I'm crazy, I know.

Most people would have been disgusted with how I am acting right now. They must have thought that I am such an ungrateful daughter.

But they just couldn't see the entirety of the situation. Behind that amazing façade of the situation is the hardships of a girl growing up. They never saw the steps that led me to make this decision.

Noelle is still against the solution I thought of. I'm against the solution too but my mind is more focused on the sure route no matter how crazy it would look. If this would end whatever manipulative thoughts my parents have then I would do anything. I didn't dare to tell Aurora about it because I knew that like Noelle, she would be against it.

"Still decided on that solution of yours?" my train of thoughts were interrupted when Noelle sat down before me. She came to The Array with me to teach the new baristas while I handled work and continued to search for the man that would fit for my solution.

As much as Noelle hated my solution, she still put insights to it since according to her, she wants to at least know that I'll be handing myself off to a decent man and not to just some random gigolo.

"Noelle, we've been searching for a month already. I am still decided with it,"

"Well, rotten luck. I actually thought that after a month you'd give up," she said, placing my white chocolate mocha before me.

My parents still never stopped contacting me, mostly from my mother. All I had from my dad were text messages telling me to come home or asking how I am. My mother even came into the office once. It was a good thing that I was out for a client meeting in another state that time. She even bothered to call Noelle and Aurora but both made excuses for me.

"Your mother called me again this morning," Noelle said and I couldn't help but sigh from it.

"What did she say this time?"

"Her words were, "You and Aurora need to stop hiding my daughter from me". I pretty much left my phone in call with her after hearing those. I even took a shower and she was still on call. She only dropped the call an hour later," I felt my headache intensify with what Noelle told me.

I never wanted her and Aurora to be dragged into this mess. It is supposed to be just between my parents and I. But my mother just had to pull them in and I felt sorry more than ever for them.

"I don't know what to say anymore. I'm sorry you got dragged into this,"

"It's alright. You do know that I always got your back," she said, squeezing my hand tightly in hers.

"I hope I'm not interrupting something important," a voice said from behind us and saw Devon standing with her books.

"Of course not. Come sit with us," Noelle said, scooting a little so Devon could sit next to her.

Devon didn't just become my little sister. She became Noelle's and Aurora's little sister too. She became a part of our little family, her and her brother.

"I just wanted to invite the both of you and Aurora for my graduation next week," Devon gave us both a program booklet and a ticket each for the ceremony.

Looking through all the names of the graduates, I saw Devon's name at the very top as the Batch Valedictorian. She is graduating with the Highest Latin Honors. I felt my heart swell with pride for her. She truly deserved every bit of the recognition she's about to receive.

"Congratulations, Devon. I am so proud of you," I said as I enclose her tightly in my arms with Noelle joining in.

"Goodness, don't crush the girl," Aurora said while Devon handed her an invitation and a ticket despite being squeezed in between Noelle and I.

I saw Aurora's eyes lit up and all I felt was her arms encircling us in an even bigger hug.

"Have any of you seen Devon? She told me she would give you her invites for the graduation ceremony. But I couldn't see her anywhere," Axon asked and we all let Devon go and gave her a small kiss on the forehead.

Again with Axon's shocked expression. But after seeing his sister safe with us, Axon left with Aurora to attend to some customers lining up.

"I swear, this café isn't known for the coffee nor its pastries. It's because of your brother," Noelle said, staring at the long line of giggling females at the sight of Axon.

"It seems like your brother's good looks are good for the business," I said, chuckling at Axon's embarrassed expression when an old woman pinched his cheeks telling him, "he's cute", out loud.

"He actually hates it. He keeps having girls following him around. I was even mistaken as his girlfriend one time and got bashed for it,"

My protective sister instincts kicked in and felt angry for whoever it was. Noelle was the same but Devon told me not to worry about it because her brother was with her that time and explained that she's his sister, much to that girl's relief.

Devon left to answer a call when Noelle whispered something to my ear that I never once imagined to happen.

"You know, Axon would be a great prospect for that solution of yours," my head whipped around quickly to her direction with a glare.

