Chapter 11: The Better Option
After dinner and some lighthearted chatting with her family, Lara returned to her room.
She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, willing sleep to take over. But sleep refused to come. It wasn't surprising. She had already taken a long nap earlier in the afternoon.
With a sigh, she sat up and ran a hand through her hair. Might as well get something to drink.
She made her way downstairs, padding softly toward the kitchen. As she entered, she paused, surprised to find Levi sitting at the counter, lazily swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand.
He glanced up at her arrival and smirked. "Can't sleep?"
Lara walked closer, leaning against the counter. "Nope. You?"
Levi chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Guess we're both night owls tonight." He then raised an eyebrow. "Wanna join me?"
Lara considered it for a moment before pulling out the stool next to him. "Sure. Why not?"
Levi stood up, grabbing another glass from the shelf. He held up the bottle of whiskey and gave her a teasing look. "Think you can handle this?"
Lara scoffed, crossing her arms. "What do you take me for, Kuya? A kid? Of course, I can."
Levi chuckled. "We'll see about that." he said as he poured a drink for her, sliding the glass across the counter.
Lara picked it up and took a sip. The strong, burning taste immediately made her wince, but she quickly covered up her reaction.
Unfortunately, Levi saw it and immediately burst into laughter. "Yeah, real impressive."
Lara shot him a glare. "Shut up. It's just been a while."
"Sure, sure." Levi smirked, taking another sip from his glass.
They sat in comfortable silence, nursing their drinks. The quiet hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the kitchen.
After a few moments, Lara's curiosity got the best of her. She turned to him and asked, "So... why are you drinking alone? Something on your mind?"
Levi merely shrugged. "Nothing important."
Lara narrowed her eyes at him. "Liar."
He raised an eyebrow but didn't respond.
Her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "It's a woman, isn't it?"
Levi's hand paused briefly before taking another slow sip of his drink.
Bullseye.
Lara grinned. "Oh my god. I knew it."
"You don't know anything," Levi muttered.
"That's exactly what someone hiding something would say." Lara leaned closer, eyes twinkling with mischief. "So, tell me, what kind of woman is keeping my dear Kuya up at night?"
Levi snorted and shook his head. "You should worry about your own love life. It looks way more problematic than mine."
Lara pouted. "It's not."
Levi raised a brow. "Oh, really?"
Lara's smirk faltered slightly. "Of course."
Levi's expression shifted, turning more serious. He put his glass down and met her gaze. "Do you really think I don't know?"
Lara stiffened, her fingers tightening around her glass. "What... do you mean?"
Levi leaned forward slightly, his voice quieter now. "Lucas and I live in the same world. It's impossible not to hear things about him." His jaw tightened. "And as your brother, it's only natural for me to know who my little sister married."
Lara swallowed, suddenly feeling uneasy.
"Did you... have him investigated?" she asked carefully.
Levi didn't answer immediately. He simply pick up his glass took another sip of his whiskey before saying, "Let's just say I know more than you think."
Her heart pounded. She didn't want Levi to know how miserable her marriage really was. She didn't want him to find out that Lucas loved another woman, that she was nothing more than a neglected, unwanted wife.
She looked at him hesitantly. "Kuya..."
Levi sighed and reached over, ruffling her hair like he used to when they were younger. His touch was gentle, reassuring.
"Don't worry," he said. "I won't tell Mom and Dad. And I won't interfere with your decisions." His voice was gentle but firm. "But, Lara... you don't have to put up with this. You don't have to stay in that marriage if it's making you suffer. You're free to walk away. It won't affect us. It won't affect the company."
Lara looked down at her drink, gripping the glass tightly. "I... can't," she whispered. "Not yet."
Levi exhaled through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's your choice." he said, clearly frustrated but unwilling to push her further.
Then, after a beat of silence, he suddenly muttered, "Honestly... I'd rather you end up with that Sandejas guy instead."
Lara blinked. "Huh?"
Levi took another sip and smirked. "Duke. I'd much prefer him over Lucas."
Lara stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Kuya!"
Levi only shrugged. "What? He's a good guy."
Lara wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, still chuckling. "You're ridiculous."
He gave her a pointed look. "I'm just saying, he's the better option."
Lara just shook her head, choosing not to respond and continued sipping her whiskey.
