Once upon a love story

Noah and his friends were sitting around a table in a lively restaurant, the air filled with laughter and teasing.

"The worst part of it all," Noah said, still chuckling, "is that she actually fell for it and became the bait."

Everyone burst into laughter, while Reina raised an eyebrow and eyed Noah skeptically.

"Something tells me Noah is lying," she said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"Ooh!" everyone jeered in unison.

Noah threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Come on, honey, you don't have to be that harsh. You just blew my cover!"

At that moment, Cherilyn walked in, slightly flustered but smiling.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she said as she took her seat at the table. "I was attending to a patient with Alzheimer's."

Watt, sitting nearby, frowned in confusion. "What is Alzheimer's?"

Cherilyn sighed and adjusted her glasses. "It's a progressive and irreversible neurological disorder that mainly affects memory, thinking, and behavior."

Watt blinked, completely lost. "Speak English, Cherilyn!"

The group erupted into laughter as Cherilyn rolled her eyes. "It means my patient sometimes forgets things."

Watt sighed in exaggerated despair. "Oh God, I wish I were a doctor."

Cherilyn didn't miss a beat. "You can't be, because you're a Casanova. You'd get all your patients pregnant."

The whole table cracked up, and Cal leaned back, laughing. "That did it, bro. She just murdered you. You're toast."

Keisha, who had been watching the back-and-forth with mild interest, spoke up. "Can we order now?"

The group looked at her, surprised by the sudden change in topic. "Keisha?" they asked in unison.

Keisha shrugged nonchalantly. "It's a harmless question. Besides, this is a restaurant. People come here to eat, not just look at pretty girls."

Watt groaned. "Okay, no one should say what I do for a living out loud again."

Noah gave a mock salute. "Roger that, Captain."

The waiter approached, ready to take their orders.

"Can I take your orders?" he asked with a smile.

Noah didn't hesitate. "Yeah, I'll have chicken wings, fries, muffins, and a soda."

Reina smiled and followed suit. "Same for me."

Watt grinned and added, "Spicy chicken for me, a hamburger, fries, and a soda."

Keisha looked at her friends and sighed, making an exaggerated motion. "Everyone cover your ears! I want a whole chicken, fries, a burger, peanut butter to go, and milk. I'm allergic to soda."

Cherilyn raised an eyebrow. "Since when?"

Keisha shrugged. "I'm on a diet."

Cherilyn couldn't help herself. "I don't think you know what being on a diet really means. You wouldn't have ordered all that if you did."

Keisha grinned. "Lecture me after I eat."

Cherilyn nodded, grinning back. "Roger that."

Cal, who hadn't placed his order yet, leaned forward. "I'll have tacos, enchiladas with guacamole, and tamales."

Noah groaned and put a hand to his forehead. "Dude, leave Mexico out of your food orders."

Cherilyn chimed in, "I'll have fries, rice, and juice."

The waiter scribbled down the orders and smiled. "I'll be right back with your food."

As he left, Cherilyn turned to Reina. "So, how are you? Husband and wife?"

Noah groaned, clearly exasperated. "Now you ask?"

Cherilyn shrugged with a grin. "Now I ask."

Watt, ever the jokester, leaned forward. "We should really get married, guys. Reina didn't even order."

Cal laughed, teasing. "Yeah, she was like, 'I want what my husband ordered.'"

Reina chuckled and shook her head. "Don't blame us if you haven't found the love of your life."

Keisha leaned forward, smirking. "The love of my life is—"

The others quickly chimed in. "Food!"

Keisha blinked and quickly corrected herself. "Wait, that's not what I meant. The love of my life is... me. I'm done with boys."

Watt raised an eyebrow. "Did Owen dump you?"

Keisha shot him a glare. "You're a real-life jerk."

The entire group burst into laughter, but the moment was interrupted by the ringing of Cherilyn's phone.

She quickly answered, her tone shifting to professional. "Hello? Oh, I thought I asked you to give him his medication. Yes, yes, take care." She hung up and looked at the group.

Watt raised an eyebrow. "Is your patient dead?"

Cherilyn gave him a pointed look. "What? No! You think low."

Noah added, "Too low, bro."

A few moments later, the waiters returned with their food, setting it all down in front of them.

"Enjoy your meal," one of the waiters said as they left.

Keisha dug into her food immediately. "Do not judge me."

Reina smiled warmly at her. "Carry on, honey. You need food to survive."

Watt, still in the mood to tease, looked at Cherilyn. "So, Cherry, what about your boyfriend? Has he proposed yet?"

Cherilyn raised an eyebrow and shot him a glare. "Do you have any idea what you just asked? It's none of your business."

Cal whistled, amused. "Ouch."

Cherilyn turned to Reina, her expression softening. "How are you doing, Reina? Have you spoken to Grandma?"

Reina paused, her fork halfway to her mouth. "I'm fine. No, why?"

