My Ruthless Stepbrother (ENGLISH)

13- "Way beautiful."

I didn’t say anything yet, but Rhian suddenly sensed what was on my mind.

“Just not sure if he's here now. Sometimes, he’s late because he wakes up late in the morning, or sometimes, he’s just being lazy. But most of the time, he’s really here at this hour to manage this business.”

We reached the second floor and then we have finally seen Zack.

So, he’s really here!

He was sitting on a black sofa while sweating maybe because he had just finished working out. I have noticed the two brunette girls at his side flirtatiously chitchatting with him.

"There he is! Big bro!" Rhian called his attention, so he looked at us coming to him.

Even the two girls turned gazes at us.

I followed Rhian when she walked near her brother. I could already feel my stepbrother’s dark eyes directed straightly in my direction.

"Rhian, there you are! How are you, baby?" smilingly approached by the girl who was wearing a gray sports bra with a pair of the same color cycling shorts. She even kissed my sister like they were close.

"Uhm, I’m fine," Rhian awkwardly responded and shrugged.

“You know what? I missed you! It's been a month since you took a vacation in General Santos and you haven’t visited the gym.”

“Yeah. Anyway, how are you, Gweneth?”

"Gweneth? Rhian, it's Ghada, not Gweneth." The girl now looked annoyed for being called at another name.

“Oh, yeah. I apologize. My bad. It’s Ghada. I have almost forgotten about it since my big bro is a notorious playboy and I have encountered his countless girls with different names resulting in why my memory cannot just stick to one,” Rhian continued to exasperate the brunette.

The latter almost rolled her eyes. “Oh? Is that so? Okay.”

“Rhian, what are you both doing here?” Zack asked coldly and plainly glanced at me.

“You know that sis Irryn and I do jogging every morning, and this time, I am in the mood to go here and to let her finally see this. One of our businesses. Your fitness gym.”

Zack peeked at me, and I was feeling intimidated so, I looked away. When I turned my eyes to another girl beside Ghada, I saw her eyeing me from head to foot as if judging me with disgust on her facial expression while her brow was raising.

I felt so belittled contrasting what I wore with what they were wearing. She was wearing a sports bra and cycling shorts. They were both wearing expensive and branded original rubber shoes. Their healthy and round boobs were showing. Their bodies were well-built as a result of continuous workouts, and they even looked like models in attractive sports wear.

While I, only wore a plain white t-shirt and black jogging pants paired with inexpensive white rubber shoes.

"And who is this jologs girl here?" asked the girl who looked irritated just by my presence who couldn’t level their wealth.

I felt belittled more. Finally, these sexy ladies pointed out my clothes. I was compelled to be angry, but I restrained myself because what they were saying was somehow true.

"Hey! Don't say that to my sister, b*tch!" Rhian immediately backed me up.

"Rhian." I gently shook my head to calm her down my sis down.

The girl somehow had been taken aback by Rhian’s warning face.

"What? She's your sister? But how come?" She couldn’t even believe it.

"My dad married her mom that's why she’s my stepsister. Say anything bad to her again, and I'll smash your face!"

“Oh! I'm sorry, Rhian!" she urgently apologized.

"Next time, choose your words so that you won't get into trouble! Let’s go, sis Irryn!" And with that, Rhian held my wrist and dragged me out of place.

I simply followed my sister. I couldn’t help but glance back at the people we left there. The girl Rhian had called out was still embarrassed. Ghada, on the other hand, was startled, while Zack continued to stare at me directly and intently, with no emotion visible in his eyes or facial expression. He was just sitting there, watching at me as I walked with Rhian.

I couldn't figure out how he felt about what had transpired today. Rhian called out one of his girlfriends, and I was worried he'd be angry with me again. Probably, since I know full well that the whole thing began with me, and that it was my fault that Rhian had to be rude to the girl.

“Rhian, thanks but you shouldn’t have done that,” I said to my sister.

"No way! My action just served her right! She didn’t know who she was being rude at! I can't take it when anyone insults my sister, especially in front of me!"

I smiled at Rhian’s protectiveness on me. I was touched and totally moved and honestly, appreciated her care.

“She wasn’t aware that we are stepsisters that’s why, maybe, she said those words to me.”

"Well, now that she knows that, she must control whatever her tongue says!" She turned to face me. "Anyway, sis, If you're worried that big bro Zack would be upset with us, I assure you that he's already used to my arrogance when it comes to his distasteful girls, ew."

“He’s used to it?”

“Yes. He’s already used to me having to call out his girls every time I see his flings. He won’t mind at all. He has lots of girlfriends, and he is such a playboy, so he doesn’t mind me calling out his girls anymore. Saw it a while ago? He didn't say a thing. He didn’t even protect them from me because they didn't mean much to him. They're just toys he could play around and throw away later on when he's already fed with them."

Wow. What more could I say? I was speechless!

"These girls really get on my nerves every time because, apart from being b*tches themselves around, they're also acting close in order to hit on big bro more! It's as if any of them piques my big bro's sincere interest. Hmmp! They could be his toys, and he never gets serious, for all I know. Not even with either of them. In all honesty, sis Irryn, you are far more gorgeous than they are!"

