That night was too good to be true, so I was a bit skeptical when I woke up the next morning. Naisip ko, baka nag-iilusyon lang ako sa sobrang tagal ko nang single.

However, the person who appeared by my doorstep proved that last night was actually real. I didn't expect Sir Lars to go to my apartment at this hour, when the sun has just begun to rise!

"Good morning." swabe niyang bati at niyapos ako. Hinalikan ako ni Sir Lars sa ulo. "Did you sleep well?"

Sa halip na sumagot ay ipinulupot ko ang mga braso ko sa bewang niya. Totoo ba talaga 'to? Kung panaginip lang ang lahat ng 'to, huwag niyo na akong gisingin. Dito na lang ako.

Sir Lars caressed my head while I was still enclosed in his arms. "I brought some food. Let's eat breakfast together."

I invited my boyfriend inside my apartment. I still can't believe that we started dating last night. The truth is, Sir Lars asked permission for him to court me, but I refused.

It was a waste of time for me. We already like each other, so I'd rather spend our time doing things together than receiving things from him one-sidedly. Some people may think that I'm being too easy, but I really don't like the idea of waiting needlessly.

I like him so much that I can't wait for us to be together. I just want us to be happy in each other's company.

"Ikaw nagluto?" gulat kong tanong habang hinahanda ni Sir Lars sa mesa ang mga pagkaing dala niya.

"Yup. I woke up too early and I had nothing else to do, so I thought of cooking for you." paliwanag niya at muling hinimas ang ulo ko. "I hope it suits your taste."

Akala ko uupo siya sa harapan ko, pero nakaramdam ako ng nerbyos nang tabihan ako ni Sir Lars. Nahihiya ko siyang nilingon.

I laughed awkwardly. "Kain na tayo?"

"Hmm." Instead of focusing on his plate, Sir Lars wrapped his arms around my shoulders and snuggled me once again. "I love being with you in the morning."

My cheeks flushed. I didn't want to point this out, but it seems that Sir Lars is very clingy and touchy as a lover. This treatment is so different from when I was just his secretary! I don't think I can get used to this!

Mukhang wala talaga siyang balak na kumain at panay lamang siya siksik sa akin. Still, Sir Lars urged me to eat so I had no choice but to do so.

"Aren't you hungry?" tanong ko sa kanya.

He rested his chin on my shoulder. "Not really. But if you want to feed me, I'll gladly accept."

I kept fidgeting on my seat since I was pressured by his words. Request ba 'yon? Should I feed him? Nahihiya ako... We're dating, so I guess that's normal? But do I really have to?

In the midst of my internal panic, Sir Lars burst into laughter. "Calm down, my adorable Moya. You look like you're about to collapse any moment."

I smiled nervously to him. "I'm sorry, Sir Lars. Hindi talaga ako sanay sa mga ganito."

Napatitig naman siya sa akin at tila napaisip. Matapos ang ilang segundo, kumunot ang noo niya at napaiwas ng tingin si Sir Lars.

"How long will you keep calling me Sir?"

"Uhm, what should I call you, then?"

"We should choose an endearment. Baby? Mochi? Babe? Honeybunch?" Sir Lars suggested.

I stared at him in horror. "Please, no."

"Let's go for Moo, then. It stands for My One and Only. I think it's pretty cute." he insisted.

I'd rather die. Bago pa man kita matawag sa mga endearment na 'yan ay pumanaw na ako sa sobrang kahihiyan.

"Let's just stick with our names, Sir."

"Alright. Let's do that." He pouted in disappointment. "For starters, stop addressing me Sir and call me by my name."

Uminit ang aking pisngi. Since I've been calling him Sir Lars all this time, it feels weird to suddenly drop the honorific!

"Aria," He planted soft kisses on my cheek. "I wanna hear you call me by my name. Please?"

I covered my face. "Lars,"

"Hmm."

"I like you so much, Lars Altaria."

I felt him smiling on my cheek. "Me too, Aria."

I was probably caged in his arms for half an hour. Kung hindi ko pa pinaalala sa kanya na kailangan naming pumasok sa trabaho, mukhang wala pang balak si Sir Lars na bitawan ako.

When we were ready to leave for work, I insisted to drive even though Sir Lars wanted to do it. We're dating, but the fact that I'm his secretary still remains. Kailangan ko parin gawin ang mga trabaho ko!

"Should we tell the others about us?" tanong ni Sir Lars habang nagmamaneho ako.

I panicked. "Huwag na sana. Aasarin nila ako."

"Well, I don't mind either way." He shrugged it off. "Though I'd prefer it if we tell them, so we don't need to hide and I can touch you anytime I want to."

He's so clingy!

