"Don't be a scum!"

At Griller's Heaven…

Sanya was sitting beside Sanno, and in front of them were Gem and Lia. They had already ordered two plates of grilled pork barbecue and two plates of grilled catfish.

Soon after, the waitress came, pushing a kitchen cart. "Here's your order!" the enthusiastic waitress exclaimed. She carefully placed the two plates on their table, and also four empty plates for them to use. She also gave them a plate of fried, garlic rice. "Just tell me if you'll order more!" and the waitress was called by another customer.

When she went away, Sanno noticed Sanya looking around. "Looking for someone?"

"Uhm, no," Sanya said, smiling slightly at him.

"I thought you're going to look for our favorite waitress," Sanno chuckled, "I think you're happy not seeing her."

"Sannooo!" Sanya placed her hand on Sanno's mouth. "I'm not jealous or anything!" and she pouted.

Sanno took her hand, "Yeah, don't be," and he placed it on his chest. "You're the only one here."

Gem and Lia giggled as they saw how sweet the two of them were.

"Just continue flirting," Lia said, "Gem and I will just eat here."

"Yes, Lia's right… We'll eat everything," Gem added. She then took a knife and a fork, then sliced a grilled catfish. She placed half of it in Lia's plate, and the other half on hers.

Because they noticed their actions, Sanya got embarrassed, and pulled her hand away from Sanno. She also slightly moved away from him, which made him laugh a little.

They started eating. Sanno was helping Sanya to slice the meat. The group chatted about random things, and the conversation was light.

It was the first time Sanya had gone out with a lively group of people ever since she started working in the research facility. In her one year with D.M. Cadre, all she remembered were her overtime nights because Dr. Brown kept passing most of his data to her.

But that was the past. Sanya thought that she had to forget her difficult situation before, now that she had Sanno to be with her. She had hoped that they'd get married soon and have children, maybe four or five of them.

For her, Sanno's feelings for her were as pure as clear water. But she didn't realize that even the clearest liquids could be the most toxic ones.

Feeling a bit thirsty, Sanya then reached out onto Gem's side in front of her to get the pitcher of water. She bent over, and her shirt collar dropped a little low, making Gem shocked with what she saw.

Hickeys. A lot of them.

Sanya moved back after getting the pitcher and poured water into her glass.

"I gotta pee," Lia said, as she slowly stood up to the side. "Come with me, Gem?"

"Nah, I'm still eating," Gem replied, slicing some more meat onto her plate.

Sanya sipped some water from her cup. When she noticed that Lia wanted company, she said, "I'll come with you." Besides, she realized that she needed to check her teeth if there were some meat strips stuck in it. She didn't want to do it when her beloved Sanno's beside her.

Lia and Sanya rushed off to the bathroom. As soon as the two were gone, Gem gave Sanno a suspicious look. She told Sanno, "Hey… Sorry if I ask this, but... Did you and Sanya already do… that?"

"Hmm? What's that?" Sanno asked. He raised his eyebrows confused about Gem's question.

Gem knew how sensitive her question was. She leaned in closer to the table, and lowered her voice, "Did you...make love with her?"

Sanno furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't expect her to ask such a private question. Gem is more passive than Lia, and she's more reserved, so he knew that something might be bothering her deep inside. He replied curtly, "So what?"

Gem hadn't expected Sanno and Sanya to be doing it, especially that it was only after a few months that they had met each other. She thought that their relationship was only at the early stage, that's why she's also teasing them, because they're like cute highschool lovers. Sadly, she knew of some people who'd leave their lovers after lewd things happen between them. She was afraid that Sanya might experience that kind of heartbreak.

But she didn't want to get on the bad side of her batchmate Sanno, since she considered him as one of her friends. Sanno had been a nice guy friend to herself, Lovely, and Lia, and he's a reliable person, but when it comes to love, she's not so sure. She nervously breathed in and out, before saying, "I saw them… the hickeys," Gem uttered, "So many... Did you get rough with her?"

"Why are you so curious," Sanno asked. He didn't want Gem or anyone looking into their relationship. "She loved it… Me being rough with her."

Gem sighed. She realized that they really have gone on a different level of relationship. She saw that Sanno frowned and was displeased with her question, "Oh. I just asked because I was worried that you're going to dump her sooner or later." she explained.

"Do I look like a bad guy to you?" Sanno asked her.

"I didn't mean-"

"Yeah, I'm a bad guy," Sanno interrupted, "But I might be the nicest bad guy you've ever met."

Gem didn't know what he meant, so she brushed it off. She told him, "I experienced it, being betrayed by the man I loved... When I went to see him after I didn't hear from him for a couple of months, I found out that he already has a wife, and she's pregnant."

Sanno saw how hurt his batchmate was. He disregarded her nosiness when he understood why she asked about their relationship, "That's so cruel. Just move on, and forget about that scum."

"I think I have moved on," Gem replied. "Don't be like him, okay? Don't break her heart. Don't be a scum, Sanno."

"Heh. Of course, I won't," Sanno replied.

But deep inside him, he knew what kind of a scum he was.