Imani, Hyori, and Shiro stood by the CR, waiting for Akira to come out. Imani groaned impatiently and sat down on the ground, “What’s taking him so long? I want to eat!”

Hyori patted her head and laughed, “Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll be out soon!” But Imani continued to frown. Finally, Akira came running out happily, jumping around in circles in a skirt that reached a little above his knees.

“I’m free! My legs are free!”

Imani grinned at the happy boy, getting up and calming him down, “Okay okay, let's get going now!”

The four teens start walking down the sidewalk towards a Jeepney stop. While walking, Hyori looked at her surroundings curiously, “It’s so much more different than Korea..”

Shiro tilted his head towards her, “Like in a good way or a bad way?”

Hyori smiled at him, “Neither, just in a neutral way! I love it here.”

As they continued, Akira suddenly ran past them, making his way to a panaderia. The others jog to catch up with him. They stood at the entrance of the panaderia and Akira turned back to face them, “Do you guys want anything?” The three shake their heads in response, and Akira turns back to order.

“Hi Kuya! Upat pandesal palihug.” (Hi! Four pandesal please.)

After receiving his pandesal and paying, he turns around. Suddenly, a little girl tugs on his shirt. He glances down in surprise, but smiles at the young girl, bending down to be at her level. 

“Maayong Gabii, unsaon ko pagtabang kanimo?” (Good evening, how can I help you?) Akira asked the girl as she continued to stare at him with big eyes. 

The girl let go of his shirt and started playing with hers nervously, “Maayong gabii…usa ka pandesal palihug?..” (Good evening…one pandesal please?)

Akira smiled lovingly at her, quickly taking out one roll of pandesal from his bag and handing it to the nervous girl. Upon receiving it, she grinned widely and jumped up and down.

“Salamat Ate!” (Thank you Ate!) She exclaimed. 

Akira’s eyes widened a little, but not in a bad way, “Ah! Dili, Kuya!” (Ah! No, Kuya!)

The girl stopped jumping and her eyes also widened, “Ay! Sorry kaayo, salamat kuya! (Oh! I’m very sorry, thank you Kuya!) She then ran away happily with her pandesal. Akira got up and headed back to the group. They quickly made their way to the jeepney stop and onto the Jeepney. Once the four of them got seated, Shiro took four 10 peso coins out of his pocket, passing it up front to the driver. As he did so, Akira nudged his arm. 

“Turno na nako sa pagbayad!! (It was my turn to pay!)

Shiro laughed, “Ulahi na kaayo.” (Too late.)

Akira playful rolled his eyes, turning to his bread bag. He pulled out one roll of Pandesal and ripped it up into small pieces as he ate. He turned to the window while chewing when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a hand slowly making it’s way into the bag. Akira grabbed the hand and looked at who it was. Shiro smiled innocently and Akira huffed angrily.

“Hoy! Miingon ka nga dili nimo gusto ang bisan unsa!” (Hey! You said you didn’t want any!)

Shiro stared at the angry boy for a few seconds before taking out a 1000 peso bill and handing it to him. Akira’s eyes widened, his cheeks still full with his pandesal. He quickly grabbed the money and threw the bag at Shiro, smacking him in the face. Shiro grabbed the bag and laughed, taking one roll then placing it back on Akira’s lap.

“Usa ra akong gusto.” (I only wanted one.)

—

As the jeepney came to a stop, the four of them got out and Hyori looked up at the large mall in front of them. The sign on the entrance read “SM Seaside City.” They made their way inside the mall and headed directly to Jollibee. They found a table and three of them sat down while Akira stayed standing.

“I’ll order for you guys, what do you want?” Akira asked the group.

Imani hummed, “Spaghetti please!”

Hyori smiled, “I’ll just get the same as Imani!”

Akira turned to Shiro, “Ikaw?” (You?)

Shiro, busy on his phone, responded with “Can you get my usual please.”

Akira stared at him deadpanned, flicking his head gently to get his attention. Shiro turned wide eyed, rubbing his head.

“I’m not your butler Shiro, I don’t know your usual.”

Shiro frowned playfully, “I thought you did..”

Akira continued to stare at him, unamused.

Shiro laughed, squishing his cheeks, causing him to look away blushing.

“Palabok with Pineapple juice please.

Akira turned around, “Sige sige.” (All right.) then quickly ran off to the counter.

—

Imani scooted a little closer to Hyori, getting her attention.

“So..this is your first time trying Jollibee right?”

