[NATO]
"PIXIE said she likes Lua," pagbabalita sa kanila ni Milli. Pagkatapos, tumingin ito kay Dax na nakaupo sa tabi nito. "According to her, they're already good friends. Also, she's eating the packed lunch that Tita Eli prepared for your sister, babe."
"Of course," halatang hindi na nagulat na komento ni Dax na busy sa paglalaro ng online game sa phone nito. "Pixie likes anyone who gives her good food."
Tumango si Nato bilang pagsang-ayon sa pinag-uusapan nina Milli at Dax.
Lunch break na nila pero himbis na sa cafeteria, nado'n sila ngayon sa Felix's Brew– ang coffee shop na tinayo niya sa loob ng Evangelina Academy. Franchise iyon ng paborito niyang café sa Pilipinas. Iyon ang regalo sa kanya ng parents niya noong 17th birthday niya.
Meron silang special spot ng squad niya sa Felix's Brew. Sila lang ang puwedeng gumamit ng balcony sa second floor. Mula roon ay makikita ang Evangelina Boulevard at ang mini-forest sa paligid niyon.
"That glutton is so easy to please," iiling-iling na sabi ni Nato mayamaya, saka siya sumimsim ng espresso bago siya nagpatuloy. "And I specifically instructed her not to be too friendly with that new girl."
Pero inasahan na rin naman niya na hindi magagawa ni Pixie ang utos niya rito. Bukod sa ito ang pinaka-approachable sa kanila, alam niyang hindi ito magiging malupit sa isang tao na may background na malapit sa buhay nito.
I can't expect a new money girl like her to think and act the same way midget and I do.
"That "new girl" is my sister," sabi ni Dax, saka niya ko nilingon. Quindall's face was blank but he looked offended by the way he referred to his half-sibling. "Why did you instruct Pixie to not be friendly with her?"
"Do you like your sister that much?"
"I don't," mabilis na sagot ng lalaki. "Pero mas ayoko na tinatrato siya ng masama ng ibang tao. What did she do to you anyway?"
This Quindall guy has become brazen, huh?
Dax used to flinch under his gaze. Pero ngayon, nagagawa na nitong tumingin ng deretso sa mga mata niya. He was even glaring at him.
Interesting.
"I just want to see if your sister deserves to be in our group," sagot niya. "I don't hang out with just anyone, Quindall." I wouldn't have acknowledged a new money guy like you as a "friend" if it weren't for Pixie, dumbass.
"She doesn't need to be friends with us," sabi ni Dax, saka ito uminom ng iced coffee nito bago nagpatuloy. "Don't worry about unnecessary stuff, Fortaleza."
He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "I really can't get along with people who like iced coffee."
"You just can't get along with most people because you have a terrible attitude."
Sasagot sana siya pero tumikhim na ng malakas si Milli.
"Stop fighting," saway sa kanila ni Milli, saka nito sinapo ng mga kamay ang mga pisngi nito. "Don't fight over me, boys."
"We're not fighting over you," sabay na tanggi naman nila ni Dax.
"I still clearly remember the day you two fought because of me," nakangiting sabi ng Tiongson heiress. Then, she let out a dreamy sigh. "That's every hopeless romantic girl's dream, you know."
Hindi nila ma-deny ni Dax na nangyari nga 'yon kaya pareho silang natahimik na lang at bumalik sa pag-inom ng kanya-kanya nilang kape.
This midget really knows how to shut us.
And she even had the nerve to giggle.
"Nato, do you want to meet Lua?" tanong sa kanya ni Milli, saka ito sumimsim ng matcha latte nito bago ito nagpatuloy. "According to Milli, Lua is fluent in English. Which is what I expected from someone smart enough to be in the science high section throughout her junior high years. Also, according to my research, she used to be a broadcasting club member in her previous school. Kaya siguro magaling siyang magsalita."
"Why does it matter whether my sister is fluent in English or not?" kunot-noong tanong naman ni Dax sa girlfriend nito. "Won't you talk to her if she only speaks Filipino?"
"That's not it, babe," tanggi naman ng Tiongson heiress habang iiling-iling. "It's just that Nato is stupid. Mahina siya sa Filipino, eh."
"Hey, midget," reklamo niya habang matalim ang tingin kay Milli. "Did you just call me stupid?"
"Babe, I want to meet your sister," cheerful na sabi ni Milli kay Dax, halatang sinadyang hindi siya pansinin.
Tumaas ang kilay niya sa ginawa nitong hindi pagpansin sa kanya. But I'll let it slide because the only person in this school that's in the same league as me is this cunning midget.
"Sure," sagot ni Dax, saka nito marahang tinapik-tapik ang ulo ng girlfriend nito. "But after I talk to my sister. Lua and I have something to iron out first."
"I don't want to meet your sister," deklara naman niya. Because even she's a Quindall, her mother is still a... nevermind.
It wasn't like he was afraid of offending Dax. Pero kasi kapag nangyayari 'yon, si Milli ang umaaway sa kanya. That midget was tiny but her punches hurt.
I should know.
"Well, I don't think Lua is interested to meet you as well," sagot ni Dax sa deklarasyon niya kanina. "And I'd rather you not meet my sister since I don't want her to know that I'm hanging out with a bad boy."
Milli laughed a little too loud at her boyfriend's stupid remark.
"I changed my mind," iritadong deklara ni Nato. "I want to meet your precious little sister now!"
