I felt creeping in. A certain someone’s face flashed in my mind—Evander. My brother’s best friend.

Jasmine leaned over, nudging my arm. “So, Cal, who’s your pick?”

“That’s…none of your business,” I stammered, my cheeks heating up despite myself.

The night went on, filled with whispered plans, laughter, and a few tipsy confessions about secret crushes. My thoughts, however, kept wandering to Evander.

Could I really win this game? And more importantly, what would happen if I lost—not just the game, but my carefully guarded feelings?

“What if we lose?” Gabrielle suddenly asked, her voice tinged with curiosity as she leaned forward, her sharp lawyer’s eyes narrowing slightly.

Vera tapped her chin, seemingly lost in thought. “Hmm… good question.” Her face lit up with a mischievous smile. “If you lose, you get a punishment.”

The group collectively froze, exchanging wary glances. The idea of punishment had suddenly raised the stakes.

“What kind of punishment?” Gabrielle pressed, her curiosity piqued. Her sharp mind was already racing through the possibilities, no doubt looking for loopholes.

Vera fell silent, clearly relishing the tension as she thought long and hard. For a full ten minutes, the group sipped their drinks, the suspense hanging in the air like a dark cloud. Finally, Vera snapped her fingers, her eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Got it!” she declared triumphantly. “The punishment is… a public confession. To the entire group.”

“Public confession?” Brynne raised an eyebrow, looking sceptical.

“That’s right,” Vera said, clearly enjoying the reactions she was getting. “If you lose, you have to stand right here, in this very bar, and confess who you were playing the game for. Full honesty—no hiding anything.”

Jasmine let out a low whistle, shaking her head. “Oof, that’s brutal.”

“Not only that,” Vera continued, “but you’ll also have to tell them what you did to try and win their heart. Every. Single. Detail.”

Gabrielle’s lips curled into a wry smile, her lawyerly instincts already dissecting the challenge. “Bold move, Vera. This punishment definitely keeps us accountable.”

“Exactly!” Vera exclaimed. “If you’re in, you’re all in. No backing out halfway. Deal?”

The group exchanged glances. Brynne shrugged. “Why not? I’m in. Sounds like fun.”

Julane nodded, though her expression was tinged with nervousness. “I mean, it’s a little scary, but okay. I’m in too.”

Jasmine grinned, leaning back in her chair. “Oh, this is going to be good. Count me in.”

I stayed quiet for a moment, swirling the last of my drink in my glass. The idea of confessing my feelings—especially if it involved Evander—made my stomach twist. But then I caught sight of Vera’s expectant gaze, and the competitive streak in me refused to back down.

“Fine,” I said finally, setting my glass down with a firm thud. “I’m in.”

The rest of the group let out cheers and laughs, but Gabrielle, ever the strategist, leaned forward with a sly smirk. “Just so we’re clear, Vera, what counts as ‘losing’ in this game?”

Vera didn’t miss a beat. “Simple. If you fail to make noticeable progress or get caught being too obvious, you lose. And if you back out of the game entirely, that’s an automatic loss.”

Gabrielle nodded thoughtfully, clearly filing the rules away in her mind.

“Alright, everyone!” Vera clapped her hands. “The game officially begins now. You’ve got one week to play—and remember, subtlety is key. Let the best heart-winner win!”

As the group erupted into chatter, my mind drifted once again to Evander. This game was about to get dangerous—for my pride, for my heart, and possibly for my sanity.

Later, the night took a predictable turn. One by one, the group succumbed to the effects of the alcohol, their voices louder, laughter freer, and movements more exaggerated. Who could’ve guessed this simple game of “Winning His Heart” would spiral into chaos so quickly?

Vera was leaning against Julane, giggling uncontrollably, while Brynne and Gabrielle sang off-key to a random song playing faintly in the background. Jasmine stumbled a little, clutching my arm as she mumbled something about needing food.

“God, this is intense,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temples.

Somehow, amidst all the chaos, one of them managed to settle the tab. No one could quite remember who, but we all stumbled out of the bar together, our group resembling a mismatched parade of tipsy walkers swaying down the street.

