Pia hummed as she cooked in the kitchen, wearing Mrs. Cordero's Apron.

It was early in the morning, the rain outside still pouring. There is a candle beside the stove since the electricity went out around 7 pm the previous night.

It was her twin sister who came up with the idea of staying there overnight.

Robert was still asleep, and his temperature played between 38 and 39 degrees. They had to keep turns watching over him through the night and were rudely awakened around 1 am when he suddenly sat up shouting something about the mango tree falling on him.

His temperature went up to 40 degrees then.

It was a good thing Danny was there to hold him down, though he acquired some damages in the process.

"Real strong kid..." thought she. "Nearly sent Danny flying across the room..."

Ria had to give him another shot to calm him down, and Angela cradled him 'til he went back to sleep.

He was calling Belle over and over as he did.

Angela looked really hurt.

"She obviously likes Robert..." thought Pia, "I just hope Robert feels the same, if not, then my poor sister is surely headed for a heartbreak..."

Pia's cellphone suddenly rang.

She fumbled in her pocket and took it out.

"Daddy!" she said a bit surprised. "good morning, how's your trip to uncle Lorence's place?"

"Fine, I guess," replied her father on the other line, "The power's out here, I called at home and the phones are dead. Are you and your sisters fine back there?"

"Yes, of course!" she replied. "Ria and Angela are still asleep though, want me to wake them up?"

"Don't bother," replied her father. "Just take care of yourselves and stay inside the house."

"But of course, Father! How could we possibly leave the house in this weather!" she said, crossing her fingers.

"Okay, I'll be staying here 'til Monday, then we'll be going back to Davao for the Bickly-Ibanez case," he said in a hurry. "Just tell your sisters I called to say hello, okay?"

"Okay Dad. Bye Dad!"

Pia replaced her phone in her pocket, when she looked up, she saw Angela staring at her.

"You're not telling him about what happened?" she asked softly.

"Of course not!" her sister replied with a lovely smile. "If I did that, then we would never have a chance to meet Robert's Mother!"

"I'm really sorry, ate Pia," said Angela, "it really was all my fault..."

"I know, we'll think of a fitting punishment for you soon," she said with an evil laugh. "Right now, how about calling the others for some breakfast?"

Angela went back to the living room.

Robert still lay on the couch since moving him up to his room was too much trouble. Danny simply took some mattresses from upstairs and placed it on the floor, moving the other furniture aside. He was currently slumped on an armchair, still fast asleep.

"I guess he deserves a little more sleep..." Angela thought to herself, turning to her sister instead. Ria lay on one of the mattresses on the floor.

After a couple of shakes, she muttered something and went back to sleep.

"I forgot, ate Ria sleeps like a log...." said Angela.

She shook her some more 'til the sleeping Ria groaned and slowly opened her eyes.

"I'm awake! I'm awake!" she cried. Angela finally stopped with a sigh.

Her sister sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What time is it?" she asked

"Eight AM." answered Angela

"Breakfast is served," called Pia as she came into the living room.

Danny was suddenly awakened. He looked around and gave a big yawn.

"How's Robert doing?" he asked.

"Ria, go check his temperature," said Pia.

Ria took a thermometer and went beside her patient.

"37.9 degrees," she said, "at least it didn't get any higher. I'll give him another shot to keep it down." She looked at Danny. "Anyway, the patient needs a change of clothes," she continued. "He's starting to perspire, a sure sign that the fever has broken."

"Will he be fine, then?" asked Angela.

"Yes, he may wake up by this afternoon."

"Okay, I'll go get him some clothes," said Danny, standing up.

It was Danny who changed Robert's clothes.

He was snickering as he did, looking at Angela's reaction.

Angela angrily left the room and went grumpily to the kitchen instead.

Her sisters were both there, having their breakfast. They were feeding the two cats some sardines when she took some toast and slumped on a chair.

"You seem like in a bad mood?" said Pia.

"It's nothing," Angela replied, munching on the toast.

"You don't need to worry about Robert, you know," said Ria, "he's doing just fine right now."

"Yeah," said Pia, "I guess your cradling did the trick!"

The two started laughing.

"Ha-ha-ha..." said Angela, irritated. Just then, the kitchen lights went on.

"Ah, the power's back on!" said Ria, smiling.

"I'll go check the phones," said Pia. "If it's fixed, I'll have to get back home to cover up for you two in case Dad calls."

She went to the phone and heard the soft beep of the dial tone.

"Well, guess I have to get back then." She took her jacket from the coat stand and put it on.

"Hey, wait for me," her twin called out to her, "I need to go get more medicine."

"I'm coming too," said Angela.

