“What?” she said, to make sure that she heard it correctly.
“Nothing. Can I ask you a question?” I said
“If you’re going to tease me then forget it,” she said raising an eyebrow
“I won’t, I promise. I wanted to ask you a question about Allyson,”
“What about him?”
“Why did you exchange lunchboxes when you can just share food?” I asked
“I haven’t told this to anyone but I am fond of him.” she was smiling as she answered me
“Do you like him?”
“Of course, I like him. He is a genuine person and he always tries his best in everything even if he lacks something.”
“Romantically?” I asked again
I held my breath as I await her answer. I don’t know why I suddenly feel nervous when she stared at me before chuckling. She raised her eyebrows as if asking me if I am serious. I nodded while giving her a wink.
“No, you can say that I like him as a brother or a friend for now because we don’t know what is going to happen in the future. Nana is also fond of him which is why she packs some food for him,” she said
“How about Henry?” I whispered
“What about him?”
“Do you like him?” I asked
“Hahaha, why are you so silly today? Of course, I like him. I can say that he is a close friend of mine in the classroom,” she laughed, and then she suddenly got serious.
“Wait a minute. Are you asking me if I have feelings for him? Oh gosh! Don’t tell me that you believed in what he said,”
I shook my head and then messed her hair. She glared at me as her way of telling me to stop what I am doing. I pulled myself together when she smirked and I felt my heart skip a beat.
“Hey, are you free tomorrow?” I asked when we arrived in front of their gate.
“I’m not sure. Why?”
“Remember my promise before that I invite you for a meal at home.”
“Yes, what about it? You don’t have to do it, it’s okay,” she answered
“I insist since you have done a lot of favors in the past. If you’re free tomorrow then you can drop by at our house. I will cook for you. Should I ask permission from your Nana?” I asked
“Would you do that? Nana might allow me to go if you ask. She doesn’t usually allow me to hang out with boys on my own.” she said in a challenging voice
“Why do you sound so confident that she will not allow you to have a meal at our house?”
“I just know that she won’t allow it,” she whispered
I followed her inside their house to ask permission. I know that she is a homebody and her Nana is strict so I might as well be a decent person. It is better also to ask her Nana so that she won’t make up excuses tomorrow.
“Nana, Vladimir is here. He wants to tell you something.” Althea shouted as soon as we entered the door.
“I’ll be there in a minute,” Nana answered
“Take a seat first.” she pointed at the sofa before going into the kitchen
“Vladimir, what a surprise? What brought you here? I haven’t seen you for a long time,” Nana said while hugging me.
“If I knew that you missed me then I would have dropped by in the past. How are you?” I said smiling
“I’m doing fine. Althea’s friends are always welcome here. Allyson and Jackson have been hanging out here.”
“Should I make some tea for you Nana?” Althea asked as she put down 2 glasses of pineapple juice and some pancakes on the table.
“Don’t bother. You can hang out together and I will go and cook. You should have dinner with us.” Nana stood up
“Ah I just wanted to ask some permission and then I will be going home,” I said
“You should have dinner with us. Save what you wanted to ask later,” she replied
I was about to say something but she already entered the kitchen. I looked at Althea who was watching TV and she only shrugged her shoulder.
“You can go and tell her if you’re in a rush or you have something to do. She will understand. Do you want me to accompany you?” she said
“Should I have dinner here?” I said
“Why can’t everyone say No every time Nana invites them for a meal? Do I have to adopt you too? I think I already adopted errr 4 of my friends who comes and goes as they please.” she said
“Nana, Vladimir said that he will have dinner here. Do you need some help in there?” she shouted
“No, just relax in there and I will call you if it’s dinner time. You just finished your exams.” Nana answered back
“What do you want to do now? Do you want to watch or play anything? I need to go and change my clothes first. Do you want to change into something comfortable? I still have sets of jerseys that you can use.” she asked me while handing the TV remote
“I’m fine. You can go and do your thing.” I said
“We haven’t hung out for a long time so I didn’t have the chance to give you something,” she said as she came down looking fresh with damp hair.
“What’s that?” I asked
“Take a look.” she handed it to me
“Oh, it’s a photo album. I thought it was a book if not for my name and the small photo on the cover.”
“You can remove some of the photos that you don’t like in there. I compiled all your photos so I hope you like them,” she said nervously
“This is great actually for a remembrance. I like that you added our group photos during the intramurals. Thank you.” I said after scanning the photos.
I want to look at the photos on my own at home since I felt shy looking at them with Althea. I returned it to the box carefully before putting it in my bag.
“Can I ask you some questions? If you don’t mind,” she said as she looked at me
“Umm sure. What is it?”
“What do you do in your free time or should I say hobby?”
“Since I am living alone, I usually hang out with my friends in the afternoon. I also love playing the guitar.” I answered
“Ah yeah, I remembered that you’re not a homebody.”
“How about you?”
“Everything that a homebody can do at home. Reading books, watching movies, and taking photos. I prefer doing things that don’t involve a lot of people.”
“So? Are you willing to come to visit our house tomorrow for a meal?” I asked her again
“Who will be there?” she asked back
“Only the two of us, I guess,” I answered
“Ha? Then you need to ask permission from Nana. It would be better that way.” she said
“Dinner’s ready,” Nana shouted from the kitchen
“The reason I came here was to ask permission.”
“Permission for what? Don’t tell me you’re going to court Althea.” Nana said teasing while looking at Athena.
“Nana! What are you talking about? You’re embarrassing me.” Althea said while covering her face
“I’m just kidding and you’re still young to be thinking of being in a relationship but if your suitor will ask permission then I might consider it.”
“Oh gosh. Here we go again. I’m sorry.” Althea apologized to me.
“I wanted to invite Althea for a meal tomorrow but she said that I need to ask your permission first that’s I am here,” I explained
“Are you sure about that?” Nana said while giving me an uncertain look
“Just tell him No if you don’t want me to go, Nana,” Althea said
“Who said that I won’t allow you? This is a rare case since most of your friends only hang out here. It is fine with me as long as you know.” Nana said smiling
Althea's face is now flushing due to embarrassment. I smiled at her to make her relax, and feel that I understand and I am not offended. She mouthed sorry and thanked you.
“We are only going to have a meal together and you know that I don’t do those kinds of things. Stop embarrassing me.” Althea said
“But I will be going to the city tomorrow. Let me check if I didn’t make some appointments.” Nana stood up and grabbed a note from the refrigerator door.
“Is she against it?” I asked Althea
“I don’t think so. She would agree to anything that would let me out of the house as long as it is not dangerous,” she said
“Are you going to spend the whole day together? I asked Allyson to come here tomorrow and fix the vegetable garden at the back.” Nana said