I see Blue walking on the beach. There has always been a striking unhurried feel about his walk, like he's on the runway modeling for the summer collection of Hugo Boss. He's so dashing in his plain blue v-neck shirt, his hands are on his pocket - no, wait - he has no pocket, he's not wearing anything down below. I see his coke in can dangling low, going left and right as he walks. What the --?

Then I see Bench strolling-in with a skate board, he's holding my guitar. I know he likes it when I play my guitar for him, but I've never seen him skateboard before. Weird. I see him in his typical black tshirt and black ripped jeans.

Then I look again at Blue, he's still walking, why isn't he reaching somewhere?

Then back to Bench and suddenly, he's topless now, his jeans hangs low below his pelvis, I can see hints of his pubes - wow - I haven't seen what's below those pubes for sometime now. He's skateboarding in circle on this colorful avenue, the festive-looking buildings seem to be moving.

I look at Blue again, he's no longer naked, he's wearing a dapper pair of navy blue shorts, but he's now holding a sweating cold coke in can as he, still, continue to walk but he's not getting anywhere.

Then suddenly, I see a wild, angry bull lunging towards us. No!

"Run Blue! Run!" I shout, horrified, I know instantly, the bull is going to hurt Blue, but I can't do anything, he can't hear me, I can't even move. The bull is getting closer - wait, it's pink! The bull is color pink! And it's wearing sir Yap's special scarf that he wore in the wedding last Thursday. How in a --?

I now see the bull going after Blue. It looks so close yet so far. I can't figure this out, this is all weird.

Then Bench is no longer in his skateboard, and my guitar is gone. But he's standing on one spot, opposite Blue, his feet are wide apart and he looks like, he's in pain. He has both his fist closed with some kind of pressure, I see the nerves in his hands coming out and his muscled arms are swelling, then his messy black hair is floating - what's happening to him?

In a baffling turn of events, Bench turns into Vegetta, RJ's favorite character from the japanese cartoon he watches, Dragonball Z. Bench looks at me with an angry killing stare, then he shoots into the air. I'm utterly mystefied. I look at Blue again, and the pink bull swallows him whole. I'm now absolutely petrified.

I wake up, but keeping my eyes at half-mast.

I smell something familiar, I know this, the natural masculine musk of a man. Slowly I open my eyes, I'm lying sideways, but I feel someone is so close with me; my head is resting comfortably on a muscular arm, I feel a soft warm hand is petting and stroking my naked waist, then it moves down to my naked thigh.

I open my eyes fully and I see a smiling sunrise; he has kind eyebrows; a set of bedroom eyes, deep with long lashes that suits its droopy look; his few days old beard makes him look like a man, but his smile turns him into a boy. His dimples are out too. He watches me like, I don't know, like he is seeing the birth of Jesus Christ? That's a weird thought.

Ok, I'm fully awake now, and Albert is watching me. My instant thought is to pull the sheet up and cover my mouth, just my mouth. I smell him breathing and I like it.

He smirks, a handsome smirk. In my mind, I declare, this is a goOod morning.

He pulls the sheet down that I cover for my mouth. I'm not fighting, so I show him a smile too.

"Good morning, beautiful," he whispers.

His breath smells of pine trees, freshly baked bread, the ocean breeze, and hot melted chocolate, it's both refreshing and salivating. I want to kiss him so badly.

The truth is, I woke up earlier, about my normal waking time, around 5am-ish, I guess. I went to the bathroom to pee, then I freshened up, brushed my hair, put on a lip gloss, but before that, I ate enough of his toothpaste. Because I want to smell and look fresh for when he wakes up. It was too girly of me, but I can't help it. Last night, he made me feel like a woman again, all night.

He meant what he said - every curves. Last night he kissed every curves in my body, long gentle kisses but very persuasive. The coolness of the wind was defeated by our hot flavors of desire. The warmth of the lighted candles charged us with anticipating excitement.

I don't think I have enough of comparisons, but he was very skillful last night - his touches oozed a fierce flare of yearning, and the feathery strokes of his tongue consumed me completely, all out, no control.

Every explosion, I was in complete surrender. He rested for several minutes then he went at it again, and again, and again, and again, and again. He was limitless, overflowingly juiced up. He was famished, a ravenous predator, and I was a willing piece of meat.

