Stars Can't Shine Without Darkness (Stellar)

Chapter 4

     “Do you want to come in?” Tala asked Theo as she opened the small gate.

     “I need to go. It’s already late. Long drive back home” he smiled apologetically.

     “You didn’t have to drive me home” she reminded him.

    “But I really wanted to” he flashed his killer smile which made Tala lose her wits. He leaned forward, cupped her face and gently kissed her on her lips. They heard somebody clear his throat which made them jump and move away from each other.

     “Theo, how nice of you to bring her home” Matt said as he walked towards them.

     “I didn’t like the idea of her commuting alone at this ungodly hour” was Theo’s reply.

     “Well thanks for bringing her home” Matt dismissed his cousin.

     “I’ll go ahead. I’ll pick you up on Friday” Theo smiled at Tala.

     “Bye” she smiled back. Matt closed the gate. They watched Theo enter his car.

     “That was rude” she said as she walked towards the front door. It was open so she went inside the house.

     “I’m just looking after you” Matt replied as he followed her.

     “I can take care of myself” she said pretty frustrated.

     “What’s the fuss about?” River asked. She was watching television in the living room with Jake.

     “Can you tell your cousin I can take care of myself?” Tala asked Jake.

     “Is this about Theo again?” Jake asked. The topic was getting old.

     “I saw them kissing outside” Matt announced.

     “Is he a good kisser?” River was too nosy again.

     “Let’s drink wine and celebrate your first kiss” Jake joked.

     “You’ll always be my first kiss” Tala joked back.

     “Wait! You guys kissed? When was this?” River couldn’t believe it.

    “Eons ago. He kissed me out of pity” Tala laughed.

     “You’re the one who kissed me” Jake laughed back.

     “I need the gory details” River joked.

    “He found out I’ve never been kissed. So he gave me one out of pity” Tala continued to chuckle.

     “Then what happened after?” River continued to grill them.

    “We laughed till we passed out from exhaustion” Tala snickered.

     “So there was no magic spark at all?” River asked.

    “River, I think you’ve read too much fairytales when you were young” she joked.

    “Says the person who write cheesy love stories for a living” Matt pointed out.

    “I write them out of frustration because I know I can’t have one” Tala explained as she sat beside Jake.

    “You will have one. The guy meant for you is still installing the google map app on his phone. He’ll turn up, don’t worry” Jake assured her.

    “I bet he has an awful LTE connection or something” she joked back.

    “So this means you’re not really into Theo?” Matt asked.

    “I still haven’t properly sorted out my feelings for him” she confessed.

    “Don't bother.  I’m telling you, he’s bad news. I’ll set you up with my business partner if you like” Matt told her.

    “I think I don’t want to date a white boy” Tala confessed.

    “I didn’t know you were a racist” River said in disbelief.

     “You don’t even want to go out with Clint” Tala pointed out.

    “My last boyfriend was French. I think I prefer going out with somebody in my own race. We have quirks only we Filipinos can understand” their landlady explained.

     “I think I have the same sentiment” Tala sighed, “I’m going to bed I’m tired”.

   “Don’t forget to brush your teeth and gargle with mouthwash. Theo has cooties” Matt ordered.

    “I think the last time I heard that term was when I was still in grade school” Tala laughed as she marched to her room.