Sid just stared at him with a blank and composed expression that seemed to be asking if he was deaf or something, making Dylan feel more infuriated.

"Get your filthy hands off her." He warned.

'How dare the man touch Laurice so familiarly!

And how dare the woman allow him to touch her to places so willingly!'

He was having complicated emotions towards this scene.

Dylan knew exactly that Laurice was quite a skeptical woman. She does not trust just anyone. And she was especially lukewarm towards men in general. She only has eyes for her father. Even he had a hard time back then to gain the woman's trust and confidence. No one could come close to her except for her dear friend Catherine who later transferred from the states to Milan, Italy. Only then did he got an opening to approach her.

Laurice wasn't really a difficult person, in fact she was warm-hearted and surprisingly has a bubbly personality that anybody would love to befriend her. She was smart and talented, too. For the same reason why she had tons of suitors way back in college. He was the one who threatened those who shows interests towards her and refused to leave her in peace. He was basically her s.h.i.+eld and armor, her comrade. That's how he finally made a way into her heart and made her his friend, more than just a friend at that.

But Laurice was still quite distant and secretive to the point of seclusion. No one can tell what's on her mind. She does not let anybody in. And she turned even more aloof after her failed relations.h.i.+ps. She talk less and less until they've lost communication for years.

He absolutely missed those days he spent with her.

He missed being close to her the most.

...

That's right.

The sudden appearance of this stranger is making him extremely jealous.

He knows nothing about the man's ident.i.ty at all and he did not have much time to look into it. So he purposely threw himself at Laurice and created a scene to uncover his intentions.

And based on his observations so far, this man is clearly attracted to Laurice! His keen eye have never failed once. No matter if it seemed like a block of ice, he can feel heat from within. And that's how exactly he pictures this stranger. And such a beautiful stranger at that. He must give him that atleast. But he did not know if Laurice was charmed by his beauty or something else.

However, he could clearly see the chemistry between the two. And that's what's making him all the more agitated and confused and ... worried for some reason.

'Was the woman being careless again?' He thought.

Careless indeed.

Too carefree.

'Just look at those eyes ogling the man before her?'

Her attention was completely occupied by him.

'Too shameless'

Dylan wanted to pull the woman back but he could somehow feel the apparent oppression from the man so he pushed back the thought. He somehow felt that he could not afford to offend him in anyway. Well, actually he could not afford to get beaten by him and embarra.s.s himself infront of his 'sister'. But he will not retaliate just like that.

"Laurice! ..." Dylan shouted.

Laurice did not respond to him as if she did not hear him call her name.

He was about to scold her some more when he was interrupted yet again by the half naked man.

Sid on the other hand, also ignored him and spoke to Laurice in a firm but gentle tone, "Laurice, it's getting cold out here. Let's head back inside."

To Dylan's horror, the woman actually nodded her head in response. He gaped at the ridiculous scene before him.

He was contemplating whether to charge forward and knock the stranger out when he noticed that the two figures have already walked back inside the house.

He kicked a ball of air all of a sudden due to his forebudding frustrations and went back to his car to retrieve something before finally deciding on following them inside as well.

...

Laurice was still in a daze when she entered her house but suddenly felt a tug on her shoulders and finally snapped back.

"You're back." Sid said as his lips slightly curve into a teasing smile.

'Oh! Where am i? What happened?'

Laurice run her fingers through her loose hair and tried to recall what had just happened. Her eyes unknowingly grew wider by the second. Her cheeks dyed red. She bit her lips nervously until it turned into a sheer rosebud red.

'd.a.m.n!' She seemed to have forgotten something important.

No, someone important.

No, worse than that, she did something shameless.

Laurice wanted to dug a hole for herself.

...

A certain man was quite enjoying the sight of her but was a little distracted by her now red lips that looks rather luscious enough to eat. Sid's gaze deepened.

...

Laurice tried to calm herself down before facing her sudden misfortune. But more unfortunately than that, she has to face the verdict of two men who somehow oddly kept silent.

'Dead. She's dead inside. And she's probably about to die another ugly death.'

She can feel someone's glaring at her from one side while another's burning gaze was somehow making her feel uncomfortable. She was feeling both hot and cold at the same freaking time.

Laurice did not waste another minute and decided to settle the score at once.

'Act like nothing happened. Act natural.'

She thought it was best to neutralize both parties at once.

...

Ignoring the two man, she glanced at the wall clock from behind her and said, "Oh! Just look at the time, it's getting late already. How about we all head to bed now and sleep altogether?"

Sid: " ... "

Dylan: " ... "

What settling scores? She did nothing but only made a fool out of herself. She was so awkward that she could not come up with a better excuse.

"Sleep? Together? The three of us?"

That was Sid.

Laurice can feel the animosity from behind her.

The temperature inside dropped a few degrees.

It was unknowingly coming from Sid who was now visibly frowning.

'This man's words are as twisted as ever.'

Laurice thought.

How did he came up with such a dumb a.s.sumption?

Laurice felt horrified with the thought and felt helpess at the same time.

She was about to scold him when Dylan, who was leaning at the back of her door suddenly spoke with a menacing tone and said, "That's not a bad idea."

Laurice was shocked.

'Brother, don't make it worse! It's a bad idea, alright? And i did not mean it that way. Don't misunderstand!'

...

Dylan does not trust the man to allow him to sleep by himself. Who knows if the man would do something like intrude to Laurice's room and molest her without him noticing. So he thought that his arrangement is most suitable for all of them. He did planned on staying for the night in the first place.

Laurice gawked at both men.

Laurice: "I'm not sleeping with the two of you!"

Sid: " ... ?"

Dylan: " ... ? "

What now? Did she say something wrong? The two men were looking at her with a complicated expression.

Laurice was out of her wits again.

'Somebody help me!'

...

Amidst the ruckus,

A pair of pajamas lying around was completely forgotten.