On the cafeteria table, Nia's pink straw twirled between her fingers, like a little ballerina unsure where to stop. Her sweet iced tea was half-empty.
"Why are you eating with us today?" Icha asked, puzzled. "Where's Mila?"
"She's not in. She's sick," Nia replied, taking another sip of her iced tea.
"And the others? You don't have any friends, do you?" Dina joked.
"Funny," Nia snapped. "My other friends are all going out to eat. I can't be bothered to walk. It's so hot," she said, splitting her mayo roll in half.
In the midst of their conversation, Icha told Nia about Dina, who had found yet another "Alfa" target. Nia laughed, already familiar with Dina's habits, while the person they ware talking about simply pouted in annoyance.
Nia leaned forward, her face full of mischief.
"Hey, let me ask you something," she said, taking a bite of rolls. "Your future husband has to be named Alfa, right?"
Dina immediately glared. "You're ridiculous!"
Icha reflexively slapped the table, laughing. "So determined!"
Nia laughed along. "Well... who knows. Considering your obsession, if you don't get to have a husband named Alfa, you might name your child Alfa."
"Niaaaaa..." Dina glared again.
Just then, a voice came from behind them.
"Alfa? Am I called?"
Ando.
With a seductive smile that made Dina's blood pressure rise.
Ando's friends immediately burst into laughter.
Dina covered her face with her hands. She felt like throwing a straw at the boy. "Go away, don't be so cocky."
Ando even scooped a piece of dumpling from Dina's plate without asking. "But if you really need an Alfa, just say so," he said, winking like in a cheap shampoo commercial.
"Go." Dina's voice was flat. Very flat.
Ando chuckled, raising his hand. "Relax, relax. I'm going."
His friends followed him away, still chuckling.
Nia looked at Dina, holding back laughter. "I swear… that timing… was perfect."
Dina just snorted as she continued eating her dumplings.
Icha patted her friend on the shoulder. "Indirect kiss."
Dina glared for the umpteenth time that day. Icha and Nia burst out laughing. Even though her face was red, Dina didn't pull away. What should I do? Change the spoon? She continued eating nonchalantly.
Yes. Her friends did like to joke around.
And sometimes—their jokes were very on point.
Icha chewed on stuffed tofu while teasing her again. "You like tall guys, right, Din?"
Nia took a sip of iced tea before adding, "And smart guys."
Dina, without shame, immediately replied, "I like someone named Alfa."
Icha and Nia looked at each other—and burst out laughing.
"See!" Nia exclaimed, pointing at Dina's face. "I told you that your future husband's name must be Alfa!"
Dina's cheeks felt hot. "No! It's not that bad!"
Icha leaned toward Dina. "Well, Ando happens to have all three, Din. He's tall, smart, and has Alfa in his name."
"Cha, why are we going to that matter again?" Dina pinched Icha's cheek in annoyance.
Icha rubbed her slightly sore cheek.
"Don't forget he already has a girlfriend. Do you two want me to steal someone else's boyfriend or what?" Dina shook her head, unable to comprehend what was going on in her friends' heads.
They both fell silent. Checkmate.
"Repent, you two."