"Am I late?" I asked Frank then sat down.
He looked at me and then at my back. "No. Just in time."
Then someone grabbed the chair of the other side of table.
As he sat down, his brow immediately raised.
Still a rugged, huh? I wonder I how managed in the past those three. Good thing that Frank was always with Thelo way back and didn't tagged along that much with us. He will just add up to my headaches.
"Your brows are so annoying," I greeted.
Yeah, I'm annoyed with brows because it's too beautiful. I wished I had the same brows with him.
Lark scowled, "And so you are."
I was taken aback at his answer. We haven't met for seven years and he will just be harsh at me? What's with him?
"Did you have an LQ?" Frank interfered.
My brows furrowed as I looked at him. "What d'you mean?"
He looked at me, shocked. "Where shelter did you came from that you don't know the abbreviation of LQ. It's lovers' quarrel."
"I didn't know, either." Lark added up.
"We are not lovers, perhaps." I commented.
Frank shouted, "Wooaaaah! Big blow!"
"Shut up, Frankenstein. Just order there." Lark countered.
The latter rolled his eyes but still, he followed.
"So....what's up?" Lark said as Frank walked away.
I sighed and leaned my back.
"I don't need to be followed."
He chuckled. "Tell that to Yino and Triptivo. For sure, Thelonious will knew it."
My brows furrowed. "Are you blackmailing me?"
"No, I'm not. I'm just telling you the possibility. If Thelo knew it, you'll definitely be followed like a baby who is practicing to walk," then he laughed.
I hid a smile. Good thing that he still laugh. I thought he would be back from his old self. A guy with a pursed lips.
When he knew I'm contemplating him, he stopped laughing and sat properly.
I chuckled, "Why did you stop laughing?"
He raised a brow. "You're drooling. I know I'm handsome but-"
He stopped when he saw and heard my oh so loud harsh exhaled.
A silenced deafened.
Frank came back with a girl clinging in his arm. He's still into girls. I thought he changed. Psh.
"Take a frappe, you two. I gotta go," then he left.
It took a couple of minutes before he brought the frappe because his busy flirting.
After we watched Frank leave, I spoke, "I have something to ask you."
He looked at me and motion to continue.
"We need you. Help us defending Triptivo."
I know he wouldn't say no. I'm sure. I asked him not because I was not sure. I just asked for his permission.
"I know you that you know I'm not gonna say no. I'm in. It will be easy to protect you and Yino," Lark said.
Hm, that's good. I'm comfortable with Lark than his men. If Lark will be our knight then it will not be so obvious but if his men, it is so obvious and it might be an advantage to the opponent since they could act like they were Lark's men.
"How's the case?" he asked.
I sighed. "It is harder than I thought."
"I thought I would use my power this time. I thought you wouldn't help him," Lark said looking at his frappe.
Chuckled blossomed at my mouth. "We're friends. I still treasure our friendship even after what happen. I still do and I know Yino, too."
He sighed and shook his head. "You are still nice."
"Not that much anymore. I know how to learn and I'm tired of being nice."
"You should," he paused then stood up. "Let's go. Help me transfer my things on your refuge."
I was about to nod when the words came out of his mouth sinked in.
"Hey! That's too much!" I ran after him when he started walking.
He stopped and looked at me. "Two hard-headed. I'm only one so how could I do my job if you two are far from me."
"I need to ask Yino first."
"He already agreed," he paused. "Where's your car?"
"Left side, near the block." I pointed the oh-so far block.
He nodded. "Wait me there."
I sighed and then shook my head. They already talked about it.
When I got nearer to my car, I notice that someone was following me. Psh. Hard-headed Lark. He still ruled his men to follow me.
I was about to turn at the side where the man is when a sharp pointed thing was in my back. I-It's a knife.
"What do you want?" I asked but I didn't received any answer.
Raising my hand, I turn to left. The knife was being pushed, just enough to let me feel a bit pain.
On my peripheral view, I saw Lark. He was covered by a pillar. I looked at the man who was following me earlier. He was holding a short gun.
I simple nodded.
1001
1002
1003
I faced the man with a high kick on his face while Lark kick the man's arm who was holding a short gun.
I kick the knife away from the two of us. I made him face the floor and put both of his hands at his back.
"What do you want from me?" I asked but again, I haven't receive any answer.
I know I will not get an answer so I let him free.
"Mark your coconut shells, 'I ain't fond of shits' alright?" then i pinched a part of his neck where he could get a nap.
I turned back. I saw Lark standing with arms crossed.
"Ain't rusty, huh? Still good at making people sleep in a soft way," Lark chuckled.
I rolled my eyes. "You're still making people sleep in harsh way."
I looked at the man whom Lark made sleep. I pity that man. His right side face looked like punched by so many times. When in fact, Lark just kick him hard with his leather shoes.
"Let's go," I said to broke the silence between us and his contemplation to me too. He's like scanning me from head to toe.
When both us put our seat belts, I maneuvered the car.
"Wait, where's your car?" I asked Lark when I remembered he has a car.
He shrugged. "I asked one of my men to get it when I saw someone was following you."
"Thanks, by the way." I took a glance at him.
"Focus on the road," then he wandered his eyes outside. "Your welcome," he added up after a few seconds.
"No, I'm not," I stated.
He looked at me, "Huh?"
"Huhtdog? Huhmburger?" I asked innocently.
He rolled his eyes. "Yino influenced you his corny jokes."
My lips twitched. Yino's jokes were more corny than mine.
I sighed. I'm not a fan of spilling jokes. I just wanted to make everything not awkward between us.
Lark cleared his throat, "I want to ask something."
I took a glimpse at him and asked, "About what?"
He looked away, "Have you forgiven us?"
My lips automatically formed a bitter smile. "No. As I have said I treasure our friendship that is why I'm helping Triptivo. But, it doesn't mean that I have fully forgive. I was wounded too deep," I paused. "Too deep that I don't know if it will heal anymore."
After our conversation, we were enveloped by silence. We only if it was about the case or about the things that he will bring.
Yeah, I helped fixing his clothes so it will not eat wide space inside the suit case.
My phone beeped. I looked at it.
From: Yino
"I'm at the station. Straight ahead here if you want."
I cleared my throat to get his attention. "We will bring first your things at my place or just straight ahead to the station since Yino is there? What do you think?"
"The latter." I nodded at his answer. "I will drive," he held his hand afterwards.
I didn't object anymore and just give him the key.
While Lark was maneuvering the car, I kept on thinking what will happen later. Will it went awkwardly?
I knew they already met or caught up, knowing that they coordinated on following me, I mean me and Yino.
I wished everything would went smoothly.
Anyways, a miracle emerged. Traffic were unknownt today. Was it a sign that everything would be smooth as I wished?
As I stepped at the station, all I think was what will happen this afternoon.
Definitely, I would crept by awkwardness.
Indeed, Yino would be attacked by his sarcastic side.
Probably, Lark would be sighing like a goat.
Lastly, Triptivo would be the center of the war.
I hope they were matured enough to contradict my theory by their leverages to be act now.
"Hey are you okay? You look like a statue there," Lark raised his voice for he was a meters away distant from me.
"U-Uh, yeah! Let's go!" I just uttered as I regain my senses back.
*****