"What for?" the two asked in unison.

"Well, for starters, I haven't brushed my teeth, yet," she said, a little annoyed.

"Oh, don't bother," said Pia, "we'll bring your things over!"

"Right, you just stay right here and take good care of Robert," said Ria, beaming.

"But..." Angela objected.

"No buts!" said the two.

"You're the reason Robert got sick in the first place!" said Pia

"And did you see how he looked at you that time?" said Ria with a dreamy sigh. "He was calling a different name though," she added.

Pia elbowed her.

"Now, you be a good girl and stay here, we'll take care of everything," said Pia.

"There's some porridge on the stove in case he gets hungry," said Ria.

"But..."

"Goodbye!" said both.

Angela watched helplessly as her sisters left.

The rain outside was still pouring, the wind strong. They pulled their jackets tightly as they left for next-door. Angela gave a deep sigh and turned around to head back to the living room.

She found Danny sitting on the couch.

He had a big bruise on his arm from last night.

Ria bandaged it earlier. She fussed all over it as if it was a life threatening injury. Danny, on the other hand, seemed to like the attention.

He saw Angela looking at him with a frown and grinned.

"Sorry, all dressed up now," he snickered.

Angela glared at him and sat on one of the mattresses.

"How's he doing?" she asked, not looking at the boy.

"Fine. His temperature just dropped to 36.8 degrees," he replied.

"That's reassuring..." she said in a low voice as she looked at the boy sleeping on the couch. "He was so strong..." she said. "I didn't think he could push you around like that..."

Danny looked at his friend and smiled.

"Yeah, I was lucky he was sick..."

"But, why is he such a coward when he's actually that strong?" asked Angela.

Danny looked at her, a little alarmed, then his look softened.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" he replied with a gentle smile. "You did wake him up after all."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, blushing.

"You'll know in time..." said the other. "Now, if you'll just excuse me," he said standing up, "I need some breakfast too."

With that, Danny left the room, leaving Angela with the sleeping Robert in the living room.

Angela frowned and lay down on the mattress for a bit. She hardly got to sleep since her conscience was bugging her all night, due to Robert's fever. She closed her eyes for a while and decided to doze for a few minutes.

"At least his fever's going down now...." she thought.

A few seconds later, she was fast asleep.

When Danny came back, he found Angela sleeping on the mattress.

He pulled a blanket over her and sat on a chair beside his best friend, munching on a sandwich. The two cats followed him from the kitchen and settled themselves on Angela's feet.

He was still eating when he heard Robert groan. He looked at his friend and saw him coming round.

"Hey," he called to Robert, "'bout time you woke up."

"Umm...." the other replied, rubbing his eyes as he tried to raise himself.

He ended up falling face first on the couch.

"Serves you right!" Danny laughed as he helped his friend up. "How you feeling?" he asked.

"Weak..." Robert answered, "and hungry..."

"Okay, I'll go get you something to eat." Danny was about to stand up when Robert tugged his shirt.

"Hey, what happened to your arm?" he asked.

"You mean, you don't remember?" he chuckled.

"Remember what?" he asked

"Nothing. Anyway, Angè's sisters took care of it."

"Angè... where is she?" he asked.

"Right there fast asleep..." Danny pointing at the sleeping girl on the mattress. "She was so worried about you last night, she couldn't sleep a wink," said he. "Now, wait here while I get you something to eat."

Danny left the room and went to the kitchen while Robert looked at Angela with a frown.

She lay curled on the mattress, her small fists balled beneath her head. She looked so peaceful in her sleep with her lips slightly parted, and her hair falling softly on her face. Her chest heaved slightly as she breathed, and from where he sat, he could see a glimpse of her full breast.

He quickly looked away, feeling his face burn.

"She's real cute, isn't she?" Danny asked him, entering the room with a bowl of porridge. Robert jumped and looked guiltily at his friend.

"Yeah, I guess so," he answered, "but she could really be a handful sometimes." He took the porridge and ate hungrily. "Did you cook this?" he asked.

"No, Angè's sisters did," the other answered. "You never told me they were doctors."

"They were?!" asked Robert.

"Well, anyway," Danny continued, "When are you going to tell her?"

"Huh?" the other replied with a mouthful of porridge. "tell who what?"

"Angela," said Danny. "When will you tell her about Belle?"

Danny waited for a reply, but Robert kept silent.

"I don't have to," he finally said. "She's got nothing to do with that, it's none of her business."

"But she has a right to know," said his friend. "Don't you like her?"

"I do," he replied after a moment of silence, "very much..."

He looked at the girl sleeping peacefully and sighed.

"That's why I can't get her mixed up with my past."