Chapter 20: Superfluous Surprise
Another day had begun.
With the morning sun waking up into the sky, ASTRO was eating breakfast quietly when the doorbell rang.
"Ate Danica, can you please get that for me?" Imari said while washing dishes in the sink.
Danica paused at her task vacuuming the blue carpet at the stairs and walked towards the door.
Looking out into the gate, there stood a stranger outside. He waved at Danica excitedly when he saw her.
"Good morning!" He called out. He wore a black cap and jacket with a yellow scarf that covered his mouth.
Danica squinted as the sun hit her eyes. She walked up the gate.
"Sino po sila?"
"Nandyan si Ms. Imari Fiore?"
"Opo. Bakit po?"
"Meron pong package delivery para sa kanya."
"Sige po, Kuya. Wait lang po." Danica ran to the kitchen and spotted Imari.
"Imari, a man at the gate said he's got a delivery for you."
Imari was drying dishes when she looked up.
"Ganoon ba? Well then. Open the gate and let him in."
By this time, the boys were lounging at the living room all set, waiting for their van to arrive.
Danica let the man in, who dragged in a portmanteu and a bagpack. Glancing at the stuff, something feels off.
Where's the package?
Both of them were at the living room when Imari spotted them, drying her hands with a small towel. She stopped and gasped in shock when she saw him.
"Lucas..?"
The man pulled down his yellow scarf, revealing a big smile, bright eyes and dimples popping out when he grinned.
He opened his arms wide to her.
"Imaaaaaariiiiiii..!"
Imari laughed in glee as she ran to him with outstretched arms. He let out an 'oof' when she collided into him.
Being fairly tall, he looked down at her and laughed.
"Kamusta, Imari-chan?"
She hid her face in his jacket.
"Mm, ayos lang..." She mumbled. He patted her back reassuringly, and slowly feeling everyone's eyes on them.
First thing he noticed in the living room are the boys.
The good-looking boys, who were taken aback by what they had witnessed between him and Imari.
Something's weird about their looks.
Covering an arm around her protectively, he felt like kicking them out of the house.
"Imari, you know these guys?"
Imari pulled away from him, not meeting his gaze.
"They're the new tenants," she began, "Lucas, meet Jin Jin, MJ, Eun Woo, Moonbin, Rocky and San Ha. Guys, meet Lucas." Then she turned to him again.
"Got their names?"
Lucas eyes' grew wide as he shook his head, his brain on overload with their names.
"Uh, si...Ginebra Gin, Michael Jackson, UwU, Moonbeam, Rocky Balboa and Sana...Sana All?" He scratched his head, trying to remember. Imari chuckled. She gestured at Danica.
"Close enough. And Tita Rita employed her, Lucas. Meet Ms. Danica Quezon."
Lucas turned to her, smiling. He extended a hand.
"Hello! I'm Lucas. Nice to meet you."
Danica took his large hand and shook it.
"Um, nice to meet you too." She gazed up at him, enchanted.
Lucas chuckled. "Danica Quezon. That's easier to remember."
ASTRO just watched it all in amazement as they notice Danica getting hypnotized by this mysterious man's ineffable charms...
...until the doorbell rang once again. Imari opened the door and saw the van outside with their manager at the gate.
"Hey guys, your ride's here." At that, the boys jumped up from their seats and hurriedly put on their shoes at the door in chaos.
They were noisy until they all dashed out into the front yard and out of the gate into the van, with Imari opening and closing the gate for them.
Lucas and Danica were all left in the living room.
"Uh, so...those tenants, are they college transfer students?" Lucas asked.
"No, they're uh...tourists! Yes, that's right, tourists! Temporarily staying for two weeks."
"Tourists, huh? They're too good-looking, though. It's practically illegal..."
"Y-you're illegal." Danica blurted out loud.
"...what?" He frowned.
"Nothing. D-don't mind me!" Danica exclaimed, walking out of the living room in a hurry to finish her work at the stairs.
Lucas raised a brow and took off his jacket as he sat down on the sofa, proceeding to take off the yellow scarf from his neck, revealing him in a white T-shirt and brown jeans.
He sighed, resting his head back as he stared into the ceiling, his dark bangs falling into his eyes. He ran a hand through it, mumbling to himself.
Ma, why didn't you give me a heads-up?
Working as a Quality Control Analyst in Japan for a few years, he'd decided to take a vacation back in his homeland.
There are many things to consider...Like having a serious conversation with his parents.
Thinking he can chill and get his bearings here at this house, he didn't expect so much change had occured around the place in the time he stayed abroad.
Imari entered the house again to find him taking a nap in his seat. She shook his shoulder, to rouse him up.
"Uy, huwag kang matulog dito, magpalit ka muna ng damit." When he didn't respond, she slapped his thigh.
"Aray! Imari, I just came from a tiring trip."
Imari crossed her arms, fixing him a pointed look.
"That's for not telling me in advance. You should've texted me at least to let me know that you're coming here. I would've made some preparations."
