3 - That Smile
989 Words
Yunah’s POV
Dinner with them wasn’t in my plan.
Actually, seeing them at all today wasn’t in my plan.
“Wow, so you guys are friends with the owner of Lavin’s too?” Kit commented, listening intently to Aliyah.
“And the daughter of Mendez Hospital’s owner. Plus Zabala’s Bars—that’s Clare’s family, right?” he added, clearly impressed.
I tried to look interested, but truthfully? My mind was miles away. Time crawled when you weren’t comfortable, and Diane and the others were taking forever to arrive.
“Big time, huh? Turns out you’re all rich kids!” Jacob chimed in.
I shook my head. The table was loud—too loud. It felt like only Clare and Rai were quiet, like me. Clare and I exchanged a few hushed words now and then, but Rai… he’d been glued to his phone all night. Still, I could feel him glance at me from time to time.
“Don’t stare at him, friend. You’re too obvious,” Clare whispered.
“I’m not staring,” I said defensively. She only laughed in response.
“Where’s Ej? I’m starving,” Jacob complained, leaning back in his chair.
The others still weren’t here. It was ridiculous how slow they were.
“I’m going to the restroom,” I said, mostly for an excuse to breathe.
As I washed my hands, my phone rang.
“Oh, hello?”
Diane: Sis! I can’t make it today! Mama’s making me go home—there’s a guest!
“It’s fine, I’ll tell the others. What about More?”
Diane: She’s on her way. Sorry, Y! I’ll make it up to you next time.
“Alright, take care.”
Diane: Bye, love you!!
When I stepped out of the restroom, Ej was already there.
“Holy cow!” he exclaimed.
Oh, Ej.
“Tol, how are you?” I greeted, and he immediately pulled me into a hug.
“I missed you! You didn’t even tell me you were back,” he said, ruffling my hair.
“A reunion, huh?” Aliyah teased with a smile.
We took our seats. “D can’t come, family emergency. More’s on her way,” I told Clare.
That’s how we were—D for Diane, Y for Yunah, C for Clare, More for Amore, Iyah for Aliyah. Fast, simple, ours.
“Sorry I’m late, my prof’s a nightmare,” Amore arrived, sliding into her chair. “Let’s order—Kuya, over here!” she called to the waiter.
When the food came, so did a sizzling plate of sisig, a bucket of Smirnoff, and a bottle of Blue Label.
“Wait, there’s pulutan? Are we drinking now?” I asked, half-joking, half-serious.
Amore just shrugged, pouring herself a shot. “Even just a little—it’s been a while.”
“I can’t. I’ve got a recit tomorrow,” I protested.
“Don’t be picky, girl. Just one shot. We know you can handle it,” Aliyah coaxed, already drinking.
It was supposed to be a simple dinner. Now it was turning into a drinking session. If I failed tomorrow, I was blaming Amore.
“I’m done. Take me home,” Aliyah complained after only a few shots.
“Don’t be dramatic,” Clare chided, still smiling.
Aliyah’s head dropped onto the table. Clare and I stuck to Smirnoff, but Amore and the boys dove straight into the Blue Label.
“You got drunk that fast, Iyah?” I teased.
She just waved me off.
“I’m not taking her home,” Clare declared, and everyone turned to me.
“Not me either. My aunt will never let me out again.”
Amore sighed. “Fine, I’ll do it.”
Clare and I high-fived.
“You really are a lightweight,” Justin commented, sipping slowly like a seasoned drinker.
“Weak,” Clare added with a laugh.
“Any plans this weekend, Yunah?” Ej asked.
“I’m going to Cavite to check the resort. Why?”
It was a normal weekend for me—work-related. In Cavite, people knew me. But here in Manila, not yet. Mama wanted to wait until after graduation to introduce me formally. I preferred it that way.
“Oooh, I’m coming with!” Ej said excitedly.
“Careful, Edgardo. That sounds like a date,” Kit teased.
“Shut up. It’s just hanging out. It’s been forever since Yunah and I went out,” Ej shot back.
I smiled. Just like old times.
“You three seem close,” Justin observed.
“Very,” I replied softly.
A sudden commotion broke out—Clare and Jacob were fighting over the pulutan.
“Hey, that’s mine!”
“You grabbed it first!”
“I saw it first!”
I shook my head. Same old chaos.
“No one’s heading home yet? It’s getting late,” Rai suddenly spoke.
We all turned to look at him. His first words of the night.
“Rai? You want to go home already?” Jacob laughed, but not too loudly this time.
“Yeah, quiet all night and now you’re ready to leave?” Kit teased.
Ej smirked. “Got secret plans, tol?”
Justin stood, grabbed a napkin and a spoon, and waved them dramatically in front of Rai. “Evil spirit, leave this body!”
We all laughed—not too loud, just enough.
“Justin, cut it out,” Rai said, suppressing a smile. “I’m not laughing.”
But I saw it—slowly, inevitably, his lips curved upward.
And then, just for a second, he glanced at me.
It was quick—so quick you’d think it was nothing. But I caught it.
He looked away instantly, pretending to check his phone.
My chest tightened.
Why here? Why now?
I should have looked away.
I should have stood up.
But instead… I smiled.
That smile.
That smile I’d been waiting to see again.
- Writer