After the awkward hour of the rooster's cockadoodledoo, from magical makeshift bed, Albert and I decided to head back home. We didn't have much sleep last night, and during the day, we had a pretty active and tiring activities.

But before we entered to each of our rooms, we had a meaningful glance at each other. Because of that glance I couldn't get myself to sleep. I kept on looking at the door that connects both our rooms. Then I paced around, splashed my face with some water, I was restless, like my body hasn't had enough of Albert yet.

I was even more sore than the first night we were together, but I still wanted him more. I guess, I was transforming into what I'm supposed to be, a horny teenager. But I wasn't really - not horny, but it was an incessant addicted urge to be close to him. I don't understand it, but somehow my body knows.

I took several attempts to unlock the door but I was being chicken about it. When the magnetic pull became too strong for me to escape from, I opened the door hurriedly and I saw Albert standing right in front of the door, similarly startled as I was. But not a second later, we were feasting on each other's mouth like hungry piranhas.

Then the night continued, rounds after rounds after rounds, he was totally limitless, like an 80's hollywood action movie, there is always another explosion to expect.

And now, Albert traces my lips with his thumb. "Sleep well?" he whispers again. I can only nod, probably looking like a sweet virgin, only I wasn't -- a virgin.

"Can I kiss you?" he asks. The caterpillars in my stomach starts wiggling.

I respond with a kiss, a short one, then I pull. But he's not content so he kisses me back and it turns into a long fluid kiss. A mouthful-kiss later, I pull out but my face is zero centimeter away from his, then I answer his question. "Yes, you can kiss me," I whisper back.

A wide smirk creeps up his face then he kisses me again. This time, with full action; his one hand kneads the side of face, he lifts himself up then he's on top of me. He kisses me all over my face, he nibbles on my ear, then gives me feathery kisses on my neck to my jaw, then back on my lips again.

But before it goes any further, I interrupt. "Wait, it's morning. I gotta go," I say, uncertain, and I don't wanna go, really.

"Can I give you a reason to stay?" he asks.

I'm quizzical. But then, shortly, I realise what he meant, something steel hard is nudging me from underneath the sheets. We are both naked still. I giggle soundless.

"Again?" I ask with an involuntary grin on my face.

"If you're a guy, you'll understand. But then -- thankfully, you're not," he laughs under his nose.

My grin turns into an involuntary smile. I bit my lip, "Ok. But be quiet, you moan like a howling wolf."

He cackles. "And you, a cute little kitten."

"A kitten?!" I slap his arms.

Then with a sexy smirk, he dives into my mouth again. The night isn't over yet, even though the sun is already up. We're now both addicted to each other, addicted to him being inside me, deep and penetrating.

Right smack between the Bicol peninsula and the Visayan province, Masbate is a boomerang-shaped island province at the center of the Philippine archipelago. The province is one of the oldest settlements in the Philippines. It is described by geologists as a province sitting on a "pot of gold" as the land is rich in minerals.

It is also endowed with rich natural resources; in line with its agriculture are other industries such as large farming, livestock and poultry raising; along its coastal areas, fishing industry predominates; and agricultural lands are planted with rice, corn, rootcrops and coconut; farming is the main source of livelihood of Masbateños, the province ranks second in raising cattles throughout the country.

Masbate is also known as the Rodeo capital of the Philippines, and they host the biggest rodeo event in the country, perhaps, even in all of Asia.

Since traffic polices are not very common in the province, the adults let me drive the ranch's service car, the new Chevrolet's Centennial Edition Colorado. After my long morning with Albert earlier, now the day is starting. Mom is sitting on the backseat with the newlyweds, RJ is sitting on Albert's lap in front. We are all heading to the capital city for the Annual Rodeo Masbateño Festival.

"Normally, the rodeo festival takes place in April," Uncle Juando starts. During the drive, we've been talking about what to expect at the event. "But this time it's a special season. Last April, a week before the festival, the governor, their beloved governor died in a plane crash somewhere in the ocean of Masbate. So they postponed the event in mourning. But the family felt that the governor wouldn't have wanted that, he was a true-blooded cowboy and was one of the pionner organizers of this event. For the 100th day of his death, they decided to proceed with the festival in honor of him. It's a month-long event, it's on last week now."

"Oh yea, I hear about that on the news. They had to do a wide search and rescue?" Albert asks.

