Chapter 37

Twelve Year Old Women

Ciel and I slightly broke away from each other to face the familiar voice that was strained with shock.

And it wasn't just the voice because Megi's features are strained with shock as well.

"What the hell is this? Why... Why are you so close to each other? And... And did you just kiss Dr. Clavel, Kuya?!" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

"Woah. Take it easy, baby... What's with the panic? Breathe." Ciel said, slightly laughing at his sister as if it was his way of making the atmosphere light and calming Megi at the same time.

Humalukipkip ako at nginisian siya. I'm sure as hell that she'll combust the moment Ciel tells her that I am his girlfriend.

Megi clenched her jaw, giving me a quick glare before fixing his gaze at her brother. The audacity of this woman to glare at me!

"Kuya," Megi pressed impatiently.

Ciel exhaled a sigh, softly looking at me and Megi.

"I'm sure you both know each other already... And my initial plan was to introduce Mona to you and Dad this Wednesday but since you're here and you saw us... Megi, this is your ate Mona, my girlfriend," Ciel explained carefully before shifting his gaze on me.

"Baby, this is Megi, my sister. You met her before... Nung nagvideo call tayo. Maliit pa siya n'on." He said, smiling at me as he recall the memory.

I can still recall that... those were the days that I still find her cute but now she's nothing but a stubborn pesk!

The way Megi's eyes widened in shock, disbelief, and disgust didn't escape my eyes. Muntik pa ngang malaglag ang panga nito habang pinupukulan niya ng hindi makapaniwalang titig ang Kuya niya.

Ha! That's right, Megi. I'm your Kuya's girlfriend.

"Hi, Megi." I greeted her, grinning wide to annoy the hell out of her. The way her face turned red, proved my success. Kung posible lang na labasan ng usok ang ilong at tainga ng tao ay nangunguna na si Megi doon. Her reaction at this moment was way better than when I borrowed her pen.

"You gotta be fucking kidding me!" She quietly hissed at Ciel. "Kuya, ang daming babae dito sa mundo! Bakit siya?!" She ranted as if I wasn't just here. The audacity.

"Megi!" Ciel's eyes widened at his sister.

"At bakit hindi ako?" I interjected, giving her my pompous and bitchy aura.

Her eyes averted to mine, they even turned into burning slits, not wanting to lose the intimidation game. "I don't like you." She stated, on point and with conviction.

"Megi, what the hell?!" It was Ciel. Palipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa amin.

"Me neither," Sagot ko kay Megi. Ayaw kong magpatalo, bakit ba.

Her teeth gritted in anger, rolling her eyes as a mocking laugh escaped from her mouth. "You're such a bitch!"

"And so are you!" I fired back.

"I hate you!" She groaned.

"That's exactly what I feel for you," I said, giving her my most sarcastic smile.

"Kuya, look at her! Tingnan mo ang ginagawa sa'kin ng girlfriend mo! Ganyan ba ang girlfriend na gusto mong ipakilala kay Daddy?!"

"No, Ciel! Look at your sister! I'm your girlfriend tapos sinasagot-sagot niya ako nang ganyan? Tama ba 'yon?!"

"Jesus Christ..." It was Ciel. I gave him a quick glance. His eyes were shut as he massaged his temples.

"Kuya, break up with her! Hindi mo siya kilala! Masama ang ugali niya!" The pesk exclaimed once again.

"I think you should disown your sister. Look how annoying she is! Gusto mo ba ng ganyang kapatid? Mag adopt na lang tayo sa orphanage ni Mirae!" I said, glaring at Megi. The pesk glared back at me. Siyempre, ayaw ring magpatalo ng salot na 'to e.

"Tingnan mo naman, Kuya Third! Paano mo naging girlfriend 'yan? Anong naisipan mo? Having her as your girlfriend is like being in a relationship with Satan!"

My mouth parted for a few seconds at her statement. Aba't siraulo pala 'to! I immediately clenched my jaw after recovering from my shock. This little devil!

"Well, at least I'm not as stupid as you who have the tendency to cry if ever Jollibee filed for bankruptcy!"

