C5 CHAPTER 05

Akira and Saiko were eating breakfast together one morning. Their mother was the first to finish, heading upstairs to fix herself to start the day. The two of them were left on the dining table since they were still talking about random stuff that they can come up with. It's a Saturday, so they don't have to worry about the time if they're late for school.

"I feel it's meant to be," Saiko confidently says, even pointing the spoon she used to eat her cereals at Akira.

"Meant to be my stupeed ass!" Akira scoffs scandalously to what her sister said. "Maybe it was just a coincidence,"

"Whatever, I still want to meet that Dwayne guy"

"Why tho?" Her older sister furrows her brows at her.

"So I can meet my future brother-in-law of course," Saiko laughs hard at her sister's reaction.

"It's not like I'm going to make him my boyfriend already, are u nuts?"

The dining area was filled with laughter and trolling each other. The closeness these sisters have cannot be hidden. They only have each other, it's just the two of them. In short, they only have each other. When the rest of the world fails them, they have each other.

Their bantering stops when they saw their mother came down stairs all ready to go. They both looked at their mother.

"Are you going somewhere, Mom?" Akira asks before drinking the milk in the bowl left from her cereal.

"Yes. I'm going to fetch a few stuff and I'm picking up the box your father sent. Saiko, what's taking you so long? Am I going to leave you behind?" Their Mother asks as Saiko is still not finished with her breakfast. "Are you coming with us, Akira?"

It was around this time of the year when their father usually sends their 'Balikbayan Box' to his family, it usually has clothes, shoes, canned goods and the most usual 'pasalubong' from members of the family who are known to be working abroad- chocolates. Ever since they were young, Akira and Saiko grew up in coming with their mother upon getting the 'Balikbayan Box' from their father.

Although the excitement upon picking up the package is not the same as when they get to fetch their father from the Airport annually every December, the idea that it's still from their dad still leaves them excited. Akira wanted to come with them but...

"I think I'll pass on this one, I'll finish take home activities"

Their Mother just shrugs. "Okay, It's up to you. You're home alone, why don't you invite Jayden over at least to have company?" Her mother suggests.

Out of all of Akira's friends, Jayden is the one she's most comfortable Akira is left with. Aside from he's the one Akira is always with during her Junior High School days, this paved the way for Jayden to know more about Akira and her family. Her mom saw how good of an influence Jayden is to her daughter. As the saying goes, 'Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are'.

Jayden came to Akira's house before her mother and Saiko even left. Akira is now facing her laptop doing take home activities at the dining room table, while Jayden sat in their living room. "We'll be leaving now, Kira. We'll be back once we got the package from your dad," Her mother bids while putting on her shoulder bag.

"Take care," Akira along with Jayden says back. He even waves her hand goodbye before putting his attention back to the Television to scroll on what to watch.

A few hours have passed and Akira has finally finished with her take home activities. After finishing up in tidying her things, she also went to the living room to accompany Jayden in watching not before fetching a bag of chips from their pantry shelf. "Whatcha watching?" Playing with her words upon asking the show.

"Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets," Jayden says as he reaches for the chips Akira brought with her. "A newly added movie on Netflix,"

Akira even nods while swallowing the chips in her mouth. "Have you finished your school works?" Jayden asks his best friend as she turns her head to look at him, only giving him a nod before putting her attention back at the Television that's playing. "Why do I feel like a babysitter that babysits a naaaauuughty and troublesome child?" Jayden drawls out the word naughty while pinching Akira's cheeks.

In return, Akira glares at her before giving him a playful hit on his shoulder. "Hey, I'm not naughty and troublesome,"

"Fine, fine whatever you say"

They can both say that it has been a long time since the last time they did something like this. To watch a movie and just spend time with each other. The last one was back in Junior High School, before they got busy during their Senior Year in High School. They managed to put their attention back on the television even after a few side-catch ups and stories of each other.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the story, Dwayne is also in front of his laptop on their house's veranda. The weather was a bit gloomy; the sun was covered with gray clouds and there was a bit of cold mist from the mountains afar, the veranda is a nice place to stay during this type of weather. The blow of the breeze is also cool. He was sitting there since right after lunch time.

It's around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. You can say that Dwayne used to go to this spot to hide away from his mom. She keeps on nagging Dwayne into video calling one of her Amiga's daughters that she claims to like for her son Dwayne.

He was too preoccupied thinking about his mom being all naggy, he stares at the far away view of the mountains. Quietly observing the occasional birds that lands and fly away. Inhaling the cool breeze of the gloomy day. he was just pulled back to reality when he hears his name being called through the air pods he's wearing.

"Dwayne, are you still there?"

He remembers that he was in a voice channel with his friends on Discord as they were still playing a game. "Yeah, I-I'm still here" He stutters.

"Your character is not moving, are you lagging? Your internet connection must be unstable," his friend Ian asks as he claims that he keeps on calling him.