"Yes. But no longer a rescue. They found the debris of the crash floating in the ocean, but it took them 3 days to find the part of the plane with the bodies," Uncle Juando answers.

"Speaking of death, we should wear the seatbelt, sir Albert," RJ butts in with a serious tone.

Mom snaps at him for such preposterous interjection, but we all laugh anyway. RJ has a thing about seatbelts, he thinks that because dad was wearing a seat belt, he had three more days to live despite his accident. Albert agrees right away and straps both of them with the seatbelt.

The Rodeo Masbateño Festival is a pride event of the province that showcases different skills in livestock handling. It also includes livestock shows, a carnival, exhibitions and trade of horses and cattles, as well as local products. Men and women everywhere dress up in cowboy outfits to perform stunts like lassoing on foot and on horseback, livestock wrestling, casting down, load carrying, bull riding and whipping, and the two or four person carambola, among other event highlights. This event draw people from around the Philippines, as well as foreign tourists and international cowboys and bull riders who participates in the activities.

We arrive at the Rodeo Masbateño Grand Arena, the only proper rodeo arena in the country. I park the car behind the arena, from here we can hear the loud roars of the audience from the bleachers. According to today's schedule, the finale carambola has started.

Mom, in one of the rare occassions that I see her dress up fun, is wearing cowboy boots, lightwash fit denims, a flannel top and a cowgirl hat. RJ of course is in his complete mini cowboy look, looking adorable, but acting like an adult cowboy that he thinks he is. Uncle Juando matches RJ's look, a full-on cowboy with a lasso hanging on his hip, and uncle Brian, despite his next-door boyish appearance is looking appropriately as a cowboy too.

Albert, however, isn't very wild west, but country enough. He's wearing a stylish dark brown desert boots, a dark green cigarette style trousers, a fashionable tangerine sweater with a flannel shirt underneath, the collars are out and its hem ends lower than the sweater. He's both trendy masculine and manly seductive, I notice some of the local cowgirls are already eyeing him out, or maybe it's his firm succulent butt that looks rather appetizing.

"Are you sure, you are ready, anak?" Mom asks.

We are now waiting at the entrance of the arena, the newlyweds were caught up by some of their guests from their wedding. The pure-blooded Herhers has already left the country this morning, there isn't any hotel in town that suited the taste of their royal highnesses, so they left right away.

"Ready as ever," I answer confidently.

I'm wearing my green cowgirl boots, a pair of light-wash cut-off jeans, a white bodyfit sando and I topped it with rolled-up sleeves green flannel shirt that I also rolled up above my waist and knot-tied in front. A stylish green cowgirl hat completes my look for today.

"Ready? Why? For what?" Albert asks.

Mom looks at me a little surprised. "You didn't tell him?"

"Tell me what? What's happening?"

"Ate is going to the ride the bull. She's the guest of honor in the bull riding finals. She's one of the animal abusers," RJ snides in with a dull face. Mom snaps at him, then she decides to bring RJ into a store because he's been complainig in the car about being thirsty.

I sneer as they left. "As if he doesn't enjoy watching the event, that little punk!" I mutter and shake my head at the humor.

"You are going to ride a bull?"

I look at Albert's disconcerted face. "Except the animal abuser remark, everything RJ said," I confirm.

"How? -- you.. ride bulls? Isn't that -- dangerous? When did you -- how did you --"

I expected this reaction from him that's why I didn't say. I was looking for exactly this reaction from him. "I was the champion last year, junior female division. We've been coming here for five years now, every summer vacation. We were here last summer for this, well, until the unfortunate things happened," I answer with a bit of nonchalance.

"Why? How - what, why bull riding?"

I shrug. "It was -- a spur of the moment. Like, three? -- three summers ago, I started taking lessons. I already know how to handle cattles, and other ranch animals, but you have to take lessons in bull riding, the competition requires that you're a certified bull rider, you know, for safety of the event. You're right, it's dangerous. In fact, it's the most dangerous 8 seconds in all of sports. But no one died here yet."

He's half appalled-half humored, the crease on his forehead and his grin shows that. "You mix cocktails, you change tires, and you ride bulls. Is there anything crazier than that, that I don't know yet?"

I chuckle and grin, I'm thrilled about him being thrilled about me. "Well, you know, I'm good at taking off my clothes too, one - by - one, piece - by - piece," I tease and I smirk suggestively. I don't know why I did that.