"Did you just call me stupid?!"

"Well, yeah! Alangan namang sarili ko e cum laude ako sa Harvard?" I retorted, giving her a ridiculous stare. I'm far from being stupid! Sa Kuya lang niya ako nagiging tanga, ano!

"Napakayabang mo! You asshole!"

"Dahil may ipagmamayabang ako! You pesk!"

"God, give me strength!" Megi and I both looked at Ciel who was trying so hard to calm and compose himself. His jaw was firmly clenched at the word 'stress' was vivid in his face.

He both shot me and Megi a mocking stare. "Oh ano? Tapos na kayo?"

Parehas kaming hindi naka-imik ni Megi. His face was all serious and firm that it's starting to scare me and make me feel guilty at the same time.

"A-Are you mad?" Megi and I asked at the same time in a small voice. We even gave each other a flabbergasted side glance but then we just quickly looked away from each other with a frown, fixing our gazes back to Ciel who was rubbing his forehead now.

Ciel still didn't answer. His eyes were tight shut and his jaw was firmly clenched.

"Kuya, I'm sorry... I know it was so immature of me to act that way," Megi said and I was nodding my head, agreeing to what she just said. It was indeed so immature of her to act like that!

"Paano kasi itong girlfriend mo nakakairita—"

I stopped from nodding then I snapped my head towards her, cutting her sentence. "Wow. Ako pa talaga?! Excuse me? It is not my fault that you are immature and you have no respect for your brother's girlfriend who happened to be your senior as well," I fired at her.

"Nako, 'tong kapatid mong 'to, Ciel! Nanggigigil talaga 'ko dito!" Bwisit kong sabi.

"That was rich coming from you who can't respect her boyfriend's sister and as well as her colleagues! Hiniram mo nga 'yung ballpen ko tapos hindi mo na ibinalik!"

"That's what most doctors do! If you can't handle that! Mag resign ka!"

Her mouth parted and she was about to throw another sassy remark at me but we both paused as Ciel caught our attention. He was approaching De la Mora who was about to go out of the hospital.

"You have aspirin there?" Ciel asked him.

De la Mora's mouth parted a bit as he looked at Ciel. "We have. Inside." Nakanguso niyang sabi at itinuro ang ospital gamit ang hinlalaki niya.

"Then let's get inside. Pa-BP na rin... Pwede rin ba magpa-confine?" Ciel said, not even looking at me nor Megi.

"Depends on your condition." De la Mora, shrugged. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I'm about to die and my head is about to burst." Ciel said.

"Man, that's bad. Come on inside." De la Mora said nodding his head towards the entrance of the hospital and just like that, both of them made their way inside the hospital without even acknowledging us!

Wala kaming ibang nagawa ni Megi kung hindi sundan sila nang tingin habang nakanganga. A man in scrubs and a man in a pilot uniform just walked out on us.

"Did my Kuya just talk to Nickolai?" Megi said in disbelief.

"That's how it looks like." I absentmindedly said, still looking at the entrance where the both of them just disappeared.

"Kuya Ciel hates Nickolai." Megi said, still dazed.

I frown. "Well, I hate you too but I still talk to you." I shrugged. "Ciel and I are both matured. We're really soulmates." I commented out loud.

"Come the fuck on!" She groaned, rolling her eyes before walking out.

Wow. They all left me here. Can you believe that?

--

"Stop," Ciel said, with a chuckle as he wrapped his hand around my knee. I've been lifting my knee up and down, trying to relieve the tension and I am feeling.

We were still inside his car, outside their house. We've been here for about ten minutes but I refused to go out. What if his Dad doesn't approve me because Megi hates me? There are just a lot going on inside my mind at the moment.

Kung bakit ba kasi never nagpresinta si Ciel na gumawa ng project sa bahay nila dati! E 'di sana ngayon kilala ko na ang Daddy niya at hindi na ako kakabahan nang ganito!

"Come on, let's get inside already." He said, squeezing my knee with a grin on his face.

"I've never had a boyfriend before," I broke, looking at him nervously. I'm not good at this.

