"It's been a while," Mr. J commented as Renata set down a cup of coffee.
"Ah, there was a line at the pantry earlier."
"Do you actually think I'd believe such a far-fetched excuse?" Mr. J narrowed his eyes sharply.
Renata managed only an awkward smile.
Then Mr. J scrutinized the steaming black liquid in the cup with suspicion and scrutiny. The man was always cautious of anything the girl prepared after that incident with the spiked soup.
"Drink it," commanded Mr. J, "You've added something, haven't you? That's the real reason for your delay."
"Of-of course not. Why are you always suspicious of me?" stammered Renata, nervously.
"Drink. Now."
Quick to obey Mr. J's demanding order, Renata picked up the coffee cup and drank. Luckily she hadn't ended up adding salt to her brew.
Mr. J studied Renata's face for any sign of distress, but his gaze ended up focused on the movement of Renata's tongue as she licked her coffee-wet lips.
"It tastes just fine, like real coffee."
Snapping out of it, Mr. J quickly diverted his gaze, "Alright, make me a fresh one."
"Just drink this one," Renata said, putting back the cup she had finished.
Mr. J paused, eyeing the lipstick mark on the cup, "I won't drink leftovers touched by you. I might catch rabies."
"I don't have such a disease!" Renata retorted quickly.
How utterly annoying that man was.
"Quickly, make a new one," Mr. J voiced his command once again.
Renata scoffed, then left to prepare a new coffee.
Mr. J stared at the cup with the lipstick mark. Unconsciously, he swallowed saliva.
"Why didn't she take this cup with her?"
***
Elsewhere at that moment.
*Byurr*
Alvaro spat out the exceedingly salty coffee.
"What's this?" Alvaro looked at the coffee he snatched from Renata, "Did she mistake salt for sugar?"
Oh, Alvaro, it was your fault for taking the coffee intended for Mr. J.
Instead of getting angry, Alvaro chuckled. It seemed Renata hadn't changed entirely; evidence of her old negligent nature. It reminded him of their first encounter.
Back then, Alvaro was still in his early college days, always driven to match his brother's perfection, a comparison he could never excel. Competing with his brother for the heir position of the Tjong family.
It was in front of a bakery shop on a rainy afternoon when Alvaro saw a girl giving her umbrella to an elderly woman, choosing to get drenched instead. His gaze couldn't stray from the girl, running towards him, closer, setting his heart into an erratic tempo.
Why was she approaching?
But who could've guessed she'd breeze by Alvaro into the bakery behind him?
Enchanted, Alvaro still watched the girl from behind the glass, a vision of beauty, until she exited the bakery. Their eyes met precisely then, both awkwardly flustered. The girl hurried on her way but slipped on the rain-slicked floor, and with quick reflexes, Alvaro caught her.
An accidental meeting that tied them in an ultimately heartrending emotion.
For Alvaro, Angel was the true angel, someone who appeared suddenly, offering love and easing the pressure of living in his brother's shadow.
*Knock... Knock*...
The knocking jolted Alvaro from his reverie.
"Come in," Alvaro called after.
The door opened to reveal a girl with honey-blonde hair.
Sweet in a short teal dress stood Sanaya.
"I came to invite you for lunch," said Sanaya with a soft smile.
Glancing at the wall clock, indeed it was lunchtime. Lately, his relationship with Sanaya wasn't great; he remained hurt by his wife's actions, yet Sanaya kept doing things that dissipated his anger. Perhaps Sanaya had indeed reflected on her misdeeds. What harm in mending fences? After all, a couple shouldn't always be at odds.
"Let's go," Alvaro responded with a smile.
Sanaya's smile widened, seemingly thrilled by her husband's affable demeanor. She rushed to embrace him.
"I've missed this you."
Alvaro reciprocated, "I've missed hugging you too."
They lingered in the embrace.
Then they set off for a joint lunch.
Walking down the office corridor, arm in arm with Sanaya, prompted envious stares and admiration for the couple's harmony.
"Isn't that Renata?" Sanaya spotted Renata trailing a tall man.
Alvaro followed her gaze.
"Rena──"
"Renata!" Sanaya called out.
Alvaro sighed heavily, wishing his wife had ignored her instead.
Renata stopped, as did the gentleman with her.
Sanaya approached and hugged her step-sister, "Renata! I've missed you so much, we live under one roof, yet I hardly see you since you're seldom home!"
Renata forcefully removed herself from the hug, scowling. Why did Sanaya imply she was a woman of loose morals, rarely home, and loud enough for others to hear?
Was it deliberate?
Renata wasn't frequently absent from home. But she indeed worked from before six in the morning until ten at night.
Blame it on Mr. J for treating her like a robot!
"Ugh, don't pretend to be close to me," Renata clicked her tongue in irritation.
Sanaya, teary, asked, "Why would you say that?"
Renata rolled her eyes, having lost all respect for Sanaya after past events. The leading lady, cloaked as a cunning vixen.
Then Sanaya turned to the gentleman, "Oh, Brother-in-Law. Are you with my sister?"
"He's my Assistant," Mr. J answered flatly.
Sanaya appeared surprised, and jealousy tinged her features. Unanticipated was Renata's high position at Tj Corp – Sanaya had assumed she'd remain a mere high school graduate Admin. Sanaya begrudged Renata's advancement beyond her.
"Sanaya, let's go," Alvaro intervened, taking her hand.
"Wait, Alvaro. How about we have lunch with Renata and your brother?"
_To Be Continued_
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Comments
Mue
this step sister is really annoying
2024-02-10
5