Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Patry

"Kira! Where are you?"

I immediately closed my laptop and covered myself with a blanket. I really hate going out today! I just want to bond with my virtual boyfriends! Please spare this day to me, Seraphrim.

I lost hope when I heard the door open, "Kira! We're going to Sumgyupie Restaurant, right? Don't act as if you're sleeping!"

She pulled my blanket and I just pouted. Seraphrim it is, being the mom of our squad is here again. "I have told you that I don't want to come, right?" I said as I opened my laptop again to shut it down properly. 

"Excuse me? I have told you too that you're not an exception and not to be absent today!" She arched her brows, "It's Phil's treat! You know how much we missed the bond, right? After the moving up ceremony, we got exhausted and spent our vacation with our families. I know we'll be busy after this, knowing senior highschool is a tough one and college is toughest. Do we have time for bonding in the middle of doing school work?"

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, mother!" I stood up and crossed my arms. She laughed and left my room as I stomped my feet. Good bye for now, my Korean, Chinese and Japanese boyfriends. 

I'm Kira May Lucas, 16. Graduated at San Fuego High. The girl that just banged my door was Seraphrim Bautista, being the mother of our squad. Always taking care of us, inviting us for bonding. She's a responsible friend, very studious. If she has free time, she is always reading educational books. Well, opposite of my hobby, reading novels and R18 books. LOL. Also, I'm an only child of the Lucas Family. My parents are busy doing their business in Canada and if you're wondering why Seraphrim had access to my house, I gave her the spare key. I mean, in our squad, she's my best friend and my family loves her too. In case there's an emergency coming, she will be the one who will accompany me. 

We're 9 in our squad. We named it Pashnea, which means animal in another language we got from a TV series. We've been classmates for 4 years and getting stronger. It's just we're going to be apart, now that we're moving up to senior highschool year. 

We arrived at the Sumgyupie Restaurant and saw Tiffany waving her hands like there's no tomorrow. Our timid and innocent girl, Tiffany Alcaraz. She's the youngest of our squad. Still going to celebrate her birthday soon. She got braces in her teeth, long and straight black hair, innocence evident on her young face, around 5 feet-- oh well, I'm the only short in the squad. Don't ask for my height. We sat on our table and I could see their scowl on their faces.

"Took you too long to take a bath, Kira?" said by Chilly sarcastically. I laughed and rolled my eyes. I just don't want to go outside, but I think seeing them right now made me realize how to bond with them more. Chilly Dela Ponce, a KPOP fan, many mutuals on I*******m and active on Twitter. I can say she's a SocMed addict.

Celine stood up and clung her arms to Phil's arms, "I'm going to order now, Kira made us hungry for several hours already." Celine Alonte, the one who has strict parents but ended up bonding with us more. She always thinks of several ways on how to escape from their house.

"Why are you dragging me?" Phil mocked. Celine looked at him with disgust, "Duh? Your treat right? I don't have money in me." We laughed at the commotion. Phil Jacobo Guzman is Celine's best friend, he's the one who is always asking for permission if Celine's going somewhere. Well, it's because Celine's parents love and trust Phil that he can protect her. Or maybe, they want Phil for Celine anyway?

"Okay stop quarelling, lovers. Just go and order for us to eat already." Jerich teased.

"We're not!" Phil and Celine shouted in chorus and just walked right through the cashier to order our food. Jerich Dionese, the tallest girl, artistic, also a KPOP fan, and loves to dance in a weird way. When I say weird, I literally say that it’s like a funny dance and unknown choreography. 

Katsumi laughed and looked at me, "I know you're so into your boyfriends, Kira. Don't overdo it and stop acting so lazy all day."

"I just want to spend my time all day with my handsome Chinese and Japanese boyfriends. Like omg! I just want to stare at them, meet them personally! If you could just relate with me, Katsumi. Well, it'll never happen anyways." I exaggeratedly replied. Katsumi Ronchelauv is our squad's angel. She's a church girl, doing her duties to read and spread the word of God. She's really an angel in disguise as we experience good luck everytime we're together. A lucky charm indeed.

"Who are you chatting with, Nin?" We shifted our gazes to Nin when Chilly asked. Looking shocked, Nin puts her phone immediately to her pocket jeans.

"A friend." Nin simply replied and smiled.

Tiffany smiled too, "Friend? Who?"

"Friends with benefits?" Jerich teased.

Nin rolled her eyes and nervously laughed. "He's my neighbor and I borrowed his Science book."

"HE?!" we asked in chorus. People around glared at us and we said sorry for the disturbance. 

"Girls, quiet!" Seraphrim reprimanded as if she's not included in the commotion.

"Tell me, is he handsome? Cute? Hot?" I asked excitedly. She's lucky if it is!

A wide smile plastered on her face. She nodded. OMG! "I borrowed Science book from him. Actually it's a combination of Math, Science, Physics, Geo, and Bio. That's exactly the material that I wanted in the first place because I wanted to make advanced readings for the upcoming school year." 

Ugh. No fun. Nin Madrid is really the smartest girl, she's like a more advanced Seraphrim. She's very active in recitations and always studying. Knowing her Dad is a wise politician, I think it runs in the blood. That comprises our squad--me, Seraphrim, Chilly, Tiffany, Celine, Phil, Jerich, Katsumi, and Nin. Family not by blood, but by bond and love.