I laughed nervously. "Let's keep it professional in the office as much as possible. They might feel uncomfortable."

Nagtaka naman ako dahil hindi siya sumagot. Nilingon ko si Sir Lars at napansin kong iniiwasan niya ang tingin ko. May nasabi ba akong mali?

"Sorry," he said barely above a whisper. "I'm too clingy and touchy, right? Naiilang ka na siguro."

My jaw dropped. He's bothered about that?

"But like you so much that I just want to hug you all day." He kept tapping his fingers on the car seat. "I may not look like it but I'm actually greedy, Aria. I always demand for time and affection."

My heart fluttered due to his words.

"I don't mind." I tried to console him since his dander seemed down "From now on, I'm your secretary and girlfriend. We'll always be together so don't worry, Sir Lars!"

He clicked his tongue. "You're calling me Sir again."

He says that, but I saw him holding back a smile.

Shortly, we arrived at the office. For some reason, there was quite a fuss, so Sir Lars inquired our colleagues and Miss Kyla briefly explained the situation to us.

"Our contracted model, Mr. Genesis Adriano, has been waiting in your office for an hour. He said he came to discuss the upcoming new year issue, but demanded to talk with you and only you, Sir."

I pursed my lips. His boyfriend. Or ex, I guess?

Sinulyapan ko si Sir Lars. I was expecting him to look sad or down at the very least, but he seemed so pissed. Walang imik siyang naglakad patungo sa opisina niya at sinundan naman namin siya.

Pagpasok namin sa loob, nadatnan namin si Genesis na nakaupo at umiinom ng tsaa. Nasa opisina rin sina Nami at Sir Neil na halatang hindi komportable sa presensya niya. Mukhang wala pa si Tobi.

"All of you," Sir Lars frowned. "Get out."

I guess they have something to talk about.

Tahimik namang lumakad palabas ang mga katrabaho namin. Akmang susunod na rin ako sa kanila nang muling magsalita si Sir Lars.

"Except for you, Aria." He pointed the seat vacant beside him. "Stay here with me."

Lahat sila'y napalingon sa akin, may bahid ng pagtataka at pagdududa sa kanilang mga mata. He doesn't usually call me by my first name. Of course they'd be suspicious! I thought we agreed to keep it a secret?!

Bagama't nahihiya ay umupo na ako sa tabi ni Sir Lars at lumabas na silang lahat. I was left in the office with Sir Hana and Genesis. I could only twiddle my thumbs in discomfort since I could feel the curious stare of the latter.

Genesis Adriano is a man with a striking appearance and a strong presence. Malakas ang appeal niya at hindi kataka-taka kung bakit siya naging isang modelo. Matangkad siya at talagang mapapalingon ka sa kanyang mukha.

I can't believe I'm insecure towards a guy.

"So, what brings you here?" Sir Lars queried impatiently. "Next time, you can't come if you don't have an appointment. I'm busy, you know."

"What are your plans for christmas? Sa bahay ba tayo ni Suna o kay Lucy? Let's go together." Genesis asked without batting an eyelash.

"Genesis," Sir Lars sighed in frustration. "You came here and pressured my employees just to ask me about my plans for christmas?"

"Well, sorry for barging in without prior notice." The model chuckled heartily. "But I had to come and see you in person because you weren't answering my calls, Lars."

"Because I have nothing to say to you and I don't want to see you anymore." Sir Lars glared at him. "Hindi ka ba marunong makaramdam o tanga ka lang talaga?"

Good lord, please get me out of here.

I can't believe they're fighting in front of me like I'm not here at all. Sir Lars told me that they're no longer together, but it seems that they're still not done talking with each other. They still have no proper closure.

Somehow, that bothers me a bit.

"Why are you so ticked off so early in the morning?" There was a hint of worry in Genesis' face. "Are you still mad at me, Lars? I'm sorry. How do I make it up to you?"

"Uhm," I stood up from my seat abruptly. Sabay silang napalingon sa akin. "It seems that you need to talk privately. I should leave you two alone."

I was just about to leave my seat when Sir Lars took hold of my hand. My eyes widened in panic. Why is he holding my hand in front of his ex?!

"I have my own plans this year, so I'm not going. I'll tell Suna and Lucy myself." Sir Lars squeezed my hand gently. "I'm spending this christmas with my girlfriend."

I anxiously bit my lower lip and kept my eyes glued on my feet. This atmosphere is so suffocating. It feels like we're in the middle of a cold war.

"Girlfriend," Genesis reiterated then flashed a knowing smile. "Yet another ploy to make me jealous, I see."

I flinched. Did I hear it right?

