Chapter 2

Cass' POV

"Welcome to Bronze Steak House," the hostess greeted. I felt a short panic rush into me when I couldn't see Andrew or that Bailey or anyone else from the team behind us. Are we even at the correct place?

"Tony, we didn't come to the wrong place, right?" I heard Monica ask, probably worrying like me.

Tony just smiled at her but I definitely saw him sighing as he turned his back on her and muttering something. "Reservation under Andrew," Tony told the hostess before flashing a cheeky smile back at Monica. The hostess checks the list, "There is no Andrew in the list, sir."

"He could have chosen a cheaper place. Excuse me for a second," Tony gave Andrew a call and head outside for a while.

"Minus 100 points if we get deported for debt," I told the girls.

"Reservation under Maier," Tony came back. The receptionist checks again, "Mr. Anthony Maier, this way please..."

She grabs the menus and lead us to the second floor of the building. We followed her to a booth and sat ourselves while waiting for the other to arrive.

"The whole second floor was booked the last minute for 67 people at minimum, so please let us know if there will be needing of addition of seats later," the hostess explained to us as she handed us our menus. We thanked her before she headed downstairs.

67? Ano 'to? Feeding program? I'm not the one paying so I don't even know why I am upset.

A few minutes later, the Mallards had arrived. "Who let the dawgs out?!" One yelled, followed by the chanting and stomping of feet, "Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!" Mallards what? Are you sure they are not gorillas who escaped from their cages?

Now they are dancing?!

Some were not that wild, those who brought girls with them, of course. And now they are just...

I looked away, facing Monica who's trying not to be bothered by the commotion through looking at the menu, and to Lou who looked back at me. We were just making weird faces to each other trying to converse. "Miss us?" The captain greeted. I thought it was just the uniform pads but these guys have large builds. Like gorillas.

"Just when I thought we had the place for ourselves. Tsk," I joked which didn't seem to be that way. There was an awkward silence.

"You are so sly. Using my whole name for a reservation," Tony gave a subtle punch to Andrew's chest as he sat beside him.

I was just trying to get along... Ughh. Nevermind.

"So where is the duckling?"

"Looking for his scrunchie," Andrew replied that made Tony cracked up.

Now, that they are sitting down, I cannot see their faces properly. All I see is tall, tall, tall, tall, oh, that ones a shorty. Probably never a starter. Look at the arms of that one. Probably the bullied water boy. That one with the glasses, NERD! I can't recognize them, not that I could with their face. Imagine having more than 67 animals to feed. Can they wear a color coded shirt or something?

"Where did I put my glasses again?" I murmured. Nerd.

"Speak of the devil," Tony raised his hand calling him over to our table. "Hey. Don't just stand over there like a mascot! Come sit with us," Tony waved at a guy with a messy bun. The Bailey-dude ended up sitting next to the other side of Tony, right across me.

"You look less greasy," I joked once more as if it doesn't calls angels to pass by.

Kasi kapag tahimik, we would say, 'may dumaang anghel.'

"You look less... angry," he replied. I don't get it.

Andrew called out everyone, as the captain that he is, "Get whatever you want, you lot. If you want the biggest steak on the menu, totally fine with me!" They began cheering once more, getting louder than before.

Men are animals.

"Cass, I think you'll like their buffalo wings. Tingnan mo!" Lou hands me her menu, pointing a picture of a meal. I looked over the rest of the menu for myself, furrowing my brows when I can't see the descriptions in their small fonts.

"Why not go for cheat day, then?"

"Cheat day, it is!"

"I'm thinking of ordering a cup of yoghurt with lots of strawberries and Monica said she'd like to try the Unicorn Bliss with rainbow colored sprinkles. Have you decided?" Lou poked on my shoulder. What's cheat day again? It sounds familiar though.

"Wait rainbow sprinkles, what? Are you looking at the kid's menu?" I flipped the pages and saw their desserts. I squinted my eyes looking at the name, "I'll go for Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream."

"We have this strict diet we have to follow during the League season when we're not allowed to eat junk food or anything else that isn't included in our nutrition sheet. We can only have one day where we like eat all those things," Bailey answers the question I thought was only in my mind. The waitress came and wrote down everyone's orders.

She was about to go downstairs when she turned to no one specifically and asked, "How do you feel about some flour less chocolate cake? It's amazing with a rich frosting and actually our newest menu." No one bothered answering her, so I did her the favor. Comfortable silence is really overrated in this situation.