Then I glance at my approaching uncle. "Uncle. Let's go?"

Then I walk in to the arena with uncle Juando, while poor Albert lost himself a bit.

I'm in the chute now, feeling again that familiar rush of adrenaline, and I hear the crowd from the bleachers roaring. As invisible as I was in school, here, today, I am the center of the universe and I like it. I know this is dangerous and I'm excited even more, and again, I'm feeling that peculiar sense of life that I used to have with dad.

Beneath me is a bull named Bull's Eye Dragon, we won together last year. I know we're not bestfriends, but I whisper to him to give it his best, because I will too. The announcer ecstatically introduces me and the crowd roars even louder. It isn't usual that they have this special ride show in the programme, but last year, they called me the Queen of Rodeo.

Soon as the chute swings open and the bull lunges forward, I focus on the immediate. I keep myself centered, working my arm out to balance myself and anticipate every move. The first buzzer sounded and the crowd roars, but I stay centered, keeping a tight hold of my core as Bull's Eye Dragon lunges hard, down and up the sky, spinning left to right with forceful haste. I miss to anticipate one move, I go off center, but I pull myself up and regain my balance again, then the second buzzer sounded.

In one glance, I see the people in the stage area rise up and they all cheer ecstatically. In a practiced agility, I leap from the bull and I land on the ground on all fours, I quickly get myself up onto my feet and run towards the arena fence without looking back at Bull's Eye Dragon.

I turn my head to the bleacher where I know my number one fans are; Mom was standing and clapping, RJ was jumping, the newlyweds were raising their arms and cheering crazily, then Albert - he is standing but not moving, and there is that look in his eyes again, this time I'm not just walking, I understand if he is extremely mesmerised or impressed at me right now, or whatever it really is, that look.

"You're astig ate! Super cool! Proud brother here!" RJ jumps and hugs me. We are now in an open pen beside the arena.

"That's the last one, anak, please?" Mom pleads.

I laugh wryly as I drop RJ back down. While mom is used to me doing thrilling and dangerous activities like this, but of course, she will always have that motherly worries. She kisses me on one cheek, then I hug her. I still have adrenaline left in me.

"So, last year, you created a historical record for staying centered for 8 seconds and gaining 99 points. Now, you beat that record too? -- 16 seconds?! Wow!" Albert comments.

I shrug. "It's just bull riding," I titter, but quickly I withdraw. "No, it requires a large amount of luck too," I admit humbly. 'Cuz - No, that wasn't easy at all.

"But Bull's Eye Dragon is the meanest of them all too! Everybody falls even before the 8 seconds with her! Then she would lunge and attack them when they fall! She's a wild beast. Funny!" RJ chimes in, humuring himself more.

I roll my eyes as I shake my head in humor. "She's not the meanest, RJ. Bull's Eye Dragon is like, you know, like -- "

"Like you ate! An animal abuser, but with a heart," RJ snides.

I open my mouth humored but appalled. "I am not an -- would you stop calling me an animal abuser? I've never abused any living thing ever!"

We all laugh. Mom jokingly covers RJ's mouth and signals him to go to uncle Juando at the back area of the arena and who's about to buy a horse. Mom and RJ leaves me with mesmerised Albert.

"Would you stop looking at me like that!" I snap at Albert. But of course, internally, I like the way he looks at me.

"Then stop tempting me to fall in love with you," he says, his voice low, his face non-chalant.

What? What the? Putangina!

I am not reacting further. I decide to head towards my family, Albert follows and walks beside me. I walk slow, I realise, I like this kind of moments of us together. But damn! This is crazy.

"No wonder, you are so good in riding," he breaks the silence of our walk.

I get the double meaning, I push him out lightly. "Shut up! You liked it."

He acts as if he's being innocent. "Huh? What? I mean you are good at horseback riding too. And -- fine, that other riding too. Especially last night," he grins, like he's chewing the side of his cheek.

"On second thought, let's go to the store. I'm thirsty," I say to change the topic.

Mom sees me so I signal her that I'm going out to buy a drink, she nods. Albert follows me. We go to one of the makeshift stores outside the arena. Cowboys and cowgirls are everywhere, with some greeted me as we walk, like I'm some big-shot celebrity.

