Lady Rin's Note:

Eight chappies to go! :)

This chappie is dedicated to Eastwind21jelly for her contribution to Sir Gen's upcoming work "Something More". No worries, Jelly-chan! Just take it easy about the cover, we'll wait for you.

Also, try to read up to the end, there's something nuts going on between Flonne and Lexi. (Special Mention to AYOMI-KAGAMOSHIKO >3<)

Enjoy! ^^

Road Trip 33
Location: Ozamiz City

Alice Flonne's POV:

After ten minutes, my food truck opens shop again...but this time...my only customers will be Lexi...and his parents. Their orders: just two servings of my chicken inasal.

"Can anyone of you...can you please tell me what happened..so I could at least help you?"

"Yes...certainly." The young lady speaks. "It was ten years ago...Alex's father was a drunk gambler...he didn't care about me or my son...he's grown to be like that...every day...he leaves the house and gone into the betting house for horse races and didn't return to us until late at night...he didn't take our chores for us...he didn't care about Alex...our only child. He didn't always win in his bets and ended up going home so drunk...that every night we're fighting each other. And worse, when he has no money...he bets using all the material things in our house...television, refrigerator, laptop...even every single plate in our food tray...he sell it all just to have money for his stupid bets."

The lady continues her story about Lexi. "Then, one night...he comes home very angry...he lost another round of bets and looking another things to sell...I try to stop him but...he slapped me away...and without thinking...he take Alex...and sold him...in exchange by huge money for bets."

"HUHUHUHU!!!!" Lexi cries hardly...and clings to me in sorrow. "You didn't know that pain that I hide when you dumped me...good thing that police rescued me and was able to study and have a job...and now...you want me to come back to you after all what you did to me?!?! I won't forgive you for this!!!"

"Please...please, son. Give me another chance to live again." Lexi's dad pleas to him in sorrow. "I was imprisoned for five years because of my crime against you...I regret the past...that's why I changed my life for the better...I'm find a new and decent job...I make money without sacrificing everything..."

"So what?!?! You should be stay in prison for much longer!!!"

"Lexi!!!" I stopped my fiance from breaking loose. "Is there something else that would help you reconcile with them?"

But Lexi didn't respond...as he continues to sob...I could see in his eyes that he has no idea what to do...to reconcile them and all...because...because they're his parents...and he still loves them.

"Oh...by the way, your chicken inasal is already been served." I broke the ice when I remembered the orders Lexi's parents put earlier. "Please enjoy it before it gets cold."

Without uttering a single word, the three went to eat my dish. It was an awkward moment because...they didn't have time to look at each other and only focusing on the food that they eat...

"Umm...excuse me, milady. How you know my son for a long time?"

"Huh?" I'm a little bit startled when Lexi's mother asked me after a long commotion, but... "Yes, I met him for a long time. You see, I'm a homemade food chef who travels around the country to pursue my passion for cooking. Your son helped me in regaining my cooking skills...and most importantly...he helped me to reunite with my family that was separated. Alex has done so much great things to me...so you should be proud of him..."

And suddenly, Lexi's father stopped from eating and glances at his son. Tears fell from his eyes in a fit of regret.

"Alexander...sniff...I'm so ashamed of what I've done to you...sniff...I didn't see how much you are important to me...sniff...until I dumped you away...sniff...I'm sorry...sniff...I'm so sorry...sniff...I just want to tell you...sniff...that I love you...sniff...and I want to payback what I've owe you...sniff...please...sniff...forgive me...sniff...please....give me another chance."

Lexi and his father are facing each other...both in tears...that's when Lexi goes out and hug his father very tightly.

"Huhuhuhu....I miss you dad...I miss you so much..." Lexi fi"nally reconciles with his father. "Why...sniff...why you're doing this to me?!?!"

"Please...sniff...please forgive me...sniff...I really don't know what am I doing! Huhuhuhu!!!!"

