The next weekend, sinimulan na nina Lena ang prenuptial photoshoot. The first shoot would happen at her house. Julie broke the shoot down into three dates. The first one was that weekend. The second would be next weekend and the last would be at the end of the month, isang linggo, sa Singapore, Hongkong at Macau. She has not said yes to that yet. Wala kasi syang pera.

Nangako si Julie na tataasan nito ang bayad sa kanya dahil na-extend ang usapan nilang isang linggo para sa shoot, pero pagkatapos pa noon niya makukuha ang bayad. She could borrow some money from her parents, pero gagawin lamang niya iyon kapag walang-wala na talaga siyang pagkukunan ng pera.

She woke up early that day to clean her house. Cyrus came at about nine in the morning. Tumulong din ito sa paglilinis at pag-aayos ng bahay. Nothing has changed since they made the deal. There's no unnecessary display of feelings. What the deal did was the awareness that what they have could lead to something more, pero ayaw niyang ipilit kaya laking pasalamat niya dahil walang pagkailang na nangyari.

Julie and Blake came in at lunch. They brought food so it's a relief. Hindi pa kasi siya kumakain ng agahan. But before they could eat, Julie insisted to tour the house first. She examined every artwork and furniture. Like Cyrus, manghang-mangha rin ito, lalo na sa back wall niya.

"I love your house!" Julie exclaimed.

"Thanks!" She couldn't hide the pride in her voice.

"Kumain na tayo," pag-aaya ni Cyrus. He must have heard the growling of her stomach.

They headed to the kitchen to eat. Julie took interest of the stools around the table. The skeletons were made of wood and the seat cushions were of black leather. Pinatungan niya ang mga iyon ng black laces.

"I love these seats!"

"You love everything, Julie," Cyrus commented, rolling his eyes.

"Pwede bang mag-uwi ako ng isa?"

"Uhm..."

"Don't mind her. She's just kidding."

Julie glared at Cyrus, then turned to her and smiled. "Or you could design our future house!"

Cyrus told her no, which earn him a kick in the foot. Blake broke the argument so they could finally eat in peace.

After eating, Blake made coffee for the shoot. Barista pala ito dati doon sa café kung saan nito nakilala si Julie. Pagmamay-ari naman ng parents ni Joanna iyon. Julie brought Cyrus there one day, sakto namang nandoon si Joanna. The two were introduced and then the rest, they say, is history.

When Joanna died, the owners stopped the business and sold the place. Fastfood chain na raw ito ngayon.

--

Shooting the couple was a breeze. They took her instructions well and even did a few improvisations, which look so cute and candid. She specially liked their 'cuddling in the pit' moment. Hindi niya akalaing hindi siya maku-kornihan sa dalawa. For a sweet couple, the two seemed pretty cool.

The shoot lasted for only two hours. Mas matagal pa yata iyong naging pagkikwentuhan nilang apat. When the clock hit six thirty, nagpaalam na ang dalawa sa kanila ni Cyrus.

Cyrus stayed, of course. Tumulong ito sa kanya sa paglilinis at pag-aayos ng mga gamit.

"Gusto mo ng pizza?" she asked after everything's back to normal.

"Pizza na naman? Hindi ka nagsasawa sa pizza?"

Umiling siya. Kesa naman kasi magluto pa siya, umu-order na lamang siya ng pizza. Kaya nga halos hindi mabawasan iyong mga ipinadadalang pagkain ng lola niya sa kanya.

"I'll just cook," Cyrus told her while checking the cupboards above the kitchen counter. Kinuha nito ang isang pack ng pasta saka tomato sauce.

Then he opened the fridge. Nilingon siya nito. "Do you mind?"

"No."

Pinanuod niya ito habang abala ito sa paghihiwa ng pangsahog. Hindi niya alam na marunong pala itong magluto. When she voiced it out, he told her that it runs in the family.

"May father's a chef so required kaming magkakapatid na matutong magluto."

He looked like he knew what he was doing. Iyong mga herbs and spices na nakatago lang sa cupboard, nagamit nito. It took him less than an hour to cook everything. Her mouth watered at the sight of a plateful of spaghetti. Sinamahan pa nito iyon ng isang plato ng chicken fillet.

"Dig in."

