The Wish You Left Behind

Chapter 12: If There's No Wine, There's a Way

YOKO

After singing happy birthday to Ryn, and slicing the cake. Third and Tiny goes to the couch, balancing plates on their large hands.

“Isn’t the table big enough?” Marissa asks as the two take a seat on the couch.

“It is,” Faye said.

“I’m afraid me and my brother will start bickering when we’re together,” Fourth said. “We’re trying to avoid that today,” she added before winking to Marissa, who blushes.

“Sis! I forgot my soda!”

Fourth rolls her eyes but grabs the glass, anyway. “Excuse me,” she said.

“Umm. Thank you for having us, Mr. Bunmi,” Marissa said.

The old man, who’s sitting at the head of the table, smiles. “You’re welcome. And please feel free to come here anytime. How do you like the food?”

“It’s delicious!” Marissa remarks.

Yoko looks at the foods, or should she say the feasts?

And here she thought, Big’s cooking was the best.

After eating another spoonful, Yoko can’t help but say, “You must be the greatest chef in Thailand, sir. Oh. Don’t tell my brother I said that.”

The old man chuckles. “I won’t.”

Yoko once talked to the old man on the phone the first day she met Faye. It seems impossible, but the old man exudes more warmth in person, that the invitation to visit anytime sounds tempting.

“Faye said you like Japanese food?”

That caught Yoko off guard. “Er — I do, sir.”

She almost shook her head. It’s the only excuse she can think of when Faye invited them a week ago.

But for what it’s worth, the old man’s sushi is to die for.

Unfortunately for Yoko, though, Marissa knew her well.

The young woman snorts, and the snitch opens her mouth. “Actually, Mr. Bunmi —.”

From across the table, Yoko kicks Marissa’s legs. But it’s Faye who howls in pain.

Oops!

“I’m sorry. My leg twitches sometimes when — when the food is great.”

Marissa hides her grin behind the bowl of soup she’s sipping while Fourth looks at her amusedly.

Yoko did everything she could not to shrink in her chair.

She wants to apologize to Faye again, but saying it more than once seems a lot.

“It’s alright,” Faye reassured her anyway before steadying the kid on her lap. “Ryn, stop playing while eating.”

“I’m not. I’m feeding them.” Ryn blows air from her mouth and lifts a spoonful. Her hand glides down the stuffed toys, like she’s holding an airplane.

Faye stops her hand. “You will get the sauce all over you and the toys.”

Ryn puts down the spoon, grabs a glass of cold water and straight up drinks it. She then pinches her temple. “Brain freeze!” The kid said before wiggling on Faye’s lap. “Faye, sing!”

What a boss baby.

Faye chuckles. “Stop it.”

Mr. Bunmi chimes in. “Why shy suddenly?”