Cherilyn's face turned serious. "Oh shoot, I forgot to tell you. She wanted to have a talk."

Reina sighed. "Aww, I'll call her after eating."

Cal, looking excited, grabbed a taco. "Someone try this. It's mind-blowing."

Keisha shot him a look. "Stick to your food."

Watt suddenly slammed his hand on the table. "Alright, guys, bring out your wallets!"

Everyone groaned but obediently placed their wallets on the table.

Noah grinned. "Here comes judgment day."

He signaled to the waiter, who approached again.

"Yes, sir?" the waiter asked.

Watt grinned widely. "We want to pay, but you have to pick one wallet from the table."

The waiter looked around at the wallets, confused. "What?"

Cherilyn clarified with a smile, "Pick any wallet, and that person will pay for our food."

The waiter thought for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."

Keisha crossed her arms. "This is the part I hate."

Reina nodded. "Me too."

The tension in the room grew as the waiter slowly scanned the wallets on the table.

Cal muttered under his breath. "Please don't pick mine. Don't pick mine. Don't pick mine."

Watt laughed, teasing. "Hey, doctor, how are you doing?"

Cherilyn shot him a look of mock concern. "I hope he picks yours."

Watt quickly muttered, "Amen."

After a long pause, the waiter finally picked a wallet.

"This one," the waiter said, holding it up.

Everyone at the table stared at the chosen wallet, and then burst into laughter when they realized it belonged to Watt. He sat there, stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"What, that's mine!" he exclaimed, his voice full of disbelief. "She's a witch. She's a psychic! You're not just a doctor."

Noah, grinning from ear to ear, teased, "Dude's broke."

"Yeah, dude's gonna cry," Cal added, his voice dripping with mock sympathy.

Reina chuckled, "Dude's got no choice."

Keisha, always quick with a joke, smirked and said, "Dude's confused."

Cherilyn, basking in the moment, said, "I'm happy it's you, dude."

Watt sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "Dude was jinxed by the doctor," he muttered, earning another round of laughter from the group.

The waiter, oblivious to the banter, smiled and said, "Have a nice day," before heading off to tend to other tables.

As the waiter left, the group couldn't contain their laughter. Noah leaned back in his chair, still grinning. "Back to your day jobs, people," he said, wiping away tears of laughter.

Watt, clearly not done processing his misfortune, muttered, "I'm going nowhere. I want my money back. I want my money back."

Cal, still chuckling, said, "Last time we ate less, so I wasn't totally broke."

Watt groaned. "Did you see what Keisha ordered? You guys have no pity on me."

Keisha shrugged, unfazed. "I eat to my full, dude."

Cherilyn chimed in, "You're lucky I ordered less food this time."

Reina added with a grin, "Yeah, Cherilyn usually eats a lot."

Watt blinked in surprise. "What?"

Cherilyn, unfazed, simply nodded. "Mm-hmm."

Watt's voice dropped into a mock whine. "Noah's so lucky. He's rich, but they never pick his wallet."

Keisha laughed, "Black magic."

Noah laughed along, shaking his head. "God forbid."

Cherilyn leaned forward. "Do you have anything under your pillow? Tell us before it's too late."

Reina, rolling her eyes, smiled. "Guys, my husband is clean."

The entire table burst into laughter, and Noah sighed dramatically. "I can't believe you guys. Cherilyn, I'm your brother-in-law!"

Cherilyn raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her face. "I haven't forgotten yet."

Watt, still sulking, shook his head. "I'm still healing from the debit, guys. Please help."

Cal grinned. "Come on, dude, you can make it."

Just then, Keisha stood up, ready to leave. "Alright, familia, I love you, but I have to go."

Watt, not missing a beat, waved a hand. "Sit down, Keisha! You'll be the last person to leave!"

Keisha smirked and waved, "Next time. Bye!" She exited, leaving the group behind.

Cal stood as well. "I need to help abuelo at the store. See you guys later." He followed Keisha out.

Noah turned to Reina. "Honey, are you ready to leave?"

Reina nodded. "Yeah."

Noah held his arm out dramatically. "Queens first."

Reina chuckled, smiling at him. "Thank you. Bye, sis... I'll call Grandma now."

Cherilyn smiled warmly. "Take care."

Reina nodded. "You too." And with that, they exited.

Watt stared at the seat where Cherilyn is sitting. "What?" he muttered, still trying to process.

Cherilyn, with a teasing smile, raised an eyebrow. "I'm sympathizing with you. Don't you want sympathy?"

Watt sighed in exasperation. "Let's just split the bill."

Cherilyn shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips. "Okay, my sympathy ends here. Bye, bestie." She exited, leaving Watt to pay the bill.

As the door closed behind her, Watt muttered to himself, "That waiter... He's up to something. Why on Neptune would he pick my wallet?" With that, he walked out, still shaking his head.