AFTER the fire rescue, everyone went back to the post, tired and exhausted.

All the energy they had was spent on that level 3 fire which consumed the entire building and few of the neighboring establishment and some houses.

Despite the minor injuries caused by panic, there were no serious injuries and no one died.

As soon as Big Red parked on the fire bay, they all went out and unzipped their suits, some dropped it on the floor and some slung it somewhere.

Few of them dropped lying on the floor trying to relax and some went under the shower pods to cool off and some... well, they just disappeared.

Like Maine and Alden for example, they took their suits and put them away and as soon as they're done, they mounted her bike and left without telling anyone. Alden was the one driving this time. He took it easy since they are both tired and totally spent.

They got to Maine's condo and it was so quiet. Nobody's home. Without any words, they went separate ways. Maine went straight to her room and Alden to Periwinkle's room. They both took a shower.

ALDEN came out first and went straight to the kitchen. He looked in the cupboard for whatever he could find. He's hungry, and he knows she is, too.

He saw a few packs of pancit canton in the cupboard and some canned goods and other stuff. He opened up the fridge and freezer.

In his mind, if he chose one of those meat packs, it would take him an hour or more than that before he and Maine could eat.

He closes the fridge and opens the cupboard again and takes two packs of pancit canton. He took a pan and put in a few cups of water then waited till it boiled.

While he was waiting for the water to boil, he went upstairs to get his cellphone to text Molly. Not even three seconds, he got a text back saying they are with Luisa and Gerald at the mall.

She wasn't able to text them because Big Mike said they were responding to a fire call. Molly also said that Aleck is with them, so as is Sonia. He just told them to be watchful, careful, and have fun.

Finally the water boiled and he did what the package instruction said. In a few minutes, the noodles are done. He prepared two bowls, took two forks and two bottled water and brought it upstairs.

He knocked on Maine's door but there's no response. He held both bowls in one hand, put the water bottle in his pajama pocket and opened the door slowly.

He felt his heart pierced when he saw Maine asleep near the foot of her bed, leg draping down the side. He quickly went in and placed the bowls and the bottled water on the nightstand and carefully scoped her up to lay her down comfortably on the bed.

He can't help but stare at her. His eyes went down to her cut. He saw that there's no gauze covering it.

He got up and went to her bathroom and looked for that little baggie that Luisa left the night before.

As soon as he found it, he went back to her. He squeezed a small amount of the antibacterial cream since she already cleaned the wound from showering.

He then cut just enough gauze then folded it over her wound and put some surgical tape to secure it in place. Then he put everything back to where he got it from.

He went back to put a blanket over her. He sat next to her, covered his legs and leaned back on the headboard and stroked her hair till he fall asleep.

"LOVE, did Maine and Alden come home?" Big Mike asked Luisa over the phone.

"I don't know, Love. I'll ask Molly." She replied but feeling worried. "Hey, Molz, when Alden texted you, did he say where he was at?" Luisa asked Molly.

"No, not really. He just asked where we were, then he said to be watchful, careful, and have fun. That's all." Molly replied, feeding Periwinkle her the Auntie Anne's cheese pretzel. "Why? Is something wrong?" She had a worried tone in her voice.

"No, not really." Luisa replied. "Love, did you hear that?" She then turned back to her phone talking to Big Mike.

"I did." He said. "Where could they be?" Big Mike seemed lost.

"Did you try calling him or Maine?" She asked. That's the only way she knows to get a hold of him.

"I did. I mean, we did." He answered. Luisa's brows furrowed.

"Were they with you earlier?" Luisa asked.

"Yeah, they were. They partnered earlier and they kicked some fire's ass. They were pretty good actually now that they are working together and getting along and not against each other, they kick ass." Big Mike proudly uttered. Luisa smiled. She's happy that now Maine may have found her purpose.

"Then after that?" She asked again.

"They rode on her Harley. They were here since Ruben saw them in the locker putting their suits away, then they just disappeared. Conrad saw the Harley at the fire bay a few moments before that then it was gone when he came back to get Big Red washed." Big Mike said, frustrated and troubled. Luisa could hear the worry voice on Big Mike.

"Hold on, Love." She said then turned to Gerald. "Gei, call Maine. Big Mike is looking for them." She commanded.

"Why?" He asked.

"Just call her. Big Mike is worried." She raised her voice at Gerald. Gerald raised his brows.

"What do you guys want from the two? They're both grown ups, they trusted us with their kid and brother... leave them alone." Gerald snapped. "What if they took their honeymoon in advance? Are you going to stand in their way?" Gerald added. Luisa's eyes went big.

