HE can't believe it! He just confessed that he likes her and Frances passed out! Mabuti nalang at nasa likuran siya nito kaya madali niya lang nasalo ang katawan niya kagabi. Dylan sighed as she stared at Frances.

Nagbibihis ito at tinatali ang buhok. Parang wala lang ang sinabi niya sa babae. Today is Sunday and it was her off, ang inaakala niya na magkukulong silang dalawa sa bahay niya, naging bato bigla.

Frances have another plan and she want to spend her whole day with her niece, that little brat who happened to be his neighbor and called him whatever names.

"I promise, I'll sleep with you tonight okay? Don't sulk, Dy!" lumapit pa ito sa kanya at hinalikan ang pisngi.

Dylan wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him. He looks like a clingy boyfriend now. He doesn't mind at all, because his friends was like this when they we're with their wife. Even when they're on dating stage. He stilled.

We're not even dating.

Frances just asked him to impregnate her. Damn, he didn't know that liking someone will be this hard.

"Enjoy your day with that brat. Huwag ka magpatuyo ng pawis okay? Uuwi muna ako sa village namin, I'm just going to get something." probably to fish some information from his dear friend.

"Enjoy your day as well. Ingat ka."

Dylan smiled when she dipped her face and kissed his lips. The kind of kiss that he wanted.

"Bye." Frances waved her hand before leaving him alone in his room.

He got up and fixed himself. He wear his Grey hoodie and paired it with his ragged jeans, then he choose to wear a sleepers. Tinatamad siyang magsuot ng sapatos. He walks towards his side table and choose a very nice ring that'll fit in his outfit for today. He sighed as he wear his necklace and earring in his left ear.

Sumilip muna siya sa veranda niya para tignan kung ano na ang ginagawa ng dalawa. The little brat is still wearing the necklace he gave, wala sa sarili na napangiti si Dylan. She really took a really good care of it. They're playing hide and seek. Clearly, alam ni Frances kung saan nakatago ang bata pero nagkukunwari ito na hindi niya nakikita.

"She's behind the tree." he spoke and spoil the fun.

Agad sumimangot ang bata at tinitigan siya ng masama, he just raised her eyebrows and looked down at her.

"I won't let Tita sleep in your house anymore! Mr. Gangster!" the fuck?!

"Forget it, she's not behind the tree." agad na bawi nito sa sinabi niya kanina.

Tinignan niya si Frances. Kagat kagat nito ang labi at halatang nagpipigil ng tawa sa kanya. Ilang minuto palang itong nasa labas nadumihan na agad ang suot nito. Her hair is now messed up.

"Take a bath after." parang bata niyang binilinan si Frances. She just nodded and did a flying kiss. He shake his head as he stifle a smile.

Nang makarating siya sa loob ng Lust community, Dylan was expecting to have a talk with his friend, not with their wife and fiance.

"You look like you don't want us here." Shawn looked at him boredly. "Make it faster, Dylan. I want my Esel." Dylan sighed and remind his self that Shawn is pregnant and moody as fuck!

"It's okay if you take your time, nag breast pump naman ako. Alam na ni Kyst ang gagawin sa kambal namin." Angelyn flashed her angelic smile.

"I'm watching. Hindi na ako makakanood mamaya since I have to sew her gown." Alistair's fiance, Sakkiyuri said.

"Just talk, Dy." Isabella crossed her arms.

Huminga muna siya ng malalim. "Paano kayo niligawan ng mga tarantado kong kaibigan?"

Shawn raised her hand and talk. "Pinikot ko si Esel. Basically, walang ligawan na naganap." she answered simply.

"If my memory serves right, he said he'll court me but... I said yes in instant. Masyado ata akong naging easy to get noon?" bahagya pang napangiwi ito. Dylan was just looking at them.

"Hindi ka easy to get, Angelyn. Masyado lang talagang gwapo si Kyst. Kahit sino naman bibigay!" Shawn said and laugh.

"Alistair cornered me and ask me to date him." Sakki said and rolled her eyes.

"No dating stage. He impregnate me without a label, kaya nga nasuntok ni Daddy." Isabella said.

"Damn, kaya pala ipinasa ako sa inyo kasi puro katarantaduhan ang lang ang ginawa sa inyo." he sighed.

