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"Bhaiya, you can't do this to me! What will my friends think? What will the resort staff think? That their princess won't have anyone to pick her up? Also, aren't you even a bit worried about me?" I attempted to blackmail my brother, but his tone remained unhinged. 

"Did our princess care about us before sneaking out and returning home after a day? For the fourth time!" His voice grew harsh as he mentioned the instances when I had gotten lost in the forest. But what's a girl gonna do when her family is overly cautious? We only live once. 

I declined the call without further explanation as I heard him gearing up to argue again. 

'I'll just blame it on that bratty boy,' I made a mental note, smiling at the receptionist who had likely overheard our messy conversation, but she seemed accustomed to it by now.

The resort's staff had become almost like a second family to us since bhaiya came here to learn business every day, and I always tagged along because this was my favourite resort out of all the ones our family owned. 

It had nice architecture, food, and a beautiful garden, maybe... 

No shit  Sherlock, but my crush was at this resort, and that was the sole reason I was interested in joining Aakash bhaiya here. Just to catch a glimpse of him and accidentally bump into him.( it was never accidental)

His blue eyes, his brunette curly hair, and his Spanish accent had me all over him. I couldn't help but fall harder every time I looked into his deep blue eyes. The thought of him also reminded me that he could come here anytime and see me in this state, my worst nightmare. 

I looked around, searching for him in case he was heading for his football match, but instead, a group of girls caught my attention.

They were talking quite loudly, and their nasty tone reached me, prompting me to intervene. I approached them as I heard them speaking rudely to Samayara. 

"Are you that dumb that you ran behind him without even thinking twice?" Her nasty tone clearly made Myra uncomfortable, and before she could reply, I did. 

"Are you calling her dumb for being a better friend?" My voice and presence towered over them, if not physically, then mentally, as they were at a loss for words. I raised my eyebrow, expecting a response, but they just looked lost. 

"No, we didn't mean it like that," they suddenly said politely. "Then keep your mouth shut if you don't know anything about someone before making a judgment," I said as I passed them and took Myra away from them. "Also, change the tone of talking while talking to Myra; she won't tolerate it next time," I warned, feeling their gaze on my back.

"Thank you," Myra said, smiling. "I was having a hard time replying to them," she breathed out. "No, they were giving you a hard time. Next time, just say 'none of your business' and cut them off," I told her, well aware that she probably wouldn't do it. I informed the school faculty that I'd head home.

"Let me drop you home, then," the bratty boy interrupted my conversation with their homeroom teacher. "You can't even walk properly," I replied, pointing at his state, and he switched to the homeroom teacher instead. 

"Miss, please allow me to thank her family, she saved my life, its only right if I thank her family," he said, convincing his teacher while I slipped away to bid goodbye to the girls. I exchanged numbers with Myra and told them I'd visit them daily. Soon, the bratty boy and Evyaan, along with two other boys, joined me to drop me home.

After 5 minutes

"So, how far is your home? You know you broke my ankle. But I'm still coming to drop you." The bratty boy complained.

"Oh? Did I ask you to do so? And I don't need a whole army of guys to drop me home," I replied, annoying him with my fake smile. He just forced a fake smile as he fell at a loss for words.

"Also, can you two introduce yourselves? It's awkward not knowing your names but y'all know my address," I asked, and they both nodded before introducing themselves. 

"Okay, Aakib and Samrudh! You've got great names!" I complimented them, but they both almost nodded as if it were just a sentence.

Returning home with a group of dull men, I sighed, but at least Kiddo wasn't boring. I smirked, watching him struggle to walk as Evyaan just smiled, catching my gaze. 

"So, you're the one who convinced Kiddo to drop me and tank my family?" I asked, and he hesitated before agreeing. "Knew it, this Kiddo isn't that grateful," I said, rolling my eyes at him.

"Can you not—" he hissed before completing his sentence. "What happened?" Evyaan immediately reached his side. "It hurts even more," he said, hissing in pain. "See, that's why I told you to stay back," Samrudh added. "You won't be able to walk anymore hop on my back," Aakib said, sitting down. 

"No, my arms hurt the same," Bratty replied. "Then do you want me to carry you bridal style or something?" Aakib asked dryly. "No, that'll be mad weird! Don't you dare," he said, backing away as Aakib reached for him and pulled on his shoulder as if he weighed nothing. "Aakib, put me down, I'm not a potato sack," he said, beating his back. 

"Stop struggling, or I'll really drop you, potato sack," Aakib warned him dryly, his biceps looking hard as he held Kiaan's leg.

"Wow, your biceps... damn, these are the most defined ones I've ever seen," I said, fascinated by his well-developed physique. "Thanks," he replied again, dryly. I wondered if this man even gets excited on his birthdays or not. There's a 90% chance he doesn't. "Can I touch your bicep?" I asked him, waiting to check how hard it was. 

Well, I myself like to work out a lot, too, I also have a muscular physique, and I recently joined the gym rather than climbing mountains. It's boring compared to touring the mountains, though. "No," he replied rudely, and Bratty Boy laughed. "Hahaha... he said no. He would never say no to me, though. Right, Aakib?" he asked, showing me off as if it's a competition. 

"Definitely not, try touching me, and I'll break your bones," he said, his way of talking remaining the same—dry.

I mocked Bratty Boy, and he just avoided my eyes as he emotionally asked Aakib, "Never expected it from you; I thought our friendship was better than this.

"Once again, Aakib just sighed instead of replying. "His daily quota of words is officially done, you both shut up," Samrudh told us, and I just nodded, as I could see that's probably the reason.

Evyaan, on the other hand, was checking his watch or whatever that device was called as if he was waiting for something. "Waiting for your family to call? I'm sorry I dragged you here with me." 