She didn't need to be told twice. Pagkabigay niya ng isang portion ng pagkain kay Bailey ay kumain nanrin siya.

The food was delicious. Naparami ang kain niya. Cyrus seemed pleased.

"If you liked that, then you'd probably love my dad's spaghetti."

"So mas may masarap pa pala rito?"

Cyrus chuckled. "Probably 'yong sa lolo ko. But my mom would argue. Mas gusto nya 'yong luto ni dad."

"It's a wonder na hindi ka tumataba, considering na masarap palagi ang pagkain sa inyo."

"I was a fat kid. Natuto lang mag-diet at exercise," he confessed.

--

Habang naghuhugas siya ng pinagkainan, binuksan naman ni Cyrus ang TV para manuod. When her father learned that her old TV was broken, agad itong nagpadala sa kanya ng replacement. Hindi siya makatanggi dahil mapilit ito.

After washing the dishes, she joined him in the living room.

"Hey, your sister's on TV."

Nilakasan nito ang volume ng pinapanuod. Lacey's on TV, being interviewed. May upcoming movie kasi ito kaya ini-expose palagi to hype it up. The movie was about two sisters falling for the same guy. Needless to say, naka-relate siya. The sister's character hit close to home.

The interviewer asked Lacey to tell the viewers what the movie was about. Her sister animatedly told the story of Cynthia (Lacey's character) and Annicka (the sister), how close and inseperable the two were until they met Lloyd (played by one of the hottest actors in town).

Pagkatapos ng maikling kwento, the interviewer then asked about Lacey's relationship with her. She smiled when her sister talked about their friendship. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang affection nito. Lacey might be an actress, but she never lied about her family.

It was going well until the interviewer asked about Martin and their relationship with him. Halatang nag-iba ang mood ni Lacey nang ikwento ng interviewer ang nangyari noong birthday ni Martin.

"According to our source..." sounded like a deadly encantation.

The interviewer pointed out that Martin seemed happier with her gift than Lacey's. At that time, namumuti na ang kamao niya sa pagkakakuyom. This is so typical of the media. Mina-magnify ang mga malilit na bagay. Everything's exaggerated at lahat nilalagyan ng malisya. Yes, it might be true that Martin liked her gift better, pero kailangan pa bang gawan ng issue?

Mabuti na lamang at composed pa rin ang kapatid niya. Sinabi nito sa interviewer ang paliwanag niya dati. Lacey also emphasized that there's absolutely no rivalry between them. Kung naniwala man o hindi ang interviewer ay hindi na niya alam.

She didn't finish the interview. Tumakbo siya papunta sa back wall at saka walang habas na ipinagbabato ang mga lobong may lamang pintura. And when there's nothing left, she threw the basin in frustration.

"Hey, hey!"

Cyrus held her by her shoulders.

"Lena, calm down," malumanay nitong sabi.

Alam niyang namumula na siya sa galit. This could be nothing to some, but this was a big deal to her. This is why she hates the media, always twisting things for money and entertainment.

Pinahid niya ang namumuong luha sa gilid ng mata saka siya huminga nang ilang beses. She couldn't even scream! She can't. It's one of the many reasons why her feelings were kept bottled up inside, saved by the ones let out by her balloons.

Cyrus looked at her with worry.

"I'm okay," she told him.

"You don't look okay."

"For fuck's sake! I said I'm fine!" She bit her lip at her outburst. Nagyuko siya ng ulo. "Sorry."

Cyrus sighed and put his hands in his pockets. "It's all right. Hey, do you want ice cream?"

Napatunghay siya. "What?"

He smiled. "It'll make you feel a little better, I guarantee it."

"Uhm... okay." Maybe the coldness of the ice cream would calm her down.

She followed Cyrus outside the house, with Bailey in tow. Naglakad sila papunta sa malapit na convenience store.

After two cones of ice cream each and a leisurely walk, she did calm down.

"Salamat ha. And sorry ulit do'n sa kanina," sabi niya rito pagkabalik nila ng bahay.

"Okay lang. Good night."

Nang makaalis si Cyrus ay agad niyang tinawagan si Lacey. Her sister, or her assistant would usually pick up the phone on the first or second ring, kapag nakita ng mga itong pamilya ang tumatawag. But that night, Lacey didn't answer her calls. That got her worried.