A short chuckle rose from his throat. "I've never brought a girl at home before." He said, lifting a hand to touch my face. "Just be yourself... My Dad is a lot like me. H'wag kang mag-alala hindi naman sila magkaugali ni Megi." He said, fixing the strands of my bangs.

"E, 'yung Mommy mo?"

"Iyon ang kaugali ni Megi." He said.

"Diyos ko po," tanging nasabi ko na lang na naging dahilan upang mapahalakhak siya.

"Matagal pa naman bago mo siya makilala. Tara na, pumasok na tayo. They must be waiting."

I exhaled a deep sigh before we finally get out of his car. Pasimple kong inayos ang Olive green tight dress na suot ko. It was fit and it perfectly hugged my body.

"What if your Dad calls me liberated because of how fit and short my dress is?" I whispered at Ciel as we make our way inside. Ciel just shot me a ridiculous stare as he chuckles.

Sinalubong kami ng isang maid at binati. We greeted her back before Ciel handed her the box of cake that we bought. I thought it's rude to come and visit without bringing something.

Halos tumigil sa pagtibok ang puso ko nang makita ko ang isang lalaki na kakababa lamang. He was tall with curls that were quite longer than Ciel's. He's got a good posture and a demeanor that screams respect. Nang dumako ang tingin niya sa akin ay sandali niya akong tiningnan.

I stopped from breathing. He smiles at me. I resumed from breathing.

"How's it going, Dad?" Sinalubong siya ni Ciel ng isang yakap. The handsome despite-being-old man tapped Ciel's back.

"I'm doing good, son." He replied, breaking away from the embrace.

"By the way, Dad. This is Mona Lisa Clavel, my liberated girlfriend who wears fitted and short dresses."

My eyes grew wide with the way of how he introduced me to his Dad. I even felt my cheeks burned in embarrassment! Gago talaga ang lalaking 'to kahit na kailan!

A short chuckle escaped from his Dad's throat as he looked at me. "Well, you have a beautiful liberated girlfriend... I hope you got a lot of patience too, hija dahil hindi mo na pwedeng isoli si Third dito. Hindi ko na iyan tatanggapin," Biro pa nito.

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. "Wala po ba'ng free trial, sir? I need a month to think whether I'm keeping your son or not," I said, riding along with his joke.

A delicious laugh escaped from his throat, making all the heaviness and tension that I've been feeling popped and gone like a bubble.

"We can talk about your offer at the table," He replied, motioning us to follow him. And so we did. Nauna siya at kami naman ni Ciel ay nakasunod sa may likuran niya.

"He likes you," Ciel whispered, nudging me.

I looked up to him with a relieved smile on my face.

"But you're still cruel for asking him for a free trial. Bawiin mo 'yon. Wala nang soli-soli, sa'yo lang ako." He said, stealing a kiss on my temple. I giggled quietly, holding his hand and squeezing it as we keep on following his Dad.

Nang maupo kami sa hapag ay halos lahat ay nakahanda na. Sa kabisera umupo si Capt. Alfieri habang kami naman ni Ciel ay pumwesto sa may kanan niya.

"Megi prepared all of these... She still got one dish left. Hintayin na natin," Capt. Alfieri said. I may not like Megi but I still can't deny the fact that her dishes are all mouthwatering and the aroma is making my stomach grumble.

"These all look good!" Ciel said, roaming his eyes around the table. Gusto kong matawa. Alam ko gutom na ang isang 'to. Palagi naman.

"Your sister's husband is going to be lucky," Capt. Alfieri said, making Ciel frown.

"Don't say that. She's still a baby."

Natawa na lamang si Mr. Alfieri at napailing. "He's more protective than me," he said, looking at me.

"I can see that." I said smiling. "By the way, I didn't know that Megi can actually cook." I added, quite amused. Damn. Did you see that? I was amused... by that pesk. Hindi ko matanggap.

"You don't know anything about me."

And before Capt. Alfieri could reply, the witchy sister suddenly appeared, holding a plate with a chicken dish on it. I subtly rolled my eyes. Bakit ba hindi na lang ang Daddy niya ang naging kaugali niya?

