A/N: Long and very important author's note towards the end. Enjoy! - Alex xoxo
~Ariana~
"Ms. Grande," Peter opened the car door out for me to walk out off. I could sense Michael's eyes being rolled at as I thanked Peter, taking his hand to help myself out. "I never knew your family owned a farm," I commented.
"Yeah, well, I did mentioned in the past that we owned a company," Peter flashed me one of those cheeky smiles that shows off those adorable dimples. Again, why haven't I remembered his family owning farms? Was I that unthoughtful or was I just dumb?
Michael's footsteps were crunching on the gravel beneath him as he, himself, took a better look at the farm in front of him through his Ray Bans sunglasses. "This place certainly hasn't changed much," he thought out loud while grinding his top and bottom jaw together, as if he was chewing on something in his mouth.
Bernadette then entered the scene as she placed her frail hand on Michael's lean back, "We weren't planning to change anything at all, we kept this place reserved just for you to come back to. After all, you are like a son to us."
"And a brother to Bruno, right Brunz?" Uncle Peter interrupted as he brought Peter's luggage inside the house. It's a good thing I only brought my phone, my handbag went missing after that incident in the bar the night before.
That was last night? Geez, felt like it was just months ago.
Peter awkwardly snapped his head around at the mention of Michael being like his brother as Michael said, "I don't know about brother, uncle, I think cousin's good enough."
"A bit sour are we?" I said ever so casually as I gave Michael warning looks to watch his mouth, especially when he's around family he hasn't seen since he was seven years old. Michael ignored me as he went ahead of me to get in the house. This guy can be an asshole sometimes.
"Is there a war going on that I don't know about?" I asked Peter in a playful tone. I seriously don't really understand why Michael was acting bitter directly at Peter and not to anyone else. Peter just shook his head in response as he entered his own home.
As I walked closer to the entrance of their house, I heard squeals of girls as they ran outside to Peter to greet him home. "Big bro is home!" A young female look alike of Peter clung onto him like there was no tomorrow.
"Aye Presley, careful now, you might squeeze me to death!" Peter giggled at what I assumed was his little sister as he wrapped his arms around her, "Miss you too."
I couldn't help but giggle along with Peter at this adorable sight in front of me, "She won't let go will she?" I said. Presley looked over at my direction as she noticed me for the first time, "Bruno! Is she your gal-friend?" A younger version of Bernadette asked in a teasing tone which caused Peter to blush.
"Tahiti, we're not dating anymore," Peter replied shyly before he shot me an apologetic look.
"Maybe she's Michael's," Presley said thoughtfully which caused Peter to hold his stare on me a bit longer. Now it was my turn to blush.
Tahiti noticed my reaction to the mention of Michael's name as she asked me, "The only way to find out is if Ariana tells us who she's dating. Tell us, who's the unlucky man?"
At this point, I didn't really know why they're suddenly interested in my love life. I guess this is how it is when your ex decided to pay your family a visit. Before I could answer the girls, I was saved by the bell, and when I say bell, I meant Bernadette.
"Hey Ariana, would you like to come with me to the garden?"
"Sure, what are we gonna do there?" I asked Bernadette.
"We are going to harvest some fresh strawberries, Presley and Tahiti can come as well."
"Oh yes, of course, if Ariana's coming," Presley jumped excitedly as Bernadette shot her a questioning look, "Are you saying that I'm boring Presley?"
Presley, for a second, had a very greedy look on her face as she twisted the laces of her sweater, not saying a word to that question.
"That means 'yes' in Presley's language, ma," Tahiti answered for her. Bernadette pinched Presley's chubby cheeks in light frustration before Presley apologised to her mother for calling her boring.
Presley, Tahiti and I followed Bernadette to a beautiful field of strawberry plants, "Grab a basket and I'll show you where you could harvest your strawberries." I followed Bernadette as instructed as she pointed the other two girls towards a row of strawberry plants for them to pick strawberries from.
