Chapter 21
(Arushi POV – Baek-Costa Penthouse, Living Room, 11:30 AM)
We were all lounging in the living room, pretending to mind our own business while Auntie Amber was in the kitchen cooking.
The delicious smell of whatever she was making filled the space, but that wasn’t what was catching my friends’ attention.
It was her.
Forest’s whispered words snapped me out of my thoughts.
I turned to her with a deadpan look.
Raegan and Min-Jae stifled their laughter.
Forest, on the other hand, looked so damn smug.
Citrine, not even missing a beat, kicked Forest’s leg.
Forest winced but kept grinning.
Citrine rolled her eyes.
And of course, Forest wasn’t one to back down.
Min-Jae and Raegan snickered.
Citrine just crossed her arms, glaring.
But before their banter could continue, we suddenly heard Auntie Amber’s voice.
Silence.
Raegan straightened up so fast.
We turned our heads towards the kitchen, where Auntie Amber was now standing by the counter, wiping her hands with a towel.
Raegan cleared her throat.
Auntie Amber nodded.
Raegan smiled politely and nodded.
But as soon as Auntie Amber turned back to the stove, she let out a small breath of relief.
I raised an eyebrow.
Raegan glared at me.
For once, walang nang-aasar or nagpapatawa.
Even Forest—who always had something to say—was keeping her mouth shut.
Instead, Citrine was the only one talking.
Of course, to Auntie Amber.
She was casually chatting away, telling stories about university, some random drama, and her new sneakers.
Auntie Amber, as expected, barely reacted.
She just nodded from time to time, answering with a few words.
Citrine huffed but followed.
The rest of us? Still silent.
We were all too focused on finishing our meals.
---
1 Hour Later – Living Room
After Raegan, Min-Jae, and Forest left, I finally relaxed on the couch.
I pulled out my phone, scrolling through messages from T-Gang.
Raegan: "Yo, that was intense HAHAHAHA Auntie Amber looks like she could kill us all."
Min-Jae: "Di ako makahinga kanina. Legit, hindi ko alam kung anong dapat gawin."
Forest: "Damn, but she’s hot tho."
I rolled my eyes.
But before I could type a reply, I heard Auntie Amber’s voice.
Napatingin ako kay Citrine, who was lying on the carpet while watching something on TV.
She let out a groan and sat up.
Auntie Amber ignored her and sat on one of the armchairs.
Her arms were crossed, her gaze sharp.
I slowly put down my phone and straightened my posture.
Citrine sat beside me, still grumbling.
Then, Auntie Amber spoke.
My lips pressed into a thin line.
Figures.
She wasn’t the type to just sit back and let us do whatever we wanted.
Citrine groaned.
Citrine rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.
I just waited.
Auntie Amber leaned forward slightly, her piercing gaze moving between us.
Citrine snorted.
Citrine shut up.
I bit the inside of my cheek.
I held back a sigh.
Citrine, on the other hand, groaned dramatically.
Auntie Amber gave her a look.
Citrine immediately shut her mouth.
I nodded.
Citrine pouted.
Auntie Amber then sighed and leaned back.
I almost let out a breath of relief.
But then—
Citrine and I froze.
Auntie Amber narrowed her eyes.
Citrine dramatically fell back on the couch.
Citrine dramatically threw her head back on the couch, groaning in frustration.
I side-eyed her.
She was being extra, as usual.
Auntie Amber didn’t even react. She just crossed her arms, her expression unbothered.
Auntie Amber just raised an eyebrow.
Citrine sighed, slumping further into the couch.
Auntie Amber finally stood up.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
Auntie Amber wasn’t kidding about the strict vibes.
She turned around and started walking away, but before disappearing into the hallway, she added—
I snorted.
Citrine sat up straight, gasping.
Auntie Amber didn’t answer.
She was gone.
Citrine flopped back down on the couch again, groaning.
I smirked.
Citrine glared at me.
I just shrugged and stood up, stretching my arms.
Citrine dramatically gasped.
I just laughed and walked away.
__
Bedroom, 10:30 PM
I was getting dressed in my room, my laptop perched on my desk as I video called my friends. Raegan, Min-Jae, and Forest were all on the screen, laughing and chatting about random stuff.
I was only wearing a black sports bra and gray sweatpants, not really thinking much about it. I wasn't even wearing boxers, just the sweatpants. It was comfortable, okay? No one was gonna see me anyway—
Or so I thought.
I turned back to my laptop, about to grab a hoodie, when I noticed something weirdly quiet on the call.
My friends weren’t talking anymore.
Instead, they were just staring.
At me.
Or more specifically—
At my middle.
I frowned.
Then Forest, with zero shame, suddenly blurted out—
I looked down.
And then—
I realized what they were looking at.
Since I wasn’t wearing boxers, my little buddy was kinda… very visible through the fabric of my sweatpants.
Raegan, Min-Jae, and Forest burst out laughing.
Raegan was clapping like a seal. "Tangina Arushi, pag nagalit yan pwede ka ng sumali sa OnlyFans!"
But my three degenerate friends were still dying of laughter.
Raegan was still laughing.