There are several temporary pens outside that holds cattles and horses for trading, some sells chicken and ducks too. It's quite a lively surrounding especially because of the colorful makeshift stores that sell all kinds of things, from food and drinks to local delicacies, some local products and souvenirs, to horse saddles and fake LV bags? Hmm.

I feel a little funny about the freezer cold coke in can I'm holding now. This couldn't be realistically Blue's real-life size, but I'm still positive it is about this size. Even Blue had a hard time holding and playing with his thing even with both his hands when I caught him several times at the gym shower. Then in another realisation, I've never seen Albert showers in the gym.

"Why is a coke funny?" Albert wakes me up from my reverie.

"Ah - huh? Err, why is a coke funny? -- why is a coke funny?"

"Yes, why? You were laughing at it," Albert's face is as confused as I am.

Then I realise why the question is. I had a lewd thought about the coke in can. "Err. Nothing. I just remember something. It's --- " I say with a meaningful grin then I shake my head.

He chuckles. "You flatter me. I'm not that big, am I?" he mumbles.

My mouth opens wide, I'm scandalised. "That! -- You -- No! Why would I be thinking about that?" I deny.

He kindda is, maybe. I don't know, but I am very sore right now. And it hurt like hell when he was inside me. But hell was good. He smirks and laughs at his own humor while I shake my head and rolling my eyes.

Then in a very chivalrous save, he pulls me into his arms with such mighty dexterousness when a distressed horse sprints to our side. It starts some chaos around, the running cowboy is having a hard time taming his terrified horse. I don't know what started it, but I can see that the horse is stressed about something.

Albert and I are frozen from our position, I am wrapped inside his arms; I already dropped the coke I was holding from the pull; my face is pressed tightly to his chest, but my vision can see everything around. Some people in the area are terrified especially the tourist looking ones, but the locals appears to be watching something not unusual, they must be used to this kind of scenarios.

I see that the horse is charging again and about to lunge in our direction. I'm thinking to do something, calm the horse or cast it down, but from the looks of it, it is strong enough to drag me down. Several other cowboys try to help and control the horse but he lunges forward towards our direction.

In another dexterous move, Albert moves me out of the way and he head forward against the coming horse. He catches the horse's rope and pulls it down with a strength that I never expect I'd see from him. With a calm gesture and a dominant voice, he calmed the horse and it settled a little bit controlled. The cowboy owner catches up and thanks Albert. Everybody saw it, my Albert's heroic save of a possible tragedy. Ok, maybe not a tragedy, but Albert -- he's a hero, my hero.

I can't help but feel girly and see Albert like a mighty knight despite his tousled hair with curly ends. I realise Albert can't change a tire, but he can protect me in a any kind of danger. The way he pulled and wrapped me around his arms reminds of a familiar feeling of safety, even tho I don't feel I need any saving at all. He returns to me with a manly worried face.

"Are you ok?" he asks.

"Yea. Are you?" I try to tame myself as well. I kind of want to lunge at him right now, but I think not.

"Yea. But crazy horse."

I shrug. "Not an unsual scenario around here. But, thanks for the save!"

He looks at me with the same calm but domineering presence as he did with the horse. He smirks, "I thought I was never gonna impress you," he says in a domineering, handsome tone.

I press a smile. "You've already impressed me when Magnum Endo finally understood how do the symbols of greater than and less than works."

"Huh?"

I laugh. "I mean you were already impressive even before I realised you are."

"Ah," he grins.

We arrive home in time for dinner. It was a very festive day today, I think we were all vibrantly entertained with the finale performances from the rodeos and the Masbate's best group of dancers and performers.

We finish our dinner a bit late, the conversations on the table are as festive as the events today. I find out that Albert's family owns a ranch in their province and they breed equestrian quality horses. That is why he knew how to handle the distressed horse earlier that RJ is so engrossed hearing the story about.

When all the food are consumed, Albert and the newlyweds continue their conversation with beers in the dining area, Mom and I help with cleaning of the dishes despite our relatives in the house prevent us from doing so, and RJ went up to their room for his nightly routine of taking a half-bath.

It's 9pm now, I decided to take a shower as well and freshen up, and then I come to mom's and RJ's room. They are already cuddling in bed, watching Spongebob Squarepants on the tv.

"We've been waiting for you! Come on, we're gonna watch dad," RJ grumbles.

"Sorry, boss. But you don't like it when I cuddle with you and I haven't taken a bath," I argue. Then I begin to set up the flatscreen tv to open the USB device's content of our dad's videos.

