IS THIS ANOTHER LESSON LEARN?

CHAPTER XIX

And then Sam also appears in the kitchen and yawning.

Trevor glanced up as Sam entered the kitchen, taking in her rumpled hair and sleepy eyes. The sight of her, still bleary-eyed from sleep, awoke an unexpected flutter in his chest.

He quickly masked it, taking a nonchalant sip of coffee as he greeted her. "Sleep well?" he asked, aiming for casualness and landing somewhere between sarcastic and genuine.

"Yes, also having a hangover. I'm starting to cook now. A brunch."

"A hangover, huh?" He couldn't help but tease, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I hope it was worth it."

He set his coffee cup down, watching her move around the kitchen with a casual ease that was both frustrating and captivating. "You always cook when you're hung over?"

"Didn't you trust my skill?" She sip a coffee and stand to start the cooking.

"Who said anything about not trusting your skill?" he shot back, rolling his eyes in an exaggerated gesture. "I'm just... skeptical."

He leaned back in his chair, eyeing the kitchen where she was preparing the meal. "Besides, hangovers don't exactly improve anyone's cooking skills," he added bluntly. "Unless it's for burnt eggs and overcooked bacon."

Sam shot him a glare, her eyes narrowed. "Very funny," she replied sarcastically. "Because you're such an expert chef, right?"

Trevor shrugged nonchalantly. "I can at least make a decent omelette," he countered with a hint of smugness. "Can you?" Sam just shrugged.

"Alright?" Trevor echoed, raising an eyebrow. "That's it? No comeback? No threat to throw my coffee out the window?"

He watched her quietly for a moment, the usual fire in her eyes strangely muted.

"...You really are hungover," he concluded with a soft scoff. "The great Sam—reduced to 'ok' and kitchen silence."

Sandra suddenly interpreted into the conversation. "Mag luluto din si ate ng sinigang nu! Kung n
Makatitig ka naman, nakikita mo na ba si ate as your wife? Hahahahaha"

"Shut up, Sandra," Trevor snapped, his usual composure cracking for a split second. His jaw tightened, and he pointed at her with the edge of his newspaper. "Not everything is a joke for your twisted matchmaking fantasy."

But beneath the glare and the icy tone, there was something else—something warm and unspoken—that flickered in his eyes when he glanced at Sam.

And just as quickly as it came, he buried it.

"Now either help her cook or get out of my kitchen before I throw *you* out."

"Hahahahaha, hindi mo kaya! At ayaw ni ate pinapakialaman Siya. FYI.!"

"And yet," Trevor countered, leaning back with a smirk, "she lets *me* stand here and critique her cooking. Funny how that works."

He took another slow sip of coffee, eyes flicking to Sam with deliberate nonchalance. "Maybe it's because I'm not as insufferable as you."

Sam finished cooking and served the foods. "Can you both please get a damn plate so we can start eating!" she frowns

"Alright, alright," Trevor quipped, standing up and heading towards the breakfast table. "We can't keep our lovely cook waiting, now can we?"

As they all sat down to eat, Trevor found himself sneaking glances at Sam. The way she looked with the morning light on her skin… damn, it was both infuriating and attractive.

He quickly shook his head, focusing on his plate. *Get a grip, you moron*.

As they all started eating, a comfortable silence fell over the table. Trevor took a bite, expecting the usual teasing or sarcastic digs from Sandra, but she was strangely quiet.

He glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "You're unusually quiet," he commented, the tone slightly suspicious. "No witty remarks or annoying observations? Is the hangover affecting your usual snarkiness?"

"Yeah. Stop talking and please continue eating" Sam irritately said and rolled her eyes.

He rolled his eyes at her sharp tone but silently obliged, continuing to eat. The room fell into silence again, and Trevor couldn't help but observe the unusual dynamics.

Sandra was being oddly subdued, barely talking or cracking her usual annoying jokes. Sam was unusually focused on her food, avoiding eye contact with either of them.

*Something's going on.*

He finished his meal, leaning back in his seat and studying the cousins subtly.

"Anyways ate, may nag hahanap sayo kanina." Sandra speaks to her cousin

Sam looks up, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "Who?" she asks, setting down her fork.

Trevor tries to seem disinterested, but he listens intently, his gaze flickering between the two women.

"Sabi nya suitor mo daw tapos may binigay." and Sandra handed her cousin a necklace given by her suitor.

Sam's hands closed over the necklace, her eyes widening in surprise. She looked at the pendant, a mix of awe and confusion on her face.

Trevor tried to act cool, sipping his coffee nonchalantly, but the muscles in his jaw tighten imperceptibly.

*A suitor? And with jewelry?* He didn't like the sound of that.

"Are you jealous? Hahahahaha." Sandra teases trevor

"Jealous?" Trevor scoffed, trying (unsuccessfully) to look unfazed. "Of course not. Why would I be jealous? Because some random guy decided to give your cousin a necklace?"

He took a slow sip of coffee, eyes avoiding both Sam and Sandra. "I couldn't care less."

But his knuckles were white around the coffee mug.

Sandra burst out an annoying laugh, clearly amused by Trevor's denial. She nudged Sam gently.

"See how much he cares? He's literally turning his knuckles white with jealousy!"

Sam glanced at Trevor through her lashes, the ghost of a smirk playing across her mouth. *Damn it*. Even a tiny smile from her made his heart skip a beat.

Trevor forced his grip to loosen, setting the mug down with an exaggerated sigh.

"Will you  shut up? I am *not* jealous."

"Sabi mo eh. Hahahaha." Said Sandra still teasing Him.

"Laugh all you want," Trevor muttered, standing up and tossing his napkin onto the table. "But I have a company to run—unlike some people who spend their Sundays gossiping like teenagers."

He shot Sandra a dry look. "And if you don’t stop smirking, I’m revoking your kitchen privileges."

With that, he turned on his heel—striding toward the study with just a little too much purpose.

Sam watched him go, fingers still tracing the necklace… then slowly placed it aside.

And didn't pick it up again.