I swung my bag around, fumbling to find my phone. The idea of trying to herd everyone home in this state was laughable. I needed backup. Finally, I fished the phone out, my fingers clumsy as I dialled Carl’s number.

The phone rang twice before his familiar, steady voice answered. “Calista? What’s up?”

I sighed in relief at the sound of my brother’s voice. “Carl, I need a favour. We… might’ve overdone it tonight at the bar.”

“Define ‘overdone it,’” Carl said, and I could hear the amusement creeping into his tone.

I glanced around at the group. Vera was now attempting to climb onto a decorative fountain, while Brynne tried to cheer her on. “Let’s just say I’m the only one sober enough to realize we need help.”

Carl sighed, though I could tell he was smiling. “Alright, where are you? I’ll come get you.”

I quickly rattled off the address, and Carl assured me he’d be there in ten minutes.

Hanging up, I turned back to the group. Jasmine was now leaning against Julane, who was doing her best to stay upright herself. Gabrielle, ever the practical one despite her intoxication, was trying to organize everyone into a semi-coherent line, but it wasn’t going well.

“Alright, guys,” I said, raising my voice to get their attention. “My brother’s coming to pick us up. Can we try to at least look like responsible adults when he gets here?”

Vera slid off the fountain, laughing as she stumbled over to me. “Your brother? Oh, the hot one?”

I rolled my eyes, regretting my life choices. “Yes, Vera. The hot one.”

The group burst into laughter, though it was mostly incoherent babbling. I sighed, knowing this was going to be a long night—and I hadn’t even started strategizing for the game yet.

Soon, Carl’s car pulled up to the curb, and he stepped out, looking every bit the composed doctor that he was. His sharp eyes scanned the group, and then he gave me a knowing smirk.

“Looks like you’ve got quite the crew tonight,” he said.

“You have no idea,” I muttered, rubbing my forehead.

“Alright, let’s get everyone home safely.” Carl clapped his hands, taking charge like he always did. As he helped round everyone up, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of gratitude. No matter how wild things got, Carl always had my back.

But as we piled into the car and drove off, my mind wandered back to the game. One thing was certain—this week was going to be anything but ordinary.

As the car hummed along the quiet streets, I felt the heaviness in my eyelids growing stronger. Sitting in the passenger seat beside Carl, I tried to fight it, but the alcohol combined with the chaos of the night was taking its toll.

“You okay over there?” Carl asked, glancing at me briefly as he expertly manoeuvred through the traffic.

“Mmhm,” I mumbled, though my voice was weak. “I’m fine… just tired.”

“You look like you’re about to pass out,” he said, his tone a mix of concern and amusement. “Remind me why you thought drinking with that group was a good idea?”

I groaned, leaning my head against the window. “It wasn’t supposed to get this bad. Never drink this much again, Carl. Never.”

He chuckled, his voice warm and teasing. “Yeah, I’ll believe that when I see it.”

The hum of the engine and the soothing rhythm of the road made it harder to stay awake. I knew I shouldn’t sleep—not while Carl was driving and the others were relying on us to get them home safely. But my body wasn’t cooperating.

“I’m trying not to, but I can’t help it,” I muttered, feeling my head loll to the side.

“Just rest,” Carl said softly, his tone surprisingly gentle. “I’ve got it under control.”

That was all the reassurance I needed. My resolve crumbled as my exhaustion took over. Before I knew it, my eyes were fully closed, and the sounds of the car faded into the background.

I wasn’t sure how long I’d been out when I felt the faintest jolt as the car slowed down. Carl’s voice was distant yet comforting as he spoke to someone outside the car—likely helping one of my tipsy friends to their door.

Through the haze of sleep, I felt a blanket—where had that come from?—being draped over me, and Carl muttering something about how I’d better not drool in his car. A sleepy smile tugged at my lips before I drifted off again.

Even in my half-asleep state, one thought lingered: tonight had been chaotic, but it was only the beginning of whatever this ridiculous game would bring.

