V

Our squad of three easily became a group of four. Nana and Ali became tight, Nana reasoned it's because it's been quite a while she has a girl friend that's always with her, as she's usually with Limuel and I. I just shrugged and let them be.

We saw Ate Prim around the campus, and even eat with us sometimes when she felt like doing so. Ate Prim is the closest girl friend Nana has, before Ali. Limuel has no sisters, just brothers, so Nana sticks with Ate Prim before if she's with us.

Nana is basically my childhood best friend. She's kind of an introvert and hates interacting with strangers. But when Limuel became my close friend in 7th grade, Nana had no choice but also befriend him. He grew on her pretty quick. And now, look where they are, almost PDA-ing in front of us.

It's already two weeks in in school. Ali said that today's her friends' arrival, and that they'll stay in an apartment near the school when I offered our house. I said they, at least, should come here for dinner, which they accepted. So, after school, I drove them home and immediately change clothes. Then, I drove Ali to an apartment beside another college near the university.

Didn't take long before the backdoor opened and entered two men and a young woman I immediately recognized from the video call a couple of weeks back- the twins DJ and JD, and their little sister Tiara.

"Hey, so you're the infamous Seal," DJ said and offered his hand for a handshake.

Hearing what DJ called me, Ali immediately looked back and glared at her friend. "Hey! I'm the only one allowed to call me Seal!"

I chuckled with Ali's tantrums and looked back to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you, too, DJ."

"Good to finally meet you, bro," JD greeted and smiled politely. He also shook my hand before leaning on his seat and looked outside the windows- the very opposite of his full-of-energy twin brother,

"Hi, handsome," Tiara greeted and offered her small hands.

I laughed when Ali took her hand and shook it before I can do it. Seriously. She even glared at the poor girl who's about as old as my twin brothers. Even Tiara and DJ laughed when Ali grumpily put Tiara's hand away before fixing her stares at the road.

"Introduction's done. Let's go," she said, a frown on her face. I pinch her cheeks, which earned me a glare and a scowl, before driving away.

The car ride went smooth with DJ and Tiara asking about the place. Unlike Ali, who I came to know actually understand and speak Tagalog, they are more fluent and speaks more of the language. Ali has this cute accent when she speaks Tagalog which I teased her about, hence why she rarely speaks Tagalog around us. The two seemed more comfortable using it and converse to me in the language.

"So, may training room ba kayo in your house? Or gym? Or just simply a matted studio?" DJ asked.

"We have. Sa may third floor. It occupies a fourth of the whole third floor. Gym equipment, boxing ring, space for sparring- we all have it there. Dad made sure that we have complete equipment and a big space to work out and train as most of us uses car as transportation and was always on our phone and gadgets," I said, brimming with pride, as that is my favorite part of the mansion, if not for my streaming room.

"Cool! Ali, we should do that in your mansion sa states. Add another floor up and make it a gym! Nakakapagod laging lumabas just to work out! Ilipat mo na lang din doon ang sparring room!" DJ suggested and they began talking about it.

From what I can see and hear, Ali came from old money. Aside from the success of their family business, Sweet Love, it seems like she's filthy rich with how easily she accepted the two siblings' suggestions.

I suddenly got intimidated. I'm liking someone richer than me. Damn!

But who cares about the money? I know she's worth liking, as I sneaked a peak at her as she converses with her friends. They way her eyes shine in excitement makes me smile. So does her dimples that shows up when she grins. The way her face lights up just, for some reason, makes me so damn happy it hurt. My heart is so filled with happiness right now it throbbed.

And I know, I know I got it bad. Am I already falling this quick? Ow fuck. I'm at risk.

When we arrived at the house, I still can't stop smiling, as I know she's also happy.

After Ali's friend and my siblings meet each other formally, Four extra silent as he stared at Tiara (my boy has grown up), DJ suggested for us to tour them around the house.

"Ang ganda ng mansion niyo, bro. It looks classy and modern. The ceilings are high and it's really spacious. Outside, it looks big, but inside it's bigger. and everything's clean. Bro, pa'no niyo nalilinisan ang ganito kalaking bahay?" DJ exclaimed as we walked towards the living room.

"Tingin mo, Kuya, pa'no nalilinisan ang bahay nila Ali?" Tiara asked as she glared at her brother.

"Ah, maids?" DJ scratched his nape as he realized the answer. I laughed and nodded at what he said.

"Exactly. 'Wag tatanga-tanga. Nakakahiya sa mga kasama natin." I'm not the only one who laughed, when DJ pouted and walked faster and gone ahead of us. He even walked past the living room's doorway.

"Idiot. That's the living room!" Ali shouted and pointed to the doorway. DJ looked back and scratched the back of his head again when he sees where Ali pointed at. He, then, walked inside and grumpily sat on the couch, as we all entered.

"Stop sulking. Hindi ka na bata," JD said, in all seriousness. Like Ali, JD have the small hint of accent. But it's more British-y, if not Australian, than American.

