Chapter 36: big sister?

JACKSON'S P.O.V
They saw my screen photos. They gave me that weird glance. I just sigh and take it back. "That's the famous young director, Dana, right? Is she your crush, Jackson?" I sigh and end up telling them. "She is my unrequited love. She's my big sister"s best friend, like big sister Zyril." Their eyebrows arches and you can tell that they're asking for more details. I just stood up and start practicing. I don't want to dig into the past that leads me to like her, but they start to flash in my mind like a movie. It's been 5 years...;
"Big sister! Big sister!" She's not here in the library. I run away from the bullies. They're asking for money after they learned that I am the son of the chairman of Lavelle Group. A woman suddenly hug me and pointed a bat at my classmates. "Stay away or I'll smash every bone in your bones. One, two, three!" They look scared. "They're part of that famous gang. Let's go!" They left and I look at her. Her scent is sweet and even her smile. She places the bat on her shoulder and looks at me. "Hey Simone, you've got a cute brother here. Wait, he is already handsome at his age." My sister comes out with big sister, Zyril. She smiled and pet me. "Thanks for saving him, Dana. I told you to learn how to say no and stood for it. You still have a long way to go, Jackson." I sigh and grab her hand. I look at her. "They took my lunch. Can we eat something big sister? I need some food. I can't answer my midterm with a hungry stomach. I need a higher grade because I'll be in college next year." Dana laughed and brush my hair. I blush. "Let's go. It will be my treat." My sister smiled and Dana paid for our lunch outside.
"Jackson! Hey!" I didn't realize coach is beside me. I sigh and take off my headphones. "You guys had an interview today for the semifinals. Get ready, the others had already went to their rooms." I look around. I turn off the PC and stood up. "Okay coach. I'll just change quickly." He nod and after that the interview had started. They ask our preparations and then they ask our plans in the future. After that interview I decided to visit Dana in her office. She is surprised to see me. "What are you doing here, Jackson?"
"Nothing. Can I invite you for a coffee, Dana?" She gave me that blank expression. "Jackson, you know the friendship rules, right? I knew what you feel about me all this time. Maybe that is just infatuation because of what happens when your grade 12. Try to find a suitable girl for you."
"Don't you think I didn't try that on my college days? I flirt and had my experience, but nothing happens. I'll explain everything to my sister. But I want to do something for you first." She chuckled and stood up. She pet me instead as a sign that he just saw me as a kid. "I'm not a kid anymore, Dana." I grab her hand. Her expression changes. I pulled her closer and kiss her gently. She moans and pushed me, but I didn't let her go. "You'll be mine whether you like it or not, Dana." I place the macaroons on her table. "I'll get serious this time, Dana." Her face shows how stunned she was. The door opens. It's my big sister. "Oh, baby brother!"
"S-Simone?!" she said in panic. She smiled. "I'll be leaving anyway big sister. I want to talk you later." Dana grab my shirt and signed me not to do it. She smiled. "Like what?" She opens the macaroons and eat. She sits on the table. "He is joking Simone." I look at her. "Uhm! You bring her a good sweets. You really know what your girl likes. Have you confessed?" We both look at her. She act like its nothing.
"You know it?" She nod and smiled to Dana. "Yes. I know he had a crush on you that turn to unrequited love. He grows so much because of you. When is the wedding?"
"What? He just confessed and ask coffee at this moment!" She laughs. "Give him a chance." I smiled and felt happy.
STEVEN'S P.O.V
Hazel looks at me, and act like nothing happens. That she's the one who is innocent in everything. I sip my coffee. "What happened to our last taping day, Hazel? What did you do to Haven?" She shrug her shoulder and act. "I don't know what your talking about. I have been behaving for shit's sake." I laugh a little and look at her. "Really?" She nod. "Why? What did she do?" I sigh and stood.
"Okay then, let's end this conversation. I have something to do. Let's see each other in taping days." She tried to stop me, but I didn't look back. I drove my car off to a place that I want to go. I knock on the door. She opens it. When she saw me, she panic. She's about to close the door when I stop her and get inside. "Is that how you receive a visitor like me?" She sigh and looks down. "I bought your favorite ice cream flavor." She walks away and didn't answer. "I know you're still embarrassed about what happened the other day. You don't have to because director Dana didn't notice it. I didn"t see anything. Don't push yourself that hard. That's what Hazel wants. You're making her win." She looks down. I grab a spoon and sit beside her. I open the lid and gave it to her.
"Thank you, Sir Steven." I smiled and joined her in eating the ice cream. She starts smiling as she continues to eat the rest of her ice cream. "Haven, tell me. Why did you choose this line of work?" She looks at me. "Hmm? Well, it's my mom's dream. When I have my first role, she was the happiest mother. She only claimed that, but it made me happy. In the end, I fell in love with this field and continue to pursue it. My mom is in the province and she always calls me when she saw me on television." I nod and taste my ice cream.