Author note: Hey guys, it’s me the author and I’m the one who wrote "I’m Fell With A Doctor" It doesn’t make any attention to readers but I’m decided to try new ideas and hope you guys enjoy reading new ones. Xoxo, Chxxa.

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Character introducing(Female):

Calista - 22 years old, who work as a scientist.

Vera - 24 years old, which she was a princess in Europe but she disguised in Capital City as Vera or Vivian.

Jasmine - 22 years old, who work as a news reporter.

Julane- 22 years old, who work as a photographer.

Brynne - 24years old, who work as a archivist.

Gabrielle - 21years old, who work as a lawyer.

---

---

The morning sunlight streamed softly through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. I stretched slightly, the warmth of the soft blankets and pillows making it almost impossible to leave the comfort of the bed. As I opened my eyes, the sight of my friends sprawled out around me brought a sudden jolt of confusion.

Errr… what just happened here?

I glanced to my left and saw Julane stirring awake, her face scrunched in confusion as she rubbed her eyes. She blinked a few times, then looked around the unfamiliar room before locking eyes with me.

“Wait a minute… where are we?” she asked, her voice still groggy.

I sighed, sitting up slowly and brushing my messy hair out of my face. “This is my house,” I said, gesturing around. “It’s not big, but it’s enough for all of us to squeeze in.”

Julane blinked again as if processing my words. “Your house? How did we even get here?”

“You don’t remember?” I asked though I wasn’t entirely surprised. “Carl picked us up from the bar last night. Everyone was too out of it to go home, so I figured we’d crash here. Well, Carl figured it out more than I did.”

Julane groaned, flopping back onto the bed. “Ugh, I can’t believe I drank that much. My head feels like it got hit by a truck.”

“You’re not the only one,” I muttered, looking around at the others. Jasmine was curled up at the foot of the bed, Vera had somehow managed to tangle herself in one of my extra blankets, and Brynne was snoring lightly against a pillow that definitely wasn’t hers. Gabrielle, surprisingly, looked the most composed, though she was still fast asleep.

Julane turned her head to me, her expression shifting from confusion to mild amusement. “So… about that game, Vera came up with…”

“Don’t even start,” I said, holding up a hand. “I’m already regretting it.”

“Too late,” Julane teased, smirking despite her hangover. “You’re in it now. Who’s the guy, Cal? You haven’t told us yet.”

I felt my face heat up, and I quickly stood from the bed, pretending to fuss with the curtains. “No one. It’s no one.”

Julane’s laughter was quiet but knowing. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

Before I could respond, a groggy voice from the other side of the bed broke the moment.

“Can someone explain why my mouth tastes like regret?” Vera grumbled, sitting up and clutching her head.

“Welcome to Hangover Central,” I said dryly, throwing her a bottle of water from my bedside table.

“Thanks,” Vera mumbled, taking a sip. Then she smirked. “So, when do we start the game?”

“You mean the game we’re already regretting?” I shot back.

“Exactly,” Vera replied, completely unapologetic. “This is going to be fun, and you know it.”

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. The week ahead was starting to look like absolute chaos. But as I glanced at my friends, their tired faces full of mischief and excitement, I couldn’t help but feel that maybe—just maybe—it wouldn’t be so bad.

Suddenly, the door swung open, and a group of men stepped inside, led by Carl. My still-groggy brain barely registered what was happening before I noticed something else: they were all tall. Like towering over everyone in the room at a solid six feet or more.

And hot.

Sheesh. It was like someone had ripped them straight out of a magazine. The sauna room didn’t even compare to this. If looks could kill, we’d all be goners by now. My internal rating scale shot up faster than a heart monitor—10000 out of ten, easy.

Vera and Jasmine, of course, reacted in truly dramatic fashion.

“AHHHHHHHHHH!” Vera screamed, clutching her blanket like it was the only thing tethering her to reality.

“OH MY GOD, WHO EVEN ARE YOU?!” Jasmine added, her voice hitting a pitch that could probably shatter glass.

