A Favor

THE NEXT DAY, Isla woke up early. Since Zero left, she can’t even have a good sleep. She tried to cook simple dishes like frying eggs and ham then brewed soya beans after.
Their fridge was full of snacks and those kinds of food can be cooked easily since they eat at the nearby restaurant every morning and eat lunch and dinner at the nearby restaurant from their school.
If she will think about Becca leaving her, then she will eat alone in those restaurants—it will be really boring.
However, a sudden thought came across her mind where he portrays herself eating with Zero. Yeah, it’s Zero… again.
She shook her head and continue what she was doing. After a couple of minutes, the door to Becca’s room opened and it has shown her best friend, who was still rubbing her eyes.
“Good morning!” she greeted, lively.
Becca approaches her side and frowned. “You’re up early. What’s the occasion?” she asked.
“Occasion?”
“Yeah.” Becca pulled one chair and sat. “Tell me…” she looked into her eyes, “did I miss anything?” she asked.
She let out a soft chuckle and shook her head. “Do you want some soya?” she asked.
Becca nodded. She then put some brewed soya beans in a cup and placed them in front of Becca.
“Thank you,” Becca uttered and took a sip from the cup. “Hmm… that’s great,” she asserted and put down the cup into the saucer.
She continued frying the ham when Becca talked. “I’ll be leaving tomorrow,” she uttered which draw her attention.
“That fast?” she asked, a little bit surprised.
Becca pressed her lips and nodded. “I’ve just read dad’s message this morning,” she let out a sarcastic laugh, “he even booked me a flight—that fast,” she scoffed. “Look how he loves me,” she added.
And she could feel the sarcasm in it.
“You made a deal with him already, right?” she asked as she put down one plate in front of Becca. “Or not?” she added.
Becca heaved a deep sigh. “Not yet,” she replied.
“Then why are you leaving then? I told you; you will agree with it but at the same time, make a deal with him. Two years is long enough,” she asserted.
“Maybe I will just bury that dream—”
“What? I thought—”
“He won’t agree with it.”
“You tried?” she asked and arched her brow.
Becca shook her head. Isla then slapped her forehead. “You should—”
“Zero advised me not to.”
Her eyes widened and looked at Becca’s eyes. “Z-Zero?”
Becca nodded and sipped on the cup, “he told me to think not only twice if it’s really a good decision. And mind you, that monster successfully convince me,” she uttered and smirked.
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t know that Zero could be that influential.”
“Zero has already been in the business industry for how many years. He grew with it and he knows every strategy,” she said and pouted her lips.
“But you can’t just listen—”
“At a young age, his income grew thrice that of those big companies that were established for a long time. He knew everything and can always weigh things. He might be that fuckboy—womanizer, but Zero is a smarty asshole when it comes to money and his business,” Becca explained, admiration towards her cousin can be visible in her eyes. She runs her index finger at the round mouth of the cup. “That’s why he’s a well-known monster,” she added which confuses Isla.
“If he’s a well-known tycoon, how come there’s no paparazzi who’s tailing him?”
“Zero got too many secrets that even I don’t know and didn’t intend to know about it. Rumors said he’s also a mafia whatsoever that I don’t really care about. And how come he will involve himself with those mafia things if he’s always busy fucking every woman?”
Isla nodded. “You have a point. But are you sure you want to do this?” she asked, putting back their main topic.
Becca then nodded. “I’m leaving and that’s final. I will leave you here, alone. And I hope Apollo will permit—”
“Of course, he will. If not, then I will not gonna finish my studies,” she asserted and let out a soft chuckle.
Becca shook her head. “Crazy,” she uttered. “But seriously, I have a hunch that your brother won’t let you be alone inside this condo. You know, he loves to act like a possessive brother and thinks that what he’s doing makes him cool,” she added and chuckle.
She flashed a smile. “He’s just an adorable and caring brother that you’ve wished you had,” she replied, teasing Becca.
Becca glared at her and then rolled her eyes. “I never wished for that—”
“Really? As far as I can remember… way back in the second year high—”
“Excuse me? You’re really gonna reminisce?”
She let out a soft chuckle and shook her head. “No, Ma’am,” she uttered, mockingly which makes Becca roll her eyes at her.
“WHY DO YOU need to cry?” Apollo’s voice roared inside his car as he glanced at Isla through the rearview mirror.
Isla sniffed and wiped her nose with the tissue. “Becca and I will—”
“Hey, I promised to visit you,” Becca uttered, consoling her. She’s caressing her back and tapping it gently.
“But—”
“Will you stop the drama? It’s kinda annoying,” it was Zero who was seated in the driver’s seat. He’s maneuvering Apollo’s car and they will be going to send Becca to the airport.
Isla rolled her eyes. “It’s none of your business,” she uttered and wiped her nose again.
Becca smiled widely and wiggled her brows. She leaned closer to Isla, “Be good to your crush, remember,” she whispered.
Isla moved away and arched her brow. “So?”
Becca shrugs. “Anyway, thanks for driving me—”
“This isn’t free,” it was Apollo.
