Chapter 122 - The James Family (1/2)

”Yanee, are you alright?”

Yanee Lee turned to see Marian walking towards her with worry in her eyes. The two of them were in the corridor waiting for the others. They were about to go to the restaurant to have dinner.

”Yeah,” she answered and was amused when Marian scrutinized her face as if wondering if she's telling the truth, and she laughed but the other was not amused.

”Did you have a fight with the little brother?” the older woman suddenly asked surprising Yanee.

”No. We didn't,” Yanee answered. She wondered why she thought of that.

”I see,” Marian nodded thoughtfully. ”Come to think of it, the little brother wouldn't dare try to argue with you. He's so whipped,” she snickered and Yanee laughed.

”Do I look as if I just argued with someone?” she asked suddenly feeling conscious. But Marian shook her head.

”No. But you have been spacing out for a while before I approached. I thought you had an argument with the little brother. Since you didn't that's good. But you look like you were troubled. Is everything alright?”

The worry in Marian's voice returned and Yanee felt warmth in her ċhėst as she smiled at the other. It was this kind of warm feeling and thoughtfulness from them that made her to not mind meeting Tohru's family already even if they just started dating. There was sincerity in the way they treated her and she could feel that they genuinely liked her.

”Ah… I'm just thinking about my project,” she mused out loud followed with a sigh.

”You mean our book?” Marian asked and she nodded. ”What about it? Are you having difficulty? Do you want to reschedule the interviews? I can call Jena now,” she offered and Yanee raised her hand with her palms up as she shook her head.

”No, no— it's not like that,”Yanee ȧssured her hurriedly and she explained herself. ”I don't have problems with the interviews and the schedule. I'm actually grateful that you guys are helping me so much even though most of you are very busy.”

That's right. For instance, Ria and Michael dropped by Kyoto just for her since their calendar was already full with appointments. They were not just cooperative, but they were really helpful for her. They went out of their way to arrange their own schedule and travel itinerary for her. She couldn't ask for more.

”Then…”Marian prompted as she looked at her curiously.

”I just learned from Tohru that my project would be an entry for the Ai Awards,” she said with a pout and Marian finally understood what's wrong.

”Oh, that!” She anchored her arm in her while she patted her for comfort. ”You'll be fine. Don't be depressed about it.”

”But…”

”But nothing. It's Little Tohru who's personally handling this project. Do you think anything could go wrong?”

There was no mistake on the pride she had for her younger sibling that echoed in her voice. This made Yanee smile in spite of the worry lingering in her heart.

”I know he's great,” she said and Marian giggled as she let go of her to cover her face like a fangirling little girl.

”Kyaaa— is this what you call boyfriend bragging?” Marian teased and Yanee was shocked but embarrassed at the same time that she tapped the other's arm.

”Ya! I'm not boyfriend bragging! I'm just stating a fact,” she countered but then realized she made things worse when Marian squealed again.

Urgh…

”Give me a break,” she begged followed by a pout and Marian stopped giggling and hanged onto her arm again.

”So what's been bothering you about the project?” she asked as she peered at her face.

”Oh? Are you still interested in the awards?” Yanee settled the score of her bullying but it made Marian laugh.

”Of course. Otherwise, I will of course believe it's just boyfriend bragging,” she countered innocently though her eyes definitely had mischief in them, and of course, Yanee got K.O.ed again.

She should have known. She learned recently that in the James family, nobody could beat Marian over lovingly bullying people even her genius twin brother. Afterall, normally twins called each other just by their names but Tohru addressed her as ”big sis”. The five minute advantage— a.k.a. age gap she had on Tohru made her the boss.

Yanee shouldn't have tried to win. She couldn't.

”It's the fact that I'm the one who will write it,”Yanee sighed and the other looked confused.

”What's worrying you about that?” Marian totally looked like she didn't see any problems.

Yanee sighed again. ”Big Sis, I haven't written any novels in my life. This is the first one.”

”So?”

Huh?