The commotion startled everyone awake, including Gabrielle, who sat up with a groan. With dark circles under her eyes and a look of pure annoyance plastered across her face, she grabbed two pillows from the bed and hurled them across the room at Vera and Jasmine.

“Girls, are you serious?!” Gabrielle snapped. “You ruin my sleep for this?!”

The pillows smacked Jasmine and Vera square in the face, cutting their screams short.

Carl crossed his arms, looking entirely unimpressed by the chaos. “Morning, ladies,” he said dryly. “Glad to see you’re all as dramatic as ever.”

“Who are they?” Julane asked, rubbing her eyes as she squinted at the group of men behind Carl.

“My friends,” Carl replied nonchalantly, gesturing toward the group. “They came to help me clean up the mess you all left behind last night.”

“You didn’t mention your friends were models,” Vera mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow Gabrielle had thrown at her.

One of Carl’s friends chuckled, his voice deep and smooth. “We’re not models, just friends doing Carl a favour. You must be Vera.”

Vera’s head shot up, her cheeks flushed. “How do you know my name?”

Carl smirked. “You might’ve introduced yourself last night. Loudly. Several times.”

Vera groaned and sank back into the blankets, muttering something about wanting the ground to swallow her whole.

Meanwhile, I was still processing everything. Between my hungover friends, the group of ridiculously good-looking men in my room, and Carl acting like this was the most normal thing in the world, I was starting to think this game Vera had started was about to get a whole lot more complicated.

“Hey, you haven’t answered my question yet. Who are you guys?” Julane asked, sitting up with a frown, her hair a tangled mess from sleep.

Carl sighed and stepped aside, gesturing to the group like they were on a red carpet. “Alright, let them introduce themselves. One at a time, please.”

The first guy, who stood closest to Carl, stepped forward. His dark hair was slightly dishevelled, and his sharp features made him look effortlessly cool. He sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Hey, I’m Evander. Carl’s best friend. Nice to meet you.” His tone was calm and straightforward, but his piercing gaze sent shivers down my spine.

Next to him, a guy with a cheeky grin and tousled blond hair stepped up. “Hi, I’m Jude, a close friend of Evan’s.” He winked at Vera, who immediately turned red and buried her face in her hands.

Beside Jude was a tall, broad-shouldered guy with a lazy smirk. “Hey, I’m Marcus. Friend of… well, all of them,” he said with a casual wave, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Before anyone could respond, the guy next to him chuckled, reaching over to pat Marcus on the shoulder. “All of us? Really?” he teased. Marcus shot him a look, sighing. “Hurry up and introduce yourself to the girls, Elio.”

“Fine, fine,” the man said, rolling his eyes before flashing a charming smile. “Hey, I’m Elio. Nice to meet you.” His voice was smooth and confident, and I could already see Jasmine swooning a little.

The next guy, who had a more reserved demeanour, stepped forward. His dark eyes softened as he gave a polite nod. “Hi, I’m Oliver,” he said simply, his voice quiet but steady.

Finally, the last one, who had been leaning against the doorframe with an amused expression, pushed off and stepped forward. “Hi,” he said, his tone warm and friendly. “I’m Daniel.” His easygoing smile immediately put everyone at ease, though Gabrielle squinted at him, probably already analyzing his every move like the lawyer she was.

The room fell silent for a moment as we all took in the introductions. My friends exchanged wide-eyed glances, clearly overwhelmed by the unexpected parade of ridiculously attractive men standing in my bedroom.

“Well,” Carl said, clapping his hands together to break the tension. “Now that everyone’s acquainted, maybe we can start cleaning up the mess you guys left behind last night.”

Vera immediately groaned, flopping back onto the bed. “Can’t we just hire someone to do it?”

“Not a chance,” Carl replied, his tone firm.

Evander smirked, glancing at me. “Seems like your friends are trouble, Calista.”

I rolled my eyes, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “You have no idea.”

As the boys laughed and my friends started bickering about who caused the most chaos last night, I couldn’t help but think that this was only the beginning of whatever madness was about to unfold.

