Chapter 3

Z's POV

"Baby, are you still sleeping?"

I heard my Mom's voice, the sound of something rustling filling my ears for a moment. I heard the knocking on my door and a groan escaped my lips as I try to remove the blanket covering my body.

But before I can even pull it down, I felt a hand tightening its wrap around my waist, a slow movement on my side shaking my entire system.

Shit. I totally forgot about waking Marigold last night so I can drive her home!

She was very adamant about drinking last night to calm her nerves. And since we can't go to a bar, we ended up drinking on my room's balcony.

My eyes widened as I saw my mom opened the door. She walked gracefully and her nose crunches as she saw the bottles of beer on the side.

"You drank too much baby," she mouthed but headed straight to check my cabinet, a habit she had ever since.

Her frustrations on buying clothes had become an obsession but Dad always says it's just an outlet Mom had for having to deal with all of us every day. 

If I didn't know very well, it's just Mom's stress over Dad and Elle. That little girl is a pain in the ass too.

But my ass is about to get beaten if Mom sees a girl on my bed.

"Mom," I whispered, afraid whoever is under my blanket would move or create any noise.

Mom was busy checking the clothes that made sure everything on me was covered.

"Baby, I can't find one of the jumpers I bought you last week. Did you give it to Marigold again?" It was a question but I can sense that she's upset.

She always whines about us not loving the clothes she gives us but thanks God Y knows how to work his magic on Mom.

I remember the jumper she was talking about and if my memory does not betray me, it was the same jumper Mari took yesterday when she barged in my room.

I bit my lower lip at the memory of it. That brat was so pissed off because someone threw a glass of water on her because of Latch.

Her prodigal brother just broke another girl's heart and Marigold had to take the downfall of it

If I didn't arrive on time, Marigold had probably ripped all of the girl's hair. I can clearly remember what she did with that one girl who tried to slap my sister for being so close with Latch.

She went berserk and had a full catfight with her.

It took Ashton and Alex to stop her as Mari told me she'll kill me if I take another step to stop her. As much as I don't want people to get hurt, I also know how many times Mari will kill me if I don't listen to her.

My breath hitches when I felt her pull me tighter, her warm breath hitting my skin sending shivers all over me. I felt the movement of her other hand and my eyes widened when I felt it go lower, I had to move a little and grab her hand of my own.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

I looked at Mom's direction and took a deep breath when I was sure she wasn't looking.

I pulled the blanket even more, but enough to ensure there was air coming in for her. I intertwined my hand over hers and I felt her stopped moving.

Holy shit. How did we end up on one bed anyway?

Marigold, she was like fire, a breath of fresh yet wild air.

Even though we were sons and daughters of the most famous kpop superstars ever known, we were not exempted from the bullying and everything a teenager experiences. As much as possible, our parents wanted us to experience a normal life.

Now yesterday, I had to bribe Marigold for another of my toy car collection so she won't snap.

And of course, she had to barge inside my room and take another one of my clothes. It's not new to me anyway. She's been doing it half our lives and had forced herself as my best friend.

I gave up telling her otherwise. Amongst us second generation as what Dimitri calls our group, Marigold and Latch may be the most carefree. I'm not sure if it's because they are the sons of the known most powerful couple, as what our parent's fans call them, but those siblings can do whatever they want and Aunt Tokyo will be out there cheering.

My father isn't even an exception. I can clearly imagine him cheering with Uncle Grey too.

"Baby, if this keeps up, I swear I'm going to have to ask her mother to pay me. That little bitch always gets my things too. Thank God I love Mari more than her mom that's why I'm letting her," she chuckled before closing my cabinet. A smile emerged on my lips.

Mom would always call aunt Tokyo names but she's the first to go crazy like a mad dog whenever there is an article about Aunt Tokyo.

"You always call her names when she's like your baby," I teased my mother and she just rolled her eyes.

My mother, despite her age, is still as glamorous and beautiful the world remembers. Actually, all of them including our uncles.

It's like they don't age at all. 

Apart from uncle Storm, all of my uncles can still do chicken fights in the backyard. One time, my father, uncle Grey, and uncle Seth almost ruined aunt Zaya's garden after they run wild and played some games.

To be honest, they all act more like a child than any of us.

"Stop teasing me and take a bath. You reek of alcohol," she pouted before she gracefully headed straight to my door.

And just when she's about to pull the door close, she peeked on me again and smiled cheekily, her gummy smile showing.

I gulped. Sometimes, I find Mom's gummy smile creepy. She always gave me that look whenever she wants me to admit something.

It's like an invisible yet moving force.

"By the way, your uncle Grey met with your father today. You're a dead kid, my baby. Tell Mari to call her Dad the moment she woke up," she stated and my jaw dropped on the floor.

"Stop keeping your girlfriend under your covers. Get up and go outside," she muttered before pulling the door close, the sound of her laughter echoing through the hallway.

It was then that her words slowly sank in.

"She isn't my girlfriend!" I tried reasoning as if my mother can still hear me.

Girlfriend, what is she even saying?

I have never seen Marigold as someone except my best friend.

I felt Mari moved below me and I groaned when she started kicking the covers until her face was available for me to see.

And the moment I did, my mouth went agape when I saw how surreal she looked. She turned a little and my eyes caught sight of her ethereal face, a few strands of her hair scattered beautifully.

Suddenly, she started moving and even scratched her neck, my jumper sliding a little so I can see a clear view of her collar bone.

I gulped, my eyes avoided her and I moved slightly away from her. But before I can even move a bit further, I felt her hand stopping me once again, this time, she even swing her feet over mine.

"Oh God," I groaned and I felt her make a sound.

"Z..."

Fuck.

It was just my name but why does it suddenly sound different? Her voice sounding hoarse not even helping.

And I felt it, something in me awakening.

Fuck Z, what the hell is happening?

That's Gold, Mari. Sweet, fiery Marigold, your best friend. Right?

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