CHAPTER 19
Max was entering the cafeteria to join his group for lunch. He was late because he had a conversation with his professor. As he looked around for his friends, which wasn't hard to find because most people inside eyed their direction. He saw how his friend Niko was standing too close with Aurora, and he looked like he was whispering something in her ear. The girl nodded at what he said. But what surprised him was Niko pulled a stunt of kissing the back of her hand. It was also the reason why most of the attention was on them.
Obviously, no one in his friends noticed him approaching their table when he asked what was going on. Niko finally let go of Aurora's hand. He was curious what his friend said that didn't tick Aurora off even when he invaded her personal space. Maybe they knew each other that he wasn't aware of.
"Ciao, Max. Li abbiamo visti, quindi sono venuto qui per scusarmi per ieri. Mi sono appena presentato. E Niko qui è un vero gentiluomo." (Hello, Max. We saw them, so I came here to apologize about yesterday. I just introduced myself. And Niko here is such a gentleman.) Aurora explained what happened during his absence.
"Oh." His mere reaction.
"Non ho ancora I loro nomi." (I don't have their names yet.) She added, referring to the rest of his friends.
"Questo è Daniele." (This is Daniele.) He introduced the other gut that remained seated. "Thalia and Paula." And to the girls that were on the other side of the table. They each gave her a handshake. They also greeted Ade.
Aurora's attention stayed with Paula. "I think we have something in common. I'm half Filipina. Kumusta paninirahan mo dito sa Italy?" (How's your stay here in Italy?) She asked in a curious tone. She had her own beauty too. She had tanned skin, straight black hair that reached her back, round eyes, a slightly narrow nose, small lips, and a petite frame like Ade.
The others around them were interested, though they didn't understand what she was asking. Their forehead knotted.
There was obvious bewilderment in Paula's face because of the special attention that she was giving her. "Ayos naman." (It's fine.) She replied with a smile, but she could sense that she was getting anxious.
"Nandito rin ba pamilya mo?" (Is your family here also?) She pressed more. She wanted to know something.
"Ako lang ang nandito. (I'm alone here.) I'm a scholarship student. I passed the exam, so here I am."
Bingo. That was what she wanted to find out. "How amazing!" Her plausible comment. "It's a great opportunity. Make the best of it."
"Of course." Paula wasn't comfortable with her because her smile doesn't even reach her eyes. And she noticed her glancing at Max.
"Per favore siediti con noi, Aurora." (Please sit with us, Aurora.) Niko's invitation. The table they were in could accommodate up to 10 people, for there were still vacant chairs at the other side.
"Va bene per tutti?" (Is it okay with everyone?) She asked them. She doesn't want to force her presence if people don't want it.
They responded with their approval. "You can sit beside me." Niko offered.
"Sure."
Ade approached Aurora to assist her in pulling the chair out, also Max, but Niko beat them to it.
Max then just walked around to the other side and propped his book at hand on the table. He sat right across from Aurora.
"Signorina, ako na kukuha ng pagkain natin." (Signorina, I'll get us our food.) Ade said and put down her bag on the seat beside her.
"You can sit down, Ade. Let me get your lunch. It's my treat, everyone." Max announced to them. "Let's go, boys."
The three gentlemen walked away from their table, and Ade sat down. The girls remained on the table.
"Anche tu sei mezzo filippino?" (Are you half Filipino also?) Paula's sudden question to Ade.
"NO. Sono completamente italiano." (No. I'm fully Italian.)
"Wow. Chiunque penserebbe che tu sia filippino. Parli fluentemente il tagalog. È fantastico." (Wow. Anyone would think you're a Filipino. You're fluent in Tagalog. That's awesome.) Thalia commented.
Ade grinned at that. "Grazie. Non è così difficile imparare quando cresci sentendolo e poi gradualmente saprai come parlarlo." (Thank you. It's not that hard to learn when you grew up hearing it, and gradually, you'll know how to speak it then.)
"Mi sento invidioso. Voglio anche imparare un'altra lingua in modo naturale. Ma purtroppo sono cresciuto con solo italiani in giro. Che laurea sei?" (I feel envious. I also want to learn other languages naturally. But sadly, I grew up with just Italian people around. What degree are you in?)
This time Aurora answered. "I'm in Business Economics. Ade here is in fashion. Che ne dite di tutti voi?" (How about you all?)
"Sono grato che noi cinque abbiamo la stessa laurea in gestione aziendale, non abbiamo bisogno di elaborare ciò che ognuno di noi ha preso ogni volta che qualcuno ce lo chiede. E siamo tutti al 2° grado." (I'm thankful the five of us have the same degrees in Business Management, we don't need to elaborate on what each of us took every time someone asks us about it. And we are all in our 2nd degree.) Paula replied.
"SÌ. È così stancante menzionarli uno per uno, anche se non ci importa, ma sai cosa intendiamo." (Yes. It's so tiring to mention them one by one, though we don't mind but still, you know what we mean.) Thalia added with a curt smile.
"Capiamo. Ecco perché restate tutti uniti." (We understand. So that's why you all stick together.)
"SÌ. Dalla nostra prima laurea. Abbiamo tutti lo stesso primo grado." (Yes. Since our first degree. We all have the same 1st degree as well.)
"Business Economic." She uttered.
"SÌ. Come sai da Max." (Yes. As you know from Max.) Thalia leaned closer, placed her elbows on the table, clasped both hands and propped her chin above them. She had that curious look for a juicy gossip to hear. "Comunque, se non ti dispiace se te lo chiedo, tu e Max siete così legati?" (Anyway, if you don't mind me asking, are you and Max that close?)
Aurora noticed Paula looked at her way though she was occupied by her phone while Thalia was talking to her. Her question caught Paula's attention.
She didn't address it directly. She looked back and forth at the two girls across her.
"Noi, no. Le nostre famiglie, sì." (Us, no. Our families, yes.)
"Quindi siete cresciuti totalmente l'uno con l'altro." (So, you totally grew up with each other?) Thalia pushed more about the subject.
"SÌ. Amici d'infanzia." (Yes. Childhood friends.)
"Non ha detto molto di te. Quindi non sei davvero così vicino allora." (He hasn't said much about you. So, you really are not that close then) Paula chimed in.
She was a bit surprised from that comment. She noticed that Thalia was stunned as well. And she didn't have to glance at Ade to see that she had the same reaction.
She wasn't sure if that was a question or a statement. But either way, why does it feel like the girl had some grudge against her? She wasn't doing anything. She leaned back and crossed her arms.
Aurora plastered a sweet smile on her face. "È importante? Non lo sapresti in futuro. Dopotutto, le nostre famiglie sono vicine." (Is that important? You wouldn't know in the future. After all, our families are close.) She even winked at Paula. Upon saying that, anyone would think that there could be more. What she said doesn't matter to her.
She noticed her shut her mouth. The girl clearly still had something to say but thought otherwise.
Want to say something more? Go on.
She wanted to raise a brow at her but she stopped herself this is Max's friend. She was just sitting among his group. She doesn't want to be rude with his friends as long as she wanted to.