I stood up, brushed the blanket off me, and called out, “Carl, I’ll help you clean up the mess.”

He turned to me with an amused grin, crossing his arms. “My dummy baby sister, you? Help me clean? You can barely reach the top shelf,” he teased, ruffling my hair like I was still ten years old.

“Ugh, Carl!” I swatted his hand away, but he wasn’t done. He placed his arm above my head, emphasizing the height difference, and looked at the others. “Right, guys? Still short as always.”

The room erupted into laughter, the boys grinning as I stood there, grumpy and mortified.

“Hmph!” I pouted, glaring up at my brother while crossing my arms. How embarrassing. Why did I even come back to my parents’ house?

“You’re impossible,” I muttered under my breath, trying to regain some dignity. Then I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Wait a second—did you host a sleepover or something while I was out?”

Carl smirked, rubbing the top of my head like I was still his little sister who couldn’t figure things out. “Mhm,” he said with a casual nod, his tone far too smug for my liking.

“You’re unbelievable,” I huffed, smoothing my hair back down. “You should’ve at least warned me. I wasn’t prepared to deal with this,” I said, gesturing toward the group of handsome strangers who were now fully invested in our sibling banter.

Evander chuckled, leaning against the wall with a smirk. “You two are fun to watch.”

“Fun for you, maybe,” I grumbled, throwing him a look. “For me, it’s just another day of being Carl’s little sister.”

Carl laughed, patting my shoulder. “Come on, Cal. You know you missed me.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help the faint smile that crept onto my face. As much as Carl drove me crazy, he was still my brother. And apparently, I was going to have to survive a house full of his overly attractive friends for the rest of the day. Great.

---

Character introduction(Male):

Carl - 29 years old, who work as a surgeon.

Evander - 24 years old, who work as a doctor.

Jude - 25 years old, who work as a billionaire.

Marcus - 23 years old, who work as a CEO at famous company.

Elio - 26 years old, who work as Police Captain

Oliver - 27 years old, who work as a detective.

Daniel - 30 years old, who work as an elite lawyer.

Hint: They are rich. Yes sir.

---

---

I was helping Carl clean up the mess when I felt a hand gently settle on top of my head. Startled, I glanced up to see Evander looking down at me with a playful grin.

“So, how old are you?” he asked casually, his tone teasing.

I raised an eyebrow, narrowing my eyes slightly. “Why do you ask?”

“Oh? I can’t ask you?” he replied, feigning innocence as his grin widened.

I sighed, deciding there was no harm in answering. “I’m 22 years old,” I said in a kind, matter-of-fact tone, hoping that would end the conversation.

But of course, it didn’t.

“Twenty-two, huh?” he mused, leaning down slightly so we were almost at eye level. “Then why are you so short? Hm?”

Before I could respond, he started gently ruffling my hair like Carl had done earlier. His teasing tone and warm smile made it impossible to stay annoyed, but I could feel my cheeks heating up regardless.

I looked up at him, trying to keep my expression calm despite the butterflies in my stomach. “I’m not that short,” I said, crossing my arms in mock indignation.

Evander chuckled, his hand still on my head. “Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that.”

I glanced at Carl, who was smirking from across the room, clearly enjoying the scene. Great, I thought. Now I’ve got two men treating me like I’m five feet tall and five years old.

Still, there was something about the way Evander spoke, the way his playful teasing felt lighter than Carl’s usual big-brother jabs. It was disarming in a way I wasn’t used to.

“Is this going to be your thing now? Making fun of my height?” I asked, trying to sound exasperated but failing to hide the small smile tugging at my lips.

Evander grinned wider, finally removing his hand from my head but not before giving my hair one last ruffle. “Maybe. You make it too easy, shorty.”

“Don’t call me that,” I mumbled, turning back to the mess I was cleaning, though I could still feel his gaze on me.

As I focused on tidying up, I couldn’t help but steal a glance at him out of the corner of my eye. His teasing smile was still there, but his eyes were warm, softer than I expected.

And for a moment, I forgot all about being teased.