I was too afraid to look at any of them, so I my gaze on the floor. There were so many questions and assumptions on my mind, but none of them escaped my mouth.

Bakit hindi ko agad naisip 'yon?

Pa'no kung ginagamit nga lang talaga ako ni Sir Lars para pagselosin si Genesis? Ayokong maniwala, pero posible 'yon. If I think about it, I'm not really attractive and there's no way that Sir Lars would really like someone plain and ugly like me.

"Miss Aria, am I right?" Genesis politely addressed me then crossed his arms. "A friendly piece of advice: Don't get too attached on that guy. You're not the first girl that Lars dated just to get my attention. There's Sheila too, his hair stylist, but I don't know if you've met her."

I don't want to hear these things.

"You're going to last three months at most, but he'll eventually dump you and come back to me." Genesis sipped from his tea then continued. "I'm part of his family, and I'm a permanent person in his life. I understand him more than anyone else. Lars needs me and he can't live without me, because he can't stand on his own."

When I glanced over my boss, a spasm of pain has already crossed his face. By the looks of it, he seemed too shocked and hurt to say anything.

Huminga ako nang malalim. Kaya ko 'to.

"Don't speak of him like that. Sir Lars is not that kind of person." lakas-loob kong sabi nang hindi inaalis ang titig ko kay Genesis. "Even if he breaks up with me, that's between the two of us. Don't make everything about you."

My hands were still shaking, but I mustered all my courage to pull Sir Lars out of the office. I don't want him to listen to such nasty words anymore. He doesn't need to hear his ex-boyfriend say those things about him!

Sir Lars didn't demur and he just let me drag him as we made our way to the smoking area. There was no one else there so I closed the glass door behind us.

"I know he's your ex, but that was so mean." I fumed, clenching my fists so hard. "How can he talk like he's your world and you can't do anything else on your own? I hate self-important people like that."

Nanatili akong nakayuko dahil ayoko siyang tignan. Sa totoo lang, nasaktan ako sa sinabi ni Genesis dahil posibleng totoo ang mga 'yon. Baka nga ginagamit lang ako ni Sir Lars. Baka hindi rin kami magtagal.

Still, I won't take it against him. Whatever happens, the happiness that he made me feel, even if it only lasts for a short period of time, will outweigh all the bad things.

"Sir Lars," Kinuha ko ang dalawang kamay niya at pinisil ko ang mga ito. "If it's true that you only used me to make him jealous, I won't be mad. I understand your feelings."

To lessen the tension, I played with our hands.

"But I'd hate to see you with that kind of person, Sir Lars. Kung makapagsalita siya, parang sa kanya lang umiikot ang mundo mo. Can't you just find a new boyfriend?"

When I finally lifted my gaze to him, I was shocked to see his face. The corners of his eyes were already wet with tears, and he looked like he was about to break down into tears any moment.

"Sir Lars," I cupped his cheeks. "Don't cry."

I caressed his face with my thumb.

"As I thought, you need to find a new boyfriend." I was completely at a loss that my words didn't make any sense. "Don't take his words to heart. Humanap na lang tayo ng bagong boyfriend mo, okay? Huwag ka na sa kanya."

I was stunned when Sir Lars carefully held my face then claimed my lips. His kisses were soft yet needy, but I could tell that they were full of affection.

Are we really kissing here in the smoking area, in broad daylight?

"My dear Moya," He called my name in between our kisses. "I am so in love with you."

His hands slid down to my shoulders.

"You look at me with so much care and respect, and your words are always so kind that they're making me cry." Sir Lars whispered while we were both out of breath. "How could I not love you?"

It felt like Sir Lars was too lost in his own emotions and he forgot where we were, so I stopped him when he buried his face on my neck.

"Sir Lars," My cheeks reddened. "Not here."

The look on his face was so dreamy.

"Uhm," I shyly lowered my gaze. "We're at work."

"Oh," It looked like he finally snapped back into reality. He ran an eye over my face. "Sorry."

I let out an awkward chuckle. "Okay lang."

"My bad," Sir Lars held back his smile while staring at my face. He seemed weirdly satisfied. "I messed up your pretty face so bad. Let's redo your lipstick."

I blushed at his words. Grabe ka kasi humalik!

I could only cover my face out of embarrassment. The next thing I knew, Sir Lars enclosed me in his arms once again.

"Thank you for choosing me, Aria." His words were music to my ears. "I promise I'll make you happy."

I secretly smiled to myself.

You don't even need to do anything. Just be happy and that will be more than enough for me. You deserve the world, Lars Altaria.

I hugged him back. "I look forward to it, Sir."

---

Writing this makes me feel so single lol.

Hope you enjoyed this update. Stay safe!

Yours Truly,
Aomine-san