"She sure is taking her sweet time."
Angel muttered under her breath as she stood outside Maria's house.
It was already around 10 a.m., and naturally, the sun—once gracing Angel with a gentle warmth—had now cranked itself up to full blast.
For better or worse, Angel was sweating profusely.
At this rate, she feared her white button-up would get completely drenched... and make her bra show through!
Luckily, that wasn't the case...
yet.
Still waiting, Angel glanced around and crossed the street to a patch of shade. She leaned against a wall—anything to get away from the scorching sun.
She sighed, grabbing a lock of her hair from her shoulder and absentmindedly twirling it between her fingers.
「Come to think of it, I should probably learn how to style my hair.」
She pouted, still playing with her strands. It really was a shame. With hair like hers—long, silky, pure silver—it was basically a crime not to know how to style it.
"Did you wait long?"
"Kyahh!!"
Angel jumped. She'd been so caught up in her hair-twiddling she hadn't even noticed Maria had materialized in front of her—way too close for comfort!
Startled, Angel curled up like she'd just spotted a cockroach. Hands to her chest, leg slightly raised—it was a whole scene.
Maria grinned.
"'Kyah'? Pfft! That's so girly."
She straightened up, clearly enjoying herself.
"So... how's my fit?"
Right! Maria went to change clothes.
Angel cleared her throat, eyes flicking over Maria properly now.
And then—whoa.
Her eyes widened. Maria's usual long, flowing brown hair was now swept up into a neat little crown braid. The rest of her look? Peak girly. Soft pink long-sleeved crop top, brown skirt, plain black thigh-highs, and some cute flats to top it all off.
Angel couldn't look away.
"So?? How is it?"
Maria leaned in, repeating her question.
"You look... really pretty."
Angel's voice came out soft and small—it was honestly an understatement. She wanted to gush about the hair, the color combo, the vibe—but her shyness got the better of her.
Maria, however, beamed at the compliment.
"Really?? Thank you! Worth the wait, isn't it?"
She winked and gave Angel's shoulder a nudge.
"Yeah... it was."
Angel nodded, smiling a bit.
"So, where do you wanna go? You did ask me out, remember?"
Maria's gaze was expectant.
"I, uhm... also have no clue."
Angel laughed awkwardly, hand behind her head.
"Pfft—you asked me out and don't even know where we're going or eating?"
Maria chuckled.
"Well... I never thought it'd get this far."
Maria laughed again at that.
"You talk like I was gonna reject you or something. Is that what you thought? I'm hurttt~"
Maria feigned offense, teasingly dramatic.
"N-no! That's not what I meant!"
"It's fine~ I'm just teasing you. Since you are younger though... why don't you start calling me ate, hmm?"
Ate? …She's not wrong. So… why not?
"F-fine… Ate Maria?"
"Drop the Maria. Just call me Ate. 'Just Ate' is fine."
"Fine… Ate?"
"Yupp! That's fine."
Maria pulled Angel into a hug.
"You are sooo cute!! My cuteness aggression is actin' up—grrrr!"
"Ahh—shtopp, shtopp!"
Angel squirmed, trying to push her off—but Maria was way too strong. Guhh.
At this rate, all Angel could do was wait until Maria was satisfied hugging her..
It took 10 minutes..
Angel's clothes were all roughed up, her hair too.. it was like she'd been through a typhoon... was she really that cute? Like, she knows she's pretty but cute? hmm.. that's new
"I'm sorry about that, angel"
Maria said, leaning forward to be at the same eye level
"Hmp"
Angel looked away
"Aww don't be like that! come on, let's go eat outside okay? Since you don't know where we wanna eat, how about a restaurant hm?? I got like 500 pesos with me, how about you?"
Restaurant huh?
that sounds nice!
Angel grabbed her phone and took off its case and—No money..
she forgot to bring money, wait—did she even plan to eat out with Maria today?
Nope that wasn't the case! she just wanted to ask if and when Maria wanted to eat with her..
ACK!
she got so pressured she actually agreed to take someone out to eat—and she has no money!
"I uhmm"
Angel looked at Maria with a pale face
"Hmm? What's wrong? Are you okay?"
As if noticing the shift, Maria was starting to get concerned
"Well, I left my money at home.."
Angel said, scratching her cheek with her index finger
"I-I'll go back home to fetch some money"
Angel turned around, ready to leave, when Maria caught her hand
"Wait"
Angel turned back, eyes slightly wide
"Let this ate treat you"
Maria winked
"A-Are you sure? I don't want to burden you with that.."
Angel looked at Maria with slightly teary eyes, like a cute little kitten
"It's nothing~ As your ate, I should treat my childhood friend's little sister like my own, right?"
Maria said encouragingly, smiling at Angel
Right... Maria never had any siblings, and neither did Angel.
Maybe after finding out Joseph had been hiding the fact that he has a little sister, Maria wanted to get back at him... by spoiling Angel while he's "away"
That, in itself, was also kinda cute on her part...
Angel couldn't help but smile, cheeks slightly flushed
"I'll take you on that offer, ate.. salamat"
Angel looked at Maria with the sweetest smile
Maria looked back at her—and smiled too, her heart skipping a beat
『Your name really suits you well』