Lucas gave her puppy eyes, putting his hands together.
"Gomen ne, Imari-chan~"
"Ah, that's okay. Remember your room?"
"Yeah? Is it still mine?" Lucas said, his eyes lighting up.
"Danica's using it. You better go upstairs and occupy mystery room number three."
Lucas groaned, dramatically raising a hand to his forehead, as if feeling for a fever.
"Augh, not the master bedroom."
Imari paid no attention to his reaction. She tapped her foot impatiently on the living room carpet.
"So, where's the package?"
Lucas shrugged.
"What package?"
"The package you mentioned earlier..."
"Ohh, that one. You'll only get it once you clean the master bedroom for me. I know it's been a storage room of dust mites and spiders... for a long time, if I may add."
Imari huffed and pouted.
"Hmp. The Boss must've told you about it. That room hadn't been used for months." She stood up and took his portmanteau.
"In that case, store your things in my room on standby as I clean upstairs."
"Okie-dokie." Lucas said, standing up. He followed Imari as he slung his green JanSport pack on his shoulder.
As she opened the door to her room, he looked around, smiling.
"Pink as always."
Imari left him there as he started to rummage through his portmanteau.
He locked the door and took a fresh change of clothes with a bath towel and went to the private bathroom with a contact lens holder.
When he hopped out of the shower, Lucas had changed into a yellow T-shirt and white comfy shorts.
Opening a zipper on his backpack, he retrieved a rectangular case and popped it open. It revealed a pair of thick, black-framed eyeglasses. Taking it out of the case, he gently put it on, pushing the bridge of the glasses with two fingers.
There. Comfy and free. Draping the white towel around his neck, he proceeded to store his contacts back into his pack and sat down slowly on the bed, relaxed.
While drying his hair, he gazed up to the wall where photos hung by the nail.
Secured in gold frames, the pictures showed Imari's family back from the province. Her mother, father, two elder sisters with her younger brother and sister.
At first, I had trouble with the idea. Did they take her in because they knew I wanted a sibling? Did they want a daughter of their own?
Worse, did they think I'd have to get used to having a girl around?
Or did we all need a new addition to the family because things between us were getting stale?
Nevertheless, Imari's presence in our home made everyone more cheerful and animated.
It's like being with the sister I never had. She fit in our family perfectly. That's why--
"Lucas?" Imari called, knocking on the door. He stood up and opened it a crack.
"Yes?"
"Your room's ready. I'll help you with your things."
"No! I'll carry everything. It's all right."
"Okay." The two of them ascended the stairs. When they have arrived, Imari gave him the key to his room.
He took it, opening his room, close to Eun Woo, Moonbin and San Ha's room.
Entering the master bedroom, Lucas found it clean, observing the chalk white walls and the heavy chocolate brown wood furnishings.
"Thanks for cleaning it for me. Here, I bought you these." He produced a gift-wrapped box from his portmanteau and handed it over to her.
Imari took it and sat on the floor cross-legged. After carefully removing the tape on the wrapper, she took out the box and opened it.
She squealed in delight.
Inside were volumes of her favorite manga.
"Kyaaaaaa~ Yakitate! Japan?! Takashi Hashiguchi's beloved masterpiece?! Thank you so much..!"
Lucas chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"Do itashimashite, Imari-chan." Then he went inside his room, carrying the rest of his things.
ASTRO just finished their press interview with a columnist from the Philippine Daily Inquirer and now they are taking a coffee break at a nearby café.
Their personal assistant brought them some drinks: Iced tea Americano for Jin Jin, MJ and Moonbin, Strawberry smoothie for San Ha, Iced tea for Rocky and Banana juice for Eun Woo.
While enjoying the drinks, they were chattering softly amongst themselves.
Some of them quietly thinking of the scene they witnessed this morning.
San Ha fiddled with the straw in his smoothie before breaking the ice.
"Say...who is he? Any ideas?"
MJ stared at his Iced tea Americano.
"Ah, that sparkly man? Didn't she say he's Lucas?"
"Yeah, but...who is he, exactly?"
"She seemed really close to him," Eun Woo said, "do you think that man is her boyfriend?"
Moonbin chuckled.
"Why do you think that?"
Rocky silently sipped his iced tea. Then he scratched his head, as if trying to remember something.
"It won't matter either way if he's Imari noona's boyfriend or not."
"Actually, it matters," MJ replied, "he might punch our noses out if we act too familiar with Imari-ssi. Best to keep our friendly distance to avoid trouble."
Jin Jin bit into his sandwich before he sipped his Iced tea Americano, laid back and passive. Eun Woo continued on.
"I have a gut feeling he's going to stay in the house with the rest of us. He carried some luggage, we might be under the possibility of getting our location exposed through him."
"Oh right, right. But it's not like he recognized us, since he mispronounced all of our names." San Ha said, "He probably hadn't even heard of our group."
"If that's the case, then it will lean to our favor. He did look kind of clueless and intimidating." MJ said.
