“I was worried that you might be in trouble since you don’t normally go out. You are even worse than me,” Athena sighed in relief
“My mom trusts you and you know that she likes you. She was surprised when she saw you waiting for me.” Daniel said before touching the tip of Althea’s nose
“Why would she be surprised? We are primary batchmates so she knows me. Is she not aware that we are friends?”
“She found some of our letters that I forgot to throw away. She was thinking that we are still together.” Daniel said while looking down
“What?! Oh no, you didn’t! Did you explain it to her?” Althea shrieked
“Explain what?” Jessica said as they looked back
Althea immediately covered her mouth and shook her head as she looked back. She left Daniel and hid behind my back.
“It was nothing. She was asking if I explained to Mom that I will be going home late.” Daniel said before joining them
“I will go and make some sauce for the barbecue inside,” I announced
“I will come and help you since I also need to drink some water,” Althea whispered behind my back
“Do you want some cold or warm water?” I asked her when we entered my cousin’s house
“Coldwater, please. I feel sorry for asking you but I have no choice since I am not familiar here,” she said
“Don’t feel sorry. You can go back outside and I will follow you after I am done with the sauce.” I said as I started chopping chilies, onions, and cucumbers.
“Don’t you need some help?” she asked while spacing out
“It’s fine and there’s not much to chop anyways,” I said
She sat down in front of me and watched me make the sauce. I suddenly felt conscious of having her around me that I almost cut my finger. I seriously can’t understand why I am feeling this way around her.
“Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something wrong with my face?” she asked while circling her fingers in her face
“Are you back with Daniel?” I asked seriously
“Stooop! When will you stop teasing me?” she said wide-eyed
“I am not teasing you. I am asking a serious question.” I said with a smile
“Why are you so invested in me and Daniel? Nothing is going on between us. Do I have to keep on reminding you that we are JUST FRIENDS?”
“If you’re not back with him then who do you like? Henry? Jackson? Allyson? Or maybe Ace?”
“Haha, I know what you’re trying to do here. I won’t answer that question because you will make use of my answer to tease me more.”
“Then should I ask who is your crush?”
“If I said that you’re my crush, would you believe me?” she whispered in my ear after washing the cup she used
“What?” I asked to make sure that I heard it correctly.
“You’re the one that I like,” she whispered again
I was too dumbfounded that I froze. She winked at me before waving her hand and going out. I snapped back to reality when I heard someone laughing. I looked around and saw my cousin smirking at me.
“Are you still going to deny it? I already caught you,” he said
“Deny what? Leave me alone if you came here to tease me,” I said
“Keep denying then but be careful because you might be too late,”
“Stop teasing me or I will throw this apple at you,” I said touching and looking at the apple
He kept on annoying me so I throw the first thing that my hand grabbed from the counter. He looked so cool when he caught it with one hand just like what we see in movies. He proceeded and took a bite while winking at me which was a bad move.
“Ugh! I thought that was an apple. I was expecting you to throw that apple beside you.” he said grimacing before spitting out the onion.
I looked at the counter and saw the apple there. I must have grabbed the onion that I was supposed to chop instead of the apple. I laughed loudly when he rushed to the sink to gargle before drinking juice.
“Are you still not done with the sauce? The barbecue is almost done.” Althea’s head popped out as I was laughing
“I will just chop some onions and then I will be coming in a moment,” I said before focusing on chopping
I stuck my tongue out to my cousin when I was on my way out. He was still grimacing and trying to remove the taste of onion in his mouth. They have been waiting for me to come back. I don’t know why I felt happy when I saw that Althea was now in her usual spot when we got together.
“It’s cold. Should we go closer to the bonfire?” Althea said
“Shall we give you a hug?” Allyson and Jackson said at the same time.
“Did I ask for a hug? I said that I want us to move nearer to the bonfire because it is starting to get cold,” she said in disbelief
“Oh. Move nearer.” Allyson said while exchanging glances with Jackson
“What are you doing?” Althea asked when the two of them linked their arms to hers
Jackson nodded and both of them suddenly stood up and Althea, unaware of what was going to happen, floated from her seat. She was still in a daze when they put her down near the bonfire while laughing.
“Oh my goodness! Can the two of you stop making fun of me?” She shouted at them when she realized what happened
“Why? You wanted to move nearer the bonfire so why are you getting mad.” Jackson said before patting her head
Althea grabbed his hand and bit it out of annoyance. Jackson shrieked when he felt the pain in his hand. Allyson who was laughing on the side stopped when Althea faced him.
“Should I bite you now or later when you’re not aware?” she said with knitted eyebrows.
“You better let her bite you now. Not knowing when she will bite will stress you out.” Jackson said
“Can’t you just let it pass? I will not do it again, I promise,” he said while frowning and offering his arm.
Althea grabbed his arm and blew on it while smiling devilishly. Allyson looked horrified when he saw her wink so he closed his eyes tightly.
“Hmmm, you smell delicious. Was it because you cooked the barbecue?” Althea said licking her lips as she smelled Allyson’s arm
“I know that you’re eccentric but how can you act like a vampire. You’re giving me goosebumps by doing that.” he shuddered at the thought
“If I were a vampire, I wouldn’t bite you,” she said before biting Allyson’s arm
“Ouch! I thought you said that you wouldn’t bite me.” Allyson shouted
“What?! Why? Am I a vampire? Should I drink your blood too? Jackson, hold him.” Althea said teasing
Jackson immediately held Allyson’s hands behind him while waiting for Althea’s command. I stifled my laughter when Althea tiptoed but she can only touch Allyson’s shoulder.
“Those three are in their worlds again. How can they be mature and childish at the same time? I cannot believe what I am seeing.” Jessica said while shaking her head
“Can’t we just ignore them and proceed on eating? The food will get cold. We know that they will not stop until one of them gets what she wants.” May answered
Daniel who was silently standing on the side walked towards them and reached for Althea’s hand to stop her. Althea looked backed frowning then she was suddenly smiling after she saw Daniel.
“Yes?” she asked in a sweet voice
“I think you need to stop playing around now because we need to eat,” Daniel replied
Jackson, Allyson, and I exchanged unbelievable glances when she did not get mad and followed Daniel to the table. I haven’t seen her act that way because she would normally snap at someone who tells her to stop when she was fooling around. My suspicion that something was going on between them grew when they sat down close to each other. My mouth was itching to ask Jessica and May questions but they are just shrugging their shoulders whenever we locked eyes.
“I need to go home now. It’s getting late.” Daniel said when we were done eating.
“Let me go and look for the driver. I will also inform Nana and Ace that you are all leaving.” Althea answered as she stood up and went inside the house.
“Take care in going and thank you for accepting our invitation,” Nana said as she hugged all of us one by one.
“Thank you for coming and accompanying our Althea. I won’t be able to accompany you in the car so I will say goodbye now.” Ace also said as he pats Althea on the head.
- - - END OF POV - - -