Lena could not suppress a yawn. She had very little sleep last night, thanks to Lacey, kaya ngayon ay antok na antok siya. Sumandal siya sa upuan at pumikit. She was about to drift to sleep when Cyrus held her hand.

"Hey, don't sleep on me yet. Malapit na tayo sa bahay mo."

Idinilat niya ang mata at nagpalinga-linga. It looks like they're only 5 minutes away. Hindi na siya pumikit. Hinintay na niyang makarating sa bahay. And when they got there, agad niyang binuksan ang pinto at tuloy-tuloy na pumasok papunta sa kwarto niya.

She dove into the bed and hugged her stuffed Baymax.

"Lena, hindi ka pa kumakain."

"I'm not hungry."

"Kumain ka muna bago matulog."

She let out a grunt and buried her face on her pillow. Maya-maya ay naramdaman niya ang paghila nito sa kanya. Simangot siyang napabangon.

"We'll eat first, okay?"

He pulled her to the kitchen and made her sit. Naghanap ito ng makakain sa loob ng fridge. Mabuti na lamang at pasko kahapon. Maraming tirang handa.

Nag-init ito ng pagkain at saka siya pinilit pakainin. Her stomach grumbled at the smell of the food. They weren't able to eat anything back at Ramona's place. Pinagmadali kasi sila ni Lacey.

She ate with haste and gusto. Then she went back to the bed to lie down.

"Will you be okay here? Babalik na ako sa bahay," tanong nito.

She sat up. "I can't sleep alone."

Kier and Bailey were at her parents' house. Nakalimutan niyang sabihin kay Cyrus na daanan nila ang mga alaga. Ngayon, hindi siya makakatulog nang wala ang mga ito.

He walked towards the bed. Pumay-awang ito, ang isang kamay ay kumamot sa batok. "I guess I could sleep for a few hours."

Nang mahiga ito ay nahiga na rin siya at tumalikod. She can sleep, just as long as he's beside her. Hindi siya makayakap dito dahil sa naisip niya kahapon. It's making her uncomfortable.

"Lena, if you're just going to hug Baymax, then what do you need me here for?" she heard him ask.

Bumaling siya rito, still with Baymax in her arms, and scooted closer. He removed the stuffed toy. Nilagay nito sa paanan nila. Then he pulled her close. Her eyes were yet again blessed with the closer view of his neck. She went ahead and touched his Adam's apple. Hinuli naman nito ang kamay niya. With a stern look on his face, he told her, "Matulog ka na."

"I-I'll just face the other way," sabi niya at saka ito tinalikuran.

"Bakit mo 'ko tinalikuran?"

"Para makatulog."

"Hindi ka makatulog nang nakaharap sa 'kin?" tanong nito saka siya ibinaling paharap dito.

"You're making me uncomfortable," she admitted.

"Hmm..." Inilapit nito ang mukha sa mukha niya.

"W-What are you doing?"

"Making you more uncomfortable," he answered with a smile.

He began raining kisses all over her face, which in turn made her face very red. She fisted the collar of his shirt when he went in and gave her a kiss on the lips. Her heart was beating wildly again. How will she be able to sleep now when it feels like she's been injected with a huge dose of coffee?

And when he rolled over her and pinned her down, lalo nang nagwala ang puso niya.

"Lena, if you're not going to stop me, then I will just go on thinking that it's okay," he told her. Then he cupped her face and kissed her again. "You're making me lose my self-control."

She bit back the words that she was about to say. They won't help her at all. She's not thinking straight.

Yumuko uli ito para halikan siya sa labi. "Speak up. Baka hindi tayo makatulog pareho nito."

"I-I.... I don't know what to say."

"Tell me to get off of you."

"G-Get off," she said without conviction. She didn't want him to. She wanted him to just kiss her until she falls asleep. But he clearly didn't want that. Or maybe he does, he just don't want to want it. She doesn't know. The feeling's very confusing.

He rolled his eyes heavenwards. "You are so naïve."