"No, it's alright, hopefully, my family will call soon," he said it with a smile, but it hinted at something else, and it was sadness if I didn't know better. I smiled back as he totally changed the topic. "So, is your family upset because you snuck out? Should we apologize before they question us? Let me do it! I'll explain everything, if it falls under, I'll call Di also," he blurted out.

"No, it's not family! It's just my brother, he's very upset, as I promised him..." he asked as he stopped mid-sentence. "Um, this is not my first time getting lost, so this time he might really hit me too," I whispered as I realized it could be just a future prediction.

I shivered a little at the thought, but Bratty Boy interrupted again like he always does, "I want to properly apologize to this mountain girl's family, so tell me how I can apologize?" he said, almost as if he heard our conversation.

"Cool, I'll tell you some," Samrudh said as he walked behind Aakib to face him and seriously explained things. "He doesn't know how to apologize?" I asked surprisingly as Evyaan scoffed. "I thought you read it already," he exclaimed. 

"Yeah, just did!" I said as we could see the garden of my mansion. "Aakib, throw him down, we've reached," I told him as the bratty boy got down. "You've got a beautiful house," Samrudh complimented as our face recognition accessed the entry. 

"Oh, you've got a terrace swimming pool," Bratty Boy asked as he noticed that as the first thing. "Yes, just don't drown in it because no one will save you this time," I joked, looking for my family.

I found my cousins ogling me, sitting in the garden kitchen as I ran to them and the boys followed me. "Who let my manhwa boys out here in the real world?" Kiara commented as I stood beside her, but her eyes were on someone else.

And I realised they weren't ogling me, they were ogling the boys. ''Guys, your favourite sister is here. Can you all stop simping for a minute?''

"Why are they all looking like some supermodels or something?" Sarah said, ignoring me as they clearly drooled over them. "They've got legs for days. It's 80% legs each. How are they all so tall?" Naisha added. "Guys, they'll notice. Can you all stop staring now?" I whispered as the boys were within earshot.

"I can't stop staring. It's like they're glowing," Shanaya said as she poured sugar into her water instead of her coffee. The boys just smiled awkwardly as they clearly read the room. "

Damn right, I'm still glowing, but that should go in your coffee, little miss," Bratty Boy said, smiling brightly at her as she delicately moved her nonexistent hair back from her face. She was already wearing a tight bun. "Oh, thanks, I guess I was distracted," she said, smiling brightly at him.

"My apologies for being the distraction, ladies," Bratty self-announced, and the boys looked embarrassed for him.

"Yeah, sure, delusional king," I said, and his smile faded into a serious expression as he stared behind my head. I turned to look back as my brother, along with other cousins, Hotel staff and mom, walked towards us. I ran to my mom, but she avoided my hug. 

"Aa gayi maharani," she said, moving away from me as if I was dirty. I was dirty.

 you're back Queen?

"Haan, aa gayi, sabke sapno ki rani," I responded, and my other cousins just smiled.

yes, I'm back, Queen of everyone's heart

"Toh rani sahiba, bataiye yeh sab kon hai," Aakash bhaiya asked, walking past me and glaring at the boys, specifically at Bratty Boy. 

so, dear Queen, please tell us who are there people

"Umm bhai, they came to drop me home and, uh, thank you all as I saved them," I explained quickly. Aakash Bhai and that Bratty Boy were glaring at each other the whole time. 

"And what is he doing here?" he asked, pointing a finger at him, and that Bratty Boy grabbed it. The boys rushed towards them as they looked close to trashing each other. 

"She saved me, and that's why we got lost," Bratty Boy said as he grabbed my brother in a handshake, grimacing at him.

 "Aadhisha!" my brother's voice echoed in my ear and my heart as my whole body shivered. I know it's something serious if he's calling me by my full name. "Yes bhai, I'm here, no need to break our eardrums," I joked.

But his gaze remained fixed on the bratty boy's eyes and hand. 

"What did you promise me last time?" he demanded, his eyes blazing with anger as he stared at Bratty Boy. It felt like they shared some history, or perhaps bhaiya just resented the fact that I had saved him.

"Bhaiya, I can explain. This time, it was really not under my control," I stuttered, aware of the numerous eyes on me, likely filled with whispered gossip.

"Yeah, please calm down a little, bhaiya. We'll explain everything, it was a misunderstanding and there's a lot to unpack," Evyaan added, observing my distress.

"Aadhisha, I'm talking to you! You broke your own record for being the worst by getting lost in that deadly forest with such idiotic people? Can you stop being such a stubborn child and listen to us for once?" bhaiya shouted, causing me to shudder at his loud voice. 

This time, it really wasn't my fault, but I still found myself blamed and humiliated in front of the whole family and the Hotel staff.

"Aakash, don't shout at her," Mom interjected, but he remained resolute.

"It wasn't her fault, don't blame her," Kiddo added calmly, trying to ease the tension.

"Aadhisha, where is your sharp tongue now? Or is it only used to bring disgrace to the family? How the hell did this happen?" bhaiya shouted again, drawing all the attention to me as I struggled to respond.

"For the last time! It wasn't her fault," Bratty Boy interrupted, matching his tone and stepping in the middle of us, their gazes locked in a fierce stare-down staring daggers at each other.

God if this continues for another moment, they might start using actual daggers at each other instead of staring.

I hope y'all will like this. please don't forget to vote and comment and do let me know your thoughts on this chapter🔮.

SKYLINE SERENADES Copyright ©2023 by ERIAWELSHORCHIDS. Plagiarism is illegal. Any copying or publishing without permission is prohibited. The book is based on the author's imagination and any resemblance to actual people or events is coincidental.