C8 CHAPTER 08

Akira is currently buried in finishing her school workload across various subjects. It's a new wave of workload, making her sigh deeply because of the sheer amount of tasks assigned, both online and in-person. College life is truly different. Can we have a "Time First" please?

Well, this isn't like when we were kids asking for "Time First" or pause on a game we're playing because we were tired from running around or jumping. No. College is real life; there's no "Time First" nor "Pause button" here.

In the past weeks and with the change of months—yes, it's already October. They haven't even noticed the passing days due to the volume of work. It's like you blink once and BOOM! It's October and then November, then Midterms surprise!!

Although they were both busy, they can see progress happening. They manage to keep up and submit requirements on time. Dwayne and Akira's SP (Strategic Planning) paper is also making progress. They're not struggling with the work... well, sometimes. Because with the overload of information from other subjects' discussions, some things just don't seem to sink in anymore. It's overwhelming.

When Akira's phone suddenly pinged and vibrated beside her while she was busy writing and taking notes, she glanced at it. It was Dwayne, replying to the picture she posted about her Cat Yoda. She also knew that Dwayne also owns a Cat- a British Shorthair named Thunder.

"Hey~ look at you smiling too much," Saiko teased as Akira passed through the kitchen to get something to drink. Akira had forgotten that she was working at the dining table. "Is that Dwayne?"

Akira cleared her throat. "Uh- yes, it's... his cat, it's cute."

"Really? The cat is what's cute???" Insert that one Shrek meme face. Saiko knows alright.

Akira narrowed her eyes at her sister. "Yes, really." She pulled out the seat next to her, tapping it for Saiko to sit down with a glass of orange juice, then showed Dwayne's cat Thunder sent via Twitter DMs.

Their mom wasn't home because she was busy with work. They both looked at the British Shorthair cat Thunder. "What about his owner? What's he like?" Saiko asked teasingly, nudging her sister.

"You know, that's not important-"

"It is if he makes you smile like that," her sister said casually, taking a sip from her orange juice as if it were no big deal.

Instead, Akira scoffed at her sister. "You're just fishing for gossip." She chuckled. "You. You only attended senior high, but you already closed yourself off to me," her voice tinged with a hint of hurt.

"Hey, that's not true," Saiko pouted. Honestly, deep down, she had become a bit distant from her sister lately, very subtly. Compared to before, they used to share more with each other, unlike now. "Truth is, I just don't want to add to your worries. I know your college life is busy enough as it is, I just don't want to burden you more."

"It's not like that. Actually, your gossip is my escape from my busy college life. I'm always eager to hear it," her sister chuckled. They weren't far apart in age, so they shared similar interests. "But I did know about something, hehe,"

"What now?"

"I heard your classmate who gave you flowers on Valentine's Day is still your classmate," Saiko almost sank into her chair laughing.

"Kira, seriously!" Saiko's face turned red. "There's nothing to it!"

"Oh, really? Then why are you blushing?"

"Stop it! You're such a tease!" Both ended up laughing hard at their sibling antics.

"What's his name again? Mav- Mavy, right?" Akira asks.

"Maverick."

"Ah, Maverick," Akira nodsknowingly. "You know a lot, huh!" They both continued laughing and their conversation flowed.

Time flew by quickly, and it was already six in the evening. Their mom had informed them she might be late coming home, so the two took charge of preparing dinner for the night. They agreed to continue watching the series they were finishing on Netflix. It was still early, so they'd cook dinner a bit later. I doubt that.

Their conversation didn't end there; throughout most episodes of the series, they understood only a small parts of it because they were too busy chatting and asking each other follow-up questions and jokes.

Meanwhile, Dwayne was out with his friends playing basketball. They have this thing where they would make a bet upon which team would win their friendly competition. The winner would eventually treat their friend group for some booze.

Dwayne and his friends found a comfortable spot inside the local coffee shop they usually go to. They were just in time to occupy the beanbag cushioned seats that were perfect and comfortable for their tired bodies after playing basketball. They sat there for a few more minutes before actually ordering because, well, air conditioning, comfort, the ambiance of the cafe, and that addicting aroma of ground beans — ahh, heaven! It felt refreshing, especially after freshening up before deciding to go.

Since they were deciding what to order, they agreed that only one person would order at the counter — the least tired and most energetic because they were practically glued to the beanbag seats and didn't want to stand up. Andrei volunteered.

The three left at their table were busy on their phones. Dwayne let out a deep sigh as he reminisced about their game earlier at one of the courts nearby. It was the first time they had played in a while, even though they were missing Ian. "Solid game earlier," he suddenly said after seeing his friends' social media stories.

"Too bad Ian wasn't there. Who even told him to enroll at a University in the Metro?" Charles replied.

"Let's go visit him," Marco suggested out of the blue.

