My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 101: Peace Came At A Price

(Arata)

"Happy birthday, my little annoying brother." I handed him his present which he took with wide eyes and excitement dripping from his face.

Accepting it, he rattled my small gift between his index finger and thumb, trying to figure out what it was.

It was a silver-plated chrome-finished limited edition model of his favourite car. I knew it would be a teaser but also a great addition to his model car collection.

"Thank you!" He graciously said. "What is it?" He wriggled his brows at me.

"Patience, little one." I pulled his earlobe and he let out a small. "Ouch!"

Others laughed, seeing our sibling affections.

We were all gathered around the table on which rested a gigantic birthday cake shaped like a blue car. The finishing and perfection with which it had been baked made it seem like a real car—Zaylen’s dream car.

The table was brimming with gifts everyone had gotten him and I could bet quite a few were just car keys for the new ones he had received.

"Let’s cut the cake," Mom happily said, placing a candle which read 21 in his cake and lighting it up.

Zaylen leaned down and blew out the candle while closing his eyes for a second. I knew he was making a birthday wish, he loved doing that. His face went all serious as if he was making a special wish.

As his eyes opened, all seriousness was replaced by excitement. Grabbing the knife, he slashed the cake right in the centre.

"Happy birthday Zaylen!" We all chorused and clapped. The balloons and party poppers popped, sending confetti flying.

Callum and Stella were on picture duty so cameras flashed.

Beaming, he graciously cut out a piece and first offered it to Mom and then to Grandma. They took small bites and gave him kisses on his flushed cheek. He then offered it to Baba and me, and everyone else.

We posed with him for fun pictures, making hilarious faces.

Stella and I cut and plated the chocolate layered cake and handed it over to everyone. Cherry and Callum served drinks while servers brought out snacks and more food, ensuring everyone received it.

Elders got busy with their conversation and enjoyed the cake.

Taking ours, we decided to sit outside on the beach and bask in the heat of the November sun. The cyan sky was only sparingly cloudy today.

Our straw hats shielded our faces from the harsh rays while five of us settled down.

"You feel any wiser? Now that you are 21," Cherry asked, licking the back of her spoon coated in layers of chocolate.

Zaylen leaned back in the white beach chair and lazily shook his head.

"Nah! Same old, same old." He took out his sunglasses from his pocket and put them on.

"Maybe get a girlfriend, she will make you wiser in ways you wouldn’t even imagine," Callum teased, taking a sip of his bubbly drink.

All of us girls snickered at his answer, and as soon as Callum’s eyes flickered to me, his cheeks began to burn, and he looked away, as if embarrassed.

"Sorry man, but I am not prepared for that responsibility. I will stick to my cars." Zaylen tipped his hat over his glasses, crossed his arms and stretched his legs.

"Your attitude sometimes makes me think–you are gay," Stella nonchalantly added in a teasing manner, and I let out a throaty chuckle.

Cherry and Callum doubled over in laughter, but Zaylen almost jumped off the beach chair as if he had been electrified.

"Absurd, I like girls. I just haven’t found the right one. Besides, I don’t like stringing someone along just for the sake of it." He got rather defensive and all of us couldn’t help but tease him more.

"You should wear a chastity ring, Zaylen," Cherry ribbed him and he stuck out his tongue at her. It was common knowledge that among us five, my brother was the only one who had not gotten laid.

Zaylen’s forehead creased as he tipped his hat up and pointed his index finger towards Callum.

"Why is no one teasing Callum? He doesn’t have a girlfriend either." Zaylen huffed out, his deep green eyes staring from one to the other.

"That’s because it’s more fun to tease you. Besides, we all know Callum has eyes for someone and is just waiting for an opportunity which might be granted on this trip." Stella purposely coughed, elbowing me and I gave her a hard stare.

On the other hand, Callum went from red to pink to vermilion to carmine and then to burgundy.

Poor guy, I felt sorry for him because they were going to tease him non-stop now.

"Is that so? Callum." Cherry raised her brow at him, and he just coughed as if something was stuck in his throat. Embedding the glass in the sand Callum pointed out.

"I am not sure what you guys are talking about. Why is momentum shifting from Zaylen to me?" His ears seemed to be burning like coals in a barbecue grill.

"Aww! Callum is all shy." Zaylen hopped closer and placed his elbow on Callum’s shoulder, making him squirm.

Cherry and Stella giggled while I had a sheepish smile.

"Hey! Guys, what are you all talking about? May I join?" It was Aunt Huria, she had walked out with her glass of margarita with a small umbrella in it, making her style statement.

We loved having her among us, she was chill and fun and not a grumpy elder.

I quickly got up and offered my chair to her while a house helper quickly rushed off to bring me extra. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"Absolutely. Just teasing the boys for not having girlfriends," I summed it up for her and she let out a naughty chuckle while settling in the chair I had just offered her and crossing her legs.

"Ah! I remember the time when I was the same age as you guys. I used to change boyfriends like tissue papers before I met Rias." She proudly stated, leaning back in her chair like a queen while proudly sipping on her margarita with her head held high.

"Eww, Mom." Stella wrinkled her nose while we laughed with our hands on our mouths. Boys snickered at the revelation.

"Yeah, she used to get bored rather quickly." Mom had wandered behind her best friend and stood with her elbow on her chair. Her auburn hair was neatly held in a braid while the straw hat rested on her head.

Aunt Huria merely shrugged her shoulders. "Men should have done better, it’s not my fault they were so—unexciting."

She then pointed towards the boys with her well-manicured finger, studded with a diamond ring.

"Take points if you want to survive this crucial game of dating. Try harder, be smarter and put effort in."

Both of them nodded in all seriousness while we ladies only pursed our lips to not laugh at the sombre expressions they held.

"What are you guys talking about?" Baba followed Mom and placed his loving arm around her waist, hugging her from behind and placing a gentle kiss on her hat.

He would never miss a moment to make her feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

It always made me wonder, especially now if I would ever have such kind of love with someone. Men like my Baba were one in a million.

I had thought Andy was my dream man but he turned out to be such a wuzz, leaving this horrible taste in my mouth.

"Just giving boys some notes on how to succeed with the ladies," Aunt Huria chuckled.

Baba faced the boys and said with determination.

"It’s simple. When you find the one, just love and protect her with everything you have. It’s all here." He pointed to his heart, "And she will be like this. Ready to leave her whole world behind just to be with you." He pulled Mom close, and she generously smiled, leaning into his touch.

He continued while staring at Mom.

"Be loyal. Be kind. Be a listener." Then his eyes drifted to us, and all we could see was the eternal love he had for Mom.

"We can only hope that one day we can be as lucky as you guys," Zaylen wistfully said, his shoulders slumping. I knew Baba had a great influence on him and he wanted to do this right.

"Love came at a great price for us. It wasn’t easy." Baba’s eyes took a darker shade and his face hardened as if he was thinking about the hurtful memories.

"Come on, Zy. Let the kids enjoy themselves. No point in bringing up the past while we are here to enjoy and relax." Mom patted his arm and kept a smile going, but I knew it was a pretence. Their wounds ran deep and they hardly spoke about it.

Seeing the atmosphere had gotten serious, Aunt Huria quickly said.

"Who is up for some beach volleyball?" How about men Vs women?"

"Yeahhhh!" We all chorused and left our seats to run inside and fetch the ball and enjoy a fun game.