C9

"Benette, here!"

Seeing the female alpha waving her hand to get his attention, a small smile appeared on the younger man's face. With steady movements, Benette walked towards the table placed near the window at the corner and sit on the vacant seat in front of Sera. Benette smells her cinnamon and vanilla scent that makes him feel more comfortable while in public. Without hesitation, Sera put her hand on his head and gave him a gentle pat.

"You made it! I thought you will cancel our meeting at the last minute." Sera beamed.

"You know that I will never do that to you unless an emergency happens."

"Of course. I am just glad to see you again." Sera said while continuously patting Benette's head.

"Stop it. You are making me look like a kid." Benette replied with a frown although he made no effort to remove Sera's hand.

Sera's eyes curved into a pair of small crescents seeing her cousin is acting the same when they were still kids. Benette Meleur is her cousin in mother's family side. Benette's dad and Sera's mom are siblings.

Sera and Benette have a good cousin relationship. They get along well and they rarely get into a fight. Maybe because Sera knows how to accommodate and take good care of Benette's personal affairs. Her younger cousin is a beta who feels uncomfortable staying in crowded places.

Benette does not have any childhood trauma or anything similar to that. He just does not like staying in crowded places because it makes him feel bothered and uncomfortable. Sera picked it up immediately when she first met this younger cousin of hers. From that day on, she always make an effort to hang out with him in places with fewer people to avoid making him feel upset or uncomfortable.

It also did not take Benette a long time for him to like his older cousin. She is very considerate of him and knows how to make him feel comfortable. She also knows how to respect his boundaries and is very sharp to notice his emotions. As they grow up, Sera's name never lost her space in Benette's mental list of people that he can trust.

"Should I order our drinks now?" Sera asked after patting Benette's head.

"Sure."

"The usual cold coffee for you?"

"Yes. And please add more ice cubes on it."

"I got it. Wait for me here."

Sera goes straight to the counter to order their drinks. While waiting for her, Benette saw her phone suddenly make a soft chime. The screen flashed open and he quickly sees her screensaver. It is a picture of her and Aster while they were having fun at the beach.

It is a photo that Aster took on his phone while they were not paying attention to him. In that photo, Sera is busy smudging Asher's face with her chocolate ice cream while Asher is trying to dodge her hands. Aster sent that photo to Sera after their vacation trip. She thinks the photo is good and decided to use it as a screensaver on her phone.

"I'm back! I also ordered a slice of matcha cake for you since I know how much you like that flavor—Hmm? Where are you looking at?"

Following his gaze, Sera finally discovered that he is looking at her phone's screen. Or it is better to say that he is glaring at her screensaver. Sera shakes her head knowing what thoughts are running inside her cousin's head.

"By the way, Asher said hi and that he wants to see you again." Sera said.

"Tell him that I do not want to see his ugly face today or in the future. He better put a huge distance between us." Benette answered with a small scowl on his face.

Although Benette does not completely hate Asher, he still does not want his company either. It is because he can still remember the mean jokes that Asher always performed to trick him in the past. Benette is probably nursing his grievances towards the loud alpha until now.

When they were still kids, Benette was sometimes visiting Sera's house to play with her. That was also the time when he met Asher and his twin brother. Asher is actually a menace when they were still young. He likes pranking Benette a lot.

The most memorable prank that Asher made to Sera's cousin was the huge chocolate-coated marshmallow that he gave to Benette. But he did not know that Asher stuffed it with chili powder inside. When Benette ate it and the chili powder burned his tongue, he cried in Sera's arms while Asher was busy stopping his laughter. It took Sera almost an hour just to stop her cousin's tears.

From that day and onwards, Benette keeps on avoiding Asher as if he is a wandering ghost. He always put a few meters distance away from him although the alpha just want to greet him. Of course, Asher can understand where he is coming from. But it does not mean he will stop bothering Benette whenever he sees a chance.

"I really cannot understand it. How come you and that menace are getting along so well?" Benette asked as he rest his head on his hand.

"Asher is actually a gentle and decent guy if you will know him better." Sera defended her best friend.

"You must be the only person who can call that guy as gentle." Benette commented.

He can never think that the word gentle will be used to describe Asher Myein. If Benette has to describe that alpha, he will be using the words menace, jerk, loud and cocky. He is also too confident as if nothing can bring him down. But Benette knows that Asher has the right to act like that.

Even if he wants to deny it, Asher is actually a good leader. Benette once witnessed it when he accidentally watched his game on the sports television a few months ago. Although his cocky smile was plastered on his stupid face all the time, he can still see how he leads his team on what to do next or what strategy they should use to defeat their enemy team. Asher can be scary and too serious if he really wants to act like one.

He hasn't experienced yet how Asher will make him follow his command with his status as an alpha. The only alphas he followed in the past are his father and Sera. And Benette has no plans to be subdued by that cocky alpha's command.

"Whatever. I have no plans to be friends with him. You can be his friend or whatever as long as he will not bother me." Benette said with a shrug.

"Aww. Didn't you know Asher misses you so much these days, Ben-ben?" Sera said with a smile.

"Don't call me that." Benette said with a frown.

"But why? That is Asher's nickname for you."

"That is a horrible nickname similar to his ugly face. Asher is just lacking of brain cells for creating such horrendous names. That dumb alpha."

Sera cannot stop herself from laughing that the few customers inside the cafe looked in their direction. Benette really does not hold his punches every time he insults Asher. Her best friend definitely engraved his menacing existence to her cousin that makes Benette spout strings of insults towards him.

"Can we just stop talking about him? I did not agree to hang out with you today just to discuss your annoying alpha friend."

"What? You are the one who keeps on remembering him, not me." Sera defended herself.

"Tch."

Soon, Sera's name was called at the counter indicating that her orders are finally ready. She stands up again and gets the tray of food at the counter. Just like what Sera had said earlier, she ordered a cup of cold coffee and a slice of matcha cake for Benette since it is his favorite dessert flavor. As for her, she ordered a cold mocha drink and a slice of strawberry cake.

While eating, Sera and Benette talked about their college life. Benette is a year younger than Sera and he is currently an art student enrolled in one of the famous universities in their city. He is following his dream to become an artist. Benette shared his future plans to Sera that he wants to have his own art studio where he will create his artworks and display them so the public can see them. Of course, Sera is always giving her full support to her cousin's plans.

When it is Benette's turn to ask for her plans, Sera just shrugged her shoulders and told him that she did not know what she wants to be in the future yet. Sera should be anxious about her future since she only needs to spend three more months in the university before their graduation. Although she has no problem when it comes to money, it does not mean Sera has to live a laidback life after she finished her studies.

"I really do not know yet what should I do once I finished my studies." Sera admitted after taking a sip on her drink. "But I am considering to be a music teacher for children who has the interest to learn how to play an instrument."

"I thought playing instruments is just your hobby?"

"Yeah. But I am confident in my ability to make a child interested in music. Or better yet, maybe I can make them fall in love with music once their parents seek my help to teach their children how to play an instrument."

"You sound like a witch who wants to lure children inside her gingerbread house just now." deadpanned Benette. "Still, I guess it is still good that you have plans for your future. Although you are still unsure of it."

"I am too pretty to become a witch."

"If you say so." Benette replied with a shrug. "By the way, mom is asking when do you want to visit our house."

Sera paused for a few seconds before she moves again as if nothing happened. But her action did not miss Benette's gazes on her. His eyes squinted a little before he continued.

"Both mom and dad are starting to miss your presence. You should visit them sometimes."