Hours had passed since Altair and Cassy had parted ways at the lounge after their memorable coffee chat. Now, Cassy found herself browsing through a department store at the mall, her mind a whirl of fabrics and designs.
 
Cassy's phone buzzed in her handbag. It was a message from her sister Star. "Sis, sorry for the tension last time. Are you out right now? Let me make it up to you and treat you to a café."
 
Cassy paused, considering the offer. Finally, she began to type. "No hard feelings, big sis. I'm already out."
 
While she was engrossed in a collection of sundresses, another message from Star flashed on her screen. "Let me treat you; I've got some money. Where are you? It'll just be the two of us."
 
Cassy hesitated for a moment, recalling past instances when "just the two of us" became a crowd. But finally, her innate kindness won out. "Sure, as long as it's only us two," she responded.
 
Star sent back an angel emoji. "Promise."
 
"Alright, I'm at Greenbelt 5," Cassy informed her sister.
 
Star would take at least an hour to reach Greenbelt 5, so Cassy immediately shifted to her group chat app.
 
"Guys, my sister's treating me to a café. She promises it'll be just us," Cassy relayed to her friends.
 
"Raising Code Level Alert from 5 to 3," Theresa immediately responded.
 
"Do a precautionary scan, Cass," Priscilla advised.
 
Cassy reached into her bag and pulled out a compact device that resembled a small remote. With a quick press of a button, it emitted two short beeps.
 
"Device scan complete. All information captured. No suspicious activity detected at the moment. Stay vigilant, Cassy. Perform another scan when you meet up with Star," Priscilla advised in the chat.
 
"Altair, where are you?" Theresa inquired.
 
"He's probably buying a new phone or getting his repaired," Cassy replied.
 
The chatroom went silent. Cassy pocketed her phone and took the opportunity to explore the mall further while she waited for her sister. She was drawn to a boutique showcasing the latest summer fashion. Her eyes roamed over the bold patterns and pastel shades, momentarily losing herself in the fabrics and textures.
 
Just then, another message popped up on her screen from Star. "Let's meet at the nearest Starbucks."
 
"Sure," Cassy responded.
 
Pocketing her phone, Cassy began navigating through the maze of shops and walkways toward the designated Starbucks. As she approached, she spotted Star standing alone by the entrance, her eyes scanning the crowd.
 
"Sis!" Cassy called out, her voice tinged with genuine excitement.
 
Star's face lit up at the sound of Cassy's voice. They closed the distance between them and embraced warmly.
 
"I've missed you, sister," Star whispered into Cassy's ear.
 
As they pulled apart from their hug, Star gestured toward the café. "Shall we go in?"
 
Cassy nodded, and the two sisters walked into the welcoming aroma of coffee and pastries.
"Go find us a seat, sis. I'll take care of the orders," Star said, making her way to the counter to reload her prepaid card.
 
Cassy scanned the café, noting a vacant table by the window. She settled in, appreciating the momentary solitude before Star joined her again.
 
"So, what are you in the mood for?" Star asked as she took a seat.
 
"Could I have a venti caramel macchiato?" Cassy said, framing her request as a question.
 
"Of course. And grab something to eat, too," Star encouraged.
 
"In that case, I'll go for the chocolate cake," Cassy decided.
 
"Excellent choice. Let me place the orders," Star said, rising from the table and making her way back to the counter. A few minutes later, she returned, anticipation lifting her features.
 
"Listen, Cassy, I need to apologize," Star began, her voice tinged with regret. "I never meant to be part of this whole pressure campaign. It's just that Mom has a way of making me feel obligated, especially since I'm not contributing financially to the household."
 
She paused to gather her thoughts before continuing, "But that doesn't excuse it. You should live your life on your own terms, and I genuinely believe you're smart enough to avoid the mistakes I've made."
 
Moved, Cassy leaned in to give her sister a hug. "Thank you, Star. I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier. I was just so frustrated."
 
"I get it, baby sis. I would've reacted the same way," Star assured her, just as her name was called out by the barista.
 
"But before I fetch our order, is there someone special in your life? You've been a bit mysterious lately," Star inquired, her eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and sisterly concern.
 
The question lingered in the air as Star stood up to collect their beverages and cake from the counter.
 
In the group chat, Cassy quickly typed out a message. "Guys, Star is probing about my love life. What should I do?"
 
"Where the heck is Altair when we need him?" Allaine fired back, tagging him in her message.
 