He said that like it's a bad thing, which made her slightly upset. Noticing her sudden change of mood, umayos ito ng higa at saka siya niyakap nang mahigpit. Then he kissed her forehead and said, "You are so innocent sometimes. I don't want anyone to take advantage of that innocence, kahit ako. Learn to say no, Lena. It's for your own good."

"Pero bakit kapag tumatanggi akong kumain ng gulay, nagagalit ka?"

He laughed at the question. "That's different. Non-negotiable. You can't say no to vegetables."

Ngumuso siya. "Ang unfair naman!"

He grinned widely and gave her another kiss. "Someday, you'll thank me for it."

--

Cyrus went home after 5 hours. Hindi siya nakatulog agad kanina dahil sa pangungulit nito. Tuwing pipikit siya ay hahalikan siya nito sa tungki ng ilong. It was only until she told him to stop that he did. They were asleep for four hours, then he fixed something to eat before he left.

Habang wala ito ay saka siya naligo at naglinis ng kaunti. He came back after two hours to pick her up. Inihatid siya nito sa bahay ng parents niya. She'll be spending the rest of the year there.

"I'll see you tomorrow," paalam nito sa kanya.

"Don't be late."

"Ano'ng magandang i-regalo sa daddy mo?"

"He loves to read," she told him. "But I don't know what book he wants. I'll just ask tapos sabihin ko sa 'yo."

"All right."

He kissed her on the cheek because her mother's looking. Then he waved to her mom before leaving.

Lena headed off to the backyard to check on her dogs. Naabutan niyang kalaro ang dalawa nina Nikola at Kenna. When Bailey saw her, he immediately ran towards her.

"Hi, Buddy!" She patted his head and gave him a kiss. Hinintay niyang lumapit sa kanya si Kier pero abala ito sa pakikipaghabulan kay Nikola. Bailey gave her a look as if to say that he's the better dog.

"Ate!" Nikola ran towards her and gave her a hug. Kier followed. Hinarang lang ito ni Bailey.

"How's Ate Lace?" Kenna asked. "Okay na sila ni Kuya Martin?"

"Yep."

"Where's Kuya Cyrus?" tanong naman ni Nikola.

"He went home. He'll be here tomorrow, don't worry."

"May cake?"

Pinisil niya ang ilong nito. "You always ask for cake."

"I like cakes," her brother said with a smile.

She kissed his cheek and they all went inside when their mother called.

--

Kinabukasan, maagang pumunta sa bahay sina Lacey at Martin. They looked so much better than they did yesterday. Mukhang refreshed ang mga ito. She didn't want to think about what happened after they left the two alone. Hopefully, nothing.

Siya ang kauna-unahang niyakap ni Lacey pagpasok ng bahay. It made her so happy. Ever since that issue with Martin's gift, parang nagkaroon na silang magkapatid ng gap. That gap was thankfully bridged the other day.

Dumating si Cyrus nang tanghali. May dala itong isang box ng cake, to Nikola's utter delight, and a thick book which made her bored just by looking at it. But Kenna and her dad loved it.

Her grandparents also arrived. May dala-dalang lasagna ang lola niya dahil darating daw ang tito Kristoff niya. He requested the lasagna. Her tito Kian and tita Kylie will arrive later in the afternoon.

Lena couldn't ask for more. She felt so complete seeing all of her loved ones together and happy. Masayang-masaya rin ang daddy niya. She knew how upset he was when he learned about her and Lacey.

--

Once complete, they all headed to the dining area to sing her dad happy birthday. Mommy niya ang nagdala ng cake, while singing. She put the cake in front of him and asked him to make a wish.

"I wish for you to give me a kiss," he replied. Her mom happily obliged.

They ate shortly after. Then she resumed taking pictures of her family. Nang magsabi ang daddy niya na gusto nito ng litrato nilang lahat, Cyrus volunteered to take the camera from her. They were all set and ready to have their picture taken when her dad suddenly spoke, to everyone's surprise.

"Son," he called to Cyrus. "Give the camera to the maid and join us here."

Cyrus gave the camera to the help and took his place next to her. Mukhang doon lang nag-sink in dito ang nangyari. He couldn't wipe the smile off of his face.