MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE

Chapter 12

Jhoanna

"You're gonna burn the meat, Staku!" Mikha yelled as Stacey flipped the meat on the grill.

I hadn't heard Mikha use that nickname for Stacey in ages. They must be on much better terms now if Mikha's using that nickname again.

Come to think of it, they don't argue as much as they used to, when it seemed like they were always ready to rip each other apart.

"Will you stop yelling? You're actually not helping!" Stacey shot back, her voice sharp.

"Well, excuse me, master chef, for not wanting to eat charcoal for dinner!" Mikha retorted, raising his voice.

"Oh, you're definitely eating rocks if you don't shut your mouth right now!" Stacey fired back, her frustration evident.

"Then I guess I better brace myself for rocks, 'cause those things are going to be burned," Mikha quipped.

"How about you don't eat anything at all?" Stacey suggested, her irritation palpable.

"How about you stay away from the food?" Mikha countered, glaring at the grill.

Or maybe not.

Mikha and Stacey were locked in a back-and-forth bicker fest right in front of the grill. I wondered who thought it was a good idea to pair them up for this task.

"I swear, if those meats aren't cooked well, you two are going home," Maloi said, arranging the tables and setting out the drinks and other dishes we'd prepared.

I chuckled, watching the chaos unfold, knowing it wouldn't be a proper gathering without a little drama from those two.

"Oh hey... aren't you starting a bit early? We haven't even had dinner yet," I said, watching Aiah grab a bottle from the bucket and pop it open. She seemed to be really embracing the moment, considering how rare it was for us to all hang out during the school year.

"Relax, Jho. It's just one bottle. I'm not planning to get drunk off this little thing," Aiah said with a smirk, giving my chin a playful tap before winking and strutting over to the grill where Mikha and Stacey were still bickering.

"Whoa, someone's really diving into the night early," Maloi remarked, her hands busy arranging plates and food on the table.

"She's got a lot on her plate," I said, joining Maloi and helping her set up. "She's been hitting the books hard for the university she's aiming for. I guess she's making the most of these moments now."

"I'm just glad we're all here," Maloi said, her smile warm and genuine as she arranged the last few items on the table.

"By the way, where's Sheena?" I asked, looking around.

"I'll get that!" Sheena called out as she emerged from the stairs, looking lovely in light makeup, a purple top, and a mini skirt that showcased her style.