chapter 07 - our special menu
friday, 31/7/2020
"When are you coming here?" Kineta asked Azli.
He could hear her yawning through the phone. "Why? You need help in your assignments or something?"
"You know I'm shit in Literature."
Azli groaned. "Fuck you. I was dreaming good. Just send me the docs and I'll explain."
"Who's that?" a male voice asked from Azli's side.
"Are you sleeping with a guy right now?" Kineta asked. Azli had always been impulsive so it didn't surprise him. She was rarely ever with men, though.
"Fuck, no. That's disgusting."
Kineta laughed. Typical.
Mai was walking through the school halls when Rod stopped her abruptly. Disinterested, she faced him with rather irritating features.
He smirked. "Good morning, Mai."
Mai wasn't about to surrender to his childish antics. With a soft sigh, she tried to escape but Rod was insistent. "You're adamant about avoiding me, aren't you?"
"Stop being a bitch, Rod."
He leaned on the lockers. "You're the one being a dramatic bitch. Are you still mad because I forced you in that costume?"
"My anger is justified."
"It's just a prank, damn."
Mai sucked in her cheeks. She was about to respond when she felt someone swung their arm around her shoulders. "Hey, Maia. Our Language teacher called for you."
"Who the fuck are you?" Rod asked.
The guy smiled. "Ryan. Sophomore year."
Mai recognized him as one of Kineta's basketball friends and relaxed immediately when Ryan pulled her away from Rod.
When they were far enough, Ryan released her and placed a distinct distance between them. "Are you okay?"
Mai nodded. "Yeah. You didn't have to do that."
Ryan chuckled sheepishly as he scratched his neck. "I hate getting myself involved but Azli told me to watch over you."
Mai furrowed her brows. "Azli?"
Ryan clicked his tongue. "I owe that girl too much." He grinned. "When I saw you back there, I swear it was just a coincidence. But after the promise I made, I had to interfere."
Mai's lips parted. She was amazed by the impact the girl had with the people in this school.
"You should tell Kineta about him."
Mai flushed. "Kineta doesn't have to do with anything."
Ryan shoved his hands in his pockets, eyes lit with mischief. "We'll see about that."
If she had this much influence without being inside the school, how much influence will she hold when she was finally inside it?
Mai walked inside the restaurant Kineta worked in, flustered at the content look he made. She kept her features stern as she sat on one of her usual seats.
Kineta approached her with his notepad ready.
"What's available for today?" Mai asked him.
Kineta's lips quirked. "Today we have our special menu, Kineta Mai."
Mai pinched his hip, causing him to flinch. Kineta instantly explained the Menu professionally, although he was beaming like a child.
They were walking home when Mai asked him regarding Azli's connections to the school.
Kineta thinned his lips. "Honestly, I don't know. She moved a lot so I wouldn't be surprised if she knew a lot of people."
"Why did you ask?"
Mai shrugged. "I'm just curious."
He glanced at her, suspicious. She kept her calm facade. Mai knew that she'd eventually have to tell him.
She shook her head, embarrassed by her thoughts. She felt like one of those nagging girlfriends that would tell their boyfriends about everything.
Mai looked at him fleetingly. Kineta was still too young to have someone depend on him that way.
As the older person between the two, shouldn't she be the one to protect him?