"How did you know?" She countered. Gerald pointed at Molly.

"Her Dad was at the house this morning. I heard them talking about getting married or not marrying someone, then Ate Maine's voice got so mad and cold and told her Dad that she is not asking for his blessings or opinion on the matter. She will marry Kuya Alden and that's that. Then Kuya Alden asked Aleck to see the couple to the door and they are not allowed to come back to see Ate Maine again." Molly sometimes can not help herself to tell the story, but the good thing is, she only tells Luisa, Gerald, Alden and Big Mike when they ask and when it is really needed. She doesn't go around to gossip. She loves her boss.

"Holy fudge!" Big Mike uttered loudly on the other end of the call. Luisa pulled the phone a little further from her ear.

"No, Michael. They wouldn't do that." Luisa knew what was going on in Big Mike's Mind.

"What? I haven't said anything yet." Big Mike said innocently.

"Well, that's the thing, it is not what you said, it is what you are thinking." Luisa countered. Big Mike laughed. She knows her boyfriend too well.

"I know, baby." He continued laughing, which irritate Luisa the most.

"Let's go home guys!" She told everyone, which earned a questioning look.

"Why?" Gerald asked.

"Maine and Alden are missing." She uttered. Sonia and Molly giggled.

"Luisa! They are both consenting adults. Wherever they're at right now is their own privacy. And besides, they are both capable of defending themselves." Gerald made a good, long good point.

"I heard that, Love." Big Mike agreed. "I think I was just exaggerating things here. I just got worried." Luisa knew what he's thinking.

Maine is like a sister to both of them and knowing Maine and Alden's history, they might get into something bad.

"I hope not. You know what, it's getting late anyway. We'll meet you at the house. Plus, Maine's dad is in town." Luisa did not hear a word from the other end of the line but a deep sigh.

"Okay, children, let's go home. Something's up." Gerald called out to the others.

"Ok, love. I'll see you at your house." Big Mike concluded. But before she could hang up, he spoke up again. "The boys wanted to come, too." Luisa rolled her eyes.

"Well, you better tell them to bring their other halves." She was shaking her head when he heard the boys echoing in the background.

"YES, MA'AM!" They chorused in the background. Big Mike laughed heartily. She just laughed, too.

"Bye." She did not wait for Big Mike to hang up.

"Well, I think we'll do the arcade next time." Luisa said. Aleck was quick to look at her in dismay. He did not say a word but you can tell that he wanted to protest.

"Your Kuya and you Ate will take you next time. We just need to go back home because they are both missing." Luisa tried explaining it in a way that he won't feel more left out.

The fear and sadness is written in his eyes. Luisa bit the inside of her cheeks. She could have been more careful in what she say around Aleck.

"They are not missing missing, we just don't know where they are." Gerald picks it up really quick. Aleck's face went a bit softer.

"Okay. I hope they're fine." Aleck said sullenly. Luisa felt bad so she went and wrapped her arms around him.

"It is better if your Kuya Alden and Ate Maine take you and Wink next time." She said. He smiled shyly. She felt a little okay with that smile.

"Oh boy. Your smile will be the death of all the girls." Gerald said, sighing. Like his brother, Alden, Aleck has a dimple, too and is more charming than his brother Alden. Luisa ruffled Aleck's hair and smiled.

"Yes, he will be." She agreed to what Gerald said. Molly nodded as well. Aleck just gave them that cute boyish smile as they all walked towards the mall's exit.

LUISA and Big Mike's squad came almost at the same time in the underground private parking lot. The first thing they both did, while Molly and Sonia were gathering the young ones to the elevator, was to look for Maine's motorcycle. They both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the Harley parked at it's space with two helmets on top of the gas tank and the seat.

"Hello, Ma'am, Sir." The guard greeted them. Luisa smiled.

"Did Maine leave?" Luisa asked the guard since she didn't see Alden's car parked at the visitor's parking.

"No, Ma'am. She went upstairs with the other fireman." The guard looked around to see which one was that. "It was Sir Alden, Ma'am." The guard added. He knows all of them but is still making sure which one. She smiled at him and thanked him.

"Thank you, Kuya." Luisa passed him to the waiting elevator.

"So they're home." Gerald said with a sly smile. Luisa crunched up her face.

"No. Nah-ah." Big Mike utters in disgust with his cousin. "Get your head out of the gutter, Gerald Paul Juancho." Gerald winced upon hearing his full name. He hated it, he hates it and he will be hating it for the rest of his ever beautiful and amazing gay life.