"Now, let me teach you how to professionally pick on a strawberry," Bernadette giggled as she knelt in front of the short plant to demonstrate, "You grab the stem here, and you twist while you pull with your thumb and forefinger," she instructed as I copied what she was doing on a different strawberry stem.
"Yes that's right, now you're getting the hang of it." Bernadette applauded as we moved from one plant to another.
"How often has Peter visited you guys?" I asked Bernadette as we harvested.
"Peter," Bernadette paused as she had a little thought to herself, "Peter used to visit us a lot after he graduated from high school," Bernadette shrugged her shoulders before she thought some more, "He became less available recently, he could not even make a five minute talk over the phone. The music industry really can get someone preoccupied from their family."
Sympathy filled me as I couldn't help but give Bernadette a hug, "I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be away from your own child for God knows how long." Bernadette rubbed my back in assurance as she cooed onto my ear, "It's okay darling, I'm just glad that my Peter is here, you gotta savour the moment while it lasts." I let go of the hug as we resumed on our harvesting.
"Enough about me, what's the deal between you and Michael?" Bernadette asked which caused me to pause on whatever I was doing, "Why is everybody asking me about my relationship with Michael?"
I asked anxiously more to the world rather than directly to Bernadette. Bernadette placed her hand over my shoulder and assured me, "I see Michael as my own son, whatever you feel for him, I'll always support."
Her words relaxed me from the building tension before, "I hope you don't think of me badly for not staying with Peter for long, he's actually an amazing boyfriend."
"Ariana, it's okay, we couldn't control how we feel. It's natural, so there's really no need to be sorry about it." Bernadette let me know with her smile that it's okay to tell her truthfully how I feel. I couldn't believe that I'm about to reveal my true feelings for Michael to Peter's mother!
"For the past twenty-four hours, since we were reunited from our two year break, I may or may not considered redeveloping those feelings I had with Michael again." I paused, allowing Bernadette to smile at me giddily, "That's great sweetheart, why don't you tell him how you feel?"
"Michael doesn't seem like he's interested or has the time to talk about his feelings, us. In fact, I'm more scared for him on what he does for a living than our 'relationship'. I really wish I could tell you why, but Michael would rather keep it a secret between me and him."
There world, I said it.
I just told Bernadette that I still like Michael, even after years of separation and heartbreak. There must be wrong with my head that caused me to feel this way. It's a good thing though that Bernadette didn't ask me anymore on Michael's gang-related activities.
Our baskets were about to be overfilled with freshly picked strawberries as we were working on the last berry plant, until I discovered an unusual type of strawberry, "Woah, this one's weird," I commented as I held the conjoined strawberries in the air for me to examine more closely.
Bernadette gasped at the sight of the berry I held in front of me as she muttered something in a foreign language. "I'm sorry?" I pardoned Bernadette as she carefully took the strawberry from my finger tips, "Twin strawberries! You got yourself a pair of twin strawberries."
"Did I hear twin strawberries?" Presley's voice can be heard echoing in the distance.
"Someone sure did," Tahiti said with a smile as the girls were gathering around me and Bernadette in a mini circle. Confused as I'll ever be, I curiously asked why everybody's acting so ecstatic over a strawberry, "I'm sorry, I don't understand where you're going."
Bernadette switched her focus from the strawberry to me, "Have you ever heard of the myth about eating twin strawberries?" I shook my head no as Presley and Tahiti gasped in shock at my apparent lack of knowledge. Bernadette shushed the two girls before she explained any further.
"When two people each eat one half of the twin strawberry, it is said that their souls would bind into one, and ultimately, they become each other's soulmates forever."
Bernadette handed me the strawberry for me to eat, "Oh no, I don't think I really need that," I declined the offer which caused Tahiti to become frustrated with me for not taking the strawberry, "Just for the fun of it Ariana, come on, try it, it's not everyday that you get the chance to eat the strawberry of love."
