Nine

"Who?"

Tama blinked his eyes. Just as his tongue finished explaining to Laura that he liked another girl, she was immediately bombarded with questions. He stared in horror at Reki beside him. What was unexpected was actually the most enthusiastic to know.

Reki wiped his mouth. "I just want to know, Tam. So far, you've never talked about it. It's rare. You like girls?"

"You mean, I've always liked a guy like that?" asked Tama fiercely.

"Ha ha ha." Reki laughed. "That's not what I meant. But, in your case it's usually the girls who like you, not you who like them first."

Tama snorted.

"That's why I want to know."

"Yes! I want to know too," Laura insisted. She took the chair whose customer had left five minutes ago. Pulled it and sat at their table. "Who, Tam?"

"I---"

"Argh! Really!" Eshika cursed breaking Tama's words. "If you want to talk, look elsewhere. Just don't bother me to eat."

Velly nudged Eshika in the stomach.

Tama looked at Eshika who looked annoyed. The girl put down her spoon and looked at herself with annoyance.

"Why don't you just find another place to eat?" replied Tama.

"I got here first," replied Eshika. "You didn't think about treating Laura to a meal anyway? Came here just to be scolded? You really are a heartless boy."

Laura glared. "Treating me? Think I don't have money to buy food?"

"Oh, God! Really?" Eshika turned to Laura. "If the chicks have been chased away by their masters, they will have already left, Lau. Are you? Having been humiliated like this, do you still want to chase after this Rough Boy with No Brain?"

The two people were immediately taken aback.

"You want to find trouble, Esh?"

Eshika looked at Tama. "Who's looking for trouble? You guys make a peaceful meatball stall noisy. It's not just me that's bothered, but all the customers here. Wonder yes. So why do people like to be famous in such a classy way."

Tama snorted. "Why are you even sticking out?"

"Who's sticking out? I'm just telling the truth." Eshika pointed in any direction. "No! Just ask everyone who eats here. Everyone will agree with what I said." Eshika snorted. "Even talking about me being stupid."

"Obviously stupid. This person is my business with Laura, why are you interfering?"

Eshika's eyes rolled around. "You guys talk about that in public, Tam. If that's your business, there! Find a more private place. People here also don't want to know about your love affairs blah blah anyway."

"Why?" Tama smirked. "You're not jealous, are you? That's why you told us to get out of here?"

"Huuueeeek!"

This time Eshika looked at Tama with a look of horror full of fear. "Really. I? Should the model student be jealous of you? For your sake? Playboys have no brains?" Eshika pointed at Laura and Tama in turn. Then, grunt. "That's the difference between the tastes of people who use their brains and those who only use their eyes."

Tama growled. "You're looking for real trouble, aren't you, Esh."

"You who started first. With a talk show, I'm jealous of everything." Eshika fanned her face. "Ha ha ha. Idiot."

Beside him, Velly was biting his lip.

"Have you eaten it, Vel?"

Velly nodded.

"Let's go. Let's just let Reki become mosquito poison here." Eshika got up. She smiled at Tama. "Me and Velly's meatballs, please pay for it."

Tama glared. "What did you say?"

"Aaah…." Eshika flashed a sly smile. Pulled her hair behind her ear and asked. "How is Mom? Want to say hello when I call you later?"

Tama growled.

Seeing that Eshika sneered and pulled Velly's hand. Get out of there. When outside, Velly shook his head.

"You have no fear of Tama, Esh."

Eshika blinked her eyes. "Why do you need to be scared?"

"Yeah," said Velly sadly. "If Tama what are you doing too, you just have to complain to Tama's parents, right?"

Eshika smirked. ""Right. If something goes wrong, his Mom will definitely defend me more than Tama. Ha ha ha."

Velly shook his head. "I can understand why in the end Tama is often annoyed with you."

"Ehm," interrupted Eshika. "Actually, I also learned from him. As long as I've been alive, since I was little he's always made trouble with me. It's rare for me to be able to fight back against him. His parents are the only way I can get revenge on him." The girl clenched her fist, then squeezed it with her other hand. "I don't know why he did that to me. And well, in the end, I also became naturally annoyed and hated it when I met him."

Velly looked at Eshika while taking a breath and shaking his head. "Be careful, Esh..."

"Careful what?"

"Don't hate Tama too much, you'll like it."

Eshika covered her mouth. "Looks like the meatball I ate earlier was about to come out again."

*

Ignoring Laura who was sitting in front of her, changing Eshika's position earlier, Tama took out his cell phone. He quickly typed a message. Yes, of course. For who else if not for Eshika.

[Eshika]

[ Oh ..., now you're getting bolder huh. ]

[Want to be a rebellious wife huh? ]

"Tam..."

Tama sent the message and immediately put the phone in his trouser pocket. In front of him, Laura seemed to be tugging at Tama's hand until the boy was annoyed and jerked his hand away.

"What?"

"Let's go back..."

Reki next to Tama choked. He looked at Laura. "Haven't given up yet?"

Laura pouted. "There's nothing wrong with trying, Ki."

"Yes, try to get back with Tama," Reki commented slowly.

Ignoring Reki, Laura again said to Tama.

"Okey, Tam? I still love you."

Tama shook his head and exhaled slowly. He openly showed a gesture of disapproval of Laura's behavior. Until finally Tama asked.

"Why am I surprised? Why did I receive you yesterday? Now that I think about it, your behavior is really tacky."

Luckily Reki didn't choke on the quail eggs in her meatball because of Tama's words. He turned and confirmed Eshika's words earlier. Tama is indeed sometimes too rough beyond normal limits.

Tama turned to Reki. "Are you done? I want to go back. Ruined my mood after a while."

Reki nodded. Finished his meal and ignored the humanity in her heart as she followed Tama who left, leaving Laura who was increasingly miserable in her place.

"What was that, sir?"

"Two bowls of meatballs…." Tama growled. "Four bowls, I mean. Same with four iced teas."

Reki glanced as Tama took out her wallet, handed a hundred thousand note to the cashier. "Has Eshika also paid for?"

"Instead of her complaining to Mom. She's really good at taking my Mom's heart."

"I see. From the way she calls your Mom 'Mom', everyone can also guess how close they are," commented Reki. "Well, speaking of which, I'm getting curious. Why did Eshika call your Mom with Mom?"

Tama took his change and answered. "That's because Mom, from a young age, She told Eshika to call her Mom. So, maybe Eshika finally really feels like Moma's child."

They both came out of the meatball shop. Just when Tama's cell phone rings. The boy pulled away slightly when he realized it was a message from Eshika.

[Eshika]

[Ask my own husband to pay for the meatballs, it doesn't make me a disobedient wife. ]

Tama growled.

*

tbc ....