"Megi," Mahinang saway ni Ciel sa kanya. She just rolled her eyes before placing the plate on the table.

"Wow. Smells good. What do we have there?" Capt. Alfieri said, smiling like a damn proud Dad.

Megi smiled at her Dad and at her Kuya. "We have a delicious orange chili chicken here with a little bit of poison for our special guest." She presented in full sarcasm.

"Oh God," Ciel beside me, quietly groaned. Pressing his palms on his face.

I gave Megi a sweet yet sarcastic smile. "Why, thank you. That's so sweet of you. By the way, I got something for you too." I said, giving her the small rectangular box that I've been carrying with me the whole time.

"What's this?" She asked in creased brows as she accepted my little gift.

"It's a pen. You can use that to stab yourself." I said, still smiling.

Megi forced a chuckle. "You're so funny. Thanks for this pen. I hope I can use this to stab you too." She was smiling but her eyes are glaring at me.

"Feel free," I retorted. Then I will stab you back using my scalpel.

Capt. Alfieri cleared his throat, he was looking back and forth at me and Megi. "You two seem pretty close, huh? And your sense of humor are kind of dark... kaya siguro nagkasundo kayo?" The dignified man, let out a chuckle as he stares at Megi and me.

Tiningnan lamang namin siya ni Megi habang nakangiti nang hilaw.

He cleared his throat.

"Third mentioned that you two are working in the same hospital that's why I assume that you guys are close," Capt. Alfieri explained, nodding his head a little.

"I think we're pretty close... close to strangling each other's neck, sir." I joked. But it was half meant.

Nagpakawala nang hilaw na tawa si Megi. "Yep. That's how close we are," She said as she sat down in front of me and Ciel.

"Shall we eat?" Ciel interrupted with a harsh sigh, looking so stressed again. His cheeks are quite red and his lips are pursed. And I couldn't help but to feel guilty and find him adorable.

I'll apologize to him after lunch.

"You want this?" He asked, pointing at the salad. His features were still hard but his gestures are soft. Kahit bwisit siya sa amin ni Megi ay ang sweet niya pa rin.

"Yes, thank you."

Hindi na siya sumagot, he just put some on my plate. I touched his arm beside me as he placed food into my plate.

"Sorry." I whispered, subtly kissing him on the shoulder. It was just light. Light enough not to leave a lipstick stain on his black shirt and subtle enough for his Dad and sister to not notice.

He smiled at me. "It's okay," he whispered back, kissing me on top of my head before he proceeds to what he's doing.

"Ehegm. Respeto. Ehegm. Sa amin ni Daddy na single. Ehegm." Megi said, fake coughing.

Ciel and his Dad both chuckled. "Just let them and go get yourself a boyfriend already." Capt. Alfieri said.

Megi frowned. "Dad, I told you, hindi ako magbo-boyfriend at hindi ako mag-aasawa. Hindi kita iiwan dito 'no,"

"Why are you so afraid of leaving me? Kaya ko naman ang sarili ko kahit mag-isa ako." The man said.

"Ah, basta. Hindi kita iiwan. Dito lang ako. I don't need a man! Men are trash!" Megi stubbornly said. Natawa parehas ang mag-ama, as if they find Megi cute.

"She's always been a Daddy's girl. Kaya nga ayaw niyang lumipat sa condo ko. Ayaw niyang iwanan dito si Daddy. Lalo na ngayong malapit na siyang magretire." Ciel told me, smiling while looking at her sister who was currently being stubborn in front of her Dad.

It may look like she's just trying to look cute but as you take a look into her eyes, it was more than that, she's being genuine... Like the thought of leaving her Dad will wreck her. I can see it in her eyes.

"Then just marry the guy next door. Iyong doktor ng mga De la Mora, si Nickolai."

"Dad! I can't believe you're pimping me to that guy! Kuya, oh! Si Dad!" Todo ngiwing reklamo ni Megi.

I was kind of stunned upon hearing that.

