Chapter Six: The One With A Serious Talk At The Diner

Before entering the university, Blaire was actually a lonely child in high school. Her high school life revolved around the ridiculous timetable made by her overbearing parents. Like any Asian-American living in Ah-Mur-Rica (which she made a habit of imitating Anton’s mockery of it), she had to suck it up while promising them straight A’s. 

She wondered why Anton’s parents were so different. From the way he told her, his parents granted him and his other five siblings their independence. Admittedly, she was envious of Anton despite his circumstances.

The first adult who treated her like an equal was her own boss.

Although Fin Naese may have looked like a hot-headed teenage rebel, when it comes to work, Fin always looked dependable. And she was glad Fin entrusted her to work on the frontlines.

And even if most of her free time were taken by her part-time job, she didn’t mind as long as she was learning the ropes from Fin Naese.

And saved up to leave her parents’ house for good.

When her parents found out she had a part time job at an unknown jewelry store, their faces showed complete disapproval.

It was like her choices wouldn’t matter and that the only time she made a decision for herself was pure disappointment.

For two months, she and her parents weren’t speaking since. 

Her phone rang and she didn’t expect Fin’s caller ID on a Friday evening.

In fact, she never had a phone call from her on a Friday evening.

“Sup, boss? How’s it going?” She asked, cheerfully. It would be best to act normal, especially Fin’s peculiar behavior lately.

“Blaire,” she stated, a monotone voice she often heard from their usual calls.

“Is something wrong?”

Fin didn’t answer for a while like she was contemplating something.

That was odd.

“I-is,” she started, a heavy sigh was heard from the other line. “Never mind.”

“Wait!” Blaire blurted out before Fin thought of hanging up. She had a gut feeling about this as she asked, trying not to sound too pensive, “Is it about Anton?”

As expected there was another silence from the other line. Blaire would like to question more but she wanted Fin to say it first. 

“Actually, I was wondering if he’s with you.”

“No,” she replied, raising her brow. “Did you scare him and then he ran off somewhere?” If anything, Blaire should be proud of being so daring to say that to her boss, but only when she was a street away, that is.

“Fuck no!” Her voice sounded strained, in fact, forced when she defended herself. 

Blaire was aware that ever since Anton stayed with Fin, she became restless. She used to show a cold exterior at work and barely had any small talk with her. 

So Anton had made Fin…well, more human. 

“Oh, he’ll come back, he’s not the type to run away with his tail between his legs.” She had an urge to laugh but it would only piss her boss. 

No answer.

But now it was the perfect time to experiment. She smirked. “You know, there are still many girls approaching him during his break the other day. He might be, oh, I don’t know? On a date, maybe?”

If this conversation would lead her to getting fired, she would risk it. After all, Blaire had never doubted her intuition. 

That is, if her boss lady takes the bait.

“Well, like I care,” she said, simply.

“Oh, but why did you call just for Anton, boss lady?” 

There was a pause and Blaire secretly wished she could see her expression from the other line. 

“Can it, Blaire,” she responded, a cold-tone that could scare anyone away.

Not for Blaire, she was used to her boss’s peculiar behavior, anyway. 

But before she could give another teasing remark, Fin said a quick bye and hung up.

Blaire blinked and as a sudden realization hit her, she smiled. 

‘It’s official,’ Blaire thought. ‘My intuition is right.’

She could ask Anton’s whereabouts tomorrow. Besides, it would be more interesting to witness these two as a bystander.

---

When he arrived at the diner, the first thing he saw was Mikey looking up as he heard the front doorbell chimed at Anton’s entrance.

Mikey’s face lit up then he waved. 

Anton didn’t know whether to wave back or not. Being here was already awkward enough. Mikey’s smile faded and he slowly retreated his hand back.

When he arrived at his table, he sheepishly greeted him.

“H-hey,” Mikey replied, a forced smile plastered in his mouth. “So, what do you want to eat? You could eat everything on the menu if you want to.”

“Just the regular, I guess.” He had a hard time looking at Mikey. 

You see, Mikey and Melissa are twins, after all. Whenever he looked Mikey in the eye, he could see some resemblance of his ex in his former captain.

Mikey called the waitress and ordered their favorite meals. The diner is the team’s favorite hangout. Even though it was a bit far from the campus, they often celebrated here each time they had won a match. 

This place had so many memories, yet looking back now, Anton realized those were just...memories.

Just like his memories with Fin Naese.

“They ran out of nachos, I hope you don’t mind garlic bread for the appetizer,” Mikey said, interrupting his thoughts. 

Anton didn’t say a word but he only nodded. He couldn’t trust himself to say anything.

“Hey, Anton, I know you hate us for everything that happened to you and I don’t blame you.”

“I don’t hate you, Mikey,” Anton said, shaking his head. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“No, I was the reason why you...you couldn’t run anymore,” he stuttered. His head lowered and Anton could see his fists clenched tight. 

“God, Anton, if I could turn back in time,” he continued, his shoulders shaking. “I shouldn’t force an injured man to win for us.”

“It’s all the past now, Mikey,” he said as he smiled wryly. “You knew it was our only chance to win and I…I knew the consequences so I was actually the one at fault here.”

Anton remembered that he made a mistake injuring himself during their practice match. It was right before the championships and they couldn’t risk losing it just because the ace was injured. 

At first, Mikey was against him playing but because their score gap was widening, Anton insisted on being put on the football field and managed to snatch the championship trophy.

He also had the record as the fastest running back in College Football that season.

But in return, that last match permanently damaged his right leg. 

The waitress came back with their food, she had a dour look as if she got used to teenage drama at the diner. 

“So, let’s eat, Mikey.” He unwrapped the tissue around the knife and fork. “I’m starving.”

“So you forgive me just like that?” Mikey asked as he stared, uncertainly. 

“Well, that was old news, we even hung out after that.” 

There was a pause before he coughed.

“And my sister?”

Anton was hoping he didn’t bring his twin sister up to the conversation.

“You know my answer,” he said, twirling the pasta noodle with his fork. “You would feel the same if your girlfriend cheated on you, too.”

“I was angry, too. Our parents divorced because dad cheated on my mom so Melissa should have known.” He clenched his fists. “But Anton, she was so confused.”

He stopped eating his meal and stared him in the eye. For the first time, Anton growled, “And I should forgive her because?”

“B-because I just want you back in my team, Anton,” he stuttered. He probably hadn’t seen Anton angry before.“You couldn’t go back because Melissa would be there with Victor.”

Anton hesitated. “Why now?” 

Mikey didn’t know what to say until he said, “We haven’t reached the finals since then, Anton. The c-coach said he wanted you back, even if you couldn’t run…like you used to.”

He never felt angry before, the emotion immediately devoured his being that almost suffocated him. He abruptly stood up which startled him and moved to the exit as fast as he could.

Another word with him and he might have snapped.

“A-Anton, wait!”

Anton didn’t stop as he was still walking faster on his way to the exit. He could hear Mikey say ‘keep the change’ to the waitress earlier before he left the diner.