"We'll take a slice."

"Absolutely. Your orders will be served shortly," happily said the waitress.

I would also like something salty after the sweets, but it will be negotiable with my budget outside this restaurant. Or... Papalibre nalang ako kay Tony. Ulit. It was not me who requested this charity work. Pwede din namang... I look in front of me. "May utang ka pa sa 'kin," I whispered underneath my breath.

"Were you saying something?" Monica asked taking a break from scrolling on her phone.

"Lou, were you saying something?" I tilt my head towards Lou.

"Sorry, I didn't turn down the volume. It's just Tom talking." I looked down on Lou's phone seeing the game played by three year old children in my place.

"Guys, socialize... The societal structure is deteriorating by the birth of technology," I remembered my school days.

"Ah," Lou answered.

"How about you socialize?" Monica eyed on the person in front of me.

"Ang funny mo, Monica," I'm so gigil.

"Socializing is the key," whispered Tony with a wink.

I gave the most forced smile I could muster, "Basted-in ka ni Monica jan eh," I retorted with a roll eye. Just how long will our food take to be served? I'm starved. I'm dying.

"Loads of things we need to catch up. What do you say?" Tony tells Bailey. Maybe I should be on my phone like the other two because really what else am I supposed to do while waiting? But... Tea.

"You already know the break up part. What else is there to tell you?" Bailey replies back. Okay. I got no other choice than to listen to these two boys talk about whatever it is they've been missing on. My phone is dead. I'm dead. Don't mind me.

"I don't know. Just tell me whatever," Toni shrugs. Wow, ha.

"Well, for my side, I guess I was pretty busy with my work. Me and my photographer get along really well and the company pays decently. A lot of things had happened and the most important was probably when I met Monica." Cringe. Monica, lend me the other wireless earphone please.

"Great. Tell me more about your sappiness while I sink down the hole of heart brokenness," Bailey sighs.

Pft. Wag kang tatawa. Wag kang tatawa. I drink the water on the table.

"How about I introduce you to one of my friends?" One of my friends... You have lots of female friends, Tony-boy? Minus 5 points.

"Rebounding is not a solution." I agree with Bailey. I ended up nodding my head along with their conversation, so I just decided to rest my face on the table. I don't even know if they wipe this properly. I can smell the steak. "And... I don't know if I am ready to give my heart to someone else yet."

"You've got some speech there. What kind of girl carved poetry in your tongue?" Bailey remained silent. Poor guy.

"A cheerleader?" Bailey shook his head. "From the volleyball team?"

"Aren't those the type of girls you dated before." Tony, my friend, minus 10 points.

"Tony, its the theater girl," Andrew joins in. "Remember that girl?"

"A theater--" Tony was obviously surprised.

"Here are your buffalo wings, beef steak, pork steak, Caesar salad..." and the list goes on. I really want some rice with this buffalo wings. "Is there anything else you need?" the waitress asked. Andrew looked around, "no more. Thank you."

The floor was soon filled with the sounds of utensils tapping on the plates. They became quiet as they eat. Men are animals.

"...but from a theatre?" Tony asks Bailey, still in disbelief. I thought we moved on, Tony.

Bailey nodded, but remained silent as he continued to focus on his food.

Tama, ganyan nga dapat. Just don't mind Tony and his nosiness. Why talk about something that will make you feel down when you got yourself a delicious dinner right in front of you?

"How did it happen?" Tony kept on. I just gave a quick glance at Monica and she nodded in understanding.

"Tony, why can't we have dinner in peace? You can always ask him your queries another time," Monica whispered in a calm yet serious voice. I sighed. Geez, finally.

"Chat mo nalang--," Monica nudged her elbow on my arm, and I shut it. I glanced up from my plate to Bailey and there I saw him shoving spoonful rather fast than a normal person would. Of course, I immediately grabbed the nearest glass of water and handed it to him before he kills himself with lack of oxygen. Good thing he accepted it and drank with no more questions though or else it would be awkward.

Imagine I was holding up a glass in air looking like I was waiting for 'cheers' or something. Cheers to Independence Days, ganon?

"So kind talaga ni Cass." Lou commented, giving me a look I know all too well.

"Hey, I know that look of yours. No." I dismissed.

"And I haven't even said anything yet." She laughed.