CALEB'S face darkened when he heard his relatives again talking shit about the woman who gave birth to him and Caliber, the woman he first love. It's early in the morning, pero ang tsismis kaagad ng mga ito ay paninira sa ina niya ang maririnig.

They have their own family, they should have their own houses and mind their own business rather than bulshitting his father.

"At least si Veronica kaya ko pang tiisin, pero si Rayleigh?" His aunt shake his head. "Hindi ko alam bakit 'yan ang pinakasalan ni Kaleb. Sa natatandaan ko e mas gusto din ni Tita si Veron."

His father was the only son of his grandfather and grandmother. Caleb learned that his father, Kaleb Dave used to be a wimpy kid. A physically frail kid. Kaya hindi na nasundan para mas mabigyan pa ng atensyon. That's when his Grandfather's closest relatives live in their house. Hanggang sa lumaki ang ama niya, mamatay ang mga auntie at uncle nito, at pumalit ang mga pinsan ng ama niya.

"Because Rayleigh came into the picture. Hindi ko nga alam bakit sila naghiwalay, iyak ng iyak si Veron sa akin noon." Said one of his aunt.

Umangat ang kilay ni Caleb. Damn the past. Bakit hindi nalang mamayapa at mag stay doon?

Of course, Caleb knows what happened to his father and Avis mother. Noon pa man ay 'yon na talaga ang problema nilang dalawa ni Avis. Her mother doesn't like her because he's the son of his ex boyfriend, who broke up with her and made her cry. Avis mother, Veronica, accused his father a cheater and she labeled him like that just because he's the son.

But her accusations was now truth.

"Caleb!" Her Aunt stood up when he saw him walking down the stairs. Carrying a suit case in his left hand and thick books in his right hand.

He sneered and looked at them with disgust. "Let me heard you again talking shit about my mother, I'll throw all your things outside this fucking house. I don't care if you all our relatives. I won't allow someone who's been camping here for a long time to bad mouth my mother." He said looking down at them. They should know their place. "Don't ever questioned my mother. Baka nakakalimutan niyo na nakikitira lang kayo sa amin." He said his final blow and left.

This is why he hated going home before, he always heard unnecessary words from their mouths. Caleb wonders how Caliber stand them.

When he reached the hospital, nakangiwi siyang binati ng guard, even the nurses. Must be because of his face. His not in the mood because of what happened early in the morning, and what made Caleb's irritated more was when his brother walk beside him.

"Heard you disrespect our aunt's?" Nakangising tanong nito sa kanya. Caleb sighed and shrugged.

"They disrespect our mother, Kuya." He replied shortly.

For Caleb, if someone disrespect him or his family and people who's to dear for him. Then that 'someone' doesn't deserve to be respected by him.

"This is why our mother loves you more than me," Caliber smile playfully. "Keep doing that, malay mo umalis na sila sa bahay. Para naman makapagpahinga na ako ng matiwasay! Toxic ang duty ko, I deserve a rest! I deserve my soft and warm bed, 'yung tahimik na bahay at walang maingay!"

Caleb raised his brow. "Bakit hindi ka bumili ng bahay mo kung ganoon?" Sarkastikong tanong niya sa kapatid.

"I'm broke?" Caliber answered him with a question. Caleb looked at his brother flatly. "Just kidding, of course I have money. Itatali ko muna ang girlfriend ko bago ako bumili ng bahay." Caliber said and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Bakit kailangan muna nang asawa bago bumili ng bahay?" He asked.

"Hindi mo alam 'yon kasi wala ka naman itatali." Nakangising sagot nito sa kanya. Caleb forehead crease and immediately thought of his ex girlfriend. "Napaka choosy mo sa babae. Wala na akong mairereto sayo, but since I always see you hanging out with your dear ex girlfriend. I guess I don't have a choice. Okay lang naman sa akin kung mauna kang magpakasal." He said and tapped his shoulder.

Marriage. Caleb stilled at the thought of marrying Avis. There should be 'love' if you marry someone. He unconsciously raised his hand and balled into fist, felt his heart beating insanely fast again, his lips were trembling and his mind was wandering somewhere else, just thinking of Avis wearing a gown and walking down the isle towards him was enough to drive Caleb's insane.

