They were heading towards the market.
"No need to be so stiff; it's fine to joke around and be you.." Chayu noticed her expressions.
"Well...okay, I guess..I do have many questions, like what you do, how you pay for school, and everything, but I don't know how to ask.." Divina lost in thoughts, opened her mouth, but realizing what she had said again, she just went quiet again.
"Well, there's not much to tell..but let's go somewhere." Chayu guided her to a store. It was a quite big superstore containing almost everything except vegetables.
"Hey kiddo! Today's Sunday.." The store manager said to Chayu, but after noticing the girl he sealed his mouth.
"It's fine, Chief.. no need to be cautious.." Chayu told him.
"Ah ha.. I see, but you're the one who told me to keep it a secret." The manager said with amusement since Chayu never talked to a girl but now he's bringing a girl himself to the place he works.
"Is she your…" The manager tried to ask something, but Chayu interrupted and said a harsh "NO!"
"Well, let me introduce you guys to each other.." Chayu then looked at Divina and pointed at the manager with both hands. "This is my boss.. I call him chief.. and I work here Monday to Friday.. He's a super nice person!"
Then he turned towards Chief and pointed Divina the same way and said, "She's my classmate whom I didn't know existed..."
"Sounds like you.." Chief laughed.
"Why does it sound like him?" Divina couldn't control her curiosity this time and asked bluntly.
"Well, he's always lost in his fantasy world.. he doesn't notice many people.. he doesn't have a big friend circle either.." said Chief while Chayu was glaring intensely at him.
"Hey, old man, I didn't tell you to reveal everything!" Chayu burst in rage.
"Old man? I'm just in my 30s.. how dare you call such a young man old?" The chief boasted about himself.
"You clearly passed your 40s, old man!" Chayu didn't stop," an old man, older than earth, called himself young. What a joke!"
"Now that you've done it," the shopkeeper took out a packet with an evil laugh.
"Hey, isn't that limited edition special Chips?" Chayu's mouth filled with water.
"Yes, it is.. though I bought it for you, but I'm going to eat it.. all alone!" The chief's evil laugh rang throughout the whole store.
(Ah, really? Just for chips?) Divina thought.
"You can't do this, chief!" Chayu said with horror.
"Why can't I?" The chief's evil laugh was declaring the opening of the packet..
"Noo... Chief..." Chayu tried to stop the chief, but he had already taken a bite from the packet.
(What's going on?) Divina kept getting confused but was enjoying the scene.
"I am not to be blamed chief.." Chayu said with an evil laugh this time..
The chief's face turned red, and he ran towards the vending machine.
"Hey, what's happening?" Divina asked Chayu.
"Well.. that old man can't handle spices.. and the packet he ate was the spiciest flavor of those.." Chayu couldn't stop laughing after telling.
"You.. how can you do this to an old man?" Divina scolded.
"I tried to stop him, but he still ate it.." Chayu reasoned.
"You think I am a fool or what? You clearly wanted him to eat it.. the act of stopping was actually encouraging." She felt bad for Chief. poor old man.."
"Who's poor.. no, who's old.. I'm still in my 30s." The chief came back and heard her saying the last part.
"Okay, chief, that was fun, but we came for shopping.." Chayu told the reason for coming.
"Well, I can see that.. take whatever you like.. and you too, little girl.." The chief gave the packet of chips to Chayu.
(Ahh, my mouth still burn... Let's get some milk.) Chief turned towards the shelf.
Chayu was eating chips while picking the things he wanted.
"You really like chips, don't you?" Divina commented.
"Well yeah.. want a bite?" He asked out of good will.
"No way! You'll be asking for a refund.." Divina laughed it off.
"I won't though.." He laughed since that was his plan.
"Really?" She was going to take a piece, but Chayu said, "Nah, just kidding."
She got her second shock of ages.
They shopped and went to the counter to bill out everything.
"Okay, chief, here are my items…" Chayu presented like a child.
"You're not getting those ten packets of chips. Take 3 only, or you'll finish them in one night," the chief ordered.
(Ten packets of chips... And he can eat them in one night??) Divina's thoughts could be heard through her expressions.
"Come on, chief.. it's just ten packets.." Chayu begged like a child.
Divina chuckled and couldn't stop glaring at her.
"Well, I'll only agree with 4, not any more," the chief negotiated.
"Ahh really...." Chayu couldn't help but take this offer.
"Hey what's this five bottles of soft drink for?" Chief questioned.
"Ahh, that... I need something to drink with chips, don't I?" Chayu reasoned.
"But it's two liters each…" Chief was confused whether to laugh or cry. "You'll only take one."
Well, this was Divina's third shock of ages. She didn't even know when he took these.
"Ahh, chief, that's..." Still, he couldn't help but agree again.
The rest were his daily use items. And the chief thanked God for that.
Then the chief looked at Divina's basket. It was just a few items. "Are you sure you don't want chocolates or chips like him?"
"No... My mom gave me a list, and I just bought according to it.." Divina told the reason with a smile.
"That's pretty nice, I guess.." Chayu wondered what it feels like.
"Don't dwell over it.. you lost the list I gave you last time.." Chief reacted.
Chayu's ears turned red. She chuckled.
"Okay, you both can go now… the bill is on me..". Chief finally let them go.
They exited the store and turned toward the vegetable market.
"Chief is a nice person, isn't he?" Divina really enjoyed the company.
"Yeah, I agree.. he's the super nice guy around." Chayu praised the chief.
They then shopped for vegetables and were returning to their houses.
Chayu dropped her home.
"Thank you for walking me here... I really enjoyed today.." Divina expressed her feelings.
"Yeah, me too.." Chayu said with red ears.
"Oh, aren't you a shy one?" Divina teased.
"N..nah I'm not.. Bye.." Chayu ran.
"See ya," Divina laughed and entered the house.
Chayu ran to his house. He arranged the vegetables and groceries in their places. And jumped on the bed.
"Ahh, I could have asked her number.. I'm dumb" He kept smiling.
"Well lets sleep.. Tomorrow is the annual function.. it will be fun.." He slept with eyes closed.
The next day
Divina was waiting outside of his house. Since today was the annual function, there wasn't any time limit to school.
It may be Chayu's first time he left his home on time for school.
He sets foot outside of home and notices Divina.
"Why are you here, miss?" Chayu wasn't expecting her.
"Why can't I be here.. aren't we friends?" she asked politely.
"Well..." Chayu couldn't respond. How could he? He never talked to a girl let alone made one friend. And they only met 2 days ago.
"What?" Divina had high hopes in her eyes..