Becca frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“He wants you two… go on a date,” it was Zero.
“Date—what?” Becca exclaimed and glared at Zero, the man is aware of it. “In his dreams,” she added.
Apollo turned to their side. “Why would I date you?” he asked, emotionless.
Becca grimaced. “So, do I. Anyway, let Isla live in that condo, okay? Don’t be such a jerk who doesn’t trust his sister.”
Apollo arched his brow. “Are you dictating to me what I need to do?” Apollo asked.
Isla on the side slightly pinched the bridge of her nose because of the irritating voice of Apollo and Becca, plus Zero who was being rude.
She doesn’t know if the man was just putting on a show but honestly, she dislikes what he did earlier.
“She’s a lady already—not a kid. So, stop being too possessive—”
“The hell you care?” Apollo asked, never leaving Becca’s eyes.
“I care, okay. She’s my best—”
“That’s enough, Becca. Apollo and I already talked about it yesterday… right, Apollo?” Isla asked.
Apollo glanced at Becca first before meeting her eyes and nodded.
Becca bit her lower lip to restrain herself from laughing because of overreacting.
“You should know how to ask first before you threw shits,” Apollo uttered and sat properly.
“Shits?!” Becca was about to reach for Apollo when Isla grabbed her in the arm and pulled her back to her seat.
“Calm down, will you?” she said and looked into Becca’s eyes.
Becca closes her eyes and took a deep breath then sighed. “I told you Zero, it’s not a good thing if we’re with that psycho,” Becca uttered.
Zero let out a soft chuckle. “Don’t worry. It’s just his way of seeing he will be missing you—fuck, dude! I’m driving,” Zero blurted when Apollo suddenly slam his chest. The car wiggled but Zero’s reflexes are great.
“Are you trying to kill us?!” It was Becca this time and successfully reached Apollo's shirt and pulled it in anger.
Zero stepped on the gas as he pulled over. He slammed the steering wheel and pierced his eyes on Apollo and Becca. “When will you stop?” he asked, anger lingering in his voice.
Apollo smirked and raised his hand. “I’ll stop,” he replied and pulled his shirt from Becca’s grip, and threw one last glare at her.
Becca did the same, Isla massages her temple because of annoyance. She tapped Becca’s shoulders and shook her head. “Enough, okay?” she said, gently.
Becca heaved a deep sigh and whispered, “I’m sorry, I can’t help it.”
She nodded and tapped Becca’s hand. “I understand. Just keep calm, okay.”
Becca nodded which makes her flash a smile. Earlier, she was putting on a drama because Becca will be leaving today, but then the sudden turn of events happened.
Geez, how come she was surrounded by these people?
Silence filled the car and Zero continue to drive the car again. Yesterday, after school, Isla and Becca decided to go home because she needs to pack her things for her flight and this morning, Becca was with Zero. Since Apollo dislikes Zero lingering around Isla, he then came along with them.
Like she was expecting inside her mind, Apollo and Becca were going to clash and it happened. After it, no one dared to talk until they reached the airport.
Isla was about to grab Becca’s other bag when someone grabbed its handle. When she looked up, her lips parted—letting out a gasp when she saw Zero.
Zero just pierced his usual looks and started to walk inside. While Apollo was pulling Becca’s luggage which makes her smile.
“Look how he pissed you earlier and now, he’s helping you?” she teased as they walked inside the airport.
“Your brother is one of a kind,” Becca uttered but Isla could sense the sarcasm in it.
She let out a soft chuckle and shook her head. “Don’t mind him. He’s just like that. Besides, he let me stay at the condo and you knew it was a hard decision for him—but he still agreed.”
“It’s because your mom did something to it,” Becca uttered which makes her eyes widen.
“How did you know? I didn’t tell you—”
“I’m not leaving with Apollo unlike you do but I already learned his behavior so when it comes to his decision—” she didn’t finish her words when Isla interrupted her.
“That’s why you two… were meant to be,” she teased which makes Becca slightly pinch the side of her shoulder.
She chuckled and shook her head. “Honestly… I’’ be missing you—”
“Help!” Becca raised her hand. “Don’t you dare to cry? I will not call you for months—”
A hug from Isla cut the hum into Becca’s words. “Let’s call each other during her free time,” she uttered while hugging Becca.
Becca tapped her back. “I will. Just don’t cry. If you do, and I see you, you knew it will break my heart,” she asserted.
Isla, let go of the hug. “I will not cry,” she said, pressing her lips—restraining herself not to exert a single teardrop.
Becca smiled at her and reached for her hand. “Don’t worry. I will make sure that Zero will take good care—”
“Z-Zero? Why would he—”
“Shh…” Becca put her index in her lips, “Zero will look after you while I’m—”
“It’s not necessary…”
Becca smiled. “It’s an exchange for what he did to me—convincing me to disregard my options,” she uttered and walked ahead of her, reaching for the two boys.
Isla didn’t move for a few seconds. Why does Becca need to do that? She knew that Becca is not aware that what she did will even make the things Zero wanted to do… easier.
She shook her head. “She should not have done that,” she whispered.