Am I in a deep trouble again? He asked himself.

"Hey? You're spacing out, ayos ka lang ba? Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo? Kanina ka pa iniwan ng magaling mong kapatid dito, akala ko aalis ka na. But it's been what? Ahm... I think 10 minutes? You stay rooted in your place."

Bumalik sa katinuan si Caleb nang marinig ang boses ni Avis. Iginala niya ang paningin niya, wala na ang kapatid niya sa tabi.

"Caleb? Dalhin na ba kita sa Emergency room?" Avis asked again. Worried flash through her eyes. Even her beautiful face says it all, that she's worried about him.

Caleb side lips rosed up a little, he raised his hand and reached her cheek to caressed it. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Just thinking of something. Did you already have your breakfast?" He asked. Doon niya lang na realize kung bakit siya nagtanong.

He was too stunned and Avis looked the same. Her eyes widened and quickly averted her gazed. Pero nang tumingin ulit ito sa kanya, bahagya nang namumula ang pisngi at kagat kagat nito ang pang-ibabang labi.

"Hindi pa. Lalabas palang sana ako para mag-almusal sa coffee shop diyan sa malapit, wala pa si Julian e." She answered.

"Come with me. Let's have breakfast together."

MARIIN ANG ginagawang pagkagat ni Avis sa labi niya para pigilan kumawala ang ngiti sa labi niya. She's not dreaming. Since she started working at Carson's hospital, never pa siyang inaya na mag-almusal ni Caleb. Hindi counted ang mga almusal na nangyari sa loob ng unit, because she initiated it.

"Thank you," she said when he placed the plate in front of her and one cup of coffee. "Their tarts really taste good!" Avis can't help but to close her eyes while eating the tart.

"I'll buy you a dozen later." Caleb said and sipped on his drink. He was too focus on his phone, scrolling.

Kumuha siya ng isang tart at iniumang sa bibig nito. "Caleb," tawag niya sa pangalan nito.

Caleb didn't bother to look at her, he just moved his face a little and open his mouth to eat the tart. Yumuko si Avis para itago ang ngiti sa labi, this feels like the old times. Kapag busy ang isa sa kanila, pinapakain nila ang isa't isa.

"I brought the bag." Caleb dropped his phone and started to eat on his own.

"What bag?" Nakakunot ang noo na tanong niya.

"Yung binili ni Mama pero pera ko ang ginastos." He said dryly. "Nasa sasakyan ko, daanan nalang natin mamaya."

Tumango lang siya. She doesn't need a new one, but she's thankful. Hindi niya naisip na bumili ng mga mamahalin na gamit ngayon dahil may pinag-iipunan siya, she'll probably used the bag!

"I need to call her later and say 'thank you'!" She chirped. "May bagong bag na ako na gagamitin."

"You should thank me instead, that's my money." Caleb dryly said. Matiim itong nakatingin sa kanya.

"Yes, it was your money. Pero si Tita ang bumili?" Pang-aasar niya rito.

"Still, it was my money. I think I deserve a 'thanks' from you too," pamimilit nito. Maarte pa siya nitong inirapan.

Avis chuckled. "Bring your face closer, Caleb."

Caleb raised his brows. Inilapit nito ang mukha sa kanya. Avis gazed dropped on his lips, those tasty and sinful lips. She loves it when his lips touches hers. She loves it when his lips kisses her body like it was his. She loves everything that Caleb's sinful lips do.

"If you're going to kiss me... I want it deep and with tongue."

Avis shivered when she heard her husky and deep baritone voice, he was only using that kind of voice when they're in bed. Naked. And enjoying each others body.

She smirked and pushed his forehead. "Then, I'll kiss you later." Avis clicked her tongue.

"Fine with me. I'll sleep in your unit anyways,"

"Sleep? Sigurado ka ba na patutulugin mo ako Caleb?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong niya rito. Even, she, doubt his words.

"Let's see..." Caleb answered and licked his lower lip.