The two gentlemen keep on crying at each other for a few more moments...they didn't met each other for ten years...and this tearful moment is the perfect reunion for Lexi and his family...

"Thank you, milady. Thank you for finding my son again." Lexi's mother gratefully thanked me. "You help him guide back to us. We'll promise...we will start over again."

"Your welcome, madam." And then, I finally revealed our long kept secret to Lexi's parents. "But...umm...I need to tell you something...I've been dating your son for at least a month and now...he proposes to marry me. Umm...will you reject us? Well...it's fine though if you will."

"Hehehe! What are you talking about, silly?" Lexi's father approaches me and pats my shoulder. "As long as Alexander will be happy with you, then it will be fine for me."

"Oh, really? Ehehehe...thank you so much." With my face a bit blushed, I bowed my head in a fit of gratitude. By the way, I wonder how my chicken inasal tastes like for you?"

"Well, your dish is so satisfying." Lexi's mother comments while resumes in digging into my dish. "It is roasted right to its exact taste...in addition to the tanginess and delicious taste you had because of your marinade sauce. It would be better if I have soy sauce and calamansi, if you have."

"Oh! Hehehe! My bad, I forgot!" I scratched my head in embarrassment while getting the things the lady needs. Our lively conversation goes on and on until Lexi's parents are satisfied with my dish and pay me.

"Thank you, milady for a memorable and scrumptious meal that you had." Lexi's father compliments. "Well, since Alexander is really wanted to join you in your journey, I just want to know your name, milady. Just in case my son is doing stupid, okay?"

"Hehehe! Alright, sure. My name is Alice Flonne Molina."

"Alice Flonne, huh? Your parents have give you a lovely and pretty name...fitting for a princess being loved by our son. Hehehe!"

"Oh geez, thanks! Hehehe!" I giggled by the comment of Lexi's father.

Lexi and his parents then say their farewells as they decided to let him join me for the rest of the food trip, leaving the two of us alone once again.

"Hmm...well, guess nobody wins the day for now." Lexi concludes.

"Yeah, at least your problems have been solved." I smiled brightly at him.

"Hehehe! Thanks, Flonne. You owe me a bunch." My fiance smiled back at me. "Oh! By the way, have you ever tried pocky stick?"

"Hmm? What's that?" I was curious when Lexi pulls out a box and picks up a stick dipped with chocolate. "Hmm...is that Stick-o or something?"

"Well, sort of, but it's better. Wanna try?"

"Hehehe! Sure!"

Lexi then puts the pocky stick into my mouth but told me not to use my hands to eat it. Well, I can eat the whole stick by using my tongue...but I didn't expect that this would follow:

WHAAAAA!!! LEXI USED THE POCKY STICK...JUST TO STEAL A KISS!!!!

"WHA-WHAAA!!!! LE-LEXI!!! WHA-WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?!?!"

"Well...I simply kissed you. Hehehe!" Lexi chuckles over my red tomato face. But it only got much worse...

"KYAAAAAAA!!!!!!!" I didn't know that Azmina, Danica and Claire are already here...just in time to see the kiss.

"WHA-WHAT ARE YO-YOU DO-DOING HERE?!?! ARE YO-YOU FINISHED?!?!" I stutterly asked my friends. "DO-DON'T YO-YOU TE-TELL ME THA-THAT YO-YOU SEE THE WHOLE THING?!?!"

"Of course, Alice! Hehehe!" Azmina giggles. "You just fall into the famous pocky game trap! You get the pocky...but you will fall for the kiss! Kyaaa!!!"

I ca-can't believe that this is happening to me!!! It's so embarrassing!!! I feel...myself....fainting....

"Flonne!!!" Lexi catches my fall worriedly. "Flonne, are you alright?!"

"Of course, I am. It's just...it's all your fault. Hehehe!" I smiled and giggled before I passed out due to embarrassment. Hehehe!