Kaya pala parang magkakilala sila. Ngayon pala ay magkapitbahay sila. Wow. The hate they have for each other was stronger than I thought. May pinaghuhugutan pala. Ano kayang ginawa ni De la Mora? Siguro binully niya ito nung mga bata sila? Or maybe it's the other way around. Baka itong si Megi ang nambully. Tss.

"What? Ang sabi mo ay ayaw mo akong iwanan. E di mag-asawa ka na lang ng kapitbahay." Capt. Alfieri said in defense.

Tatay nga 'to ni Ciel. Walang duda.

Natawa na lamang ako nang bahagya sa sinabi niya bago sumubo ng salad.

Megi groaned and frowned even harder at what her Dad said.

"Sweetheart, I'm kidding." Natatawa nitong bawi bago kami binalingan nang tingin ni Ciel.

"Hindi na mabiro itong kapatid mo." Aniya.

"Ang sama naman kasi ng biro mo, Dad." Ciel replied, grinning.

Binalingan ako nang tingin ni Capt. Alfieri. "I'm sorry about that, hija. I hope we didn't make you uncomfortable."

Umawang ang bibig ko sabay ilang. "Absolutely not, sir. Nakakatuwa nga po kayong tingnan. Parang ang saya-saya niyo parati." I told him. Kahit wala ang Mom nila Ciel ay mukhang masaya pa rin naman sila.

Nakakapagtaka nga at hindi na ulit nag-asawa si Capt. Alfieri, naghuhumiyaw pa rin naman ang kakisigan nito kahit na may edad na.

"Oo naman. Dad always makes sure we enjoy the limited time that we spend together." I was quite shocked when Megi suddenly replied. Her eyes are still fixed on her plate though. But I'm sure she's talking to me. I can see that she really loves her Dad.

He smiled at me. "What field are you in surgery, hija? Nabanggit kasi sa akin ni Third na isa kang surgeon." Capt. Alfieri said in the middle of our lunch.

"Cardiothoracic po, sir."

His face lightened up. "That's my wife's dream profession."

I noticed how Ciel and Megi paused from eating, looking at their Dad with their mouths parted.

"I mean, my ex-wife." He corrected, breaking the silence.

"Oh." I said, letting out an awkward laugh to somehow save us from the awkward situation. "That's... That's nice, sir. I bet she's going to be great at it."

"Can you please drop the 'sir' and just call me Tito? You're my son's girlfriend." He said.

"Pwede mo rin naman siyang tawaging Dad." Ciel joked, making the atmosphere lighter again.

"Advance ka po?" I said, chuckling.

"Ayaw mo ba? Sige, ako na lang. Call me Daddy." He cracked, totally breaking the awkwardness on the table.

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata sabay palo sa kanyang braso. "Sira ka talaga! Hindi ka na nahiya!" I quietly hissed at him.

"I need to find a place where I can puke all my guts out! Ew!" Megi said in disgust.

"Excuse me, young lady? Bakit nagets mo 'yon? Saan mo nalaman 'yon, ha? H'wag mong sabihing tinatawag mong Daddy 'yang si De la Mora," There's a warning in Ciel's voice.

Ngumuwi si Megi. "You know, I love you but sometimes I just cannot stand you!"

Siniko ko si Ciel habang natatawa. "She's a grown woman, Ciel. She doesn't need De la Mora to know those kind of stuff. Sa influence ba naman ng social media ngayon. Isa pa, she's a nurse. Her mind had been opened when she was just a nursing student. For sure nag perineal care na rin 'yang si Megi. She already saw and touched a lot of male genitalia than what you're expecting. Hindi lang naman pagi-infuse ng gamot ang ginagawa nila. Nursing is a wide profession."

Just because a lot of nurses irritate me, doesn't mean that I'm belittling the profession. I still recognize how hard and challenging their works are.

"True!" Megi agreed. Wow. Okay. First time.

Ciel looked at me in disbelief. Like he wants to smack me across the face. "Why would you hurt my feelings like that, Mona? Do you know how much it hurts for me to imagine my baby sister holding a damn penis?!" He said in disbelief, putting his palm on his chest.