I glanced over at my friends, who were still gawking at the group of men like they’d just stepped out of a romance novel. Their whispers and giggles were getting louder, and I could already see Vera and Jasmine plotting something.

Meanwhile, I was stuck dealing with not one, but two men—Carl and Evander. Why me? I thought as I stacked up empty cups. Why did I agree to help Carl in the first place?

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed Evander step closer until his voice broke through my daze.

“Oh? Enjoying the view?” he teased, leaning casually against the table, his smirk firmly in place.

I blinked, snapping out of it. “Probably,” I muttered sarcastically, trying to sound unaffected as I avoided his gaze.

My eyes landed on a small pile of books on the table. Recognizing the titles immediately, I picked them up. The Love Hypothesis and Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood. I held them up, raising an eyebrow at Carl and Evander.

“Who brought these?” I asked, looking between the two of them.

Carl glanced over, shrugging. “Don’t look at me. I don’t read romance.”

Evander chuckled, crossing his arms. “Don’t look at me either. Not my style.”

“Then how did they get here?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Before either of them could respond, Vera’s voice chimed in from across the room. “Oh, those are mine!” She bounded over, snatching the books from my hands. “I brought them last night. I figured we could read them together if the night got boring!”

I stared at her, baffled. “At a bar? You thought romance novels were the backup plan?”

Vera grinned unapologetically. “What? Don’t judge me. Also, Evander totally looks like the love interest from The Love Hypothesis, doesn’t he?” She winked dramatically, and my face immediately turned red.

Evander raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Should I be flattered or concerned?”

“Definitely flattered,” Vera said with a laugh, waving the book in the air.

I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Vera, can we focus on cleaning up instead of turning this into a book club?”

She pouted but finally stepped back, clutching her books like they were sacred treasures.

Evander leaned closer, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “I don’t know much about romance novels, but if I’m supposed to play the love interest, you could at least give me a little more attention.”

I shot him a glare, but my heart betrayed me, racing at his words. “In your dreams, Evander,” I muttered, turning away before he could see the faint blush creeping up my cheeks.

Behind me, I could still hear him chuckling softly. Why does he have to be like this?

“…” I stayed quiet, focusing on cleaning up the mess instead of entertaining Evander’s teasing. The tension in the room was interrupted when the sound of the front door opening caught everyone’s attention.

I froze mid-swipe with a cloth, recognizing the familiar click of heels on the floor. My mom stepped into the room, her sharp gaze sweeping over the scene. She paused, clearly taking in the chaotic mix of my friends, Carl’s group of men, and the scattered remnants of last night’s antics.

Her brows arched in surprise. “Calista? What on earth happened here?”

My friends immediately scrambled to look busy. Vera and Jasmine quickly started picking up pillows, while Gabrielle grabbed a trash bag and pretended she’d been cleaning the whole time. Julane smiled nervously, giving an awkward wave.

“Hi, Mrs. D,” she chirped.

“Good morning,” my mom replied with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, her tone suspicious.

Meanwhile, Carl stepped forward like the ever-reliable son he was. “Good morning, Mom,” he said, a sheepish grin on his face. “We had a… small gathering last night. Nothing too wild.”

Mom’s gaze shifted to the group of men standing in the corner, trying their best to look polite and non-threatening. “And who are these… gentlemen?” she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Evander stepped forward confidently, flashing his most charming smile. “Good morning, ma’am. I’m Evander, Carl’s friend. We’re just here to help clean up.”

The other guys quickly followed suit, introducing themselves one by one. My mom nodded, her expression softening slightly. “Well, it’s nice to meet you all. But next time, maybe give me a heads-up before turning the house into a hostel.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Carl said, nodding obediently.

My mom turned her attention to me, and I could feel her eyes assessing me. “And you, Calista? Why are you up so early after a night like that?”

“I’m helping Carl,” I said quickly, holding up the cloth in my hand as evidence.

She looked at me for a moment longer, then smiled faintly. “Good. Keep at it. And make sure your friends pitch in, too,” she added, shooting a pointed look at my friends, who immediately started moving with renewed purpose.