"Cleanliness is next to godliness, ate."

I shake my head in humor, RJ and his self-imposed belief system is sometimes beyond my comprehension. Earlier during dinner, furtively, I've informed RJ that the videos we are going to watch tonight are about mom and dad, so we should sandwich her between us in bed, and he should hold mom's hand assuringly. RJ of course, being just as protective of mom as he is of me, agreed and promised to hold her tight if she cries.

I had a glimpse of this montage earlier this morning, that's why I know, it might make mom cry. Now, she wonders why RJ and I sandwich her between us, but she settles anyway with our hugs and cuddles.

I'm nervous but I let the video starts. It starts with a soothing montage of mom doing some house chores, working on the garden, brushing my hair while we're sitting on the porch, and her random tranquil walks all over the house and the ranch.

Then the next clip shows a young version of mom, she was cooking her personal recipe, filipino style spaghetti in their B&B's kitchen, she was wearing a daffodil printed little yellow dress, looking so serene and beautiful. I sense mom's surprised reaction with the video.

Then another video clip was taken from a window, with the curtains inside being blown by the wind, mom was reading a book outside, sitting on a chair in our side porch, facing the lush green grass of our front pasture.

Then there are more clips of mom laughing, petting their lazy dog, watering plants, talking with some house guests, changing the curtains while pregnant, sweeping the front yard, eating an ice cream, and even folding some fresh laundry undergarments.

Then dad's smiling eyes appear in the next clip. I realise what he was trying to show, that despite all these very simple and ordinary things that mom did, dad saw her in a completely different filter, like it was because of mom that dad's eyes have a peaceful smile. Mom was his sense of peace.

I feel mom's hold of me tightens. I'm afraid to look at her, but I can sense RJ's head keeps moving like he's constantly glancing at mom.

Then there is a clip where we were all having a picnic, I remember it, I was five, I was following a dragonfly, mom was resting on dad's front while they were relaxing on the flannel picnic blanket with daffodils and dandelions in their background. Dad set up the camera on a tripod so it captures all of us, we all look peaceful and relaxed.

I feel my throat run dry, but I'm not crying yet. I don't think mom already is, but I still can't look at her.

Then, there is another familiar clip, I remember it vaguely, but it was my first day of pre-school, mom and dad dropped me off to school but only dad walked me to the school's entrance because we weren't parked properly. Mom took a video of me and dad walking while she was inside the car. When I was about to go in, dad kneeled down and hugs me. Then we look at mom and we both randomly did the finger wiggle gesture for her and the camera.

I react equally to mom's tight hold of my hand now, but I know I can't cry or we'll all be crying like idiots.

One part that finally causes someone to start sobbing was a clip of dad and mom dancing in the kitchen; dad secretly puts the camera in an inconspicuos spot, then he walked towards mom who was putting groceries to one of the top cabinet. She was wearing a short, pastel grey, linen tshirt dress and was on barefoot, tip-toing to reach the cabinet. Then, in a swift and masterful grab, she was wrapped in dad's arms. Then they were laughing and dancing without music. But the way they looked at each other, it's like the most romantic song is playing in the background. Time was irrelevant in this clip, it's quiet, dad was saying something inauble that made mom smile, inlove.

RJ starts sobbing, I look at him and his face is scrimmaging. I smile in adored humor, then mom wraps her arm around RJ and hugs him tight. Mom and I look at each other smiling, and I know, the both of us are not crying tonight. It's RJ's night to cry.

After several more of heart-pinching, throat-drying, and breath-stopping video clips, Mom cuddles up with RJ in bed because he bursted out into a complete cry, our little protective saviour wasn't able to hold it at all.

I let them be, they also do this inaudible conversations that is only between them. I come to the balcony for some air and I open the Theology book again. Right now, it's the world's best invented mind distraction.

In a quite surprising turn, Cece couldn't figure out the clues I told her. I've been noticing for awhile now that something is different about my bestfriend, like she's lost in another dimension at times.

I forgive her if she isn't trying hard enough to help me with my treasure hunt. I have an inkling what's causing distraction to Cece; every time we're in Teacher Kim's class, Cece is different. My baby, my little princess is probably about to turn into a butterfly now, she's having a big boy crush. I shake my head and smile cheesy at the thought.