"Sorry, I was spacing out" a nervous laughter was let out by Dwayne.

Marco: Is there a problem?

Andrei: It's okay, bro. She loves you.

Charlse: Andrei, you really are a dumbass HAHAH!

Ian: Are you really okay, Kenzie?

His friends continuously asks him, one after another on the Discord Voice Channel they're in. Dwayne heaves a deep sigh before speaking as a response to his asking friends. "I'm okay, something just occurred to me."

Charlse: Are you sure?

"Yeah. This'll be my last game for today, it slipped my mind to do an activity due Monday," Dwayne reasons out.

Andrei: Sure thing, man.

Ian: Monday is not until the day after tomorrow. Damn, you do workloads earlier that expected. If I were you, I wouldn't do stuff until it wasn't the last minute before the deadline.

Marco: This is a daily reminder to not listen to what Ian is promoting to do.

Dwayne laughs at his silly friends still in their Discord Voice Channel. As if on cue, their computer screen flashes their sign of victory in their game, signalling that they have won the match. "Nice game, nice game. Let's set another game some other time,"

Charlse: Sure, dude."

Andrei: Just take lots of rest, Kenzie. Don't stress yourself out too much.

"Alright, thanks girlfriend" Following a laughter from Dwayne as he teases the way Andrei is concerned about him.

"I really wish you could see me and my finger flipped at you right now!" He bids his goodbye before disconnecting from their voice channel. Although the others still carried on to play, Dwayne just felt like he needs some time alone to think.

Standing up from his seat, he approaches the veranda railings. Spreading his hands that holds it leaning his weight forward as he stares at the tall mountains from afar. Truth is, he's already done with his activities that are due monday. He has this hobby of doing assigned works early, if possible on the same day to prevent it from overloading.

Speaking of activities, he remembers a certain time that he and Akira was paired together in a group activity to work on an assigned part, they were commended at how it came out, and not to mention the teamwork they have was claimed to have 'chemistry'. Somehow, Dwayne found himself smiling at the thought. Akira returned the glance when he saw Dwayne looking at her.

He was once again sitting on his seat, still in the veranda. His fingers out mindedly typing Akira's name on social media. The corner of his lips spreads into a smile when he saw her picture.

Pretty.

Proceeding to scroll down on her social media wall, although his smile faded when he saw what's under the name and bio of the user he's looking at. A check mark beside the word that reads 'friends'.

Friends.

'FRIENDS??!! SINCE WHEN DID WE BECAME MUTUALS ON SOCIAL MEDIA??!! AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER, I HAVEN'T SENT ANY FRIEND REQUESTS??!!'

Rushing to type onto his friend group's gc, seeming as if the letters on his keyboard were to run away from him if he hasn't picked up the pace in typing.

His squad were the ones to send the friend request the night they went out for drinks after Dwayne's first day in college. He has not known about this until now. His friends were amazed at how he just found out. As per his friend Ian's observation, it took him 5 days to know that he and Akira were friends on socials already.

In the end, he failed to find out who was the culprit that sent the request, they happen to point fingers at each other in attempt to escape the situation.

Slumping down onto his seat as he processes everything. He is not very active on other social accounts he has except Twitter and sometimes Instagram. But that's not the point here. The point here, is one of his friends sent Akira a friend request without his consent. He finally remembered that time they went to the club. They took his cell phone.

Ugh, stress!

In the midst of Dwayne's total disappointment, he suddenly got up when his phone ringed again. Signaling that he has a message 'again'. What the hell?

It was his friend Marco inviting him to join him in grabbing a cup of coffee at their local coffee shop. Ofcourse, the message didn't came with slight teasing, still on the 'friend request' beef.

Dwayne needed that coffee, so he agreed. He has to at least pick up MArco, he's the only one that has a car in their group.

As expected, when Dwayne heads downstairs, he immediately aimed for the door. Knowing his Mom, she usually asks where he going. Immediately shoving his phone and wallet into his pocket while fumbling with his car keys, his mother spoke from their house's living room.

"Where are you going?"

Dwayne shuddered for a few seconds before turning back to meet her mom who's sitting on the couch. "Starbucks with Marco. Do you want anything, Ma?" Despite the arguments they have, she's still his mother. Even though she's naggy at times, he grew to a hobby that every time he goes out, he'd ask his mom if he wants anything.

"What I do want for you is to take one of my Amiga's daughter out. Don't you find them attractive, son?"

'Here we go again'.

"I'm in College, Ma. College life is busy, maybe not at this moment because it's still the first week of the semester, but on the long run. Don't you think that's enough excuse for you to stop matching me with your Friend's children?" With furrowed brows, Dwayne carries on. "I'm not interested as of the moment, Ma. I'm sorry,"

Unlocking his Honda Civic, before getting in. He took a deep breath before turning on his car to leave.

'Here we go again, Mom.'