Before I could even respond with flattery to what she had just said, I found her bringing me to the gym's barbels' area!

I was all amused by the complete sets of fitness gym equipment I saw.

I must admit, it was my first ever time being in a gym as classy as this one. I suddenly wanna try exploring the different equipment for bodybuilding... only if I'm allowed to do so. Now the question is, am I?

"Sis Irryn, this is cool. You must try it!" Rhian invited me to join her while she was doing and playing the little barbells.

There are different types and sizes of barbells here, from the smallest to the biggest and most heavy ones. I’m so sure Rhian and I can only do the smallest ones.

“I wanna try but am I allowed?” I asked my sister hesitantly.

I really wanna touch every little thing I see here, but I am having second thoughts that the owner or future heir of this gym will get mad at me.

The lines on her forehead waved because of my stupidest question.

“Of course, you’re a family member, so why not!”

“But maybe—“

“You’re worrying that big bro Zack will get mad at you? Oh, come on! Never mind him! You’re with me, and he can’t do anything about it. You can touch and try whatever you want to explore here. You have my permission!" She even winked at me with full confidence.

Now, I am gradually getting convinced. “Is that so, Rhi?”

“Yes.”

I stopped asking when I saw she was already focusing on working out. She put on her mp3 earphones while doing the thing.

I decided to mind my own business and not bother her anymore. She said I could explore everything here, so I presume there will be no trouble if I’ll enjoy myself, too, right?

I tried to carry mini barbells in both of my hands just like what my sister had been doing but I didn’t even imagine how heavy these were so I failed a hold of these things, and they fell hard on the tiled floor making a noisy commotion. I felt so ashamed when I got the attention of everybody, and some of them almost stopped doing their stuff just to take a look at the mess I created.

Damn it! So careless and so weak of you, Irryn!

“What the h*ck was that? Hey, miss! Is it your first time to hold even the tiniest barbells in a fitness gym like this, huh!” mockingly asked a beautiful girl who works out with her also beautiful friends.

“Too noisy of you!” added another girl complaining because of what happened.

“Be careful next time. Don’t make it obvious that you’re too weak for gym equipment, babe!”

I just bowed my head because of the shame I was feeling. “Sorry.”

I looked at my sister, who was still busy with the barbells in her hands. It’s a good thing that she's on her earphones and didn't notice what just happened.

It's for the best that she didn't see what happened; otherwise, she would try to defend me by starting a fight with those girls. It would be irresponsible of me to cause any harm to these people, as they are the business's clients.

After all, they were all right. I created a noise that distracted them and got their attention because it was my first time having been into a fitness gym and I was not yet totally used to the equipment.

They just rolled their eyes at me, and then they continued doing their workouts.

My attention got diverted when I noticed the boxing ring area and got fascinated watching girls doing the boxing thing there. Each girl in the ring has a coach to train them the right way to punch using one or two hands or both.

They are all serious and committed to boxing, but there are other girls who do not have coaches. They're just hitting punching bags. I saw one empty punching bag and became interested in boxing.

“Rhian sis!” I tapped my sister’s shoulder to get her attention and hear me.

She turned to me and quickly removed the earphones from her ears. “Yes, big sis?”

“I wanna try boxing.”

She smiled at me and nodded. "As I've said, you can touch and try everything you want to explore here. No need to ask another permission from me."

I smiled at her, too. “Thanks. I’ll go there now.”

She waved at me and got back with her barbells. I went near the boxing ring and took seconds to watch the girls in the ring first before getting gloves and going there as well.

I gave the punching bag a hit, but I felt like I was the one getting hit with what I just did.

Compared to these girls who seem to be already pros in punching, I feel like I really have no skill in anything at all. Damn.

I punched one more time, and this time, the bag didn’t move the usual. It just stayed still, only to find out that there is a guy who holds it for me so it wouldn’t move.

In spite of the fact that I didn't recognize him, the tall, muscular man smiled warmly as I looked at him.

"Go on, punch. I'll hold it for you," he instructed.

I got hesitant, but his friendly smiles and nods motivated me to follow him, so I punched the bag he was holding for me.

"Just go ahead. Punch it all you want. Good," he continued as I punched more.

It’s as if he’s my trainer, and he coaches me on the right way to do this sport.

When he let go of the bag, I assumed he would leave me alone, but he came back to stand in front of me with boxing paddles instead.

"This is a lot better exercise when you’re a starter. Now, punch on the paddles." He was really a teacher-like, coaching me the way.

I looked at him. I don't know him, and will I be punching the paddles on his hands?

He smiled at me, reassuring me there would be no problem when I followed his instructions and guidance. “Trust me, you’ll be learning if you follow my basic instructions. Come on.”

So, that was what I did. The next thing I knew, I was following him. I punched his paddles as hard as I could.

"Okay. That's it. Good. Okay, higher and stronger."

I was beginning to feel better and more self-assured as I began to notice my progress, but I was briefly distracted by the aggressive blows of a boxer next to me.

As soon as I glanced at the latter, I realized it wasn't the same girl who had been boxing there earlier. And now it's none other than Rocio Zackarius Lamont! Oh, no, it's my stepbrother!