8 Stacie's Sneaky Plan

“Who’s that boy, Cai? Tania’s boyfriend?!” Ranie asked me sarcastically.

Matthew joined him. “They missed each other so much! Tania even hugged him in front of everyone! That was out of her character!”

I shushed them irritably. I couldn’t think straight ‘coz they were so loud!

“Can you two let me speak first?!

Everyone fell in silence. I took off my coat and sat on the sofa. Then I pinched the bridge of my nose as it hasn’t sunk into me yet. I still couldn’t believe that he went here.

“That boy is… Andrei Luke Jenares. He’s our childhood friend, but Tania considers him as her best friend. They were really close back then. But his family migrated to London after that sixth grade. We haven’t lost our contacts, so we’re still updated with each other’s lives.”

All of them were listening intently. Including Dwight…

“You don’t consider him as your best friend? Why, though?” asked Dana.

“Even though we’re childhood friends, I had a friend whom I was closer with.”

Matthew became more attentive when he heard what I said. I could feel that he wanted to ask me about my friend, but he chose to stay silent.

Ranie nodded aggressively. “That’s why Tania seemed to have lost her control! Did they fall in love with each other?”

Dwight shifted on his seat as if he was in a sudden discomfort. He picked up a book and read it upside-down. Stacie caught that, too. A laugh almost escaped my mouth as I listened to their follow-up questions. But Stacie’s cat-like eyes remained onto Dwight.

“This isn’t a storytelling! I don’t know if they have feelings for each other! Just ask Tania if you can,” I said before I went to the kitchen.

I prepared all the ingredients for Chicken Cordon Bleu and Buttered Vegetables. I groaned as I chopped the onions. I wasn’t really in the mood to cook ‘coz I wasn’t able to see my crush!

“You didn’t answer Matt’s question properly…”

I dropped the knife on the floor. “Oh, my God! Stacie! You scared me to death!”

“I’m sorry. I’m just curious,” she sat on the stool.

I picked the knife up. “Do you really ought to know?”

“I said I’m curious, so my answer is yes,” she stared at me as if she was weighing my reaction.

I sighed and crossed my arms. Stacie’s eyebrow shot up.

“To be honest, I don’t know… They’re really close. Maybe at some point, they did fell for each other. But if that’s the case, Tania would’ve told me already as she could keep a secret to me.”

Stacie nodded, but she didn’t say anything.

“Do you still have any questions to ask?”

“None at all.” She smirked at me. “Thank you.”

I sighed deeply the moment she was out of my sight. I’m sorry, Stacie…

After waiting for an hour, the hungry predators quickly headed to the dining room as I finished serving the food on the table.

“Wow! Everything looks so good!”

As always, Ranie was the first one to arrive.

I occupied the chair beside Dana’s. “Where are they? Still outside?”

“They’re not here yet, Cai,” said Danielle ‘coz the rest are busy to get some food.

Dwight cleared his throat. “Let’s pray first.”

We continued what we were doing after that. I was glad ‘coz they loved the food. Especially Matthew who was very vocal about it.

“Sorry! We took so long!”

We all turned our heads to Andrei and Tania. They settled on the seats beside Dwight whose chair was situated at the head of the table.

“Where have you been, Tania? I thought your friend went home,” Ranie said rudely.

Tania glared at him. “I guided Andrei to the Registrar’s Office. He’s going to study here.”

We were shocked! Of course, I’d love to have our friend here, but…

“Welcome to Alfheim University, Andrei!” Dana welcomed him warmly.

Andrei smiled sheepishly. “Thank you! I was really looking forward to come here!”

Then he stood up and walked towards my direction. I hugged my friend tightly.

“I missed you, Cai! Tania and I were talking about you the whole time,” he whispered to me.

I flashed a smile. “I missed you, too, Drei! It’s so nice to see you after so many years!”

“Welcome to the university, Andrei! But the food’s getting cold! Let’s eat first!” I didn’t know that Matthew could shout like that.

Andrei looked so apologetic. “Right! I’m sorry.”

With the help of Dana and Danielle, Andrei eventually warmed up to us. Matthew and Ranie were cool to him. But Dwight seemed to have no interest with our new schoolmate. He looked annoyed with his food.

“Which class do you belong now?” Ranie asked like a investigator.

“I’m from Class 4-B,” he replied.

Then our topic changed to the upcoming pageant. Tania was supposed to go to Dana’s house after our class, but she said she’ll run an errand with Andrei at the mall.

Dwight laughed sarcastically. “So, you’re willing to set aside your responsibilities just so you can accompany him to the mall?”

Tania rolled her eyes. “It’s nothing like that! I know my responsibilities! Why do you care anyway? I haven’t seen my best friend for so long and this is my only chance to bond with him!”

I cleared my throat. “You two, that’s enough.”

Tania and Andrei left after lunch and we decided to take a rest in the living room. But shortly after drinking his tea, Dwight took his belongings and told us that he was going home.

“Well, that’s new! I’ve never seen him in such a bad mood!” Danielle pointed out.

Matthew and Ranie were playing poker, but they burst into laughter when they heard that. Annoyed, Danielle threw the pillow over their head.

“Let’s follow them…” Stacie suggested casually.

Oh, no… What’s going on in your mind, girl? You’re really unpredictable!

Dana bit her lip. “And then what? Tania will get mad at us!”