"Do it for the tradition, if you don't believe in those things, you can eat the whole strawberry." Bernadette told me with a warm smile.
Just because I'm no killjoy, I took the strawberry from Bernadette as I took a bite of one side of the twin strawberry in my mouth, "Mm, sweet and delicious," I put up the 'perfect' sign as I closed my eyes to let the juices from the fruit excite my tastebuds.
"Hey Aunt, are you bringing those in now?"
I opened my eyes momentarily as I saw Michael standing by the plants. I could see Presley and Tahiti getting giddy at what is happening before them.
"Yes Michael, you may take them," Bernadette began handing Michael the baskets as he noticed me chewing on the strawberry in my mouth. "Aunt Bernadette, is it okay if I try a piece?" Michael asked.
"Of course, we've got plenty to spare," Bernadette granted him permission to try as I was about to take a bite on the other half of the strawberry.
Michael grinned as he said, "Awesome."
When I least expected it, Michael stole the strawberry from me as he took a bite of it himself. Watching him bite on my other half of the strawberry was almost in slow motion, like suddenly the world wanted to slow everything down for this moment.
"That was yum, thanks little girl for the strawberry," Michael called out from behind him as he was heading back inside the house with the freshly picked strawberries. My mind was then invaded with endless thoughts like; Why did he decide to steal that strawberry away from me? Why didn't he pick one from the baskets he already had in front of him? Is this fate telling me something about Michael?
Stop overthinking it Ariana, it's just a silly myth. Get a hold of yourself, woman.
The sun made its final appearance in the sky for the day when I made it back inside the household, everybody started to gather around the dining table ready for dinner to be served.
"Are you and Ariana going to stay longer after dinner?" Tahiti asked Michael as we sat patiently beside him, "Sorry, a friend might text me soon, I'm actually here for work." Michael replied with no emotion whatsoever. It's probably the fatigue talking.
"Really? What's your job?" Michael swallowed midway from his glass of water, "It's, uh," Michael coughed as Tahiti grew suspicious of his anxious behaviour.
"He works for a travel agent," I quickly answered for him, "and his assignment right now is to explore the different parts of Hawaii and obviously include it in his research so he could also refer the place to his customers." Michael better thank me by the end of this night for saving his ass.
"Ah, that's a cool job, you get to go to different places," Michael nodded and went along with it from there.
"I thought you hate planes, Michael," Peter interrupted Tahiti as he was obviously eavesdropping on our conversation. Peter, out of his four sisters and missing brother, probably had the most knowledge of Michael, so far. I wonder if they used to be close.
"I do, but that doesn't mean I hate travelling. The plane ride is only a small part of it," Michael defended himself as everyone eventually resumed to their own conversations.
"Dinner is served," Bernadette announced as she placed the food on the dining table.
There were different kinds of foods to choose from like pork, chicken, seafood ("Careful with the fish Peter, we all don't want you to end up in the hospital again like last time," I joked when the fish plate was being brought to the table), and of course rice to accompany the food that was already on there.
"Mmm, this is amazing Bernadette, did you prepare all of this?" I asked.
"Not all, Michael helped. He really has his mother's genes, don't you Michael?" The whole table all looked at Michael as he shyly replied, "Not really."
We continued to eat our dinner until we couldn't eat anymore. It was just me and Michael left in the table, "Well, I'm stuffed!" I exclaimed as I leaned against my chair and looking over my bloated belly, "Look, I'm pregnant, Michael!"
"Heh, isn't that a bit daring of you, honestly couldn't imagine a day where you tell me that you're carrying a child," Michael scoffed at me, "although you kinda do look pregnant," I hit him playfully on the arm before he could even continue, "Shhhh!"
"Who's the father?" Michael pushed further jokingly as I placed my hand over his mouth, his words were being muffled through his sealed speech.
I then felt a slimy wet substance gliding across the palm of the hand I used to cover Michael's mouth, "Ew! Gross Michael!" I squealed as I removed my hand from him and wiping the saliva off on Michael's shirt.