At this San Ha bowed his head down as he laughed silently. Rocky caught on and laughed too. MJ glared at them.
"Yah, I know what you're thinking..!"
Jin Jin looked up and raised both brows in question.
"Oh? They're making fun of you, hyung."
Moonbin waved a hand in dismissal.
"No, they're just appreciating M-hyung's cuteness and how cute he is next to Lucas hyung."
San Ha exclaimed in korean.
"Ohh! That's right, Lucas hyung is fairly tall like Bin hyung. He probably plays basketball."
"Why don't you ask him then? Maybe that way all of us can confirm it when we get back and have some fun." Jin Jin said.
The rest of them agreed. Eun Woo grinned.
Extra Extra
"Dinner is ready!" Danica announced to the boys in the living room. The handsome boys were busy at the living room, some of them watching the Anime Hero channel on cable.
Only Eun Woo and Rocky wanted to watch it. San Ha watched some skateboarding tricks on his phone, MJ watched Avengers on his phone, Moonbin listened to music in earphones while Jin Jin tried to make sense out of what Eun Woo and Rocky's enjoying on TV...the title was, what was it again?
'Ascendance of a Bookworm'?
Meanwhile, Imari climed up to the second floor and knocked on the door of the new character.
"Lucas...kain na tayo. Dinnertime."
As ASTRO boys filed in the dining room sitting on the chairs, they looked up when Imari and Lucas arrived. On the rectangular table sat Eun Woo, Jin Jin, Moonbin, San Ha, Rocky, MJ, Danica, Imari and Lucas.
Lucas made sure that Imari would sit in between him and Danica. He can't bear to let this UWU sit next to her.
When they started to pile rice on their plates, Moonbin asked Lucas his age.
Lucas smiled sweetly.
"I'm 27. I'm born on June 11, 1993."
Imari served her own plate full of sinigang na isda.
"In that case, all of us here should call you kuya."
Lucas' eyes grew bright.
"Oh, sure. But you always call me Lucas, Imari..."
"Well, that's because we're practically twins. I even have to play big sister to you in our high school days."
Moonbin's ears perked up. He glanced at MJ and Rocky, who looked at each other in curiosity.
Eun Woo kept smiling as he glanced at the rapport between Imari and Lucas. San Ha put some kimchi and pork adobo into his plate as he ate quietly.
Jin Jin just observed Danica and saw how the bubbly and talkative Aroha just grew silent out of the blue. She kept stealing glances at Lucas' profile secretly.
Jin Jin then stared at Imari, who had kept her gaze on the food. She hadn't spoken a word to him ever since he lost the keys. She seemed really upset about it.
What was the big deal? All I had to do is to have a new duplicate remade, right?
He'd tried apologizing, but she just nodded her head in return. She wouldn't even look him in the eye. She practically ignored him.
Lucas noticed ASTRO's Leader staring intently on Imari that he felt an urge to protect her. He immediately draped an arm around Imari's chair, pretending to be clueless. He peeked at her plate.
"Oh, Imari-chan, your plate is almost empty. Want more rice?" He took the ladle and scooped more rice into her plate.
"Sure. Thank you." Imari said.
"You're almost out of ulam. Want more fish? You need sabaw too!"
"Uh, okay." Imari let him add more food to her plate. When he generously flooded her plate with sabaw, she chuckled.
"That's enough. I won't be able to finish it all. Thanks."
"You're welcome~" Lucas chirped. He then glanced up at Jin Jin, who seemed taken aback. Moonbin saw it and smiled to himself.
Somehow, he understood what this sparkly man's doing.
"Lucas hyung..."
Lucas stopped glaring at Jin Jin and turned to him with an innocent look.
"Yes?"
"We're wondering if you play basketball. Do you?"
Lucas straightened his posture and puffed out his chest in his seat.
"Of course I do. Why? You guys want to play a round with me?"
San Ha and Rocky perked up.
"Lucas hyung, of course we do. Where can we play?"
"Let's meet in the living room. After dinner. Get yourselves ready..." Lucas said, a serious expression taking over his features, "...I'll bring it downstairs."
Somehow, the boys got a hunch that this man is good at it.
30 minutes later
Lucas raced down the stairs to show the boys what he brought.
"Prepare to lose!"
ASTRO stood up from the sofa only to be disappointed.
Lucas didn't bring a basketball like they expected him to, instead he held some gaming consoles. His determined face faded when he saw them with raised brows and questioning gazes.
"What? Haven't you guys played 'NBA All-Stars'?"
The boys looked at each other. San Ha stepped forward, raising a hand.
"I'll play with you, hyung. If I win, you get to answer any question I'll ask."
Lucas gave him one of the consoles.
"Sure. What kind of questions?"
"Like: how are you related to Imari noona?"
Lucas frowned.
"And if you lose, you will never know. And you'll have to answer any question that I'LL ask. Questions about all of you."
-end of Chapter 20: Superfluous Surprise