Chapter 8 Seven

"Oh, it looks like your plan was a success, huh? What's going on?"

Claire, Lexie's cousin, asked immediately. It was clear that she had just woken up since she was still yawning while walking toward the kitchen, probably to get a glass of water.

Lexie rolled her eyes at her cousin and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall in the living room.

The clock showed 9:15 AM, and that's when Lexie thought something was off.

It wasn't her cousin's habit to wake up this late.

Lexie was about to ask what was going on with Claire when a man, seemingly in his 40s, walked out of her cousin's room. He was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his lower body, and what Lexie saw left her in shock.

It seemed like the man didn't notice her because he immediately smiled upon seeing Claire. Her cousin even raised her glass of water as if offering the stranger a drink.

"Good morning, babe."

Claire greeted the man sweetly. He quickly approached her and kissed her on the lips.

That kiss made Lexie grimace in disgust.

"Uh, hello? There's someone else here. Maybe you'd like to acknowledge my presence, or better yet, get a room and do your PDA there."

Lexie couldn't hold back her irritation anymore. She raised her eyebrow dramatically to show them how unimpressed she was.

Her interruption worked because she successfully got their attention.

Claire and her guest turned to her simultaneously. Without hesitation, Lexie rolled her eyes at them, which made Claire laugh.

"Bitter much?"

Claire teased, making Lexie even more annoyed.

"No, telling you two to get a room for your gross PDA doesn't make me bitter. And who is this guy again?"

Lexie snapped, pointing at the man who remained silent but was now looking at her.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot! Lexie, this is Andrew, my boyfriend. Babe, meet my cousin, Lexie."

Claire introduced them, giggling.

"Boyfriend? Wow, wasn't it just recently that you were dating Jake, the guy who looked like an addict?"

Lexie blurted out absentmindedly.

"Geez, you're so mean. Jake wasn't an addict. By the way, Jake is Andrew's little brother."

Claire pouted. That information confused Lexie even more.

"I didn't say he was an addict; I just said he looked like one."

Lexie said, still puzzled.

"Hey, hush! That's his brother, for goodness' sake."

Claire whispered, pointing at Andrew, who still had his arms wrapped around her waist.

"Yeah, so what? I mean, no offense, Andrei."

"Andrew."

Both Claire and Andrew corrected her at the same time.

"Yeah, whatever. Still, no offense."

Lexie shrugged.

"None taken."

Andrew grinned, making Lexie grimace again.

"And how exactly did he become your boyfriend?"

Lexie asked her cousin with a deep frown, pointing at Andrew again.

"I realized I liked him more than his little brother, and he likes me too, right, babe?"

Claire said, acting like a worm sprinkled with salt from being overly giddy.

Lexie instantly looked away when Claire kissed Andrew passionately.

"Ahhh! For Christ's sake, Claire, enough with the kissing!"

Lexie scolded her cousin, cringing. Andrew and Claire just laughed.

"Is she a kid?"

Andrew asked Claire, pointing at Lexie.

"Kid? Do I look like a child? Watch how you ask questions, And-"

"Yeah, babe. Lexie is only 16. Cut her some slack. She's just heartbroken, that's why she's grumpy. Plus, the guy she has a crush on doesn't like her back."

Claire teased, even flashing a mischievous grin at Lexie, which made her even more irritated.

"Sixteen? She's pretty tall for her age, huh?"

Andrew said in disbelief while observing Lexie. She glared at him.

"And she's quite sassy too-not good for her age."

Andrew added, making Lexie scowl even more.

"Well, what can I say? That's just how teenagers are when dealing with heartbreaks. She and her boyfriend just broke up."

Claire said with fake concern.

Lexie couldn't get a word in because every time she tried, Claire would cut her off.

Lexie's eyes widened when Andrew suddenly moved closer, smiling as he walked toward the couch where she was sitting.

She quickly shifted to the other end of the couch, hoping to put distance between them, but it was too late. Lexie nearly cursed out of frustration when Andrew finally reached her. She shot him a sharp glare, but he didn't seem to care-instead, his grin widened.

"Aww, that's okay, baby girl. Heartaches are just part of growing up."

He cooed, as if talking to a child instead of a 25-year-old woman.

"So, are you going to tell me that I'll get used to heartbreaks?"

Lexie asked sarcastically. She heard Claire chuckle, which only fueled her irritation.

"No, but it's still part of growing up."

Andrew replied, reaching out as if to pat her head, but Lexie quickly dodged.

"Try touching me, and I'll break your bones."

Lexie threatened with a glare, making Andrew step back.

Claire burst into laughter, clutching her stomach like she was watching the funniest comedy show.

