Chasing an Angel

C6-3

Alden immediately left after bringing Meng back into their home. He refused Leo's offer to use the latter's car and just hailed a taxi. Before leaving he got two paper bags from his luggage and handed these to Meng.

"That's for Bing and you."

"Sexual discrimination. How about Theo and me?" jested Leo.

"Beg from the ladies, a very simple solution." Alden answered back and left.

Meng was awakened up from her sleep by Bing's excited shrieks coming through their open bedroom door from the living room. It was just a quarter before six in the morning and as this is her rest day, she lied down again in bed. Bing came rushing into their bedroom and seeing that she is already awake pulled her up from bed unceremoniously and out into the living room. Wondering at her cousin's strange behavior, she just let Bing led her. 

An amused Alden holding a bouquet of white roses first caught Meng's attention, then brothers Theo and Leo at the background.  Meng's checks heat up with embarrassment at the scene and is about to turn around and run for their bedroom when Alden caught one of her arms, hugged her lightly while whispering "I love you" into her ear and handed her the bouquet of white roses.  Bing is jumping and clapping her hands while shrieking excitedly. "Kayo na ba? Kayo na ba Kuya RJ?" and tugged Alden's shirt. Alden nodded and asked, "Approved ba ako sa iyo?"

"Of course a hundred percent thumbs up but, do promise you won't make my Ate cry. If this happens I won't talk to you for life."

"Pinky promise." Answered Alden and extended his right hands little finger to Bing to seal his promise.

"Bing I would not do that.  Aside from your Kuya Leo and your whole clan running after my head, it will pain me more than your Ate. Don't you know that she is more of a heart of stone than I am?" And Alden reached out for Bing's head and messed her hair.

"Come let's have breakfast now, so that you could leave for school."  And he held Bing's right hand with his left, while holding Meng's left hand on his right and led the way to the dining-cum-kitchen room. He seated Meng in his right side while Leo who is occupying the main seat is on his left. Leo is in his usual countenance, looking serious and more of an observer. Seeing the food set on the table, Bing remarked.

"That's what makes you an ideal house guest. You always obliged with food, and mostly my favorites. And I noticed that you're bringing delicious choices and more food than we could consume in one setting this time. Is it because of Ate?"

"Because we're family, no need for other reasons. And, you are treating me much more when I stay in your homes."

"Kuya get used to Bing. Food is both her strength and weakness. Good thing, her metabolism is very active," commented Theo.

Bing was so bubbly and kept on interviewing Alden with endless questions which the latter answered back patiently. Theo butted into the conversations at times always to chide Bing's chattiness but it failed to tone down Bing's excitement over what she has just discovered.

Contrary to Bing, Meng was obviously quiet throughout breakfast. She was ashamed to face Leo but she wants to know his stand on this situation but does not know what to say and how to approach him. 

 Since Theo and Bing already left for school and there was only the three of them left sitting on the dining table, she raised her eyes from her plate to surreptitiously look at Leo and unexpectedly found him raptly watching her.

"Are you blushing Meng? Kanina pa pulang pula and mukha mo?" Leo asked

Alden smiled while also looking at Meng. He remembered their first encounter and how she looked then that imbedded straight into his heart.

"Kuya can I talk to you when you're not busy today?"

"Okay this evening as I am now leaving for work."

"Bro, Meng and I will be going to your house to talk to your father and your uncle about us."

"Take it easy Bro, it seems to me that you are rushing things. Meng is still young and she still has to experience other things in life, please let her enjoy it first."

"No need to worry Bro, I have granted Meng a five years maximum reprieve to enjoy life to the fullest and only after that will I claim my proprietary right, no extension whatsoever."

"I just want to pay my respect for your father and uncle and likewise show them the sincerity of my intentions towards your cousin. I will neither rush nor force her into a more serious commitment until she is ready and willing for it."

"Do what you think is right that won't put my cousin at a disadvantage and you will always have my support."

Leo turned to Meng and said, "Meng, if is about what is between you and RJ that is worrying you now, loosen up, We already had a gentlemen's' talk about it and he agreed to take full responsibility if something got amiss," Leo patted Meng's shoulder and headed for the main door.

"Thank you kuya. I love you." Meng shouted at his back.

"Hmmm!! I am really jealous this time. You could easily say those words to Leo but up to this very minute you never uttered it for me," Alden said when Leo was out of earshot.

"I already told you how I feel for you"

"Love, you told me 'I like you' three times but never 'I Love You.' Liking is totally different from loving and "I love you" are the very words I long so much to hear from you."

Meng smiled, stood up from her chair, reached out for RJ who stood up at the same time, she hugged him lightly and said, "I love you kuya RJ, I love you Alden Richard Jr., I love you My Love," and tiptoed to kiss him quickly on his lips. But RJ grabbed her back when she was about to release him, hugged her tightly and started kissing her back passionately.  Meng felt like she is spinning around, confused and dazed with the mixed but pleasing sensations she is experiencing at the moment.  She found herself clinging back to RJ and responding to his kisses by simply duplicating what he is doing but he then relaxed his hold on her and both are grasping for breath when their lips parted.

"My little witch and temptress, why do you have such effect on my senses?  You drive me crazy without trying to and I am starting to fear how to tame myself whenever you're near."  RJ hugged her again, this time gently and kissed her on the forehead. "We have to leave now for your uncles' place so that we could come back early."