"And as the Director of ASC, you allowed that to happen?" Leo couldn't understand if Nickel doesn't like his cousin, why is he keeping him inside ASC?
"You already said it, I'm just a mere Director. The order came from above, so I cannot say no to all their commands. Wait until I build my own company."
"Yeah, you're right. But still, how did he even convinced his company to assign him? He really is getting into my system. I wanted to beat the hell out of him. Shane and I should still be in our lovey-dovey and honeymoon stage but thanks to him, Godzilla was born out of my wife." Nickel thinks that married life is hard thanks to Leo's first-hand experiences.
"Is it all?" Nickel was pertaining to the stories Zoey shared to Shane.
"Well, apparently thanks to you. I still have a good shot on my wife. I've heard that you are helping or saving Zoey from Michael. Is that true?" with his teasing tone Nickel turned red because he thought he is talking about the kiss. He remembered that precious and first kiss they shared.
Leo who was looking at him slightly panicked because of his sudden change of color. "Are you still burning?" although he didn't rush towards him, his voice still conveys his worries.
"Nope, I'm fine." Nickel set aside these thoughts and continue, "you can say it that way. It just so happen that I am always around whenever Michael is trying to mess with her. Couldn't your cousin get the message that Zoey doesn't like him? He's getting worse and worst day by day."
"Really! It happened that you are just around? Aren't you spying with them or should I say with Zoey?" Leo thinks that it should be the time that he starts fishing information from his best friend. Well, he will be useful too, doesn't he know that? He is her best friend's husband.
"Why would I waste my time to spy that cockroach?" Nickel replied.
Leo finished his light dish and set it on the dining table. He assisted Nickel to the table and help him eat his probably first real meal.
And because of his hunger Nickel eat a spoonful arrozcaldo causing him to burn his tongue. Leo, who sit in front of him, laugh out loud because of his negligence. "Hungry much?" he teasingly asked.
"You don't know how hungry I am. So shut up!"
Leo let Nickel eat peacefully before he starts interrogating him.
"Nickel, we have known each other for almost 3 decades, right?"
Nickel nod his head while devouring the food in front of him.
"And that we are already familiar with each other's personalities and mannerisms, right?"
Nickel once again nod to answer him without looking his way.
"You know that I know how bad your lying skills, right? And you still think that you can convince me that it was just a coincidence? You fucking hate helping people."
Nickel choked from his food when he realized that he cannot lie anymore to Leo.
Leo nonchalantly gave Nickel another glass of water. "Take it easy." He said.
"You know what? As much as possible you will remove yourself to these kinds of situations but now, it seems like my friend has changed a lot. Is this what Montana did to you? Or is this all because of Zoey?" Leo is still trying to dig in.
Nickel became fully aware that this issue doesn't hide any longer inside his closet so gave up and looked at him seriously and said yes it is because of Zoey.
"I knew it," Leo remarked and clapped his hands. It was like a eureka moment for him.
"How come did you know it?"
"I saw it on how you look at her, how you assist her and by the way you talk to you during my wedding.
At first, I thought maybe it was just a usual gesture of yours but I also remembered that you hated being near to any girls except, of course, your mom.
And I also recalled the girl you kept on mentioning when you were still studying and the girl at your work at Montana.
It was like a connecting the dots game.
You son of a bitch, oh! I'm sorry Auntie." Leo did a sign of a cross to respect and apologize to Nickel's mom.
"So tell me? Am I right?" his doe-y eyes turned chinky.
Leaving him another no redemption moment, Nickel nods his head then instantly turned red.
How foolish is he to forget that Leo knows everything about him that he was an open book to his friend.
"I may say that you are not a slow-witted person like you used to be." At least with this sarcasm, Nickel can somehow redeem himself.
"If only I was allowed to pursue my dream in becoming a psychologist, I probably used you as my subject in my theses." He replied.
"So tell me more, Mr. Lover boy!"