"Geez, I hate you Phil!" Annoyance plastered on Celine's face, beside him is Phil whose grinning. Okay, what happened?

Tiffany laughed as she also found it amusing. "What did you do, Phil? You made a sour Celine, look at her!"

"Sweetness again? Please refrain and respect the singles." Jeric teased again.

"Celine's drooling for the cashier boy right there," Phil smirked. "I tell it to the cashier right away, making him answer that he's taken already."

We laughed sardonically, "Better luck next time!" I reacted.

"Now I know, Celine will definitely get old without a lover." Katsumi said.

"Oh right!" Nin squealed. "What if we make a deal about who gets a lover first, will treat everyone to anything in an expensive restaurant! I know we'll be busy because of school work this upcoming school year. I think it'll help us too as we don't need a lover as the time goes by. It will be a distraction to our studies anyways." 

We gazed at each other and nodded. "Sounds good! Please prepare your money guys as I don't have an interest in getting a lover this soon." I confidently said.

"Wow! Coming from a woman who has many crushes? No, no! It's not you, Kira. Don't be so confident, you're fragile when it comes to love." Chilly mocked. I just pouted.

A phone rang in the middle of the conversation as Seraphrim excused herself for a while and went to the restroom. Our food arrived and we also started to grill pork and beef strips. 

"Gosh, this is what I've been longing for a long time!" Katsumi reacted while savoring her food.

Sumgyupie Restaurant is so good that it can accommodate 5-15 persons at a long table. Perfect for bonding with friends and family. I can't contain the happiness I'm feeling right now. 

"Excuse me..." A voice interrupted. I just continued grilling my pork strips and didn't mind it. Maybe it's the waiter. 

"Oh, you're Sera's brother right? She's in the restroom." Phil replied. Brother? For all that I know, Sera's brother was such a snob and I just can't take time to see him because he's always going out when I'm visiting their home.

I stopped what I'm doing and looked where the voice came from earlier, but he's gone. "Where did he go?" 

"Restroom." Chilly replied. I just nodded.

"Hey, grill some pork for Sera." Tiffany said and Jerich just nodded. 

After several minutes, Seraphrim arrived and an unfamiliar guy was beside her. My eyes widened as I scanned the guy's physical appearance. My ideal guy! 

"Sera, your boyfriend?" I asked and I almost blushed when the guy glanced at me. My heart began to beat like there's no tomorrow. Wait, what is this?

He arched his brows, "What?" So dayum hot! 

Sera laughed. "Kira, he's my brother! Patry."

They joined the table and Patry sat beside Sera and Jerich. He's now busy with his phone. Who is he chatting with? Girlfriend? Is he taken already?

"Stop drooling, he's 2 years younger than you." Celine whispered beside me. I can't take my eyes off him. He's my ideal guy for real! Tall, got looks, snob, suave hair, fair skin, attractive eyes, kissable lips. Oh my gosh, I should not be shocked if Sera's brother got looks because she's pretty! 

"I just found my soulmate. . ." I also whispered and my eyes widened again when he caught me looking at him. He arched his brows again.

"Why don't you eat?" I didn't know that I said it so loud that the rest took a glance at me. "I mean,  it's so rude that you stuff yourself to your phone while we're eating." 

Seraphrim smiled at me with a malicious stare. The others smiled too while Tiffany placed a plate in front of Patry and gave a pork strip. 

"No thanks, I'm not hungry." I felt a pang on my chest when he stood up, "I'm going home, sis." 

"What? You said that you're going to wait for me to finish." 

"No, go by yourself." he simply replied and got his way out of this restaurant.

A moment of silence. Then they looked at me with a malicious meaning. "What? I just told him to eat."

"You like him?" Sera asked.

I grinned, "You don't even tell us that your brother looks like a fiction novel character. I mean, he's good-looking. I got a sight of your childhood photos in the frames at your house and I didn't know he's surprisingly grown that hot." 

"Now you're simping for someone that's young? Really, Kira?" Phil scoffed.

Chilly hissed, "Probably, I know the next thing you'll do later. Please spare her, Sera. I know that Kira will be pestering you all day and all night."

"Don't forget about the deal, my tummy's ready." Nin emphasized it to me. 

I heaved a deep sigh. Patry Bautista, what a big fish. Though he's younger than me, I can say that he's like a guy at my age. And I also prefer guys older or younger than me. Thrilling isn't it? A snobbish guy will be tamed by a beautiful girl. That's the title! 

But. . . maybe I'll wait for the right time. I have to take it slow.

We finished eating and ended up parting on our way home. Me and Seraphrim were together while walking. She insists on walking me home before she does.

"Looks like you're happy." Sera said while looking at me. "I told you! We surely missed the bond and maybe it's a long long time again that we can surely repeat that bonding time." 

I stopped walking and grinned, "Tell me, Seraphrim. . ."

"Hmm?"

"Is he taken or single?"

Her brows creased, "Who?"

"Patry." Her mouth formed an 'O' literally.

"Seriously? Are you going to pursue my jerk brother? I mean..... he's annoying, snobbish, and a jerk all the time."

I nodded. "Yes. . . and I'll wait for him to be tamed."