Muli (An Agnes-Jerry fic)

FIVE

IT'S DINNERTIME and Agnes is alone at a Japanese restaurant near the hotel, a fresh order of ramen before her. She sighs.

Daisy is out with Sam for the fourth consecutive day.

Agnes has finally met him, when she tailed behind Daisy that afternoon as she was heading to the lobby. He is European -- tall, gorgeous with an easy smile and hazel eyes. 

Right then, Agnes knew her best friend is smitten.

They had invited her to come with them, but Agnes knew it was only out of pretense because Sam was there. So she told them to go ahead and have fun.

After she declined, Daisy smiled like she had never seen her do before.

With lots of time to kill, Agnes went window-shopping (again), checked out the museum adjacent to the mall, and watched a movie. When her legs felt strained, she walked along the string of restaurants.

And now she's here, staring at her ramen.

She sighs, having a go with her chopsticks when the door swings open. She doesn't really know why she looks up whenever that happens in restaurants, but lo and behold.

Mushu.

Little Alie appears at the door first, holding someone's hand. Jerry's, of course, as Agnes can see from the glass door. He's looking at the menu and talking to the waitress standing outside. 

The child draws her hand away, hugging Mushu the plushie closer as she's now inside the restaurant. Her eyes meets Agnes'.

And the lone one with her ramen only smiles, not knowing what to do.

Wondering what the kid will do.

Agnes knows Alie will be a difficult one to read -- reserved, quiet, serious. The first time they met wasn't exactly the warmest of introductions. She's used to bungisngis, to rowdy and kulit, and the mess that comes with that. Not to serious gazes like what this child gives.

It's like you need to earn her smiles every time.

She watches as Alie asks the waiter to open the door for her again -- politely, like a little lady. Then she tugs at the side of her father's tucked-in polo. He looks at her, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

She points inside the  restaurant. Jerry sees Agnes, who manages a small wave.

His smile... well, not small.

Father and daughter enter the restaurant, Jerry trailing behind the little one as they hold hands. They come to Agnes' table.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"You're alone?"

She looks to her side, then back at him, and nods. 

"Si Daisy?"

"May date."

"Napapadalas, ha..."

Alie tugs at her dad's hand. "Are we gonna find another table, Tatay?"

It's as if Jerry catches himself and he and Agnes laugh. Alie, curious as ever, narrows her eyes, as she looks at her Tita Agnes, then back at her dad.

"Would you mind?" he asks.

"Not at all..." she replies, taking her bag from the seat beside her. She smiles at Alie. "Will you and Mushu be my seatmates?"

Jerry and Agnes wait. Alie nods, cautiously,  a shy smile -- similar to her dad's -- slowly forming on her lips. Agnes smiles back, then offers to take Mushu, putting the plushie on her lap as Jerry helps his daughter to the seat.