"Laugh all you want-I hope you choke on it."

Lexie grumbled, glaring at her cousin.

And as if the universe heard her, Claire started coughing uncontrollably, making Andrew rush to her in panic.

Lexie laughed even louder.

"Wow, karma works fast with you, huh?"

Lexie taunted, earning a death glare from Claire.

"Y-you're a m-med student! Help m-me!"

Claire pleaded, still coughing. Lexie lazily pointed at the glass of water in her cousin's hand.

She was about to say something more to tease her cousin when a knock on the door interrupted her.

Claire and Lexie exchanged glances. Lexie shrugged, signaling that she had no idea who it was.

"If it's that jerk Rafael again, I swear I'm going to lose it."

Lexie muttered angrily.

Since her annoyed cousin didn't move, Lexie got up to answer the door herself.

"Hello."

A man greeted her with a smile-the same man she couldn't even look straight in the eye earlier that morning.

"R-Ram? What are you d-doing here?"

Lexie stammered, suddenly embarrassed when she saw Ram's expression darken upon noticing her outfit-a thin black tank top, short shorts that barely covered her backside, and no bra.

"I just dropped by to return this. You left it at my place earlier."

Ram frowned as he handed her wallet back. He then peeked inside her apartment.

Lexie instinctively widened the door opening, making Ram's frown deepen.

His expression soured when he saw Andrew, who was still only wearing a towel.

Lexie's eyes widened when she realized Claire was nowhere to be found.

"Err... c-come in, R-Ram."

Lexie stuttered, pulling him inside, but he ignored her.

Ram's eyes darkened, burning with anger as he glared at Andrew.

Lexie shut her eyes tight, realizing what Ram must be thinking.

"Ram, it's not what you think."

She blurted out.

"Hah. You're really not what I thought."

Ram said meaningfully before shooting her a sharp glare and turning away.

Lexie stood there, dumbfounded for a moment before running after him.

"Heyyy, wait a second..."

Lexie called out, but Ram only walked faster. No matter how quick her steps were, she couldn't catch up to him, so she ended up running instead.

"Go back there, kid. Your man is waiting for you-you should be chasing him, not me."

Ram said disinterestedly, making Lexie roll her eyes.

"I said it's not what you think! Will you just stop for a sec and listen to me?"

Lexie said breathlessly. She was still running, and even after they had exited her condo building, Ram continued to ignore her, which only made her more annoyed.

Frustrated and exhausted, Lexie threw the purse he had returned to her-filled with what seemed like coins because of how heavy it was-with all her strength.

"I said, wait a second!"

She shouted angrily as her purse hit the back of his head. The sound of the coins inside was audible, but she didn't care. What mattered was that Ram finally stopped walking.

"You're being so dramatic! Will you just let me explain? You're too caught up in your wrong assumptions."

Lexie huffed, biting her lip when Ram shot her a sharp glare.

Ram's face was dead serious, his brows furrowed deeply as he stared at her intently.

"Sorry for hitting you, okay? It's your fault, though."

Lexie muttered, biting her lip as she avoided his gaze. Instead, she picked up her purse-after all, even if it was just filled with coins, she could still use it.

"It's not enough that you walked in front of a man almost half-naked-you even had the nerve to come outside dressed like that?"

Ram said, his irritation evident on his face. His reaction left Lexie confused, making her raise an eyebrow and place her hands on her hips.

"Oh, please! If you hadn't been so dramatic and made me chase you, I would still be inside. If I wanted to strip in there, it wouldn't be a problem!"

Lexie reasoned in frustration, which only seemed to make Ram angrier.

"That is not the point. Nobody asked you to follow me here! The point is, you're wearing almost nothing. Look at all those men-their eyes are practically popping out staring at you. Don't tell me this is what you wanted?"

Ram said seriously, his sharp gaze fixed on her.

"Well, I love the attention, but I never said I wanted them to see me almost naked. They can die staring for all I care."

Lexie said with a shrug.

"Hold on, why are you even mad?"

"I am not mad."

Ram answered curtly.

"Yes, you are. If you're not mad, then why are your thick eyebrows almost touching?"

Lexie teased.

Ram didn't respond. Instead, he walked toward his car and yanked the door open angrily.

"Are you seriously leaving me?"

Lexie asked in disbelief. The man rolled his eyes at her before responding.

"You really are a kid, Lexie."

Ram said, shaking his head, still annoyed.

"I am not."

"Then stop acting like one."

Ram snapped as he started moving closer to where she stood.

"Get in the car. I'd rather fight with you at my house than here, where all these men are looking at you like you're some kind of prey. There, you can walk around naked for as long as you want for all I care."