AFTER BREAKFAST the next morning, Elle asked Nanay Esther if there was a basketball court in the subdivision. She was glad to hear that there was one near the playground, so she took Mikey there.
"You're so great, Mikey!" Elle exclaimed in happiness when Mikey finally shoot the ball in the ring. She lifted Mikey to reach the ring while he's holding the ball. They tried a few shots before yet having a score.
Panting, she lowered him to the pavement. She wrinkled her nose and pretended to breathe like a thirsty dog; her brother laughed at her and giggled.
"One more, one more!" said Mikey when he chased the ball.
The little boy has an unlimited amount of energy. They playing almost an hour under the scorching sun, dribbling, passing, running, and yet, he was still lively.
"Okay, come here!" she called him.
Mikey ran towards her as she immediately lifted him. They repeated what they had done a while ago, and on the first attempt, the ball got into the ring. Once again, the little boy laughed with such pleasure.
"One— more?" she asked in a heavy breath. Well, she didn't mind as long as Mikey was happy.
"Yes! A million times!" he jumps with joy.
"Okay!" she nodded and went to get the ball, but she stopped in the middle of walking.
"Mind if I join you?" said no other than Matthew!
Elle's mouth opened and then closed again. She was momentarily stunned by surprise. What is he doing there? 
"Ah! Kuya Matt! You're here!" Mikey runs toward his brother.
"Good morning, little man!" said Matthew as he effortlessly spun the ball with his finger, then look at Elle.
"How long have you been there, Sir Matthew?" Elle managed to ask, feeling conscious because she was sweating and her hair strands were blasted in every direction.
"Around five minutes," He strode towards her.
Elle was stunned for a moment. Does she see it right? Was Matthew smiling at her? He's wearing dry-fit black upper clothes that trace to his muscular chest and stomach, black jogging shorts, and white rubber shoes. His body bathes in sweat; he looks like he just finished running.
She swallowed as she felt his clear aura. It seems like he was not the arrogant person she met at the bus terminal and the mansion garden, but she preferred this Matthew.
The man looked at her from her slippers. His gaze stopped for a moment in her breasts part, then to her eyes. "You look wet, tired from playing basketball?" he smirked.
Elle felt conscious. She bowed a little as she adjusted her t-shirt, preventing her bra from tracing because, as he said, she is now soaking with sweat. She cleared her throat. "Uhm, not that tired."
"Are you going to play with us, Kuya Matt?" Mikey asked with hope in his big brown eyes.
"Can I join you, then?" he smiled softly at his brother.
"Of course you can!" Mikey exclaimed in happiness, then looked at Elle. "Can he Ate Elle?"
"Huh?" she said and then looked at Matthew. The man was waiting for her answer as there was already a trace of certainty on his face. Oh, it turns out he's more handsome now when he was not rude.
"Ah! Of course, he can! But who's the ally of whom and who's the opponent?"
"Hmm?" Mikey thought for a moment. His eyes were looking up at his right. "How about you two play together? And I will serve as a referee!"
"What? You won't play with us?" Elle said, slightly surprised.
"I'm tired now," he pouted and slouched, "But I'd love to see you play together!" but he said with full of enthusiasm.
Elle grimaced and looked at Matthew. Once again, he spun the ball with his finger.
"Don't you want to play with me? Are you already tired or just afraid to play with me?" his eyes sparkled with naughtiness.
"Me? Afraid?" she pointed a finger to herself. "Of course not! I'm good at playing basketball; in fact, I participate in a league whenever there is a game in my hometown!" she said proudly, where in fact, they do not have a basketball game in which women are involved. It just happened that her cousins were her only playmates.
"Okay, then. Let's begin our one on one now," Matthew emphasized his last words with a smirk on his lips. He looked at Mikey. "So, how many scores are needed to determine who is the winner?"
"Uhm, maybe five?" Mikey said.
The two guys looked at her.
"Five? Okay, no problem," she said proudly, pretending that she was okay with that but nervous. How can she be matched with someone like Matthew? He looks like an athlete in his body built. If she lost to him, it would be embarrassing to her little brother.
"By the way, the winner will get three chocolates from me. So, let the game begin!" Mikey ran to the side of the court and sat down.
"Wow, what a nice price. I'd love to eat chocolate this morning," Matthew looked at her. "How about the two of us make a pact? What do you think? The loser will follow everything the winner wanted to do."
"What?" her jaw dropped. Was Matthew was about what he's saying? Matthew's smile widened. He was confident that he would win! "Why? Are you chickening out now?"
"Of course not!" she shook her head.
"Okay, then. You go first," He gently passed the ball on her, and she caught it.
Elle began to dribble the ball, then she ran to the ring, but Matthew immediately blocked her with his wide arms!
"Don't think that I will go easy on you. Just now, I am thinking of something you can do for me once you lose," he smirked once more, but he looks serious this time.
