( Ayls Prov)
"Is this okay?" Tofer said then showed me the plate he took from the kitchen. In all fairness, Tofer's restaurant is great! I just don't get why he worked so hard in NY for four years for his degree in Advertising if he's going to venture into the food industry. Sometimes, it's really hard to understand the logic in this Cristofer's brain, huh.
I tasted the crepe and it tastes good. It's okay.
I gave him a thumbs up. There's also a crew here at the restaurant, actually they're all girls. Weird. There's not even a man here.
"Uhh, Tofer, why is that all your employees are girls?"
Tofer sighed then he pulled the chair in front of me. He also pouted and crossed his arms. See? He's such an annoying cutie pie! "Because Dad, huh. He said if he sees a man here, he'll reject me."
"Hahahaha! Really?!"
He nodded. "Do I really look like a gay?"
I tried to suppress my smile but I just couldn't. Tofer is super adorbs now! He's like a troubled person! This only happens once. If I were to say, in the four years I've known Tofer, I've only seen him genuinely sad once. He's all flowers and rainbows. Always good vibes. It's a bit strange when he's this serious.
I patted his head. "You're just lacking in masculinity but you'll live."
"Alys!!"
I gave him my sweetest smile. "Why, Baby Tofer?"
"Ugh!! It's annoying, huh! Because I like to dress up and wear lip balm, I'm already a faggot? Judgmental!!" then he left but he came back. "You don't have a crepe!" and he took my crepe... I paid for it, huh... Why did he take it? Tsk. I'm going to blacklist his restaurant, okay?
I chased him into the kitchen.
"Oh, no. You just didn't do that!" I exclaimed. He threw my crepe in the trash can! This jerk!
He marched outside and sat on a stool at the bar.
"Tofer, really, what's the problem?"
He gave me a sigh. "It's nothing. It's stressful because Drake and Tripp are cousins. The expectations are high for me." he explained. I placed my arms around his shoulder and gave him a half-hug. "Because, you know..." he said and then the tell tale continued. Here he was, telling me tales I have never heard before. I did not need to ask. With Tofer, the scoop would pour out eventually.
Apparently, Tripp and Drake were young, and there was competition between them. It started way back when their parents were young. It was between Tito Steve and Tito Tristan, and then it continued up to date? No, not really. As far as I am concerned, Drake and Tripp have no communication now.
Since Drake is gifted, Tripp has an above-average IQ, Tofer is the one left behind. Aww. I feel for him. I know how it feels because. Dane is also very smart, but that didn't stop me from loving him. We still share the same blood and I love my brother to bits. Anyway, my point is, I'm not really the only reason they're fighting. Maybe.
"...then now, Drake, he doesn't pay attention to me anymore..."
I raised a brow. "And so? I thought Tripp was your favorite cousin?"
"Yes! That's right... just don't think about it."
"You take care of it. Okay, I'm leaving, okay? Call me."
"Where's Mommy?" I asked the woman on the front desk. She gave me a smile. "And you are?"
I gave her a smile. My professors said that you should establish boundaries between you and other people so that they would know where to stand. Not that I've grown an extra head but I have learned it the hard way, sometimes, you just gotta use your connections. After all, what's the use of money?
I leaned in. "She's my mom," I repeated. She seemed to be relaxed about what I said so she let me in right away.
Mommy wasn't there, she had something to do so I waited in the waiting room. I was reading some wedding magazine when suddenly, Cristine appeared out of nowhere. No, she emerged from the fitting room, wearing a majestic wedding dress.
Wow.
She probably didn't notice me because she was busy looking at herself in the mirror. She really looks... great. No wonder Drake will marry her. She looks awesome and she's good with kids. I remembered when I saw her and Drake the other day. They really look like a family.
"It's kinda loose here," she said then pointed to the waist part. They talked for a moment then the woman saw me. "You're here," she said as if she didn't want to see me.
Is it really just me or does she really not like me?
"Well, yes. Good to see you."
"Good to see you, as well," she said, with some spite. Am I just paranoid?!
Why when I saw them and Drake,she seems so bubbly and stuff but now that I'm facing her, her aura towards me is so stiff and snobbish. Does she hate me?
"So, how's the wedding preparation?"
She turned around and gave me a smile.It seems like her mood has changed because she suddenly became kind. "It's a bit stressful but it's pushing through. Good thing Drake's really hands on with all these stuff."
All I managed to give was an 'oh.'
"Good thing "Mr. Palma is hands on, right?"
She nodded. "Yes. Even though he has so many things on his plate, he still finds time to help me with all the arrangements. One in a million, that he is. Good thing I found him."
Suddenly, I grew interested with the conversation. I put down the magazine and pushed her to go through with the conversation. "So, how did you two meet?"
I patiently listened to her story. It's a little surprising because their anniversary is the same as our anniversary! So, when I answered Tripp, it was also the time that Cristine and Drake became? wow
They met through a common friend because they were in the same organization. She told me stories I have never heard before. Drake had a lot of friends, good for him. Because I don't really have any news about him. I don't know any college stories about him because I totally cut him off from my life. It worked. The longer I didn't hear anything about him, the easier it was to move on.
They are also best friends, and she is Ethos' favorite playmate. That's why she's always in their house.
I couldn't help but compare. What's with her that Drake dropped on his knee that I didn't have that he was able to leave me before?
And, does she know that I dated Drake for almost a year?
Does she know about Tita Katrina?
Does she know anything about him prior to the time she met him?
"So, cutting the story short, Drake and I are really meant for one another. Don't you think so, too?"
I just nodded. "You'll make a great couple."
"We'll surely do, Alys Perez. We'll surely do."
The next couple of days, I was busy as hell. Grand opening na kasi ng Cupcakes by Alys and it was epic!
I slumped back on the couch. Man, I was exhausted!
"What time is it, Dane?"
"3 pm."
I stood up and prepped up. I'm going to see Uncle Steve today. Since I was a bad godmother, I plan to bond with Ethos. I checked Drake's schedule again through Tofer (seriously, he knows everything!) and he said Drake's gonna be in his office for the whole day so I'm safe.
"Tita Katrina?"
She gave me a warm smile and hugged me. Aging seems to be doing a good job with Tita Katrina. She looks really good!
"Oh, Alys! You've been visiting. Do you need anything?"
She motioned for me to sit down so I did. I saw Ethos playing on the side. He looks really adorable!
"Just visiting Ethos," I answered. We both looked at Ethos. There's no way in hell he's Drake's brother. He looks like Uncle Steve.
She grabbed some snacks then we chatted for awhile until we got to my most dreaded topic. "So, did Drake invite you to his wedding?"
Suddenly, my mouth went dry. "W-what?"
Aunt Katrina held my hand. "Alys, I know I have no right to say this to you but, Drake has patiently waited for you. He waited for you, Alys. And now that he's happy with Cristine, please don't ruin this for him."
"Wait, what? Am I the one making trouble?" I can't help but ask! Am I the one messing with it?! Am I the one?!
She held my other hand and nodded at me. "You're messing with his head again, Alys. You always do."