Hyori nodded, “Yup, I heard good things about it though, so I’m excited.”

The two girls grinned at each other. Akira then came back, placing their order number on the table and sitting down next to Shiro.

Shiro looked over at him, “That was quick, how much did it cost?”

Akira counted his change, “Mmm, 952”

Shiro took a glance at Akira’s change, then handed him another 1000 peso bill.

Akira tilted his head in confusion, “What’s this for?”

“To pay you back for our food?”

Akira shook his head and hands, pushing Shiro’s money back to him.

“You just gave me 1000 for my pandesal though, that was more than enough to pay for it.”

Shiro gently shoved the money into his hands, “Just take it!”

Akira threw it back at him, looking away and crossing his arms stubbornly, “I don’t want your charity rich boy!”

Shiro dramatically grabbed his chest, “How rude!”

The two of them stared at each other before bursting out into laughter.

Shiro finally gave in, taking back the money, “Fine, but next time I’m paying.”

Akira lightheartedly put his hands up, “Okay okay!”

The two turned back to the rest of the group where a patient Hyori was waiting to ask them a question.

“Is this your guy’s go to mall? It seems like you know your way around here really well.”

Imani nodded in response, “It is! We’ve been coming here together almost everyday after school since Junior High School.” 

“I see!”

Akira gasped, “Wait! Hyori, can we get your messenger?”

Hyori giggled, “Of course you can! Do you have a piece of paper I can write it on?”

Shiro placed his bag on the table and dumped out a variety of pens and one notebook. They all looked at him weirdly and Shiro was confused why they were looking at him.

“I couldn’t choose which pens to take…so I took all of them.”

Hyori grabbed a pen and ripped out a small piece of paper from the notebook. She wrote down her messenger and slid it to the middle of the table for the other three to see.

“Here you guys go! Just message me something so we can see if it works!”

Three notifications from messenger popped up on her phone, and she clapped happily. Finally, the waiter came over with their tray of food. Akira thanked the waiter, and passed the meals to them. Once he finished, he grabbed his utensils, “Let’s eat!”

—--------

20 Minutes later

Shiro groaned, “Eugh…busog kaayo..” (Eugh…I’m so full)

Akira laughed, gently patting his stomach.

Shiro lifted up his shirt and placed a hand on his abdomen, “No more six pack.”

Akira continued to laugh, smacking him in the same place. Shiro grabbed himself, falling over onto the table, “Agay~!” (Ouch!)

They all laughed. Akira finished laughing and changed the subject, “What should we do now?”

Shiro quickly got up, “Bowling!”

Hyori perked up in excitement, “I love bowling!”

Imani grabbed her stuff and also stood up, “Bowling it is, let’s go!”

The group cleaned up their table, then made their way to the bowling alley. They paid for one hour then collected their shoes. Once they got situated, they put themselves into two groups of 2.

Shiro placed his hands on his hips. “Okay, Hyori and Imani, and then Akira and I.”

Imani stood up in disagreement, “Not fair, switch it up, you’re always with Akira!”

Shiro groaned, “Finee, I’ll be with you, and Akira will be with Hyori.”

Akira and Hyori hugged happily. Shiro then turned to the screen as their names popped up.

“Alright, Akira you’re first.”

Akira stood up and grabbed a ball. Before starting, he glanced at the screen. The name Shiro chose for him was “Unano(Dwarf).”  His smile immediately faded and he turned slowly to a smiling Shiro.

Akira stared at him, “Really.”

Shiro tried his hardest to hold in his laugh, “Is it wrong?”

Akira rolled his eyes and turned back around to the lane.

“Putang ina mo.” (F*** you.)

Shiro gasped loudly, “Language!!!”

In response, Akira flipped him off, causing Shiro to finally let out his laugh. Akira then rolled his ball, ending up with a strike. He turns around and Shiro immediately stops laughing. Akira sat down next to him smiling, causing Shiro to stand up right away.

“Oh it’s on, Unano!”

—--

Hyori rolled the last ball, only knocking over 4 of 10 pins. She frowned, but then ran to the screen to see the end results. The other three joined her. 

Imani added up the results, “Okay let’s see…Shiro and I got 247, Akira and Hyori got…248?!?”

Imani and Shiro stood there, mouths agape. Akira and Hyori squealed, hugging each other and jumping around, celebrating their victory.

Akira clapped, “We beat you guys!”

Shiro groaned, “By one point?!”