A Thousand-Year Old Prophecy

90: Fated Encounter 3

"Y-you..."

Sophia paled as she saw Nyssa sitting at the head of the dining table. She was lazily leaning her back on the chair while her fingers were entwined in front of her. The posture was like a lady boss watching her subordinates eating.

And the subordinates?

The other kids, of course.

They were not entirely street children. They have this home which might not be big but enough to house all of them together.

Sophia was one of the older kids.

So usually, she was responsible for these younger ones.

Anyway, when she stuttered, the others already looked at her.

As for Nyssa, she had a playful smile on her face.

"What took you so long? Kanina pa kami dito. Toby and Fiona (another older kid) have almost finished cooking and feeding these kids." She said in too sweet voice.

Toby rolled his eyes saka tinuktukan si Nyssa.

"Quit your cringy acting, dolt?"

"Yah, Toby!"

Tinawanan lang naman siya ng mga bata.

Nyssa stopped her indignation and just smiled mischievously towards the kids in front of her.

"What laughing? Continue eating, you kiddos."

Doon naman natauhan si Sophia. She grabbed the food of that kid na nagpatuloy sa pagkain niya and threw it away.

Poor kid...

His face went like this ☹ and was about to burst crying.

"Sophia! What is your problem?" Saway sa kanya ni Fiona na agad pinalitan ang plato ng pagkain ng bata.

"Ah, since you throw that one away, you no longer have your fill for this lunch." Nyssa simply said.

Hindi naman siya pinansin ni Sophia. Instead, she looked at the kids and said, "Don't eat that. It's poisoned."

"Sophia, you are being a terrible host to our guests. I groceried and cooked with Toby so how can these food be poisoned? Pinagbibintangan mo ba ako?" Fiona contradicted her. Pinaningkitan pa siya ng mga mata nito.

Sophia blinked before shaking her head.

"But they are... they are..."

"Pfft..." Nyssa laughed. "Stop stuttering. In fact, they know about why we come here. We are waiting for you and your brother to come. While doing so, we have also decided to feed your foster siblings. Aren't we kind hearted, eh?

"Oh, and speaking of your brother, he seems to finally back too."

Sophia turned around and saw Sonny there. His eyes widened too just like her upon seeing Nyssa and Toby in their home.

"Don't scare the kids, Ana. Why do you have to be this creepy? Bata lang ba ang kaya mo?" Toby scolded her which made her make face.

Saka naman niya nilapitan ang dalawa at tinulak papunta sa mga bakanteng upuan.

"I seldom cook for others. But since this big child here wants to feed you kids, then you should just take this opportunity." Toby said then he looked at Fiona. "You too, Fiona. Join them and eat your fill too."

The young lady smiled and nodded at Toby saka naupo na rin sa tabi ni Sophia.

Pero bago siya mag-umpisa, she talked to the latter first.

"Sophia, I think you should give back the purse of Ana. She and Toby are nice people. Despite you stealing from them, they still prepare these lots for us."

"But..."

"You are not allowed to steal from them starting from now. They are our friends."

"Friend is a good term. I like it, Fiona. Sophia, why don't you be sensible as her, huh? Being too roguish is not good for a young lady like you."

Sophia almost cursed at her.

Roguish? That's more likely her, isn't it?

She went after her and Sonny and when they run away, nagdiretso naman sila dito sa headquarters. That is surely a gangster move.

Anyway, wala namang nagawa si Sophia kundi ang ibalik kay Nyssa ang pula niyang purse.

Malaki naman ang ngiti nito when she finally had the pouch back. She even opened it in front of them.

Of course, the kids looked at her, waiting to see how much money was inside this older lady's purse. They knew her to be quite rich. She was the one who gave Toby and Fiona money to buy groceries for them.

But when she finally opened the purse, all for them couldn't help coughing out loud. Even Toby was stumped.

"Yah! You try to catch these kids just because of these sweets?"

"Of course! Binili ko kaya to doon sa mamahaling tindahan. I pleaded Jin para lang payagan niya ako tapos makukuha lang to sa akin?"

Toby's mouth twitched. She was really a big baby, wasn't she?

He was not alone though. Sophia was thinking the same too.

Back in the restaurant, she clearly saw her took money from that purse. What happened then?

Napuna naman ni Nyssa ang tingin sa kanya ni Sophia.

"What happened to the purse of money? I clearly saw it back in the restaurant?"

Sonny nodded too. "Un... I did see it too."

Nyssa scratched her nose. "I put it in my storage ring, of course. I cannot tie them all on my waist, right? That will be a weird fashion statement."

Napasandal na lang sa upuan niya si Sophia.

Habang nanlulumo ang bata, lihim namang natatawa si Nyssa.

All was intentional, after all.

After she saw them entered the restaurant and mingled with the crowd there, she decided to attract them by paying their bill and show off her coin purse.

But she already changed that one with the pouch of sweets when she tied it to her waist.

In fact, she also knew when did Sophia steal it from her. But she didn't stop her nor catch her that early.

Her intention was to be really right here at their headquarters.

And now, she once again infiltrated the lives of these kids.

She just hope that this time, she could do better.

***