Chapter 6 – A Second Opinion

Several days later, Cyndi sought out Jiro after work. She needed someone to talk to. And he was a better candidate than…oh let’s say her nosy friends…Melanie. Mel was a great friend. But she had a loud mouth. Just like Larissa. And if words got to Larissa, it would eventually get to Cynthia. The last person Cyndi wanted the information to travel to.

“Hey,” Jiro said. “Give me five minutes.”

Cyndi nodded.

He noticed she was a bit pale. “You look troubled, are you okay?”

Cyndi nodded again, unlike her chatty self.

“I’ll be right out.”

Five minutes later, Jiro was out like he promised. They walked to the parking lot, toward Jiro’s car. She had taken a Taxi, knowing they would travel in his car.

“So, what’s wrong?” Jiro asked at last when they were settled inside.

“Let’s go somewhere first,” Cyndi said.

Jiro reached over and took her hands into his. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Cyndi nodded, attempting a smile.

It was until they found a restaurant and ordered that Cyndi finally disclosed her matter.

“I’ve been thinking,” Cyndi began, her attention on the ground—or what was visible of the ground.

Jiro took her hands into his, giving her support.

She turned to face him. “Cynthia and I suddenly got along for no apparent reason and it’s so weird.”

Jiro smiled at that time, still having a hold on her hands. “I knew it. You two are sisters after all. You can’t be enemies like you two always claimed.”

Cyndi shook her head. “It’s not just that. I’m confused. Do you think she’s up to something?”

Jiro played along, not displaying his victory smile on purpose. “Like?”

“Like pretending to get along with me and then strike at any moment she wants.” Cyndi had snapped her hand up in a knife-like gesture to emphasize her point.

Jiro let out a chuckle, grabbing the hand that was up in the air and bringing them together again. “I think you’re just thinking too much.”

“You never know. You don’t know her.”

Jiro looked like he was circulating some ideas in his mind. Then he directed his eyes to her again. “How about this? I could find out for you if she’s actually friendly or is actually up to something.”

Cyndi had a curious look on her face. “How?”

“I’ll call Nic later.”

“No way!” She had yanked her hands out of his without knowing. “She’ll get mad at Nic for telling you. And she’ll get even madder at us for…” She stopped herself. Too late. She knew it because Jiro’s smile said it all.

Jiro shook his head, taking her hands into his like before. “Your reaction shows it that you worry how she would think.”

Cyndi turned on her aggressive look, yanking her hands back from him. “Like I care! Let’s call Nic then! We’ll sabotage her first before she could strike.”

Jiro knew she was just putting up a front, not wanting to admit she cared more for Cynthia than he accused her of.

*****

Nic came to pick Cynthia up at her workplace like usual that same afternoon Cyndi came to find Jiro.

“Where do you want to go today?” Nic asked, pulling out.

“How about sushi?” Cynthia suggested after thinking for a while. “Let’s invite your friends too.”

“You sure?” Nic asked, sneaking a glance her way.

Cynthia nodded. “I feel like treating everyone today.”

“Even Cyndi?” Nic was getting braver nowadays. In fact, he had been brave since the day he decided to conspire with Jiro to patch things up between the sisters again. And failed. But that didn’t stop him from getting back on track…again.

“Maybe,” Cynthia said, her expression still cheerful.

Nic did not dare to turn and stare at her, fearing he might crash if he was distracted. He called Dan and the others up, inviting them on Cynthia’s behalf. When they arrived, they found Dan and the guys already waiting for them.

“I thought you guys would get a table for us already,” Nic said.

“We wouldn’t know what view you guys like better,” Dan spoke for the others.

“Let’s go in then,” Cynthia said. “No use standing here and gawking at each other.”

They followed as Cynthia headed for the entrance. Dan signaled toward Nic, wondering what mood Cynthia was in—war or no war. Nic signaled a peace sign, indicating it was okay to joke.

They were able to get a big table once they were inside. It was to the far corner. Cynthia pulled Nic to a corner toward the back on purpose, wanting some privacy. She waited until they ordered and got everything in place before confiding with Nic. The others were all huddled together so she and Nic had some privacy with some empty chairs around them.

“Let me ask you something,” Cynthia began.

Nic nodded.

She only needed that. “Do you think I should get along with her again?”

“Your sister?”

Cynthia nodded.

Nic shrugged. “Up to you.”

“I thought you and Da Dong always wanted to patch things up between us.”

Nic knew he and Jiro had won. That was why he was pretending to be passive toward the situation. No, indifference. “It’s always up to you two. It doesn’t matter how much tugging we do, it would always be up to your reactions.”

Cynthia stopped and looked at Nic—as if observing him for the first time in her life. “Then I want to know one thing first.”

“What?”

“If she feels the same way.”

“Easy.”

“How?”

“Call Da Dong.”

“Good idea, but don’t tell him I want to know.”

Nic saluted playfully. “I wouldn’t dare.”

Cynthia smiled, knowing he was teasing her. She hit him lightly on the hand.

“Hey, you two lovebirds should eat too,” Dan teased, pushing the newly arrived dish toward them.

“You guys are just jealous of us,” Cynthia returned, her attention on Dan.

Nic smiled at the familiarity of the exchange. The same exchange at their first meeting. More like at the bowling alley that night. Yet it was after they solved an obstacle this time, not just getting rid of some temporary annoyance.

© Sunday, December 12th, 2010

Posted: Saturday, January 19th, 2011

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