After sharing a couple more drinks with Levi, Lara felt the liquor slowly taking effect. A warm buzz settled over her, making her limbs feel heavy and her thoughts a little sluggish. She wasn't drunk, but she was definitely tipsy. And sleepy.
Suppressing a yawn, she turned to her brother. "I'm heading to bed." she mumbled, pushing the glass away.
Levi smirked. "Already? Lightweight."
"I'm not a lightweight," she insisted, though the slight slur in her words betrayed her.
Levi chuckled. "Sure. Go to bed before you embarrass yourself."
She rolled her eyes but stood up anyway. "Goodnight, Kuya."
"Yeah, yeah. Try not to fall flat on your face on the way there." he teased.
Lara scoffed, waving him off before heading back to her room.
As soon as her head hit the pillow, she let out a deep sigh, her body sinking into the mattress. Sleep should've come easily, but instead, her mind wandered to Lucas.
The thought of him sneaked in like an uninvited guest. Was he home yet? Was he sleeping? Or was he still out? Maybe... with her?
Her chest tightened.
She turned to her side, frowning at the ceiling. This was stupid. She shouldn't care. She shouldn't wonder. But here she was, fighting the urge to check.
After a moment, she caved.
Grabbing her phone, she checked the time. 11:48 PM.
Her fingers hovered over the screen, hesitation creeping in. She knew she shouldn't. She knew she was only setting herself up for disappointment, but whether it was the alcohol or her own foolishness, she clicked on their messages and typed:
Lara: Did you get home safe?
She stared at the screen, watching the message turn "Delivered" but not "Seen."
Seconds passed. Then minutes. No response.
She frowned.
Maybe he was asleep? Or maybe he was ignoring her. Again.
Lara bit her lip, debating, before sending another message.
Lara: Are you asleep?
Still nothing.
Her frustration bubbled up. Why was she even doing this? She knew he wouldn't reply.
And yet—
Lara: Are you sleeping?
Lara: Lucas?
Lara: Hellooo?
Lara: Are you ignoring me?
Lara: I miss u.
Lara: Are you really sleeping?
Lara: I really miss u, hon.
She sent seven messages in a row before flopping onto her back with a groan. This was embarrassing. She should stop.
Then, just as she was about to put her phone away, it vibrated.
Lara's eyes widened when she saw Lucas' name on the screen.
She sat up so fast she nearly knocked her pillow off the bed and quickly opened the message.
Lucas: Are you drunk?
She blinked.
Huh? How did he know?
Frowning, she quickly replied.
Lara: No. I just drank a little.
She barely had time to overthink before another response came.
Lucas: It sure doesn't look like 'a little'. You can't even type properly.
Lara gasped in offense. She could type properly! Right?!
Panicking, she scrolled up to check her messages.
They looked perfectly fine to her.
Lara: I m not drynk anf I cn type perfctly fne.
She hit send, feeling satisfied.
Lucas responded almost immediately.
Lucas: Right. Very convincing.
Lara frowned, rereading her text. It still looked okay to her. What was he talking about?
Determined to prove him wrong, she straightened up, squinting at her phone as she typed more carefully.
Lara: I am not drubk. I only had a few drinks.
She hit send, proud of herself.
Lucas: Drubk?
Lara narrowed her eyes.
Lara: DRUNK! That's what I said.
Lucas: No, you didn't.
She groaned, feeling irrationally annoyed. He was focusing on the wrong thing!
Lara: Why are you even arguing with me??
Lucas: Because you texted me more than seven times in a row, at midnight, and now you're insisting you're sober when you clearly aren't.
Lara scoffed.
Lara: I'm sober.
Lucas: Right. You're totally sober.
Lara squinted at her screen. Was he... laughing at her?
Lara: I AM!!!
Lucas: Sure. And pigs can fly.
She snorted. She hated that he was kind of funny when he was being a jerk.
Lara: You didn't answer my question.
Lucas: What question?
Lara: Did you get home safe?
There was a long pause. She stared at her screen, waiting, wondering if he'd reply.
Finally, his response came.
Lucas: Yes. Now go to sleep, idiot.
Lara smiled, satisfied.
Lara: Good. Goodnight, husby. Dont stay up too late.
She didn't wait for his response before locking her phone and curling up under the covers.
Lucas, on the other hand, stared at his screen, frowning at her last message.
Husby?
He shook his head, exhaling through his nose.
She's definitely drunk.