The sun blazed high above the resort, casting golden hues over polished marble floors and wine-glass clinks. Jack leaned back in his chair, brow raised as he processed the chaos just spilled across the table.
"So, you're telling me everyone here wants Vicky involved? Damn... this is mysteriously perfect," he muttered, half-amused.
Kuku chuckled, fanning herself gently. "It's good. They'll have to get through this awkward phase together."
"I don't have any relationship with Necro," Nathan snapped, his jaw tight. "And I never will."
Vicky blinked. "So, Kuku… does that mean I'm hosting the event?"
"No," Nathan interjected quickly.
"Yes," Kuku corrected with a sly smile. "You have the event."
Nathan groaned. "Kuku, I don't want her evil eye hovering over my marriage like a hawk on a corpse."
Vicky, unfazed, leaned in closer to him, her gaze sharp and mischievous. She squinted, inspecting his face.
"What are you doing now?" Nathan asked, squirming under her stare.
"Planting my evil eye, of course," Vicky said with a mock-sweet smile. "Right, Grandma? If I can't start my evil-eye intentions now, where else would I begin?"
Grandma burst into laughter. "Deal finalized."
Vicky threw her arms around her in excitement—just in time to catch sight of a man lighting a cigarette and a group of women approaching with a candlelit birthday cake. She snapped her eyes back to Nathan, who was buried in his phone.
Instinct took over.
Without hesitation, she jumped from Kuku's side and slid into the seat directly across from Nathan, blocking his view. He glanced up, confused, then annoyed. He stood, but she mirrored him, subtly adjusting her body to shield his line of sight from the small flames.
"What now?" Nathan muttered. "You already got the event. What else do you want?"
"You don't seem happy about it," she replied, raising an eyebrow.
He forced a smile. "Ecstatic."
He turned on his heel and walked off.
"Bye, Grandma," Vicky called.
"Don't say bye, daughter. We will meet again," Kuku said warmly.
Vicky turned to her. "I'm sorry you had to witness our stupid fights."
"Stupid?" Kuku asked.
"Yeah. At first they stung—he came off rude and full of ego. But… after last night, I saw a side of him no one else sees."
Kuku leaned forward. "What happened last night?"
Vicky hesitated. "He had an—"
"Ah. The puppet of Necro arrives," she said as Ruben stepped into view.
Ruben sneered. "Nathan's losing it. I didn't know he met his worst nightmare."
"You know her?" Kuku asked.
"Oh, yeah," Ruben replied. "She's the one who humiliated Nathan."
Vicky folded her arms. "I should start respecting you both so you don't label me evil."
"You're not evil, my child," Kuku reassured. "It's just a misunderstanding. Besides… she's the planner now."
Ruben's phone buzzed—Nathan's call.
"He's waiting."
As they turned to leave, Kuku whispered, "I'll call you."
Later that day, Vicky arrived at the orphanage, her arms weighed down with takeaway boxes. The moment the children saw her, they ran out cheering.
"Vicky! We missed your melodies!" one of them cried.
"Okay, okay," she laughed, setting the food down. "But first—test papers. Let's see how smart you all are."
"We passed!" they shouted in unison.
"I want proof," she teased, sitting down as they gathered around with notebooks and half-eaten sandwiches.
"Vicky ma'am, I don't get this prime number thing," one child whined.
Another added, "I need help with homework!"
"Alright, alright. Let's solve it together." She smiled as she began teaching them.
In that moment, surrounded by laughter, she felt peace.
"No birthdays this week, right?" she asked.
"Nope," Helvi said. "And Father hasn't visited in days."
"He loves you," Vicky said softly. "He hasn't forgotten—he's just busy. When he returns, he'll bring you surprises."
"Is he your husband?" a little boy asked curiously.
"No," Vicky replied, chuckling. "He's just… a special friend."
"Tell him we miss him!"
"I will."
Later, Vicky approached the teacher at the front desk.
"You know him?" the teacher asked.
"Nah, just lied to the kids back there," she admitted with a laugh.
"You've adopted the orphanage like a mother… yet you haven't met the father?"
"Not yet," Vicky said. "But I will."
She returned to the children, her eyes sparkling.
"We have a secret mission," she whispered.
"What is it?" they chorused.
"We're planning a surprise engagement party."
"For who?"
"Someone who loves you too—and just might become your new friend."