"This is also my mom's dream. She's an underrated actress. Actually, I want to be a pilot. But I love my mom, that's why I choose to obey her. In the end, I learn to accept this job." She laughs. "We both have the same reason. I want to say thank you again and again. You save my butt at that time, Sir Steven. It means a lot to me. I thought you were like the other actors. I saw some famous actors who act as a gentlemen when they're in public or when the camera is rolling." I laugh. "I will accept that if! If you stop calling me Sir. Deal?" She smiled. "Okay, Mr. Harold." I frown at her.
"Did you even know my name? Calling me by my name. No, Mr. or Sir. Get it?" She smiled and nod. "Okay, Steven." That made me smile. "Much better. Anyway, it's already dinner time. Maybe we can eat together and review our lines for tomorrow's taping?" She nodded. "Wait here. I will cook some food for us." She went off to her kitchen. She knocks on the mini table. "I forgot to buy groceries?" She looks cute while she's biting her lip because of disappointment. "Should I order some pizza?" She shook her head.
"Wait here and I'll buy some groceries. Give me an hour. Is that okay?" I nod. She smiled and leave me. I decided to look around. This place is clean and you can see that she is organizing everything. But it's less of her. I mean there's nothing you can see about her. I look down at the table and saw a notebook. I opened it. She"s writing a journal? It's her experience in our taping days. (Mr. Harold hates drinks with too much ice. He loves pizza and playing online game. I just saw her game i.d and I realize that we"ve been partner in that game for a year.)
"Partner?" I look at my phone and check it. "She's Hero1257? You gotta be kidding me." When she came back. I act like I didn't discover something. She's smiling while staring at me.
"The food is ready! They're not like the restaurants, but they can be...; pass as food." I taste it. "It's delicious. Home cook will always be the best. Thank you for the food." She smiled.
SIMONE'S P.O.V
Dana asks Jackson to leave us for a while. "Simone, about that...; You don't want to act in front of us." I put my hands on her shoulder. "I am not. I already knew that Jackson likes you, but he's afraid to tell me because of the unwritten rules of friendships. But Dana, in our friendship, that kind of rules is just a foolish one to follow. If you give him a chance and nothing's happened then I'll comfort him. That's it."
"I already notice that he saw me not as a big sister but as a woman in romance. I am just afraid that I'm too old or I'll drag him to bigger problems. He is already having a hard time because of your dad. I can"t see myself creating a rift between you two." I smiled. "Thank you for considering my feelings, Dana. Don't worry, I'm okay with things that might happen between you. I promise." She smiled. She hugs me.
"You're always the best, Simone. Thank you." I chuckled and hug her back. I know she had been suppressing her feeling for my little brother. "Jackson, I'll go ahead. I have already talked to Dana. Make sure to take it easy, okay?" He smiled.
"Thank you, big sister. For everything." I smiled and brush his hair. "Of course, I'm your big sister, so I have to understand you, silly." He laughs. I left after and went off to my dad's mansion. I want to talk to him.
"What are you doing here, Simone?" I sigh and smiled. "Is it wrong to visit my dad from time to time? Unless you are hiding a woman here?" He gave me a frown. "I don't have time for nonsense." I sigh. "Dad, can we even have a conversation that is a little stressful? You're too much of a strict dad. I already do what you want. Hut I'm here for Jackson. He and Dana might date one of these days. I hope you won't stick your nose about it." His face darkens.
"Look, I know you still hate his existence or whatsoever reason but look at mom. She accepts him even if he is your illegitimate son. Learn to do that too. It's not his fault that your one night stand had a walking evidence. I love my baby brother, I will protect them from you if you will do the same as you stick your nose about my own marriage."
I was about to leave when he speak. "I know I"m not the father you wanted. Don"t worry about Jackson. I won"t stick my nose about him." I look back and smile. "Thanks dad." He just nod. "How"s everything with Russell?" I smiled. "Don't worry dad, we're doing great." He looks at me.
"Really? Don't you think I didn't know about that baseball player?" I turn around and face him. "Are you trying to blame me?" He didn't show any emotions. "You already saw what happened to me when I had that one-night stand on my business trip. I thought I will lose the woman that I love. I hope you won't do the same mistake as I did."
"I admit I was seduced. We both love baseball and he's funny at the same time. We can rock the boat together." He sigh. "I like Russell not because he is my best friend's son. I like him because he's a good man. No matter how my friend asks him to do what he wants for him, he stood on what he loves. He proves to him that he can have a future in sports. These past weeks, my friend had been boosting his son to our circle. I think he starts to understand his son's point of view." That made me happy. I knew Russell will be happy if I tell him about this. My dad sigh.
"I know I have been strict and always ask you to do the things that I wanted. But Simone, I have never thought of bad things for your sake, and even to Jackson. I am trying to understand his passion. But there are things that I'll be nosy. I hope you won't choose such bastard who seduces married women." I sigh. "Why? What are you going to do, daddy?"