"Once you set your mind on something, I know that it would be hard to change your mind. He's a great, decent guy. I wouldn't be scared at all if you'll run off with him because I know he would look after you like he always do,"

Looking at a smiling Axon by the counter handing a candy to a crying toddler, it's hard not to admit that he sure is a great guy. And I saw it all firsthand through all the times he's been with me. He is a complete gentleman with a good heart.

I, too, wouldn't be afraid of being away with him. He has proven to me enough that he respects anyone despite what your status is.

"He is a great guy. But I can't drag him into this mess, Noelle. I can't bring him and Devon in this," I said, still staring at Axon who felt my gaze and smiled at me. I saw him excuse himself from the counter and picked a box from the service station and walked towards me.

"Here's your red velvet," I stared at the box then at Axon before telling him my thanks.

"He is already in this mess, Aneara. Maybe Devon isn't yet. But Axon is. Remember about the news of you bringing him to the grand opening? Or that night you came back from your parents?" Noelle said as stared at Axon even more.

I can't help but agree that Axon is already in this mess when I decided not to make a statement about the issues. But in my defense, I did not make a statement because the media pisses me off. I don't want to do anything with them. That is why I declined to make a statement and just waited for the issues to perish.

"I know but those news aren't in trend anymore," I said, still standing firm in refusing to drag Axon even deeper with me if he is already is in this mess.

"Aneara, the news never died! It may not have been trending anymore. But the news is still circling. Didn't you notice that people started coming into this café ever since that issue came out?"

Now that Noelle mentioned it, it is noticeable that people started coming in more often to the café. There aren't usually this many people who visit the café. Aurora even hired more baristas and servers as the current employees couldn't handle the rising number of customers per day. I actually thought that the business demand is just simply increasing.

"But Noelle, my life is chaotic. I don't want both Axon and Devon to suffer because of this deep urge I have, to stop my parents' manipulation.,"

"At least ask him if he would agree to it," when I didn't reply, I saw Noelle stood up and dragged Axon out of the counter and into the corner of the café. I stared at her in shock and embarrassed when Axon looked my way while listening to whatever Noelle was telling him.

The whole time Noelle talked to him. Axon had his gaze fixed on me and I had to drop my head down low for our eyes not to meet. I was silently praying that Noelle told him something else aside from that solution of mine.

"Can we talk?" I looked up and saw Axon standing before me. Behind him, I saw Noelle pass by and took Devon with her somewhere outside of the café. I gestured to him to sit and he did.

"Noelle told me about what you're doing," he said as soon as he sat in front of me.

"Then you must have thought I'm crazy for thinking of a solution of that kind," I said with irritation laced in my voice.

"I just don't think it's crazy, I know that it is. But I tried to understand what you must have felt about your situation with your parents," my hard gaze on him softened as he spoke and I couldn't help but admire him for being so calm with it. Noelle acted differently when I first told her.

"I don't know how everything became so complicated between you and your parents. But Noelle told me, no one could stop you. And I won't try. She asked me if I want to take the crucial part of your plan," my heart started racing waiting for his answer. I couldn't even bring my eyes to look up to him.

"And I agree. I'll take the part," I stared in shock. It was my turn to be in his usual shocked expression. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Did he really agree?

Is he really going to take that part?

In denial questions started flowing in my mind as I honestly didn't expect him to agree to take the part. Nor did I think that Axon would actually agree with the whole solution at all.

"Are you sure?" I asked

"Yes. I would much rather be relieved if I take the part than just some random guy you think might fit for it," He said as he opened my box of red velvet cake and took a slice of it and gave it to me.

"Noelle said the same thing," I replied, taking a bite of the cake.

We both fell silent after that until I offered him a cake which he accepted. I only have one fork and so he used mine.

All I could think of now is what's next?

I thought of Devon as well. I don't know how she would react about me...marrying her brother. I've only known the siblings for almost half a year, then this happened.

"Devon would probably be ecstatic about this. Ever since the pictures of us together came out, she liked the idea of us. But Devon must never know that the reason behind this, is your plan," I nodded in agreement.

I would like it to be that way too. It would be much better if the only people who knew about this entirely were me and Axon as well as Noelle. We have to prevent an issue from rising before it destroys us both.