Elle swallowed as she dribbled. She slightly adjusted, so Matthew has a little chance to snatch the ball from her. "Don't be too confident, Sir. I am a girl, but it doesn't mean that I can't keep up with you,"
"I like your courage. Nice girl, Elle."
Elle's dribbling became faster as she struggles to get close to the court, but Matthew seems to have intentionally brought his body closer to her! Elle was stunned and cannot move properly. She was not used to being so close to a man other than her cousins. Matthew was way taller than hers. His body was big compare to her petite figure; that's why she looked like a ten-year-old average girl.
"Come one, Elle. You can do it," he said in almost a whisper. She didn't know if he was encouraging her or teasing her.
She went to her right, but Matthew followed her. Why can't this man give way to her? Gosh! She is a woman! He should give way to her and let her shoot!
"Is there any rule in playing this game?" she asked.
"This is just for fun. The only thing you need to do is to shoot the ball."
"Okay, as you said so," using her arm, Elle pushed Matthew. But it seems that she was pushing a wall! Elle slightly stooped as she looked at him. He's enjoying her struggles!
"Come on, you can do it," he said once more as he pushes his body even closer to her. She felt his heat, touching his stomach with her arms, and even felt and smells his warm breath. The sweat on his body mixed with a perfume that only suits a man lingers in her nostrils, and she can't deny to herself that he still smells nice!
Once again, Elle force herself to get into the ring. This time, Matthew obviously just gave way to her to shot the ball, and finally, she did it!
Mikey screamed in delight.
"My turn," Matthew said later on. The man effortlessly dribbled the ball and ran into the court, Elle did her best to block him, but she back away every time he takes a step closer to the ring, or rather— to her.
"You look so small, Elle. What is your height?" he looked down at her.
"What does my height have to do with basketball?" she frowned, her eyes widened in disbelief. Does he underestimate her?
"Nothing, I'm just asking because you look like a midget person to me,"
"How rude of you!" she said and tried very hard to grab the ball, but she suddenly stumbled! "Ah!"
Before she found herself submerge into the cement, she was already caught in Matthew's arms and accidentally embraced him. Elle's heart slammed on her chest. Her breast was pressing against his hard stomach as she felt his sleek body on hers!
"Hey, you okay?" Matthew said in almost a whisper.
She raised her head to meet his gaze. He looks serious now, and she swallowed three times when he descended his eyes to her partly opened mouth.
A smile gradually formed on his lips. "Close your mouth; otherwise, something will enter it. Would you like that?" his smile got even wider! She immediately closed her mouth.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Mikey asked curiously. They both looked at the little guy, and Elle immediately straightened her body as she closed her mouth. Matthew got the ball that rolled away.
"So, let's continue our game, you again," he passed the ball to her.
Elle slowly dribbled the ball, still thinking about what happened earlier. She barely ran to the court. Once more, Matthew used his body to blocked her.
"Go, Ate Elle! You can do it!" Mikey cheered. She looked at her brother, so her opponent took advantage of that opportunity. He snatched the ball to her! Elle snapped herself together.
"Eyes on me. Elle," Matthew said, and then looked at Mikey. "Hey, little man, who are you rooting for?"
"Uh, I don't know? Maybe to the both of you? Go, Kuya Matt!" Mikey cheered.
Matthew shook his head and laughed a little. The game continued.
Throughout the game, Elle can't help but notice that Matthew just forgave her. He slowing down his motion, he even let her take a shot, and when it was his turn, he purposely missing his shot.
The score was four-five, meaning Elle was the winner.
"So here's your chocolate, Ate Elle!" one, two, three!" Mikey handed her chocolates on her palm one by one. They were sitting on the pavement.
"Thank you, Mikey," she looked at Matthew, still in the middle of the court, staring at a distance. He was now topless, his dry fir shirt hung. She looked at Mikey. "I think your Kuya deserves some chocolates, too."
"Yes," Mikey nodded and took out three chocolates from a small plastic bag. He ran towards his big brother and gave him the chocolates. Matthew smiled as he says 'thank you' to his little brother, and Elle can't help but smile while looking at the two men. She's thankful because Matthew is a good brother to Mikey, so nothing she should worry about.
He looked in her direction. Her heart leaped a little bit when he smiled sincerely at her. His smile now was the same as his father— disarming and charming; he doesn't seem like the same man the first time she met him. Nobody is perfect. It is better to forget what happened between the two of them.
Elle stood up and approached the brothers. "I think we should head back to the mansion. We need to change your clothes, Mikey."
"Next time, we should include Daddy in our play if he is not busy."
"Don't worry, Mikey. I'm sure one of these days he will pay with us," Matthew assured him.
As they headed back to the mansion, Mikey held both of their hands while walking. He even says that the two of them looked like a couple and he was their child. Elle and Matthew just laughed at the little boy's imagination.
Elle's feeling was lighter. As of now, she was happy and contented to be by Mikey's side. She didn't know how long would that be, nor did she know how to tell him that she was his big sister.

Finally, the day was ended peacefully, and no dispute ensued.