"Altair, you there?" echoed Priscilla, concern coloring her words.
 
"Hold on, this might be a golden opportunity. Go for it, Cassy. Tell her," Theresa suggested, invoking a Dungeons & Dragons term for seizing an advantageous moment.
 
"Thank you, sisters," Cassy replied before swiftly hiding her phone as Star returned, a tray laden with coffee and pastries in her hands.
 
Star set the tray on the table and resumed her seat, eyeing Cassy curiously. "So, back to that tantalizing topic. Is there someone who's captured your heart?"
 
Cassy hesitated for a brief second before responding. "Actually, there is." She paused to take a sip of her coffee, savoring both the flavor and the moment. "I met him at a finance seminar. He was the main speaker, and I was there to learn about investing."
 
Star's eyes widened, her interest visibly piqued. "You sly fox! Spill more details, come on!"
 
Cassy chuckled. "His name is Altair. He's 25, a financial consultant, and he's pretty tall—close to six feet, I think. He's incredibly kind, the epitome of a gentleman, and honestly, he's a real catch."
 
As the words left her mouth, Cassy marveled at how effortlessly she could talk about Altair. Why does it feel so natural to talk about him? Have I really gotten to know him that well already? she wondered in an inner monologue, recognizing the depth of her own feelings for the first time.
 
"He sounds like a keeper, and I wholeheartedly approve," Star declared, beaming at her sister. "Though I can already foresee Mom's objections."
 
Cassy sighed, aware of the challenges that lay ahead but buoyed by her sister's support.
 
"I understand they might have other plans for me, but Altair could be the one I actually need," Cassy said, weighing each word as if she were balancing scales.
 
Star locked eyes with Cassy, searching for something deeper. "You really are smitten, aren't you?"
 
Cassy looked puzzled. "What makes you say that?"
 
"Because when you speak about him, there's a certainty in your voice, a light in your eyes. You just look genuinely happy," Star elaborated.
 
"Do I?" Cassy mused, feeling a mix of relief and apprehension.
 
Is it that obvious? Do I express my emotions so transparently when I talk about Altair? And if so, why does that make me both ecstatic and nervous? Cassy pondered in an inner monologue.
 
"Look, as long as you're smart about this—which I know you will be—I support you. But you should know that Mom isn't backing down about Carlos. She's even crafting some sort of scheme," Star said cautiously. "Mom has warned me that if I take your side or assist you, she'll kick me out. And right now, I can't afford to lose my home."
 
Cassy's face twisted in concern. The last thing she wanted was for her sister, a stay-at-home mom without a current income, to be evicted.
 
"What should I do then?" Cassy asked, her voice tinged with desperation.
 
"Play along for now. If Mom sets up a date or a meeting, go. As long as it doesn't put you or your relationship with Altair at risk, it's worth it to keep the peace—for now," Star advised.
 
Cassy nodded solemnly. "I won't let you be thrown out, sis. I'll go along with Mom's plans, as long as they're harmless."
 
They hugged each other tightly, a moment of solidarity and warmth in the face of coming trials.
 
Just as they were absorbing the emotional weight of their conversation, both their phones buzzed simultaneously. It was a message from their mom: "Let's have a family dinner."
 
Star's face clouded with concern. "This could be a trap, Cassy."
 
Without a moment's hesitation, Cassy typed back, "Sure, where?"
 
"You really think this is a good idea?" Star questioned; her voice tinged with anxiety.
 
"It's just dinner. If they try to push Carlos on me again, let's just say he won't know what hit him," Cassy responded, her voice laced with a determination that left no room for doubt.
 
Just as she set her phone down, it buzzed again—twice. The first message was from her mom, confirming the dinner location: "We're heading to SM Makati with your dad." The second was from the group chat. It was Altair.
 
"Sorry for the delay. Just finished transferring stuff from my old phone to my new one. What's the situation, Cassy?" Altair inquired.
 
Quickly, Cassy shot back a message: "I'm with my sister right now. Mom's called for a family dinner later."
 
It took only a minute for Altair to respond: "I'll be there ASAP and will be on standby."
 
Cassy felt a sense of relief wash over her. With Altair in her corner, she felt she could face anything—even a family dinner that smelled like a set-up.
 
As she looked up to meet her sister's eyes, Cassy sensed the uncertainty and concern that lingered there. But for the first time in what felt like forever, she also felt empowered.
 
"Let's face this family dinner," Cassy said, "and whatever comes after, we'll face it together."