"Bro, Alden may be something else but I, we, know that he won't do that to Maine." Allan chimed in. The elevator is packed with five firemen and their other halves, Big Mike, Luisa Gerald, Molly, Sonia, Aleck and Periwinkle, who do not have a clue what is going on since the little doll was busy playing with her toy phone.

"I'll call for deliveries." Tracy, Allan's fiancée, said to veer the topic to somewhere else since there are minors with them.

Luisa gave Gerald the I will kill you look. Gerald retreated back and covered his big mouth, his eyes are smiling..

"It doesn't mean two adults, who have kept their feelings from each other for a while, will be doing things, you know... " Conrad glanced at Gerald before continuing. "That they are not supposed to do. Alden and Maine are better than that." He added on but his mind is laughing at how would this turn out if the two are making... he stopped his mind.

"And besides, Alden looks like he's a gentleman." Jona, Bernie's wife, chimed in. the other ladies nodded in unison, agreeing to Jona.

"Well, we just hope he remained to be a gentleman." Big Mike uttered under his breath.

"I hope so, too. Maine is very beautiful and very tempting, even saints can be sinners, you know. But Alden is a straight-forward guys who knows what wrong and what right, he'll hold up, right?" Luisa said, trying to convince herself earlier.

"Oh, he will." Aimee, Leon's fiancée, said with conviction.

"I kind of hope so too." Cessy, Cisco's wife said.

"We all do." Tess, Conrad's wife butt in.

"And even if they don't, so what?" Gerald speaks in a soft gentle voice from behind. Everyone went quiet.

Noone says a word after that since the elevator door opened. They all marched in Maine's house. Molly punched in the code and went in first carrying Periwinkle.

"Ate Sonia, can you please take Wink in her room. Aleck, can you go with them. I'll make something for us till the food gets here." Molly suggested.

Sonia nodded and took Periwinkle from her and marched with Aleck and Wink towards the stairs.

"Come on, Little Princess. Mommy and Daddy are making you a sister or brother." Sonia voiced out softly. They all looked at each other and laughed.

This is why this bunch is something you want to keep in your life. They make light of every heavy situation.

Sonia went upstairs with Periwinkle and Aleck. Molly went to the kitchen to prepare some drinks for everyone, while the rest sat down wherever in Maine's living room.

"Guys!" They all turned to Sonia when she called. "Come." She waved her hand towards her telling everyone to come up to the room.

They all rushed upstairs, bumping into each other, some are tripping and some are pushing each other.

"SSSHH!!" Luisa held her forefinger to her lips to shut everyone out.

Sonia is standing at Maine's open door. It wasn't close to begin with that's why Sonia saw what's happening inside.

While everyone was rushing, expecting to see a horrific, more like, erotic scene, they were all in awe at what they saw. Alden on his back sleeping, hugging Maine's upper body towards him and Maine sleeping on her side on Alden's chest, facing the wall, hugging his arm.

Nothing malicious with what they see but they are giggling in so much giddiness, it was such a romantic scene that excites everyone. Nakakakilig.

Sonia went inside quietly to get the empty bowls, forks and water bottles. She closed the door behind her which made everyone groan. She laughed.

"You should have seen them this morning. They came out of that room wearing just pajamas to face Ate Maine's Dad." Molly uttered. They all turn around to face her.

"They what?!" Luisa asked.

"That's when she told her Dad that they're getting married." Molly pointed out. Luisa and Big Mike looked at each other and smiled.

"Kuya said that she will marry Ate Maine, whenever and wherever, whether she likes it or not." Aleck interrupted everybody's giddiness.

"When did he say that?" Luisa asked. He smiled showing his dimple.

"The day we found out Periwinkle is our niece." Aleck went on. "The same time he admitted to me that he loves her. He asks for my forgiveness too, because he can not and will not take revenge on her for the death of Kuya Vinny and Mom." It was a jaw dropping revelation that they hoped would have come from Alden but no, Aleck spilt the beans.

"Well, we have a wedding to plan then." Luisa said.

"Yes, we do." Gerald echoed in.

"Here comes the bride." Jona chimed in.

"Yup, I hope all dress in white." Cessy butted in giggling.

"Aaaayy!! Maharot na babae!" Tracy squealed. And they all laughed.

__________
End of TPA 30: Dressed in White

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💖 ~ Ms J ~ 💖
05.20.20

The Periwinkle Affair
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August 26, 2019