THE next day, Mal woke up all cuddled to her boyfriend. She smiled at his peaceful, sleeping figure and began to plant kisses all over his face, missing his lips by inches.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty!" she whispered cheerfully, giggling.

He opened his eyes, smiling. "Good morning, baby."

"Did you sleep well last night?"

"Yeah, almost too well!" he paused for a few seconds, "Thanks for yesterday, Mal. I really needed that."

"You're welcome, Teo. I think we should do this more often."

"Yeah. Me too."

"Anyway... Shall we?"

She stretched her hand out, helping him sit up straight. He gave her a tight, grateful hug that lasted for a few, long minutes. Mal enjoyed it for as long as it took before they let each other go.

"We shall."

After they changed and headed for the kitchen downstairs, they found the family preparing breakfast as usual. However, Mal noticed that her two mothers were dressed in formal, black suits, and she knew that they were going somewhere.

"Hey, y'all!"

"Good morning, Mal, Teo." they all greeted.

Mal held Teo's hand and sat on the table. He sat next to her and began to eat his food in silence.

"So, where are you guys going?"

"We're going to run some errands, and we're going to attend a meeting in the town hall. I think we'll be back at five." Nawal explained, holding her wife's hand.

"Mum, I'm going over to some friends." Adam requested.

"And, I'm going to the house with Teo. I think I'll spend some time there before coming back."

"Okay, don't be out too late." the two women said at the same time. They looked at each other and giggled.

Mal smiled, then turned to Teo to find him staring at his plate of toast, a sad look in his eyes.

"Babe, are you okay?" she whispered.

"Yeah... I just realized that I have to leave." he whispered sadly, "Just as I was having so much fun with you yesterday."

That made Mal a little upset. She also wanted him to stay with her like the day before, but she knew that wasn't possible. She hadn't done any online work, and she didn't want to make him bored by doing her job while he was in the same room.

Teo also hadn't called his friends or told them about his day, or whether he was going to stay with Mal in the first place.

Mal frowned into her plate a little, then turned to her boyfriend.

"It's okay, babe. We can do this next week or just this weekend! We're going to have so much fun!"

He shook his head, squeezing her hand from under the table.

"It's not that... I know I'm holding you back from your job and studies, but, whenever I'm in that house I just feel worried and stressed all the time. Not to mention that feeling of someone other than us living with us and watching our every move. I was happy when I didn't have to worry about everything." he paused, "But maybe I only get that feeling when I'm with you! And... I really don't want to be clingy, but-"

"Okay, everyone! We better get going. See you all at five!"

Mal waved at her two mothers, making Teo do the same and give them a fake smile as he looked away, slightly embarrassed.

"I- I'm sorry, I didn't want to bother you with all that." he muttered after the two women left, "Can we please go now?"

Before the girl could answer, he got up and waved at her siblings, then got out of the room.

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