The Way To His Heart (The Starving Squad #3)

Chapter 21: Three's A Crowd

Felix chuckled and pointed at the stall that sells bagnet. "Bagnet?"

"Marami na 'kong extra fats."

"You're not fat."

She suppressed a smile. "Pwede rin. Pero gusto ko rin ng seafood. Saka shake."

"You can get whatever you want," Baste told her. "I'm paying."

"No. I'm paying," Felix countered.

"This is our date," Baste retaliated. "So I'll pay."

Nagulat siya nang biglang hawakan ni Baste ang kamay niya. If she didn't know that he's just acting to annoy Felix, baka kinilig na siya. The girls on one stall didn't know that it's just pretend, though, so ang mga ito ang kinilig para sa kanya.

"Ang intense no'n, ha," bulong niya sa kababata nang makalayo sila kay Felix.

"It has to be convincing," he whispered back.

Shortly after, Felix followed them. Um-order siya ng pagkain sa food stall. Felix ordered as well. Halatang sinadyang damihan ang order kasi parang lahat ng nasa menu, kinuha. And then, he turned to Baste and said, "O, bayaran mo na."

Baste took out his wallet and removed an ATM card. Gusto niyang mag-facepalm. Clearly, he's not used to eating at a foodpark. Napatawa tuloy si Felix.

"What?" clueless na tanong ni Baste.

"You've never been to a foodpark before, have you?"

"Bakit?"

Felix pointed at the ATM card. Baste then turned to the ladies at the stall and asked, "Do you accept cards?"

Ngumiti ang isa sa mga nagtitinda. "Ay, sir, wala po kasi kaming pang-swipe. Cash lang po."

"I'll just pay for this one," singit ni Felix.

He was already taking out some bills when Baste held up his hand and said, "No. I'll pay. I just need to find an ATM."

"Sa labas, sir, may malapit. Paglabas nyo po, kumanan kayo tapos dire-diretso lang hanggang sa intersection. Marami pong bangko do'n," sabi ng tindera.

"Okay. Thanks."

Baste turned to her and asked, "Tara?"

"Why would she go with you? Ano ka, batang kailangan pang samahan?"

She gave Baste an apologetic look. Felix has a point. He's a grown man. Wala namang sense kung sasama pa siya rito para lang mag-withdraw.

So, Baste had no choice but to go alone. Nang maiwan sila ni Felix, kinausap nito ang mga tindera para sabihing mamaya na lamang nila ibibigay ang bayad since nagwi-withdraw pa si Baste. The ladies understood and said okay.

Naghintay na lamang sila sa isang table.

"Kaya mo bang ubusin lahat ng in-order mo?" tanong niya kay Felix.

"Kulang pa 'yon," nakangisi nitong sagot.

She groaned. He doesn't know that she'll be paying and she can't tell him. Mapapahiya si Baste at magtatanong nang magtatanong si Felix.

Kinuha nito ang kamay niya. Hinila niya iyon pero mahigpit ang pagkakahawak nito.

"Felix..."

"Just until he comes back," he promised.

She stopped resisting. She knew a person's never too old for romance, but it felt weird that she's feeling that feeling again. It's been so long since she's last been in love. Medyo naninibago siya.