Lucas and Ahee were both stunned, his sister was standing beside him. Alessa was staring back at their mother, her arms crossed.

“Alessa, you~”

“I never take back the things that I say, ma. Think about it,” She shrugged, a small cocky smile appeared on her lips.

“I can always apply for other companies, I’m sure the Wangs would take me, even the Leongs.” She replied, Lucas glanced at his sister.

Her mother exhaled and stormed out of the party, Darren grinned and stood up from his seat.

“Noona…I~”

Alessa faced the couple.

“I’m sorry, I thought..that was the only way I could protect the two of you from that. It turns out it was bad idea.” She said, her forehead creasing.

“Unnie, I..I really thought~”

“That I hate you? No. I never did.” She said to Ahee with a small smile.

“And I’m really sorry for acting that way.” Alessa breathed, Chanyeol walked towards them.

“It would be best not to stay here, huh?” She asked him, Chanyeol smiled and nodded at her.

“Where should we go?”

Darren and Dylan reached them, the two others were right behind the two.

“Who’s up for some old habits?” Darren suggested as he produced a bunch of car keys from his car pocket. Chanyeol looked at the younger male, he recognized the logos on the keys.”

“Nice!” Lucas hooted as he took one off the keys, Darren chuckled before tossing one to Alessa.

“You too, baobei.” He winked at her before turning away from their group.

“See you there, Alessandra.” Connor cackled before jogging after his friends, Dylan nudged Lucas, the two shared huge grins.

“You…do..rally?” Chanyeol asked her, Alessa looked up to meet his gaze, he could see the excitement in her eyes.

“You should come. Join us.” Alessa took her hand in his and started pulling him with her.

“So, these guys..you grew up with?” Chanyeol asked as he leaned back on the railing. The group was at a private race strip.

“Yeah, originally, Dylan and Caesar ge and I were playmates, jie always hung out with Connor ge and Darren ge.” Lucas explained as they watched the cars speed up, Chanyeol glanced at the car that was carrying Alessa. His forehead creased in worry for a brief moment.

“Relax, hyung, noona knows how to drive those things.”

Ahee chuckled, seeing how the older male was not just uncomfortable about the cars.

“What did you mean about…Alessa being arranged with Darren?”

“Hmm, that? they tried hiding it from me. But that was the only thing people were talking about.”

“Right, were they really enagaged?” Ahee grew curious.

“Kind of? Back then,” Lucas glanced at the strip again, the cars were slowing down.

“The elders did arrange them, but they’ve always been good friends. That’s why jie jie didn’t react badly about it, she was doubtful but she..she already accepted the fact that her marriage will be political either way, so,”

Alessa slid down from the car, she was laughing as she hopped towards Caesar and socked him in the arm.

“Loser!” She cackled, Caesar flinched and made a face at her.

“She realized that why not marry someone she already knows; someone she already trusts.”

“And, that’s him? That…sweet smile gege?” Ahee jutted her lips towards Darren who was leaning against his car’s hood, watching as the three males goofed around.

“And, he was okay with it too?” Ahee continued, Chanyeol watched as Alessa approached the male.

“Of course he was.” Lucas chuckled as he draped his coat around Ahee.

“Because of business?” Chanyeol asked him, his eyes still on the strip. The two were chatting animatedly but then Alessa paused and her gaze met his. She gave him a small smile before waving him over to join them.

“No. Because he likes her. That’s why he’s always been okay with whatever my sister does.” Lucas grinned, Ahee’s eyes widened in realization and she kicked her boyfriend in the shin.

“Liked. Liked! Past tense!” Lucas corrected himself, Chanyeol didn’t reply, he was already making his way towards the two.

“Lucas,” Ahee sighed, Lucas chewed on his lower lip.

“She doesn’t even know that, hyung wont tell her, right?”

“That was too much, honey.” Mr. Wong said as he took his seat beside his wife, the lady didn’t react.

“I did chat with the young lady, she’s actually really nice. I’ve never seen our son this happy.”

“That girl may bring us trouble, you know how girls would just throw themselves at him. And our son is too nice to even~”

“I know, but this one’s different. She’s very bright and she knows how to keep our son grounded. Let’s be honest,”

Mrs. Wong exhaled and faced her husband, around them, food was being served to the guests while live music played softly in the background.

“Our son in a bit of a brat. We always gave in to him, and Alessa has never said no to anything he wanted.”

“Lucas is~”

“I know, he’s still young. But tonight was my first time seeing him actually taking charge, honey. He’s always had his sister taking care of things for him, but earlier, he was different.”

“I know that, they both ganged up against me.” She replied darkly.

“It was my first time seeing him like that, he’s being responsible for her. So, why not give them a chance? Seeing our son act like this, this girl must be a good influence to him.”

Darren looked up as Chanyeol joined them, Connor and Caesar paused, Dylan grinned to himself.

“These are..my friends, they’re kind of embarrassing, I was hoping I would never have to introduce you to them, but..here they are.” Alessa said, Darren rolled his eyes at her.

“And for the record, I can understand Korean perfectly.” Darren chimed in before offering his hand to the male.

“Yeol, this is Darren, or Guan Hong. Darren, this is Chanyeol.” Alessa said, Chanyeol smiled back at the male as he shook his hand.

“How did you learn the language?” Chanyeol asked him.

“Actually, I was with Alessa when she studied her for a semester, but I stayed for a year.” Darren explained.

“Ah, did you study at SNU too?”

“I had no choice but to, she said she would kill me if I don’t accompany her.” He chuckled, Alessa eyed him warily.

“Oh, those are the rest of the guys,” Alessa tugged on his sleeve.

“That’s Connor and Caesar. Ni men!” She called out, the two looked at them.

“Hi!” Connor and Caesar waved at them, Chanyeol gave them a small bow.

“How about you take your friend for a spin?” Darren spoke, Chanyeol eyed the car again. He was curious how it worked.

“You want to?” Alessa was excited to show him her rally car, and she was happy that Chanyeol was meeting her closest friends.

“I wont die, right?” He asked her, Darren burst out laughing.

“You might die for saying that.” Darren mused back, Alessa shook her head at him, unamused. Chanyeol chuckled before playfully mussing her hair and taking the car key from her. Connor and Caesar looked on, intrigued.

“But, can we head out? I want to eat.” Chanyeol said to her, Alessa nodded back.

“We already made a reservation at somewhere.” She replied to him before jogging towards Lucas and Ahee, she took out something from her purse. Chanyeol realized it was the key to the younger male’s Audi. Alessa tossed the key towards him and Lucas blew her a kiss.

She waved them off before walking back towards Chanyeol.

“Alessa?” Darren called out, she paused and turned to him.

“Drive safely.” He cupped her cheek briefly before getting inside his car, Chanyeol’s brows went up but he slid inside the car without talking.

Alessa closed the door and looked at Chanyeol oddly, she blinked at him.

“Yeol, buckle up.”

“H-How?” Chanyeol was staring at the unusually complicated straps before him, Alessa smiled before inching towards him, she started to fix the harness across his chest. Her face was so close to his that Chanyeol could feel her breath on his neck.

“When did you pick up this hobby?” He asked her quietly, Alessa looked up to meet his gaze, she didn’t seem to be bothered by his proximity.

“The moment I learned driving.” She nodded at him, she was about to pull away from him, but Chanyeol held on to her arm and pulled her closer.

Alessa stilled and then he smiled before lightly pressing his lips against hers.

“I like seeing you this happy.”

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