My Last And My Only

Chapter 105: Around The Table

The laughter lingered around the table long after everyone had returned to their food.

Aiah, still looking far too pleased with herself, happily resumed eating.

Khae shook her head, reaching for her glass of water.

"I still can't believe you made me eat that."

"You liked it."

"I said it wasn't bad."

"That's practically a five-star review coming from you."

"It is not."

Across the table, Gwen looked between them.

"...She's going to make you try something worse next time."

"I know."

"And you'll still eat it."

Khae sighed.

"...I know."

That only made everyone laugh again.

The food slowly disappeared from the serving platters.

Rice bowls were passed around.

Someone asked for another serving of sinigang.

Christine insisted she needed "just one more spoonful" of sisig.

No one believed it was just one.

"So..." Christine began, pointing her spoon toward Chico.

"You've known Aiah the longest."

Chico nodded.

"Pretty much."

"Give us a story."

Aiah immediately looked up.

"No."

"Yes," Gwen answered.

"Absolutely yes," Christine added.

Yves simply nodded once.

"I support this agenda."

Aiah looked at Khae.

"Help."

Khae smiled into her drink.

"...You're on your own."

"Babe."

"I've been force-fed bagoong and mango today."

"Fair enough."

Chico laughed.

"I'll choose a safe one."

"There are safe ones?" Aiah asked suspiciously.

"There are."

He leaned back slightly.

"When we were kids, Aiah somehow convinced herself she could climb anything."

Gwen immediately smiled.

"I can already see where this is going."

"There was this huge guava tree near her grandparents' house."

Aiah covered her face.

"...Chico."

"She insisted she could reach the very top."

"I almost did."

"You reached the second branch."

"Details."