As she walked out of the room, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“Well, that was fun,” Evander said with a smirk, leaning closer to me. “Your mom’s intimidating.”

“Tell me about it,” I muttered, shaking my head as I went back to cleaning. My friends exchanged glances before bursting into nervous laughter, clearly relieved the encounter hadn’t gone worse.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that with this group—my friends and Carl’s—things were only going to get more complicated from here.

“What?” I looked at Evander, narrowing my eyes. “My mom just came back from work, so please be nice. Will you?”

He raised his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “Alright, alright,” he said, his tone light.

Before I could turn back to cleaning, he leaned in slightly and, with a casualness that made my heart skip a beat, asked, “By the way, can I have your number?”

I blinked, completely caught off guard. “What?”

Everyone in the room suddenly froze, their eyes darting between me and Evander like they’d just stumbled onto the juiciest bit of gossip. The air felt thick with tension, curiosity practically radiating from my friends and Carl’s group.

“Why do you want my number?” I asked, my voice a mix of confusion and suspicion.

Evander shrugged, his grin widening. “Why not? You’re Carl’s sister, and since I’ll probably see you more often, it’d be good to stay in touch.”

“Uh-huh,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “And that’s the only reason?”

“Of course,” he said, though the glint in his eyes told a different story.

Before I could answer, Vera suddenly spoke up, unable to contain herself. “Oh my gosh, Calista, just give him your number already!”

Jasmine chimed in, nudging me with her elbow. “Yeah, Cal. Don’t be shy!”

“Stay out of this!” I hissed, my face heating up as my friends dissolved into giggles.

Carl, who had been silent until now, finally stepped in. “Evander, are you seriously hitting on my sister right in front of me?” His voice was calm, but his eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

Evander turned to him, unfazed. “What? I’m just asking for her number. It’s not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal,” Carl said, crossing his arms.

The room fell silent, everyone waiting to see what I’d do next. Feeling the weight of all their stares, I sighed and grabbed a napkin from the table. Scribbling my number on it, I shoved it into Evander’s hand.

“There,” I said, glaring at him. “Happy now?”

Evander grinned, holding the napkin like it was some kind of trophy. “Very.”

As the others started whispering among themselves, I could only groan internally. Why does my life feel like a sitcom right now?

*Later, Carl grabbed Evander by the arm and dragged him out of the room without a word. I watched them go, frowning. Is he mad*? Or just being his overprotective self? Either way, Evander didn’t seem too fazed, flashing me a cheeky smile as Carl pulled him away.

Shaking my head, I turned back to cleaning, only to be interrupted when Gabrielle suddenly reappeared—this time with Daniel walking beside her.

“Wait a second,” I muttered to myself, watching the two of them enter. Gabrielle was smiling at something Daniel had said, and the two were deep in conversation, their voices low and filled with an easy, almost intimate rhythm.

My confusion only grew as I observed them. Since when are they this close? Gabrielle rarely opened up to people this quickly, and Daniel wasn’t exactly the type to make small talk for fun.

“Hey, Gabrielle,” I called out, setting down the cleaning cloth. “Where’d you disappear to?”

She glanced at me, her smile still lingering. “Oh, just stepped out for some fresh air. Ran into Daniel, and we got talking.”

“Talking?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah,” she said, shrugging as if it were no big deal. “He’s actually pretty interesting once you get past the whole lawyer thing.”

Daniel chuckled softly at her remark, tucking his hands into his pockets. “I’ll take that as a compliment, I guess.”

I blinked, utterly baffled. Gabrielle and Daniel—chatting? Getting along? This was new. Strange, even.

Just as I was about to question them further, Daniel excused himself, saying he needed to check on something outside. Gabrielle watched him leave, her gaze lingering for just a moment too long.

I couldn’t help but notice the faint blush on her cheeks. Turning back to me, she quickly masked it with her usual nonchalant attitude.

“What?” she asked when she caught me staring.

“Nothing,” I said, though my curiosity was piqued. Something’s definitely going on here.