Stacie scoffed as if that was an idiotic question. “She doesn’t have to know.”

In the end, we all agreed with Stacie. We used Danielle’s SUV to get there. We couldn’t get our hands on the steering wheel yet ‘coz we’re underage. In our group, only Dwight has been granted with a Student Permit that’s why we envy him.

Danielle stomped her foot. “Where the heck they are? We’re walking around for almost an hour and there’s still no sign of Andrei and Tania!”

“This is what we got for spying on them,” Ranie bantered.

Stacie shifted her gaze onto him. “I didn’t ask you to come.”

“Yeah, Missy! But without me, your parents wouldn’t let you go in here,” he argued.

Stacie’s icy stare made him backout. He just dragged Mathew into the Belgian Waffle store, wo we could have a peaceful conversation.

“Try to text her, Cai,” said Dana.

“She’ll suspect something. You know how her mind works,” I replied.

We sat on the lounge chairs in front of the Department Store. I yawned as I massaged my tired legs. Danielle and Dana were on their phones—checking Tania’s posts on Social Media for her whereabouts. But they said that Tania hasn’t updated her profile for the last two days.

Danielle narrowed her eyes as she watched the people passing by. “If I were Tania, where would I go?”

Dana snapped her fingers. “I’ll probably go to the bookstore!”

“But the bookstore isn’t the right place to bond with Andrei,” Stacie stated.

I rested my elbow on the armrest as my gaze wandered over the place. My lips slowly parted when I recognized the girl who was walking towards the women’s accessories boutique. Seconds later, a boy followed her inside.

“Get your things, girls! I know where they are!” I gestured towards the shop.

Ranie and Matthew approached us. They were holding a paper bag and asked us where we are heading to, so I just pointed my hand to the shop because I was too lazy to speak.

We walked in quietly and carefully. We hid ourselves behind the clothes rack. Tania and Andrei didn’t notice us as they were listening attentively to the saleslady.

Danielle whispered almost inaudibly. “Andrei’s so sweet! He’s willing to buy something expensive for Tania!”

“I’m jealous, though! I wish I could meet someone like him,” Dana pouted as she lifted her gaze to Andrei.

Ranie growled. “Hush, girls! We’ll get caught!”

We just watched them quietly; they were laughing while they were looking at the keychain displays. Then they looked over the glass table where the pretty headbands and other hair accessories can be found.

“Try this on,” but Andrei put the headband on Tania himself.

Tania smiled teasingly. “I don’t like it.”

Andrei continued the search for the perfect headband that would suit my cousin’s taste. I glanced at my friends; I could sense that Danielle and Dana wanted to go out and help Andrei.

“This one’s pretty! I love it!” Tania exclaimed.

I fixed my gaze on her. It was true, though. The headband looked so good on her. I could only see her side profile, so I knew that she was smiling from ear-to-ear. She took it off and checked the other displays on the table.

I was about to look away when Andrei cupped her face in his hands and bent his head down.

“Oh, my gosh!” I immediately covered Danielle’s mouth.

The boys looked alarmed. They almost cursed loudly when Andrei angled his face to kiss Tania.

I shut my eyes tightly. My goodness!

“They’re together, Cai,” Stacie said as if she just cracked a code.

I exhaled deeply. No one was moving for they were too shocked to even digest what was happening.

I grabbed my bag. “Come on, guys. Let’s give them some privacy.”

They all followed me outside. We walked further as we couldn’t afford to be seen in this unbelievable situation.

“Tania didn’t tell us that she has a boyfriend!” Ranie was really disappointed as he rummaged through his bag to get his phone.

But there was something off. I just couldn’t point it out…

“Why would Andrei do that?” I laughed at Dana’s late reaction.

“Umm, because they’re a couple,” Stacie hinted the obvious.

Danielle pursed her lips. “But why didn’t she tell us? I mean, we’re cool with that. She didn’t have to hide it…”

I leaned on Matthew’s back as he was facing the opposite direction. His cheeks flushed as he wasn’t expecting that, so I quickly pulled myself away. I didn’t expect that, too.

I cleared my dry throat. “Let Tania explain her side first to avoid confusions. As a matter of fact, we don’t know if they’re really together or not. We saw them kissed, but it doesn’t imply that they’re in a relationship.”

We decided to eat the waffles at the Food Court. Tania and Andrei might see us, but we’ll just act surprised when that happens.

I blinked thrice when the blinding flash from Matthew’s phone hit my face. He instantly put it in his bag.

“Sorry, Cai…” he bit the straw and looked away.

I smiled teasingly. “Just tell me if you want my picture. I’ll gladly pose in front of your camera.”

His cheeks turned red because of what I said. I smiled widely ‘coz I find him cute…

Danielle checked the time on her watch. “It’s time to go, guys. Let’s just talk to Tania tomorrow.”

“That’s better,” I finished my drink and stood up.

Our drivers have arrived, so we all went into separate ways. I was walking so fast, but I slowed down when Matthew called me. I turned to face him and saw him catching his breath as he neared me.

“Let me walk you out,” he carried my bag and gently pushed my back.

I didn’t move, so he pulled my hand. Heat spread in my body when I felt his warm hand on my skin.

“Y-You don’t have to!”

“But I want to, Cai,” the dimples on his cheeks appeared the moment he smiled at me.

I swallowed hard. Why did you have to be so…