The three of us broke into laughter at how Ciel has overreacted at the thought of his nurse sister doing a perineal care. He's such a cutie. Sometimes I just want to lock him up inside my condo.

Hindi kami kaagad natapos sa pagla-lunch dahil puro kwentuhan ang ginawa namin. Parang kanina lamang ay kabang-kaba ako but now I feel so comfortable as if they're my own family too. I'm still pissed at Megi though. And she is too. Mabuti nga at nauna siyang umalis sa hapag dahil tumatawag daw si Calline Alfieri sa Skype.

Naalala ko noon, gandang-ganda ako sa kanya sa tuwing nakakasalubong namin siya nila Ciel. Todo titig pa ako sa kanya sa tuwing mag-uusap sila ni Ciel.

"Tara sa kwarto." Ciel said, wrapping his arm around my shoulders as we make our way out of the dining area. Naakalis na rin si Tito Ciel— okay, this feels like I'm calling my boyfriend 'Tito'. Parehas kasi sila ng pangalan, eh.

I stared at him. Feeling my cheeks flushed. It was as if he felt that I am staring at him that's why he stared at me, too. "Bakit ganyan ka makatingin? Matutulog lang tayo... Inaantok ako." He chuckled, pinching my nose.

I felt my cheeks flushed even more. "B-Bakit? May sinabi ba akong hindi tayo matutulog? Tinitingnan lang naman kita!" I said in defense.

"Palusot ka pa. H'wag kang mag-alala, I will take you the moment we both wake up." He teased, a delicious short laugh escaping from his mouth.

I playfully punch him on his hard stomach. "Puro ka kalokahan!" I said as we kept on walking.

He just chuckled, pressing a hard kiss on my temple with a quiet groan. Na para bang nanggigigil siya. Natawa ako sa paraan nang paghalik niya.

"Heto, okay lang naman si Kuya Third, Ate Cal. Wala nga siyang respeto, eh. Todo PDA dito sa bahay, alam naman niyang single ang mga tao dito."

Natigilan kaming dalawa ni Ciel nang mapadaan kami sa sala nila kung nasaan si Megi. She was sitting on the couch, her laptop was resting on the center table that's in front of her.

"Oh, his girlfriend is still there? Okay ba? Maganda ba?" I heard Calline's voice over the laptop. Megi's eyes tilted to our direction, giving us a wicked grin before fixing it back to the screen.

"Mas maganda ako." Megi said as if we aren't just here.

"I beg to disagree!" Ciel interjected with a grin on his face. "Come on," he whispered dragging me towards Megi's direction. Umupo siya sa tabi ni Megi at hinala niya ako upang umupo sa isang hita niya habang nakaharap kami sa laptop.

"Third! Hi! And oh my God! It's you!" Calline greeted from the screen, looking flabbergasted when she saw me.

I smiled at her. "Hey there," I sheepishly greeted.

"What are you disagreeing for?" Megi said, frowning.

"Na mas maganda ka. Because I think that you and Mona are both equally beautiful. Isn't that right, Cal?" Ciel said.

No. Mas maganda kaya ako.

"Yeah." Calline giggled.

"This is my girlfriend by the way. I'm sure you know her already..." Ciel introduced me while I was still seated on his thigh and one of his arm was wrapped around my waist to support me. This is so awkward! Napakalandi talaga nitong Ciel na 'to.

"I do. Who wouldn't? The smartest and prettiest STEM student way back in senior high. It's a surprise na pinatulan ka." Calline teased. I grinned. I like her already. Keep up ka sana, Megi.

"Ang sama talaga niyang bibig ng pinsan mo," Ciel ranted at Megi.

Before neither of us could even respond, a kid suddenly appeared on the screen, approaching Calline who was currently talking to us. May mga acrylic paint na nagkalat sa mukha nito.

I paused, looking at the kid carefully.

"Mommy, I'm done painting! Let's go! Look at it!" Excited nitong sabi at pilit na hinihila sa braso si Calline.

Mommy? Calline don't even look like a Mom! Mukha siyang dalaga na nagsho-shopping lang sa Paris at tumitikim ng pasta sa Italy.