I go back to the clues - Knowledge, Silence, Mathematics, History, and Autobiography - what do these words mean? I sigh.

Skimming through the pages with vandals, I couldn't figure out any more clues. I go back to the first clue from the Library Card.

Ok. This is quite an interesting adventure as promised by the written letters at the back of the library card, I'm very curious about what I will find out now. But there's nothing else in the Library Card, I don't think there's --- aha! That's it! The Library!

It's a treasure hunt, so it must be it, the location, it's in the library, whatever it is that I must find. That's where knowledge are collected, and there's the absolute Silent Rule of Mrs. Aklatan, then Mathematics, History and Autobiographies are major sections in our library. OMG! I got it! Shit!

The Library. But our library is huge, I can't trash it out to find something I don't even know. And there are more vandals in this book that I don't know if they are clues or if I need to figure it out as well. There must be more clues in here, where in the library should I look? I try to read some more pages, there are encircled letters on some, but I have no idea how it relates to anything.

Then I start to feel sleepy, maybe I could do better thinking when I'm in the library. I come back to the room, mom and RJ are already asleep. I carefully walk towards my room and shut the door quietly.

Then I'm facing the other door again. I wonder if Albert is still awake, so I opt to knock to say good night. But I change my mind before my first knock, am I going to the do first move again? - I'd be a slut.

I shake my head then I come to my bed and force myself to sleep. Several turns and twists later, I realise I will not be able to sleep like this. I can feel Albert's energy from behind the door. So I get off the bed, I pace around like I did last night. I look at myself in the mirror despite the eerie dimmed background behind me.

Only the moon lights up my room. Yes, it's the moon again, it's making me do things I won't really do normally. I stand in front of the door, behind it, is possibly a sleeping Albert. Do I creep up his bed and rape him?

No!

What am I thinking? I'm just gonna say good night, that's it. So I open the door and to my surprise, Albert is sitting on the floor, by the wall beside the door, both his knees are folded up. He looks up at me surprised too, then thrilled. Hurriedly, he stands up.

"What are you doing there?" I ask. Although, I have a bit of an idea.

He shakes his head, uncertain. "I don't know. I realised it's stupid but.. I sat down anyway."

"Why?"

"I was arguing in my head whether to knock on your door or barge in to your bed," he says with a straight face.

I swallow dry. "Funny, I was thinking the same thing."

"But you didn't knock. So you were barging in to my bed?"

"I was even planning to rape you while sleeping."

Damn, my inner voice!

He smirks then it turns slowly into a wide grin. I turn my head away with a smirk too. What I said is already out, so I just scratch the back of my head then massage my nape. He steps closer to me, then his hands caress the sides of my waist. I place both my hands on his chest, I lower my head, then I bit my lip.

Then - Holy Sister Stella L! - the wind from my window blew the door and it shuts in a bang loud enough to start a nuclear war. I crample Albert's shirt tightly in my fist and my entire body cringes at the terrorizing noise the door did.

He chuckles, so I push him humorly. Then he grabs the side of my face, caresses it and he lifts it up so that my eyes meet with his. His eyes move like he's examining my entire face, his mouth is partly open, and in an instant I know what is going to happen next, I'm feeling it too.

"Mecky, I -- "

"Don't," I interject. "Don't say it."

His brows arch up. "How do you know what I'm going to say?"

I pause. "Because I want to say it too."

"Then why not -- And why can't I?"

"Because we're in a moment. A good one. But I don't want you to say you love me because this moment tells you that you do. I don't want to say I love you too."

His brows knit. "I don't understand."

"The last time I heard that, it was in this similar moment. But when the moment passed, we don't know what we meant about what we said anymore. Then my heart broke. I don't want I love yous that has an expiration date."

There is a momentary pause. Then his expression lightens, like he accepts my explanation. I lower my head and continue with what I'm trying to say. "When you say it, say it when it's not a moment. Like when it's just a random tick on the clock, when time is irrelevant, when I love you is the only truth you ever know," I end.

"You intrigue me, Mecky. There is something about you that piques my curiosity," he narrows his eyes and jerks his head to the side.

"Stop, I'm not special. You keep looking at me like I am."

"Because you are."

"I'm just a girl, standing in front of a man, in the middle of the night," I say randomly. Then my heart knows, I'm falling for his gaze.

Shit, I'm inlove!