Chapter 17: Visit

I'd been engrossed in managing the Cafe. Tres, my cousin, had been occupied with a conversation with his friend, a dialogue that lasted for two hours and only concluded around 1:30 in the afternoon.

Exhausted, I leaned back on the sofa, savoring the taste of my Dutchmill mixed berries flavored juice.

My cousin handed me a red handkerchief. I accepted it gratefully and promptly used it to wipe my face. Thankfully, I was no longer sweating as profusely as I had been earlier. I stepped out of the cafe. I had allowed the employees to leave at 7:40 pm, earlier than their usual 8 pm end of shift. I was in a hurry to get home myself and didn't want to keep them waiting.

It was now just Tres and me left to close up the cafe. I also planned to visit Aunt Trina and Uncle Shawn later.

Tres took responsibility for locking up the cafe. He made sure it was completely secure and hung a 'We're closed!' placard on the cafe's window.

I activated my car's automatic unlocking system and opened the car door. I handed the car keys over to Tres, intending for him to drive.

He frowned at the prospect but nonetheless took the keys. He settled into the driver's seat, prompting me to get in as well.

As we drove, we caught up on various topics. The past few weeks had been hectic for me, and Kyle's actions had left me feeling drained and unenthusiastic about many things.

"Tres, I can't believe you!" I exclaimed, breaking into hearty laughter.

"Then don't! I am even telling the truth. I don't have time for a girlfriend," he insisted.

Our conversation had transitioned from discussing our recent activities and family matters to the topic of love life.

I was skeptical about Tres' claim. Why did he feel the need to deny it? I was sure I would find out the truth sooner or later.

"Really? I still can't believe you, Tres!" I reiterated, my tone causing him to become increasingly annoyed by my noisy insistence.

"Fine!" He capitulated, evidently exasperated with me.

"I am still pursuing her, that's why she's not my girlfriend yet," he confessed.

I rolled my eyes. "It'll end up the same way!"

"You think so?" He retorted, sounding rather curt.

I just grinned and nodded.

"So, how are you courting her? Didn't I leave you in charge of my Cafe?"

"Idiot, during my break time, that's when..."

"That's when you visit her? Why don't you bring her to the Cafe so you can see her often and she'll get tired of you and then she won't agree to be your girlfriend—Ouch!"

My teasing was abruptly cut off by a sudden brake that almost caused me to hit the dashboard. Thankfully, I was still wearing my seatbelt.

I shot my cousin a glare, who was now laughing at the situation. I hit him hard enough to elicit a yelp of pain.

"Good thing it's just that. You're always saying all sorts of things," he said.

"What? I was just trying to give you some advice—"

"Should I leave you here? You're always thinking so far ahead, with all sorts of nonsense running through your head,"

"This is my father's car, so why would I allow you to leave me here? You're really rude."

I crossed my arms, but a smirk never left my lips.

"How about you and your boyfriend? I never see you two together. Doesn't he usually drop you off at the cafe? Why hasn't he shown up?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. Of course, I wasn't going to tell Tres that the guy had cheated on me. That might ruin the plan I was cooking up. Knowing him, if he found out the guy had cheated, he would instantly confront and beat him up, blowing the lid off the guy's deception way too soon.

I wanted him to be miserable. I was going to make him suffer. And that included Yanna. The things I heard earlier were enough to wake me up to the fact that she had been pretending and faking all along.

She's supposed to be a teacher, yet why is it so difficult for her to understand not to meddle with someone else's relationship?

Where did all her education go? In her feet?

Just because we weren't married, does that give her the right to seduce and flirt? I wish I knew who told her that so I could slap them. It's illogical and foolish.

"We just had a little misunderstanding, but we'll fix it," I lied.

"Really?" Tres was the one unconvinced this time.

He scanned me from head to toe, studying me. I frowned and gave him a dirty look.

"I said yes!" I said, irritated.

He smirked. "You said so," he replied.

We arrived at his house. His mother, Tita Trina, was outside, feeding the stray cats and dogs that wandered around the streets at night.

Tito Shawn, Tres's father and my mother's cousin from their grandpa Samuel's side, is a De-Leon just like Treshian.

Tita Trina watched as the car parked in front of her, a look of curiosity on her face.

I got out of the car, and as soon as she saw me, she greeted me with a warm smile.

"Good evening, Tita," I greeted, smiling. I gave her a peck on the right cheek.

She hugged me quickly, then pulled away to study my face.

"I'm glad you're here. You're just in time, I just finished cooking and my sinigang is still hot!" she said cheerfully.

My smile widened. My mother is a great cook, and so is Tres's mother. And all their dishes are delicious, particularly my favorites.

It's certainly no surprise that my mom and Tres' mother are best friends. The news that sinigang was the dinner of choice made my ears practically ring with excitement. Tres's mom gently guided me inside, seemingly oblivious to her own son who was leaning against a car outside.

I glanced back at my cousin Tres, who was glaring at us with a frown. I couldn't help but laugh, causing Aunt Trina to look back at me. She joined me in laughter when she realized that I was with Tres and had left him outside.

"Remember, I'm your child, Mom," Tres reminded his mother who was helping me.

"You're a grown-up now, my son. You don't need me to accompany you inside," she responded.

I raised an eyebrow and grinned at him. In response, he threatened to pick up a stone, prompting me to quickly hide behind Aunt Trina for protection.

Aunt Trina immediately admonished Tres. "Tres! Stop picking on your cousin!"

"But Mom, she started it," Tres complained, scratching his head in frustration as he watched us.

"No more excuses! You better come inside and drop that stone you picked up! You're behaving like a child!"

We finally entered the house where we found Uncle Shawn setting plates on the table.

His eyes met ours. I greeted him with a smile and a wave.

He returned my smile and said, "You're visiting, dear," to which Tres, ever the attention seeker, interjected, "Isn't it obvious, Dad?"

Uncle Shawn just laughed at this. As I approached him to pay my respects, he chuckled and gently kissed my forehead before inviting us to join them for dinner.

Throughout dinner, Aunt Trina and Uncle Shawn were very attentive to me. This, unsurprisingly, seemed to annoy Tres who was sitting across from me.

He angrily ate his food, casting sullen glances at me. I couldn't help but smile at his sour face, which looked as if the weight of the world was pressing down on him.

After dinner, I texted my parents to inform them that I was at Tres's house and wouldn't be joining them for dinner.

I then said my goodbyes to Aunt Trina, Uncle Shawn, and Tres before heading home. Tres had offered to give me a ride home, but I declined. If he ended up driving me home, what would he do next? Take a taxi home?

When I arrived home, I promptly parked my car in the garage and went straight to my room. My parents were not yet home, presumably still at the company or somewhere else.

Despite being a tiring day, I had managed to visit my cousin's house which helped me momentarily forget the problems I was facing.