"Honey, I'm still talking to your Tito and Tita. And my God! Your face is full of paint! What did you do?" Calline said in a thick Australian accent, reaching for the wipes on her side to pull some sheets and clean her son's face.

"Buddy, you're supposed to use the paintbrush while painting, not your face." Ciel joked, getting the attention of the kid.

"Bully!" Megi chuckled, slightly punching Ciel on the arm. "Cute-cute talaga ng pamangkin ko..." Megi whispered, looking at the screen.

The kid looked at the screen as Calline kept on cleaning his face. "Hello, Tito Third and Tita Megi! And Tita..." He paused, looking at me with creased brows.

"Mona. Tita Mona. She's your Tito Third's girlfriend." Megi introduced me.

"What's girlfriend? Can you eat a girlfriend?" The little guy asked in curiosity.

"Yes, you can." Ciel whispered squeezing my hip, making me looked at him over my shoulder as my face turned red.

Pati si Megi ay napangiwi habang nakatingin sa Kuya niya. Mukhang narinig si Ciel.

"Umayos ka nga!" Saway ko sa kanya.

He just chuckled before fixing his eyes on the screen.

"Honey, girlfriend is not a food. It's a person. It's man's other half." Calline explained.

"So you can cut a girlfriend into two?" He asked, innocently making Ciel and Megi laugh. I didn't though. I just smiled because I was still dazed with the kid.

"Oh God..." Calline sighed.

"So, what did our King Presley painted today?" Ciel said, shifting the topic.

King Presley.

"Thank you," Calline mouthed at Ciel through the screen.

"I painted a mountain with birds and trees! Oh! And a sun hiding in the clouds!"

"Wow! That's very impressive! I can't wait to see your incredible works!"

I just quietly watched them as the four of them talked. Minsan ay sasagot ako kapag ako ang kinakausap ni Presley o ni Calline.

"Ciel..." I quietly called Ciel as we rode the elevator.

"Hmm?" he asked, pressing the floor of his room. Third floor.

"The kid. He... He looks like a," I paused, not knowing if I should continue or no. I don't want to offend Ciel. Baka isipin niya nanghihimasok ako sa pamilya niya.

A faint smile appeared on his lips. "A Ponce de Leon?"

I pursed my lips, nodding my head. You can't really deny the fact by how Ponce de Leons possess this certain aura that would make them look like a Ponce de Leon. They may have different feautures but once you see one, alam ko kaagad na Ponce de Leon siya.

"Because he is." Ciel quietly said.

"D-Does Colton knows?"

Umiling siya. "Kami lang ang nakakaalam. Maiipit si Colton kapag nalaman niya. And it's not for me to inform the Ponce de Leons about Presley. It's Calline's obligation and business to do it."

Natahimik ako saglit.

"I'm sorry. Am I being chismosa na?" I said, looking at him apologetically.

A low chuckle escaped from his throat. "I love your chismosa ass... and you're the only one that I want to share all the chismis I know with. All the secrets that I know, I'm willing to share them to you." He said, kissing the tip of my nose.

I hugged him, resting my head on his chest. "Wow naman. May boyfriend na 'ko, may kumare pa 'ko."

"San ka pa?" He arrogantly said, slightly tapping my ass.

I lifted my head, looking up at him. His eyes met mine. Looking at me with a warm smile on his face.

"May secret din akong alam." I said, grinning.

"Really?"

I nodded my head, motioning my finger for him to duck his head down. When he did, I put my mouth on his ear, sticking the tip of my tongue out to lick the skin before his ear.

He stiffen for a few seconds, not expecting what I just did.

He face me, with an amused grin on his face. I just giggled while looking at up at him.

"You know what? I've changed my mind. Ayoko na palang matulog."

"Oh yeah?" I said, acting sheepish.

"Yeah," he whispered.

"Then what are you gonna do?" I asked, innocently with a not-so-innocent grin on my lips.

He grinned, showing me his irresistible dimple. "I'm going to eat a girlfriend." he whispered before ducking his head down, claiming my lips. I smiled before kissing him back.