"Hey! I know you can't keep your hands off of me, but I'm off limits!"
"That's what you get for licking my dirty hand," I smirked as Michael started to chug down on his water to cleanse his tongue, "You filthy."
"It was your decision to lick me."
"And it was your decision to bring up the topic of pregnancy."
"Say who's pregnant?" Bernadette passed by to pack up the dirty plates on the table.
"Oh no one, we were just joking," I answered quickly, suspiciously a bit too quick. Even if it was just a joke, I still get embarrassed by it. I couldn't point out why.
I looked over the amount of work Bernadette had to do to clean up as I asked her if she needed some help. Instead, Bernadette waved it off like it's not that big of a job, "No, I'm fine darling, you two lovebirds can continue on having fun, whatever you were doing."
Michael shuffled on his seat uncomfortably before he spoke up, "I'm sorry aunt, I don't know if you remembered but-"
"Michael, darling, I'm not blind when it comes to love. I've lived long enough to know the signs of two people being in love, the feeling you have in the pit of your stomach is real and you should never be afraid to show it."
"Bernadette, what are you saying?" I asked, even though I might know where this was going.
Bernadette shrugged innocently, "I'm just saying that the effect of the twin strawberry is happening already." Is she for real?
"What 'twin strawberry effect' are you talking about?" A clueless Michael asked.
Without saying another word, Bernadette instead chuckled at our mystified reactions to her sudden advice on love before she left the table for the two of us to be alone again.
"What was that about?" Michael then turned to ask me once Bernadette was out of sight.
"It was something Bernadette mentioned to me back at the garden, it was nothing."
Hell it was nothing. That's some crazy ass shit. I'm starting to think that the whole twin strawberry myth is true.
"Uhhh, okay? Well, I just received a text from Mark and he said that we need to meet him at the hotel now."
"Really? This soon?" I gotta admit, I actually enjoyed spending time with Peter's family. Very homey.
"Yeah, besides, we already said that we would be leaving after dinner, remember?" Michael reminded me as he stood up to let everybody else know that we were leaving.
"Aww, Michael, it was great catching up with you again," Bernadette hugged Michael tenderly, for a second, I thought I saw Michael getting emotional, and I may know why. Bernadette is like an Asian version of Aunt Katherine, and I knew how much his mother meant to him. Man, I'm also starting to miss her too.
Michael and I took turns hugging Peter's parents and sisters. Then it all came down to Peter.
"So long cuz," Michael said to Peter as they shook hands. "Yeah, I'll see you whenever," Peter responded in the same tone as Michael.
Peter shifted his gaze from Michael to mine as we were engaged in a comforting hug, "Careful with Michael, baby girl," Peter whispered to me while he stroked my hair, "I know, you too take care."
After my hug with Peter, the rest of the family bid the both of us goodbye before we headed outside in the cold, dark, night. Something's telling me that we won't make it back to the hotel easily, and I'm not too sure why. Great.
A/N & Announcement: How was that? I found it cute that Michael and Ariana shared that twin strawberry. The myth about the twin strawberry and the strawberry scene between Michael and Ariana are both inspired by a scene in the Filipino show 'Forevermore', it's actually a good show so I recommend watching.
And the title is 'Twin Strawberries' in Tagalog, if you guys are still wondering (I decided to name this chapter in Tagalog because Bernadette Hernandez was Filipino, yewww).
And now the announcement...
This story will finish at 50 chapters (I know... sad), so this story is already coming to an end.
But!!!
Good news is that I have already developed a brand new plot for my next story after Dangerous Games (YAYAYAYAYA). But problem is, I couldn't decide whether if I should write my next story as an MJ fanfiction or something completely different. Let me know in the comments, I really don't mind what you wanted me to do, that's why I asked. lol.
Vote/comment if you like the new new.
Till next time my lovelies.
- Alex xoxo