Elegant Affair

II.I

"So, you're that Lavender my parents warned me about."

I closed the book I was reading while waiting for Esme to give him my full and undivided attention.

I won. I freaking won.

I was trying not to smile with these thoughts in my mind but I can't help but smirk. He talked to me first.

"Matteo Nickolai." I like how my tongue rolled when I said his name. It's weird hearing it from my own mouth. I often heard his name and we were even introduced already by our common friends but no one dared to speak.

Hindi tulad ng huli naming pagkikita, Gio, Steve, and Esme were not around this time. Ilang beses ko na din siyang nakita, even before we became schoolmates but it would be a betrayal to my family if they knew I'm talking to 'one of the Ong's'. The petty fights from the past always irritated me.

Matteo may also be that person my parents warned me about (and vice versa, apparently) but I see no harm in talking with a friend of my friend, even when he's a son of someone else's enemy.

"Kilala mo na pala ako."

How can this guy forget that we were literally introduced days ago? I remember him not saying a word too and just nodded at me that time, refusing to say a word. He's kind of stupid. Hindi siguro siya kasing-talino tulad ng sinasabi ng iba. I didn't think the warnings were necessary. He seems harmless.

"Gio introduced you last time."

"Ah, right."

"And you are your grandfather's grandkid. Of course, I'd know you."

Mahirap basahin ang isip niya sa laki ng ngiti niya. I'm not sure if he's mocking me or he's being genuine. Because he looks genuine but even that can be faked. Maybe I'll just find out soon. I think I'll be keeping him around for a while. The idea of that is fun.

"I hope you're not a killer like your grandfather," he says with a teasing smile.

My Lolo was nice to me when he was still alive but everybody knew he was a ruthless businessman. So I smiled back because I wasn't insulted like how everyone in my family would react whenever they'd talk about the past.

"I hope you're not a weak liar like yours," I said back.

I may not know much of the details but no one's innocent in their story, that's all I know.

***

"Napapadalas ata pagpunta mo dito?"

He looked at me like he wasn't expecting me here. My lips formed a line while I found something from my phone. "New menu items. Are you free?" I read the text he sent me more than an hour ago. "Got some new flavor of bagels. I think you'll love it." Another text he sent.

"It means what it says. Got new items on the menu. I didn't know you'd care so much to actually come here."

This scene is getting familiar. I can't believe Matteo is using my lines on me. I showed him my middle finger. Dapat pala hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. The night is still young but I think this banter is making me age faster.

"I'll order those bagels and leave-"

"Wait," pigil niya sa akin, his hand on my wrist. "It's not on the menu yet. I'll just grab it quickly."

"Okay. I'll just go to the restroom. You better not be lying Matteo." I warned him. I always hated his pranks. He stopped doing those after I banned him from my unit pero baka topakin na naman siya.