I beckoned with my eyes and warned them to stay away from the door in case they got hurt. They promptly ignored me and continued indulging in their voyeurism. Noticing that he might never catch me, Colin gave up. He stood up and walked toward the kitchen with a stern face.
Since he was a lecturer at Jesselton College, Andrew, as a student, knew better than to disrespect his teacher. He rubbed his nose in embarrassment and dragged Queenie back to the stove. They resumed cooking.
After joking for a while, Colin sat next to me, unlocked his phone, and typed, "Happy Birthday. I'm busy today but I'll buy you a present. I heard the millefeuille from Lehalle is very good. I'll have it delivered to you."
After he typed the message, he showed me his phone with one brow raised, asking me if it was alright. I mulled. While it was satisfying to reject Jasmine categorically like that, it might be too harsh.
Colin knocked my head with his. "You idiot, now is not the time to be a saint. With people like her, you must stand your ground and make your stance clear. You must tell her no clearly or there'll be no end to it."
Then, he tapped the screen and sent the message. I patted my cheeks and reminded myself not to be too kind to others. Once breakfast was ready, Queenie asked us to gather at the dining table. Colin and I sat around the table. Between us was his phone. I liked how honest and open he was.
I took a mouthful of my oatmeal, and before I could have my first slice of fruit, a notification popped up on his phone. The red number next to Jasmine's profile picture continued to increase.
I lifted my head to look at Colin. He was having his oatmeal in an elegant fashion. Meeting my gaze, he uttered nonchalantly, "What's mine is yours. Deal with it as you see fit."
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