Third Person POV
Pagkahatid ni Lucien kay Elara ay madali siyang nagmaneho pabalik sa bahay niya. He went to his usual post, sa bintana kung saan nandon ang telescope at tinanaw ang balcony ni Astraea.
Kinuha niya ang cellphone niya habang nakatanaw sa bahay ng dalaga at tinawagan ito, she immediately answer the call.
"Nasa bahay na ako," bungad niya sa dalaga. Maya maya ay napangiti siya dahil nakita niyang lumabas ito sa balkonahe.
"Okay..." She stayed silent for a while. "Lucien..."
"Lucien?" Taas-kilay na tanong niya.
"Edi, okay. Ares..." Awtomatikong napangiti si Lucien.
He was just so worried earlier but just hearing her call him made it a little better. He's really doomed. He's liking her too much.
"Remember before when I make asar to you that you like Elara, do you still... Uh... Like her?"
Napangiti si Lucien but he couldn't answer her. Not now. "Does it matter?"
"I don't know." Lumiit ang boses nito. "Pero Lucien, is it true that I'm a spoiled brat?"
"Yes," Nakangiti nyang sagot.
"Eh, maarte?"
"Oo..."
"How about high maintenance?"
"Oo. Astraea, why are you asking me these?"
"So you wouldn't like me na?"
"Ha?" Humigpit ang hawak niya sa telepono niya dahil sa biglang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso niya. "Putangina!"
"Why? Did I say something wrong?"
"Wala," Mabagal ang paghinga na saad niya. Pakiramdam niya ay kinakapos siya ng hininga. "Let's just not talk about this."
"Pero..."
"Let's talk about something else, kumain ka na ba?"
"Hmp!" Rinig pa niyang sabi nito, and if his heart is not only beating so fast, he would have laughed, pero wala siyang lakas pa na tawanan ang babae. "Pero, no. I haven't eaten yet."
"Ano bang gusto mong kainin?"
"Ramen. Ah!" Sumigla ang boses nito. "Ares, can you come over to our house, I'll cook ramen for you."
"You know how to cook?"
"Hm. I think? Basta, ah. Come here, okay? Bye!"
Napatulala na lang si Lucien nang ibaba ng babae ang tawag at napatitig sa balkonahe nito. She was standing there excitedly until she went inside. Napahawak ulit siya sa dibdib niya at mahinang napamura.
