A jealous friend

"Mom, get that for me!" Toto pointed at a strawberry cone. "And that one also." She pointed at a chocolate cone. "And that one too!" She pointed at a vanilla cone.

"Okay, I will get them all for you." Kon found a table. "Sit here and wait for me."

Scorpion refused to enter the fast food with them. He preferred to stay out and keep watch against any danger.

"I'm waiting!" She joined her hands on the table and watched as Kon hurried to get her orders.

"Mind if I sit here with you?"

At the sound of the somewhat familiar voice, Toto glanced up.

"Uncle Lin!" She widened her eyes at the person she never knew she would meet again someday.

"Can I sit?" He grinned.

"Of course!" She pointed at the chair opposite her. "My mom went to get my ice cream for me." She provided before Lin could ask anything.

"Oh." He nodded, pretending as if he weren't aware of that already. "I will wait for him here, then."

"No problem." She picked up the menu on the table and started leafing through it.

"Where is your dad? Is he with you?" Lin asked, though he knew they came with Scorpion, who was currently on the lookout outside.

"No." She shook her head. "My dad didn't come with us. He's at home." She didn't look up at him as she busily glanced at the ice cream cones on the menu.

"Hmm." Lin nodded without a word.

Kon paid for the ice cream cones he got and turned, only to see Toto sitting with a man.

He hurried over to the table, only to notice that the stranger was none other than his best friend.

"Lin." He dropped the tray on the table. "Fancy meeting you here." He slowly sat on a chair next to him.

"I saw your daughter over here, so I came to say hello." Lin smiled, showing off his light dimple.

"Mom, are these for me?" Toto widened her eyes at the sight of the ice cream cones.

She licked her lips.

"Yes. Those were the ones you wanted, right?" Kon raised a brow.

"Yes! Thank you so much, Mom!" She brought the tray closer to her. "Thank you!" she said before she started with the chocolate.

"Slow down. You might get a brain freeze," he warned when she took a large scoop of the ice cream.

"No, I won't," she licked her lips.

"You better not." Kon turned to Lin. "So, what are you doing over here? Came to get ice cream?"

"Yeah." Lin slowly nodded. "I came to get an ice cream."

"Hmm." Kon nodded. "So, how have you been? Still getting bullied by that gang?" He raised a brow in question.

"Nah." Lin chuckled. "I'm no longer bullied." He placed his right palm on the table and turned to face Kon. "It has been long, Kon."

"Yeah." Kon nodded. "With your disappearance and the deal with the devil, we have grown apart."

"Why?" Lin tapped his index finger on the table.

Kon shrugged. "You disappeared on me, that's why."

Toto licked her ice cream without paying any attention to them.

Had it not been for her ice cream, she would have run out to tell Scorpion of the man speaking with her mum.

The ice cream was the only thing keeping her there.

"I didn't ghost on you because I wanted to." Lin placed his right palm over Kon's left one on the table. "Let's go back to how we were before, Kon."

Toto raised a brow but didn't say a word. She stored the information for when she would need it.

Kon nodded. "I've missed you, Lin."

"I've missed you too," Lin grinned.

Both said the same words but with different meanings.

To Kon, he meant them as friends, but to Lin, it was more than that.

"So, where are you schooling? You transferred schools, right?" Kon frowned.

"Yes." Lin nodded. "I failed to tell you this, but my father came back for me."

"Your father? I thought he was—"

"Dead?" Lin scoffed. "I meant my biological father. He came back for me."

"And your mum?"

Lin shook his head. "My father only came for me."

"But what of your mother? Did you abandon her because your father appeared?"

"No, she's well taken care of." Lin sighed. "Enough of me, Kon. I want to know what you have been up to these past months."

"Nothing." Kon shrugged. "I've been taking care of Osy's daughter and paying off my debts."

"By sleeping with him?" Lin clenched his jaw.

"What do you mean by that?" Kon narrowed his eyes at Lin.

"Osy." Lin clenched his fists. "You are sleeping with him to pay off your debts, aren't you?"

"What choice do I have?" Kon narrowed his eyes to slits. "If you are here to judge me for what I'm doing, then I suggest you leave. I have nothing—"

"It hasn't gotten to that extent, Kon. I'm sorry." He immediately apologised. "I was only looking out for you."

"I'm glad you are doing that, but you don't need to make me feel pathetic." Kon glanced down, feeling embarrassed.

"I'm not making you feel pathetic. You know, I will gladly help you if you ask. I won't—" Lin started to say, but Kon cut his words off.

"I don't need your help, Lin."

"But you have always helped me in the past. I wish to do the same." Lin begged.

"It's not the same thing," he shook his head. "The amount of money to be paid is too much. I can't bear to take that from you."

"But we are friends. I won't mind helping you out."

"But I will." Kon forced a smile. "As I said, there are only a few months remaining until my debts are paid off."

"You will keep sleeping with him until those months are completed?" Lin narrowed his eyes.

"If that's what I'm going to do, then I will do that." Kon forced a grin. "I've gone through the other months in one piece. The remaining won't be all that difficult."

"Then, can you please do me a favour?" Lin pressed.

"What is it?"