Third and Four decided to stay out of the grid and retreated to their rooms after the introduction earlier when they greeted them, while Ate Prim is silently following us. And I can see it clearly, she's interested with JD. Her face just lit up when the dude talk, if it's not enough tale-tell of her impending feelings.

Just great, the Lopez's has a thing for the Fortalejo's.

Well, I like a de Guzman, which is their close relative. I'm not really any better.

The tour went smoothly with Ali as their guide. Funny how Ali just got here a month ago and so, but she knows the house way better than I do. I didn't even know you can use the left stairs to go to the pool faster.

Before the tour ended, DJ asked Ali for a sparring so we all gone up to the gym. We called Third and Four, if they want to watch through the intercom. Four came up, but Third said he'll just sleep.

It's my first-time watching Ali spar. I know nothing about Taekwondo and only do boxing. So, we don't really practice martial arts together. I haven't really watched her practice, too, as she usually occupies the matted floor when I'm outside swimming or jogging, basking under the sun to give my pale white skin some color.

The two set up, as we have completed equipment, but only used a couple of them, Ali told us which as she wore them- shin guards, (fore)arm guard, groin guard and an unused mouth piece. They also wore gloves where half of their fingers are out.

They talked among themselves, clearing which personal rules and limitations will they set.

Ali can't do turning jump kicks and can only do turning kicks or jumping kicks at most.

DJ can't kick lower than Ali's neck, which is about his chest level.

The rest of the rules are of a normal sparring. No kicking lower than the belt (for Ali), no pushing, no pulling, no grabbing, no punching in the face, etc.

JD stood up as their referee. They proceeded with the ritual, or so I call in every martial arts match. They bow toward each other, shakes hand and immediately slid into positions.

DJ stand still in his L position (feet wide apart; left foot in front- facing forward; one behind- facing right) with his hands down, and his body down- relax.

Ali, also in her L-position, only with her right foot in front, has her left arm up next to her chest- also relax.

"Sijak!" JD shouted and stepped a few steps behind.

The moment JD left their sight, DJ immediately slid forward, raises his left knee up, and snap his foot towards Ali. Ali immediately side-stepped and tried kicking DJ on his side, which the latter, then, blocked with his right arm. The kick was strong, as the sound of contact of Ali's skin and DJ's arm guard filled the room. JD raised one finger and pointed to Ali.

"Axe kick, 45." I looked at Tiara and she winked. "I'll try naming all of their kicks, as long as they continue with this pace," she said.

I smiled, and then, asked, "Why is Ali given a scored there?"

"If this is an official match with body armor and head gear, with how Ali blocked the referee's position, and how loud that kick resounded, the referee and the judges would've taught it was his body gear she hit. Well, kung hindi electric 'yung armor," she explained.

I nodded before looking back at the fight. They both have step back, Ali jumping in her spot, still in position, while DJ stayed still.

DJ, once again, took charge and slid two steps forward and delivered another axe kick, as what Tiara called. Ali blocked it, however DJ followed through, turned his upper body clockwise, and 3/4 along the way (of 360°), raised his right leg from behind, bent his knee, swung his leg to his side, slightly opened his hips, then, stretched his legs midway before bending his knees, again, and hooked his foot to hit right the side of Ali's head, if she just didn't duck and stepped back. She, then, proceeded in delivering a head kick which earned her another three points.

"Damn. The advantage of being trained in different martial arts. Ali's senses are just monstrous," I heard Tiara whispered. "DJ's kick after axe kick is called spinning hook kick. Ali's kick is called roundhouse kick."

The remaining of the first round was spent with their kicks getting blocked or dodged by the other.

Ali's jumping turning back kick, worth of 4 points, was blocked by DJ's both arms.

DJ's consecutive 45 kicks with a finisher of jumping spinning axe kick was also declined by Ali's agility by blocking and dodging (stepping backwards) all of them.

The 2 minutes round ended with 4-0, when Ali tried to slid in next to DJ, raised both her arms up as she raised her right leg up from her side towards DJ's head (Tiara said they call it out-in kick, but was more known as outside or inward crescent kick). DJ, fortunately, has his arms up and blocked the forceful kick, capturing Ali's foot on his shoulders.

Only with a foot to balance and support her whole weight, Ali would've been pretty much bare for attacks if not for the round ending. The moment the bell rang, I got up and fetched an unused towel and unopened bottle of water.

"Wow. You never cease to amaze me, don't you?" I said as I gave her the bottle after opening it. She drank right away before answering me, so I tried to wipe her sweat with the towel.

"Well, I like to keep you interested," she said before taking the towel from me and walking towards Tiara. I tried to stifle a grin, but Ate Prim caught me and teasingly pointed Ali using her puckered lips. I rolled my eyes on her before walking after my girl. I shook my head with what I thought. My girl, huh? Doesn't sound too bad.

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