Little did he know, this would spark an idea in their busy working brains. Their eyes lit up as they looked at each other.

"Oh," Andrei suddenly appeared with two drinks. A café staff followed with their other orders. "What's with those faces?" he asked, noticing their grins.

"We've decided, bro. We made a decision," Dwayne said.

"What now?" Andrei furrowed his brows at Charles's statement.

"Let's tell Ian not to go home. Instead, let's travel to him," Charles said, bouncing his eyebrows up and down. "Are you in? We're all game."

"Well, I'm not sure yet. I still need to ask Mom," Dwayne raised his hand as if he were about to answer a question.

Charles, who initiated the invitation, scoffed. "Damn, are you a baby? You can already do-"

"Charles Rio!" Andrei cut him off with a strong grip, trying hard not to burst into laughter that almost made him spill his drink.

Dwayne and Marco burst into laughter at Charles's remark. Not before earning a loud 'idiot' from Dwayne. They stayed there for another hour, savoring every slice of cake they ordered.

Actually, Dwayne didn't know why he had made it a hobby to think about what Akira was doing. Ohoo~ are you a loverboy now? Character development, huh? A thought crossed his mind, and he didn't hesitate to act on it.

Finally, after perhaps memorizing every face inside the café, they decided to stand up and bounce out. It's 8:25 PM, time flies and if they don't leave soon, the café staff might offer them sleeping bags to spend the night.

"Hey, let's push with the plan this weekend, yeah? Let's tell Ian, maybe he'll treat us to a club," Charles led the conversation, tapping away on his phone. Afterall, night life in the city is more alive than it is in the province.

"Let's finalize it in the group chat,"

"Where to next?" One by one, they got into Dwayne's car, which they also used to get there. "To Dwayne's?"

"I have somewhere else to go. I'll just drop you off at your houses," he lied. Truth is, he just didn't want them to come along.

"We'll come-"

"No need," Dwayne quickly responded, causing everyone to look at him.

Marco: "What's your deal, man?"

Charles: "Don't want us with you anymore, Kenzieboi?"

Andrei: "Seriously, why?"

His friends bombarded him with questions like bullets in rapid succession. "Who are you meeting up with?" Andrei asked.

"hihi you're such a tease, Kenzieboi, not wanting to bring us. Like we wouldn't notice your takeout from the café, huh?" Charles chuckled. "So, who is it? Who do you plan on giving that?"

The frustrating part was, his friends knew him so well. In other words, there was no escaping. Not only was he in the driver's seat, but he was also in the hot seat. "It's for Akira,"

Andrei: "Ah, that explains it."

Charles: "See, I knew it!"

Marco: "My boy's quick on the draw. As you should, I raised you not to be weak."

As they continued teasing Dwayne the driver, they had no choice but to let him drop each of them off at their homes one by one. Well, he's the driver, so he calls the shots. You really have no say in this, buddies, you're definitely going straight home.

Right after he dropped his friends off to their houses, Dwayne went to Akira's place to give her the take-out he bought at the café. Quieting down his car as he texts the lady that he's waiting outside.

The door opens to reveal Dwayne leaning against his car, holding a paper bag from the café.

"What's up with you, Alvera?" Akira chuckled as he spotted him. But it seemed Dwayne found even more humor in Akira's outfit—a matching pajama set with a pig prints. Either way, he handed the paper bag to Akira. "What's this?"

"Uhh... food...? For you, your sister and your mom...?"

"I know it's food, genius. I mean, what's it for?" Akira peeked inside and found a square box, usually for sliced cakes, and two pieces of French Butter Croissant, and a Belgian Waffle—which happened to be Akira's favorite. He also noticed three drinks in eco-friendly cup holders on the car hood, next to where Dwayne was leaning.

"Just felt like giving something to a friend. Be thankful I even remembered you," Dwayne replied with a feigned sigh.

"Wow, well, I didn't ask you to remember me, Dwayne Kenzie!" She retorted, but ended up laughing at Dwayne's demeanor. "Come on in, before I decide to leave you out here with the mosquitoes,"

"I'll pass, just helping you carry these."

"Same difference, you're coming in anyway. Do you hear what you're saying? It literally makes no sense," Dwayne laughs at the way Akira says that. He ruffled her hair.

Following Akira, Dwayne carried the drinks he bought. As he set them down, another voice called out from inside the house. "Sis?" It said.

"Sis, I just got off the phone with Mom and she said Auntie's with her—" The voice stopped abruptly upon noticing the other.

"Hi, you must be her sister, Saiko," Dwayne smiled. "I'm her friend, Dwayne"

Despite being starstruck, Saiko shook his hand anyway. She was a bit taken aback, especially since he was the topic of conversation with her sister earlier. And she didn't expect him to...look like this?? Mixed race?? And his voice is dreamy too? OMG, is that even right??

You're really siblings. Mentally face palming.