"I'm sorry, Zen. My brother has been acting up like this since earlier." Anna sincerely apologizes to Zen. "He won't tell me why."

After Nathalia happily mentioned Zen's cousin, Aaron suddenly acted strangely. He became so irritated. Anna knew right away the reason why he's irritated, but she still asked. He did not specifically answer her answer. He only gave her a vague answer.

Hearing that, Zen eyes flared up and pushed Aaron away. "What on earth is your problem? If you're not ready to go home, then don't involve me and Anna! Some people want to rest after school, you know?" Zen has great plans for himself today, and Aaron is ruining it.

He has a game tournament soon, and he wants to get ready for it. If he misses entering that tournament, he's going to blame Aaron and make him pay for it.

"That cousin of yours, who is he to Nathalia?" That one question that came out of Aaron's mouth, caught Zen off guard. It was so unexpected that Zen didn't answer immediately.

After burying that question in his mind, he showed a large grin to Aaron. "Why are you asking me that?" He teasingly asked.

Aaron was silent for a moment. He also asked himself why did he ask Zen that question. Why does he want to know the relations.h.i.+p between Nathalia and Zen's cousin? Asking about someone's relations.h.i.+p with other people is not his character. He's not the type of person who would inquire about a person's private life.

"Don't answer my question with a question, Zen. Just answer me straightly. I demand to know." Since he already started, there is no need for him to stop now. He thinks that there is no harm in asking that question. Besides, it's not like he is gonna do something about it, or is he?

"You demand to know? You're asking about my cousin, it's a family matter. I don't like sharing information about my family to other people, even if you are my friend. And if you really want me to answer your question? Then answer mine. It's not free, Aaron. It's not." Originally, he has less interest in what's going on between Nathalia and Aaron, however, seeing how Aaron is reacting when he found out that his cousin and Nathalia are close to each other, Zen can't help but be naughty.

'Let me play with you for a little more, Aaron.' Zen inwardly said.

"Do you seriously want to have it your way?" Normally, whenever he asks Zen a question, then Zen tries to bargain with him, but with just a threat, Zen will immediately answer him. However, he got a feeling that threatening him is not going to work.

"Brother, just answer his question. It's not gonna harm you. Besides, you're the one who's cornering him like this. At the very least, you should answer his question." Anna sounded so righteous, but Aaron can't get rid of the feeling that his sister is siding with Zen with an ulterior motive.

"Come on, Aaron! It's only fair." Zen is so thankful that he and Anna are on the same side or else, he will be outnumbered with the twins cornering him like prey in their eyes.

Even if he says that he will not answer his question, he knows that Zen will not say a word. Looks like the easy prey that he once knew is not easy anymore. "Fine." He said. "I'm asking because I'm curious, okay?" He said half of the truth. He in fact curious about Nathalia's closeness with Zen's cousin.

Not satisfied with Aaron's answer, Zen put on his face of dissatisfaction. "Come on! Seriously? Is that really your reason? There's gotta be more, Aaron." He is aware that he can get into trouble because of the type of person he is but knows his limit though. But at this moment, he wouldn't mind getting surpa.s.sing his limit.

He's dying to know what is Aaron Coleman's real reason.

"That is it, Zen. There is nothing more you can take from me. Now, answer my question." From what Aaron remembers, if he answers Zen's question, then Zen will answer his too. It's a trade, and he did his part. Now, it's time for Zen to do his.

"You know, you're the worst person to trade with, and you are also bad for giving people answer that they need." Since he is a man of his word, Zen sighed deeply before continuing to speak. "Since Nathalia and I were childhood friends, she got to know about my cousin. How? After my cousin's parents died, he lived with me, under the same roof. Nathalia visits my home frequently, so it's not really hard for them to get to know each other. Oh! Just to let you know, Nathalia has a big crush on my cousin." 

Zen's last sentence, was half-truth and half-lie. It's true that Nathalia was crus.h.i.+ng on Zen's cousin big-time back then, but now, that is not the case anymore. Of course, Zen has no intention of telling that to Aaron.

He wants to let Aaron be in anguish on the fact that Nathalia has a big crush on someone else. It looks like he is going to be entertained from now on.

Catching on what Zen is thinking, Anna decided to play along. "Oh?! Realy? I want to meet this cousin of yours. Knowing Nathalia, I guess he is quite a man." Whether Zen is telling the truth or not, Anna is sure that Zen is testing Aaron. Furthermore, she is happy to aid Zen in this conquest.

"It's the weekend tomorrow, we have no cla.s.ses. And since my cousin is coming home tonight, you'll get to see him if you visit." Since it has come to this, Zen talked out a plan to his cousin. He greatly hopes that the twins will be able to visit his home tomorrow.

Before Aaron could even say a word, Anna blocks her brother and said, "Sure! We will be there! I'm excited to meet your cousin." Knowing her twin brother, Anna can already tell that her brother doesn't even know if he wants to meet Zen's cousin. He might even feel irritated at the thought that Nathalia has a big on that guy.

Since he can't decide for himself, Anna decided for him. Though truthfully, she's incredibly curious about him. It's a win-win situation for both her and her brother.

"That's great then, I'll tell Nathalia. I'm sure she wants to be the one to introduce you guys to my cousin. She loves to do that, I don't know why." Zen has a large grin on his face, Aaron didn't even notice it because he is too busy in his own thoughts.

Not saying anything further, Zen happily hops on in his ride. He is more excited about what about to happen tomorrow than the tournament game he has been hoping to play.

After Zen left, the twins also hop on their ride. On their way home, Aaron is feeling more irritated than earlier when he saw the grin on his sister's face.

"Wipe that grin off your face, Anna. It's annoying." He said.

"Why? I thought you like me grinning like this?" Anna asked innocently. Usually, whenever Anna grins, the first thing that Aaron's is what she is thinking, who is her target next, but now, it's different. She is well-aware of that.

"Yes. But right now, I'm not in the mood." Even the personal driver of the twins can feel that Aaron is not in the mood. He wants to ask a question, but he is scared of facing Aaron's anger. He wants to drop off the twins fast. It's too much for him.

"I can see, but this is kind of ridiculous."

"Ridiculous? How?" Aaron frowned at his sister. He no idea why his sister finds his bad mood 'ridiculous.'

"I noticed that ever since Nathalia mentioned Zen's cousin, you got this 'bad mood', you don't even know the guy. What is so irritating about him?" Since her brother is not being straight forward about what he really thinks, Anna will gladly help him.

"H-He's too suspicious." Hearing that from her brother, Anna stared at him. Clearly, she is annoyed by her brother.

"Suspicious? Nathalia knew the guy for years, and he is from the Fischer family. What's so suspicious about him?" Anna is too disappointed at her brother. 'Can't he come up with a more reasonable excuse?' Anna inwardly asked.

"He is, okay?! That's it." Aaron crossed his arms together and looks outside the window. He is clearly saying that he is done talking, but Anna has no intention of stopping now.

"Are perhaps jealous that Nathalia has a crush on Zen's cousin? I mean, that's the more reasonable excuse I could think of."

"Jealous of that guy? Anna, please. I'm not. I don't give a d.a.m.n if Nathalia really does have a crush on that guy."