"If it's a girl, and you want to court her. We'll try our best to help you." Isabella offered pero agad na nag-iwas ng tingin ang dalawa. Shawn and Sakki.

"I'm out, I'm sorry. Busy sa gown e." Sakki looked at him with apologetic eyes. Ngumiti lang si Dylan sa dalawa.

"Hmm... kung manliligaw ka, make sure na alam mo ang gusto niya. Hindi yung bigay ka lang ng bigay. Mamaya bigyan mo ng bulaklak, pero hindi naman pala niya 'yon trip edi nganga ka lang sa huli!" Shawn said, tumayo na ito at naglakad na papunta sa asawa.

"I'll agree with her. Hindi lahat ng babae mahilig sa materyal na bagay, do something for her that requires a effort. For sure she'll appreciate that." Angelyn smiled at him.

"Give her some anime merch." Nagtaas baba ang kilay nito sa kanya.

"I don't think she's a fan of anime." Dylan answered.

Hindi pa niya nakita ni minsan si Frances na nanood ng TV. She's a workaholic person, a perfect opposite of him.

"Aww! Too bad, I'm planning to go back to Japan after Shawn's wedding. Oh well, I hope I'll meet her." Sakki beamed.

"I'll try to bring her here as soon as possible."

"Hey, tapos na ba? Kukunin ko na ang asawa ko." Kyst interject. He just nodded his head. "Can you walk? Baka bumukas yung tahi mo?"

Dylan was silently watching his friend. Observing how Kyst take care of his wife.

"Getting ready, bud?" umangat ang tingin ni Dylan kay Jyrelle na tinapik ang balikat niya. Jyrelle is carrying his daughter, Ayze.

"Yeah." he simply answered.

Hindi niya alam ang plano ni Frances pagkatapos nitong makuha ang gusto nito. But Dylan have a different plan. A good one.

HINIHINGAL na si Frances pero patuloy pa rin siya sa pagtakbo, nakasunod sa kanya Grecxa. Kasama ang mga kalaro nito. They are trying to catch her and if they did, ililibri niya ang mga ito ng dirty ice cream.

"Come on, Kids! Ililibri ko nalang kayo!" she shouted.

"Just keep on running, Tita! Don't slow down! We're so close!" sigaw pabalik sa kanya ng makulit niyang pamangkin, kanina pa sila tumatakbo at hindi namalayan ni Frances na malapit na sila sa highway.

She stopped running and let the Kids catch her, mahirap na.

"Okay! That's enough, let's go back? This place is not safe for kids like you." she said. Inakay niya ang mga bata na kasama.

"Tita, Zhaza can't walk. She's having a hard time." umiiyak na sabi sa kanya ng isang bata na kalaro ni Grecxa.

"Buhatin ko nalang." pinisil niya sa pisngi ang bata at binuhat ang isa.

Pinauna niyang maglakad ang mga bata para masubaybayan niya ang mga ito. The little girl is now sleeping. Nakasubsob ang mukha nito sa may leeg niya. Malapit na sila sa mama na nagtitinda ng dirty ice cream, he was waiting patiently for them. Kanina pa dapat ito aalis pero nakiusap ang mga bata na hintayin silang makabalik dahil sa challenge na pinangunahan ng magaling niyang pamangkin.

"Paki bigyan nalang po sila, kukunin ko lang ang wallet ko sa loob." tumango lang sa kanya ang matanda.

Hindi niya mabitawan ang bata na karga karga niya kaya nakisuyo nalang muna siya sa kasambahay ng Kuya niya na ito na muna ang magbayad. Mabuti nalang at may extrang pera ito.

"Mamsh!"

Mabilis na lumingon si Frances nang marinig ang boses ni Kiel. She smiled at him and didn't bother to give him a hug. Masyadong maarte ang kaibigan niya para yumakap sa kanya na amoy araw dahil mag hapon na naglaro kasama ang mga mata.

"Mamsh! Ang poise nawala na!" eskahaderang sabi nito habang pinupunasan ang pawis na namumuo sa noo niya gamit ang panyo nito.

"What brings you here, Kiel?" mahinahon na tanong niya sa kaibigan. She even offered a Ice cream, pero tumanggi ito.

