Ayisha spotted her friends waiting for her outside the mall.
"Sup, guys!" she greeted as she wrapped her arms around one of her friend's arms.
"Did you miss me, Nica?" Ayisha teased, kissing the air in front of her.
Nica laughed. "Of course."
"Enough with that. It's grossing me out," one of her friends commented.
"Oa naman," Ayisha shot back. "Porket straight na straight ka na, parang ruler."
Mina rolled her eyes.
"Let's head inside now, people," Ayisha said, dragging them along.
A few hours passed as they wandered around the mall, shopping and looking at random things. Eventually, one of them suggested eating at a trending restaurant they had seen online. Everyone agreed, and they commuted there together.
As soon as they entered the restaurant, Ayisha slowed her steps.
Photographs decorated the walls tastefully framed, each one telling its own story.
"Damn," she said, looking around. "This place looks so aesthetic."
The atmosphere felt calm and welcoming, nothing like the noisy places they usually went to.
Her friends spotted an empty table for four, and they all sat down before calling a waiter.
While waiting for their orders, Ayisha and Athena talked animatedly, laughing loudly at each other's jokes. Meanwhile, Nica and Mina kept trying to shush them, clearly embarrassed.
"Lower your voices," Mina hissed. "People are staring."
Ayisha waved her off, still laughing.
"Excuse me, ladies."
The voice came from behind them calm, firm, and unmistakably familiar.
"Mind keeping your voices down? Other customers are complaining," the man continued. Then, more pointedly, "especially you, Ayisha."
Ayisha stiffened.
Slowly, she turned her head.
Her eyes widened.
"What the fuck?!" she blurted out. "Ikaw na naman?!"
"Language, kid," he said calmly.
"Oa naman," Ayisha mumbled. She crossed her arms and looked up at him. "Why are you here?"
He raised an eyebrow. "I think you forgot that I run a business here in Manila."
A sudden realization hit her.
"Oh… right," she muttered, the memory flashing back in her head.
Behind her, three pairs of eyes widened as her friends openly stared at the handsome foreigner standing so casually in front of Ayisha.
"You've got a bad memory, kid," he teased.
"Stop with the nickname," she grumbled.
Before she could say anything else, the waiter arrived, carefully placing their orders on the table.
"Well then," he said, smiling lightly, "enjoy the food."
With that, he turned and walked away.
The moment he was out of sight, Ayisha felt the weight of her friends' stares.
"Who is *he*?"
"How do you know him?"
"You're dating again?"
"My afam ka na, ah!"
Ayisha sighed. "His name is Simon. I met him at the convenience store," she explained calmly. "And no, he's just an acquaintance."
"Oooh," Athena said, smirking. "I smell something fishy."
"Yeah," Ayisha shot back without missing a beat, "and it's your breath."
"Enough," Nica cut in, already picking up her utensils. "Let's eat. I'm hungry."
They finally started eating, the aroma of the food filling the table. Ayisha took a bite, surprised by how good it tasted.
She tried to focus on the meal but for some reason, her mind kept drifting back to a certain tall, irritating restaurant owner.