CHAPTER THREE

Heaven didn’t bother to go out of his room when we called him for lunch. The boys enjoyed what I have prepared for them and I really appreciate that they did because I think that I might do it every day from now on.

“Thank you for the lunch, Hell!” Leaf gratefully said while holding his tummy. They said that they’ve already eaten but they still ate a lot of what I have prepared so it would really make them so full.

I’m afraid that the food left won’t be enough for our dinner later since I didn’t expect them to eat too much. Maybe I’ll just go back to the supermarket later or just eat outside with them if I don't have a choice.

“Let’s continue our game?” Fire invitingly asked the two boys to go back to the living room and play cards again.

“We have to clean this first,” Wind rejected Fire and pointed out the plates that we used to eat.

“No! Let me do it,” I volunteered myself. I don’t have anything to do after eating so might as well clean the dishes before chilling.

I feel like this challenge of my dad is not way too far from what he challenged me before. I’d still be doing some household chores but this time, the business that I have to manage are these boys which I don’t think would be a harder task as compared to before.

“Are you sure? You already did the cooking so you shouldn’t do the cleaning anymore,” Fire turned down my offer. I know for sure that they know nothing about household chores so I insisted.

“Yes, I do the cooking. Yes, I do the cleaning,” I jokingly answered singing part of David Guetta’s song. I felt so relieved when they laughed at my joke because I thought it was corny. “I can manage,” I added.

“Thank you so much, Hell. Follow us at the living room after,” Fire said and I nodded my head before they leave the dining area.

I immediately washed the dishes once they’re gone and after making sure that everything was cleaned, I followed them at the living area and watched their game.

“I only have seven left,” Fire boasted at Wind and showed him his cards. He acted like he was supposed to put powder on Wind’s face already but Wind dropped his cards to show them.

“Not so fast, Fire,” Wind confidently stopped Fire as he showed him his cards.

“I thought I won’t lose this time,” Fire complained as he gets a powder applied on his face by Leaf and Wind.

I sat at the sofa just behind Fire to understand what they are doing. I really don’t have any idea on these card games because I grew up not having anyone to play with.

“You want to play with us?” Leaf asked me. Maybe he noticed how intrigued I was while looking at the cards and thought that I might want to play with them.

“I don’t know how to play that,” I admitted.

“I’ll teach you. Sit beside me,” Fire offered. Thinking that I’d be staying with them for a long time makes me feel like I need to learn how to play their games.

“Sure,” I agreed.

Fire taught me how to play that game. The game’s rule is that you must compose a minimum of three cards which either have similar numbers on it or straights with similar symbols on it. A player must pick a card from the deck placed at the center of the players or pick the ones thrown at him by another player. The player must also throw a card that he thinks won’t be a needed card based on his set of cards at the end of his turn. Once a player finishes all of his cards, it would be game over. At the end of the game, the player with the highest count from his cards loses the match.

Fire guided me every single turn and I really enjoyed playing the game especially it’s with them. Nobody finished his set of cards at the end of our game so we checked who got the highest count among all of us.

“Mine’s seventeen,” Leaf said and put down his cards.

“I have twelve,” I proudly said because I know that I didn’t lose that round.

“Two!” Wind proudly said which made Leaf the loser of this match.

Since he lost that round, Wind and I applied powder on his face. To make it more funny, we drew a line going down from his eyes to make it appear like a crying face because of losing.

“It’s better if we’ll have lipstick next time,” I suggested.

“Nice idea! I don’t usually lose so it’s not a big deal for me,” Wind agreed on my suggestion.

“If it’s more fun, I’ll agree,” Leaf said as he shuffles the cards.

“As if I have a choice now,” we laughed at Fire’s statement that time.

“Anyway, have you enrolled already?” Leaf asked me while he is still shuffling the cards.

“Maybe tomorrow,” I answered.

“I can’t join you tomorrow. I have something to do,” Fire said. I actually didn't expect anyone to join me but upon him saying that, I felt that I really need to be with someone tomorrow and it's just sad that he can't.

“Mom’s asking me to come over to our house tomorrow,” Leaf said which also meant that he can’t come with me.

“Same thing here. My brother’s expecting me tomorrow,” Wind then said which meant nobody’s coming with me. It’s sad but I guess I can manage alone.

“Maybe I can manage to enroll myself,” I replied. I have no other choice anyway.

Exactly as we talk about companionship, Heaven went out of his room and all of us looked at him as if he’s the only one left who can say yes.