It started with the doorbell.
Actually, three consecutive doorbells—one after another like it was a fiesta, followed by a series of "Ma'am, food delivery po."
Bella peeked out from the living room.
"Kuya… some milk tea just arrived…"
Then two more riders showed up.
"Pizza," said one.
"Seafood bucket," said the second—sweaty, holding a two-liter bottle of soda.
From the kitchen, Gesly slowly turned around, spatula in hand. "We don't have guests, right?"
Bella blinked. "None…"
They both looked toward the living room, where Andi—in her home skirt, loose tank top, messy bun, and cheek tint (yes, even at home!)—was completely unbothered, scrolling through her phone while fanning herself with her floral abaniko.
She didn't even look up when she said, "Oh, perfect timing. Let's eat."
Bella eyed the seafood bucket being opened. There were crabs. Shrimp. Mussels. Garlic butter that looked criminally oily.
"Ate, what's going on?!" Gesly now stood with his hands on his hips like a market tita.
"What? I just want to eat," Andi said calmly, pouring herself a glass of soda like this was perfectly normal.
"Since when do you want three different dishes at once?! And Jollibee too?!" Gesly opened the box. "How many Chickenjoys are these—twelve?!"
Bella was already halfway through her milk tea. "Ate… are you pregnant?"
The room went silent. Even the crabs seemed to stop sizzling in the foil.
Andi froze mid-bite. "EXCUSE ME?!"
"I mean… isn't that what cravings are? TikTok says if you suddenly get hungry for no reason and want weird combos, maybe—"
"BELLA!"
Gesly pointed dramatically. "Ate, when was your last period? Something going on with Alonzo?!"
Andi almost threw her abaniko at both of them. "I DO NOT HAVE A BABY! AND THERE'S NOTHING GOING ON! I'M JUST HAVING CRAVINGS! I'M HUMAN!"
"Well, you could've just said it was stress eating so we didn't almost have a heart attack," Gesly grumbled, stealing a slice of pepperoni.
Andi flopped dramatically onto the couch, plate resting on her stomach. "Calculus is stressful. My crush is making me giddy. Cramps are painful. And being the eldest is exhausting. So yes—I want Chickenjoy, just let me, okay?"
Bella giggled and sat beside her. "Next time, say so right away, Ate. I thought you were getting married."
Gesly rolled his eyes. "I thought I was about to become a godfather already."
Andi lifted her abaniko and smacked them both. "You two talk too much. Just eat."
That night, they had the most chaotic family dinner: Bella with crab-covered hands, Gesly dancing with a Chickenjoy thigh, and Andi laughing despite the oil stain on her top and the ketchup on her cheek.
Cravings or not, one thing was clear: She wasn't pregnant. Just tired, stressed, a little in love… And deserving of every damn bite.
---
It all started with a call.
"Hello, is this Miss Andrea Navarro?"
"Yes, speaking."
"This is from the Guidance Office of San Rafael High School. Your brother, Gesly, was… involved in a riot. Could you come here as soon as possible?"
Pause. Deep breath. Then came the calm, sugar-sweet voice of a woman who wore long skirts and didn't flinch during family drama: "I'll be there in ten minutes. Kindly keep him alive."
Ten minutes later, a soft knock echoed in the Guidance Office.
The counselor looked up to see a young woman in a beige skirt, white blouse, kitten heels, and a small sling bag that looked secondhand but classy. Her hair was tied in a low bun, minimal makeup, and yes—she was fanning herself with a baby pink abaniko.
"Good afternoon," she greeted politely. "I'm Andrea Navarro. Gesly's sister. I believe you called me about a… geng geng?"
The counselor blinked. "You mean—gang war?"
Andi nodded, still smiling. "Yes. That thing."
Inside the room, slouched on a chair like a guilty cat caught stealing adobo, was Gesly Navarro. Slight bruise on his cheek, jacket half-zipped, school ID hanging crooked from being yanked mid-fight.
Beside him were three of his friends—one with a busted lip, one with a scraped elbow, and one casually eating fish crackers like it was just another Tuesday.
Andi entered like a breeze—elegant, soft-spoken, deadly.
She didn't raise her voice. Didn't even glare. She simply sat beside her brother, placed her abaniko on the table, and crossed her legs like a tita at a barangay meeting.
"Can you explain to me what happened, Mr. Counselor? I'd like to hear the official story before I… react."
The counselor cleared his throat. "Well, according to reports, there was an altercation between students behind the gym. Initially suspected to be gang-related, but after questioning, it appears to be a misunderstanding. Some students from another section thought Gesly belonged to a rival group. A punch was thrown and, well…"
He gestured toward the wounded crew before him. "They fought back. But it wasn't premeditated. Just retaliation."
Andi tilted her head. "So… my brother was punched, and he… punched back?"
"Yes."
"Noted."
After a few more formalities, verbal warnings, and a signed incident report, the boys were allowed to leave—with the usual "next time, there'll be suspension" warning.
They stepped into the empty hallway.
Then it happened.
"GESLY."
Her voice wasn't loud—but it cut like a blade. "If you're going to start a fight, at least don't get caught by Guidance?"
"Ate—"
"No. No explanations. Just stop right there. If you're going to act like G.I. Joe, you could've at least gone full gear—helmet, pads, an ID that doesn't fall off. Geng geng and yet you got punched? What part of that is tough?"
"Ate, I'm just saying—"
"What I'm saying," she snapped open her abaniko dramatically, "is if you're going to fight, don't get caught. Second, don't get into things you know nothing about. And third—WHAT THE HECK IS GENG GENG, GESLY?!"
The boys behind him were barely holding their laughter.
"Ate, they thought I was part of Junior's group. We just look alike. Someone punched me, so I just punched back."
Andi gave him a slow, deadly look.
"Good. At least you still know how to defend yourself. But next time, if you can't stop your punch, don't stop your brain either. Use both, understood?"
"Understood…"
"Good." She smiled sweetly again, closing her abaniko gracefully. "Have you boys eaten? You all look hungry."