Torn Between Twin Brothers

Standing behind her, James put both of his hands on her shoulders, "It's getting late. I think it's time for you to leave. Let me take you back to the villa." Although he knew that Ava had a bodyguard waiting for her outside, he offered to take her back. 

Ava nodded in agreement without uttering a word. Instead, she looked at Prince Edmund, who was dumbfounded, unable to look her in the eye, "I'll be going ahead, as big brother James said, it's late already, and I shouldn't be staying out too late. I'll see you around." She then let James usher her away while his two hands were still on her shoulders.

Prince Edward made a 'tsk, tsk, tsk,' sound and shook his head before following Ava and James out the door. Prince Edmund stood rooted to the ground, unable to move after that. He couldn't believe that Ava heard every single word he said. Now, he needed to figure out how to apologize to her, or he would not be able to face her when they attend Imperial College.

===

Prince Edward caught up with James and Ava outside the ballroom, "I'm going to head home. I'll talk to you later." He told James, "Have a good evening, little sister." He added as he made a slight bow facing Ava.

"Same to you, your highness." Ava waved her hand to Prince Edward while looking around for Pisces, who had accompanied her to the Prom. 

"Where could she be?" She mumbled to herself while her eyes were roaming the nearby surrounding area. James knew what she was doing but didn't know who went with her, so he had to ask her to help locate her bodyguard.

"Who went with you? Was it Pisces?" He was only guessing, but he was almost sure. It seemed that Pisces was Ava's bodyguard, and Mary was his sister's, Akira. However, the three bodyguards took turns taking care of the three girls, no matter who it was.

"Yes, she told me that she will stay out here, but where is she?" Ava's concern was for Pisces well being. Since she came to be her bodyguard, she never left her post unless going to the restroom or urgent matters. So, she worried that something urgent had come up and Pisces had left.

Ava didn't bring her cell phone with her. Instead, she gave it to Pisces before they went inside the ballroom. So, she couldn't call her. Then she remembered James had one. 

"Big brother, may I borrow your phone? I left mine with Pisces before we went inside. I want to call her and find out where she's at." Her face showed concern while waiting for James to hand her his cellphone.

James immediately pulled out his cellphone from inside his pants pocket and handed it to her. 

"Thank you!" She said as she reached for the cellphone, "Can you unlock it, please?" She handed the phone back to James, who swiped the screen in one move and pressed his thumb. Once it was unlocked, he handed her the phone back.

Just as she was about to press the button to dial Pisces's number, "There you are! I went inside to use the restroom and decided to check on you. But I didn't see you anywhere and got worried. Luckily I ran into Prince Edmund, and he informed me that you had left with James. I'm glad you haven't left yet." Said Pisces while her facial expression was tense.

Ava handed James's cell phone back to him before sincerely apologizing to her bodyguard. "I'm sorry, sister Pisces. I had no plan on leaving without you if that makes you feel any better." Her face was full of remorse as she spoke.

"That's the truth, as you can see, she was about to call you before you arrived." Interjected James.

Pisces looked at both of them, "Well, I'm glad to hear that. Because if you guys had left without me, it would be the first and last time that it would happen. I will make sure that you don't get the chance to do it anymore. You all know what I mean. Right?" Her voice was firm with a half-hearted smile. The two could only nod in agreement and were both unable to look her in the eye.

===

Everyone was already in bed except for Chupsy, who was on duty when they arrived back at the villa. Pisces bid James and Ava goodnight before going straight to their shared room, leaving only the two in the living room unsure of what to do next.

"Would you like to stay for a while to chat?" Offered Ava which James happily accepted. When they were about to sit down, "Let me get something to drink and some snacks; I'm a little hungry." Said Ava as she left to go to the mini kitchen. When she came back, she was carrying a tray with two glasses of soft drinks, a plate of cookies, and a couple of bags of chips. 

When James saw her trying to balance everything, he quickly got up to help her carry the tray before dropping everything. 

"Here, let me help you with that." He then took the tray and set it on the coffee table.

Once both of them sat down, the whole room became eerily quiet. No one spoke for a moment; both of them were contemplating what to say. Then, finally, James found his voice.

"So, what's your plan when you go back home?" His voice was low since he knew that everyone was sleeping already. He wanted Ava to invite him to visit her in the Philippines. 

"I'm really not sure. How about you?" She asked back while looking at him excitedly. She wanted to hear him say that he was planning to visit her in the Philippines, knowing that Akira and their mother always came and visited every year. However, she was disappointed when his answer came out of his mouth...

"Sadly, I was asked by my uncle to stay here to help him at the resort. My parents agreed, and that's my plan, to work at the resort during the break before college." However, his voice sounded unhappy with the arrangement. 

"Ohhh! I thought that maybe this time when Akira comes to the Philippines that you could come too. I guess not. However, we can still play video games when we have spare time." She tried to sound happy, but tears were fighting their way out of her eyes.

To cheer her up, James quickly put on the sweetest smile. "Sure! I will make sure to have time to play video games with you. We could also just chat or have facetime calls. How's that?" 

Hearing that, Ava's face lit up like a bright star, "You promise?" She happily asked while showing her two heavily dented dimples on both her cheeks.

"Yes, I promise!"

To relieve her doubt and show that he was serious, he then put his right hand to his chest close to his heart while his left-hand palm opened up in the air, "See! I don't have my fingers crossed from behind, you can see that I'm not lying." He then showed two straight sets of pearly white teeth.

===

Ava started yawning while they were chatting about anything they could think of. Both of them didn't want the night to end, knowing that they would be separating soon. Their bond was much stronger now than before, but they were still not sure of the future. So, they wanted to cherish the moment and didn't want it to end.

Suddenly, it occurred to James that it was as good a time as any to have a serious talk with her. First, however, he needed to clear the air before it was too late.

"Ava, there's something I wanted to tell you. But, first, I need you to promise that you would try your best to understand and not get mad at me. Please?" His voice was solemn as he spoke while sadness was clouding his eyes.

Ava's head jerked to look at him after hearing what he just said. She wondered why he looked so serious all of a sudden. 'What did he do now?' She thought to herself, however, she didn't voice it out. She only bobbed her head up and down as a reminder.

"I don't know if you still remember that our family had made an agreement to bond our family together as one." He waited for her to acknowledge before continuing.

She thought for a moment, and after carefully thinking, she did remember something like that. So, she nodded her head, "Yeah, I remember it now. Something like if one has a girl and another has a boy, they will be married. Am I right?" Her eyes were filled with questions as she stared at him full of curiosity.

"Yes! Something like that. Anyway, as I'm the oldest and you are too. We were betrothed as soon as you were born. And..." He didn't get to finish what he was about to say, Ava had cut him off.

"Ohhh, now I remember! You came to our home back then, and you made me cry. Hahaha! So, you are telling me all these to warn me not to look at other boys?" She bantered while looking adoringly towards James...

With her looking so adorable, James couldn't continue what he was about to confess...

~~~

Author's note:

We are moving forward in a few more chapters. The story will now revolve around the MC. 

I apologize that it took these many chapters to introduce the new characters. I didn't intend to have these many chapters, but I got carried away. Rest assured that will be moving forward to adulthood soon. I hope that you all stick around and keep me motivated to continue writing.

Thank you!

AJZHEN