"I'm bored and I want to see Papsh Dylan!" malanding bulong nito sa kanya.

Kung wala lang hawak na bata si Frances malamang ay nabatukan na niya ang kaibigan.

"Hindi ko naman aagawin sayo mamsh! Huwag ka ng sumimangot dyan, at isa pa! Hindi 'yon magpapaagaw okie?"

Umirap lang si Frances sa kaibigan at nagpatulong na iuwi sa kanya kanyang bahay ang mga kalaro ni Grecxa, it's nearing lunch and they have to eat then sleep after.

Nang makarating sila sa bahay ng Kuya niya, pinauna muna niyang paliguan si Grecxa bago siya. Then, they eat together with Kiel and let Grecxa sleep. Pagod na pagod ito kaya nakatulog kaagad.

"May laman na ba?" tanong bigla ni Kiel habang hinahaplos ang tiyan niya.

"Hindi ko pa na check. Naka schedule ako next week sa Ob ko for check up." she answered.

"Sana meron na." Kiel said. He looks bothered.

"Okay ka lang?" tanong niya rito.

Mukha itong kulang sa tulog, ngayon lang napansin ni Frances ang nangingitim na eyebags nito. He was hiding it behind the concealer.

"Kailangan ko na bang umuwi sa unit natin para hindi ka na makalabas sa gabi? Dahan dahan sa pag pa-party Kiel." sermon niya rito at bahagyang hinila ang buhok.

"Mamsh! Sayang naman ang ganda kung hindi irarampa!" maarte nitong hinawi ang imaginary long hair kuno nito.

Hindi agad umalis si Kiel, nakipag kwentuhan muna ito sa kanya at ininform na din kung ano na ang nangyayari sa business na magkasosyo silang dalawa. Sa loob ng ilang oras na magkasama sila, nakuha na nilang nag brain storm and do a research for their new business venture. A milk tea house lalo na at kinaaadikan ito ng mga tao ngayon.

At first, hindi sila magkasundo. She wanted to Franchise, at least kilala na ang pangalan. But Kiel was insisting to create their own recipe para at least bago sa panlasa ng mga tao. In the end nanalo din ang kaibigan niya, lalo na ng ibida nito ang kakilala na masarap magtimpla ng milktea. Ito na raw ang bahala na mangumbinsi na makisosyo sa kanila.

"Grecxa, enough with sweets." kinuha niya ang hawak na chocolate nito at agad na ipinasubo kay Kiel.

"Sa akin talaga?" reklamo ni Kiel.

"Kanina mo pa tinitignan e," she reasoned.

"Papa!" agad na bumaba sa kandungan niya si Grecxa at tumakbo para salubingin ang Kuya niya sa may pintuan.

Her brother smiled and kissed his daughter forehead, binitawan muna niya ang mga gamit na dala bago kinarga ang anak. Frances can't help but to think of Dylan. What kind of Father he will be in the future?

"Oh? Nandito ka pa? Kaya pala hinahanap ka nung isa." Kumunot ang noo niya sa kapatid. Her brother, France, shake his head and pointed the window. "Hinahanap ka ni Dylan. Tell him, we're going to talk. I'm finally having a one week vacation. Papa is all yours, Grecxa!"

Nag-umpisa na magtitili ang pamangkin niya at nag plano kung saan ito pupunta at kung ano ang gagawin nilang magtatay sa isang linggong off duty ng kapatid niya. He deserves it. Palagi itong pagod at palagi ding nasa presinto.

"Umuwi ka na hoy! Ako din uuwi na." Tinapik ni Kiel ang binti niya at nag paalam na sa kuya niya.

"I won't invite you to have dinner here, uwian mo na lalaking 'yon." utos sa kanya ng kuya niya.

Frances chuckled and give her brother a pecked of kiss in his cheek before leaving and walk straight to Dylan's house.

"Hi Dylan!" she cheerfully beamed.

Naestatwa si Frances sa kinakatayuan niya nang makita ang ayos ng sala. Wala naman itong pinagbago, except that there's a picnic blanket on the floor with a lot of different foods, na ni minsan sa buhay niya ay hindi pa niya natikman o nakita. Then there's Dylan standing on the side, holding a one stem of White rose. Looking good and awkward at the same time.

"Welcome home, baby."