Pinigilan ni Avis ang sarili na sundan ang dila nito at ipinaalala na nasa publikong lugar silang dalawa para hindi ito masunggaban. She intend to do things that she'll probably regret after. Proven and tested na niya 'yon.

After having breakfast together, dumaan muna sila sa parking lot para kunin ang bag na binili ng Mama ni Caleb pa sa kanya. She was smiling from ear to ear, she can afford it but her mind and wallet says 'NO'. Avis wants a car, then she'll get a car. Masyado nang makaluma ang sasakyan na gamit niya!

"Sumabay ka na sa akin mamaya. Umakyat ka nalang sa office ko kung wala ka ng gagawin." Caleb said when they're now in front of her room.

Tumango lang siya bilang sagot. Again, she was taken a back when Caleb kissed her lips quickly then leave.

"Doc! May manganganak kang pasyente ngayon, nasa delivery room na ikaw nalang ang wala!" Nagpapanic na salubong sa kanya ni Julian.

Guess she really need to thank Caleb for giving his mother the money to buy her bag and for filling up her stomach!

"Itabi mo 'yan!" Ibinigay niya kay Julian ang paper bag at tumakbo papuntang Delivery room para makapag ayos.

"I'M TELLING you Caleb! Take a vacation! Ang Kuya Caliber mo, last month nagpuntang California para dalawin ang girlfriend niya. It's not that you have a lot of patients, ilang oras lang naman ang clinic mo. Your Father is worried about you and so am I!"

Caleb massage his temple and inhaled a large amount of air. His mother was at it again. Convincing him nonstop to rest and have a vacation, hindi pa sapat rito na natutulog na siya kahit papaano ng maayos. A big thanks to his ex girlfriend, Avis.

"Ma? I'm busy, I have a clinic in the morning. Meetings after meeting in the afternoon and dealing with papers and my studies in the evening. Was it not enough that I'm having a good night sleep?" Reklamo niya rito.

"No? Besides, your father is now happy and stress free kaya naghahanap ito ng pagkakaabalahan. He's too tired listening to his relatives whines." Rayleigh rolled her eyes.

"Stress free? Ang daming stress sa bahay." Dahilan niya.

Her mother shake her head. "Caleb, trust me when I say hindi na stress ang Papa mo sa mga 'yon. Mas na i-stress ang isang 'yon noong kaliwa't kanan ang pambababae mo! Buti nga at tumigil na kabalbalan mo, kung hindi itatakwil ka na ng papa mo!" Masama ang tingin na ipinukol ng Mama niya sa kanya.

"If I'm going to have a vacation, let's say for a week? Saan naman ako pupunta?" He asked flatly.

The reason why he's not taking a vacation, hindi niya alam kung saan siya pupunta. He doesn't want to rest his mind, or else he's going to think of that 'someone' waiting on the finish line.

His mother shrugged amd smile innocently. "Malay ko sayo!"

"Ma, wala akong lugar na gustong puntahan." Naiiritang saad niya.

Her mother smiled at him. And He. Doesn't like it.

Her eyes were sparkling, kung pwede lang na may lumitaw na light bulb sa ulo nito, lilitaw 'yon agad agad. He sighed and waited patiently for his mother suggestion.

"Ma?" Tawag niya sa pansin nito.

His mother leaned her elbows against the table and rest her chin on her hands.

"Why don't you spend your one whole week with Avis?"

"Not possible. I saw her parents last time." He answered quickly.

"Ohh, Veronica is home! Don't worry about her, ako ang bahala sa future wicked witch mother in law mo." Caliber scoffed at his mother. Now that Avis mother was here, sigurado na limitado na naman ang galaw niya.

"You're worried." Pansin ng mama niya. She smiled sweetly at him, the kind of smile that scares his father and older brother. Don't be, I can handle Veronica. Trust me okay? Spend time with my baby Avis, we have a rest house in Cebu, pwede naman na doon lang kayo. Consider it as an early honeymoon?"

Caleb eyes rolled and his side lips curled up.

"Early honeymoon it is."

-*-

a/n: yep, update.