Mini Chapter: Operation Dane + Alona = Love

Location: A local carinderia in Daet

Time: Lunchtime, Day 2 of the Provincial Meet

The badminton team had just wrapped up their morning warm-ups and been let loose for lunch. Coach Cely, tired of watching teenagers argue over fishballs and banana cue prices, gave them all an hour to eat wherever they wanted—so long as they didn't end up in a sari-sari store trying to eat ice cream before it melted.

That's how Yumi and Nina ended up at a cozy carinderia across from the dorms, seated at a small plastic table next to Yumi's parents.

"Two orders of adobo, extra rice, no cucumber slices, and please no vinegar near Nina," Yumi told the tita behind the counter like a regular. "And four calamansi juices, please!"

"Make that five," said her dad. "I want to hear this plan of yours properly hydrated."

The Spark of Chaos

The moment food was served, Nina leaned in, whispering like a spy.

"So. Operation: 'Make Kuya Dane and Ate Alona Hold Hands and Maybe Eventually Kiss on a Mountain.'"

"Too long," Yumi said, mouth full of rice. "Let's call it Operation: Net and Ball."

"Cute. Simple. Symbolic." Nina nodded with approval. "We're branding this."

Her mom took a sip of juice. "Are you girls matchmaking again?"

Yumi turned to her parents with wide, innocent eyes. "We never stopped."

The Agenda

Nina pulled out a notebook titled PROJECT LOVE SERVE in glitter pen. Inside was a horrifyingly detailed plan:

Make Alona and Dane spend more time together.

("Force mixed training!" Yumi whispered gleefully.)

Sabotage other potential crushes.

"No one's allowed to flirt with Kuya Dane unless they pass my vibe check," Yumi declared, holding up a paper checklist with items like "laughs at puns," "doesn't call him 'bossing,'" and "can survive my stares."

Emotional bait.

"We leave a sad manga around them," Nina added. "Tear-jerking stuff. Then they cry. Then they hug. Then sparks fly."

Team Karaoke Night.

"We rig the mic so they do a duet," said Yumi. "'Rewrite the Stars.' Obviously."

Her dad blinked. "You two are Bond villains."

"We're cupids, Daddy," Yumi said sweetly. "With WiFi and better hair."

The Parents' Resigned Support

Yumi's mom watched her daughter and her pint-sized chaos twin high-five each other after writing "CONFESSION SCENE: Fireworks Edition" in all caps.

"I mean," her mom said, chewing thoughtfully, "they do look cute together."

"Agreed," said her dad. "Plus, she keeps Yumi from turning into a goblin in public."

"I heard that," Yumi said. "And she does!"

They both turned back to plotting, now assigning code names to future missions.

"Operation Shuttlecock Sparks?"

"Operation Slam Dunk Hearts?"

"Operation They Fall in Love Before Nationals or We Riot?"

Meanwhile, Across Town…

Dane and Alona were in line for halo-halo at another eatery, politely pretending they weren't accidentally alone together again.

Back at the carinderia, Yumi marked a page in her notebook.

"Perfect," she whispered. "Phase One: Unattended Dessert Date. Complete."