V

‘Wow, I should sleep,’ said Desiree when she checked that it was almost three in the morning. She was busy convincing herself that she ‘might’ be ‘appreciating’ his appearance and there was nothing wrong with that as ‘crush’ is simple ‘admiration’ and all.

‘Let’s say, he’s my ‘happy’ crush,’ she continued reasoning. ‘Just someone who piqued my interest at the moment.’

After that, she was able to relax and sleep. Well, up until nine, but even though she hadn’t slept her sweet eight, she was in an awfully good mood. Maybe it was all because of the acceptance, she took a bath and paid more attention to what she would be wearing even though she couldn’t go out as it was still raining.

She went down to have breakfast and right after her last step, Lucio’s door opened. ‘His staring at me,’ she thought. It could be from confidence but she was sure that he was staring at her for two seconds before he smirked.

‘Good morning,’ he greeted and went straight to the bathroom to wash his face.

Desiree shocked by how her heart kept on beating fast in sight of him but her lips started forming a big smile that she planned to hide if he would turn back around.

He didn’t.

He began making breakfast after that then told her, without lifting his head, ‘If staring at me makes you full then I don’t mind.’

That remark should make her embarrassed and talkback but she didn’t which made Lucio queasy for a moment. He looked up and saw her walking towards him. When she met his gaze, she smiled. ‘What the-’

‘Hey,’ she interrupted his thoughts. ‘How can I help?’

‘Stop it, whatever you are doing stop it,’ he commanded, eyes back to the onions. Half because he was getting more and more uncomfortable by how she was being timid and the other half that he didn’t want to acknowledge yet - she’s flirting with him.

She put her hands up then said, ‘Whoa, wait. I just want to help.’

He put the knife down, stared back at her, then sighed, ‘You’re being weird.’

‘Was there a threatening way of putting a knife down? This guy just did,’ she monologued before answering, ‘I’m not being weird. I just want to help, really. Think of it as my thank you for taking care of me.’

He sarcastically said, ‘What a nice girl you are.’

‘I am,’ said Desiree, accepting his words. He rolled his eyes then continued chopping his onions. She looked at him, trying to tell herself that once she got used to him, all these butterflies would settle down.

She smiled with those thoughts and Lucio looked at the perfect moment to see it. He mirrored her smile, still awkward but somehow amused, ‘What now? Are you having a crush on me?’

Desiree said she was fine, she was, but when he pointed it out like that, she couldn’t control how red her face become. ‘What are you saying?!’

He found it more entertaining, she returned to being easily flushed, that he could tease her like this. ‘I wouldn’t blame you if you find me-’

‘Interesting?’ she finished his sentence that made his smile grew wider. ‘What? Why?’

‘Nothing. I think I’m starting to believe that someone,’ he said, getting ready to tease her about last night. She eyed him suspiciously that translated to ‘what are you on?’ He shrugged then turned his back from her to start the stove. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not a hundred percent sure yet, it may be just a prank.’

Getting impatient, she inquired further, ‘I’m lost. I can’t understand.’

‘Well,’ he started while stirfrying onions and garlic on low fire. ‘Would you pass me the eggs, first?’

She unwillingly did. There was no island that separates them now, both were awkward but somehow excited by how each other would react. He didn’t say more and she just watched him finish whipping some omelet before asking her to set the table.

From what she remembered, they had white ceramic plates on the cupboard but she needed a step to get it. Lucio saw her trying to reach it so he naturally helped her. She looked at him, waiting for his teasing but there wasn’t. She hurriedly worked on the table to fan her face.

He placed the eggs, still on the pan, on the trivet as he offered, ‘You can make toasts if you want.’

‘I’m good. Thanks for the food,’ she mumbled to him and to the Great Provider. She was getting more and more flushed, totally far from what she prepared herself with this morning. She let out a long breath then asked, ‘So, what were you talking about earlier?’

He smiled through his spoonful, ‘Oh, that? Well, someone told me that you have a crush on me because I’m cute. Possible, right?’

He just wanted to make fun of her but she got so red and looked as if she would burst. She wanted to ask ‘who’s that someone when we are the only ones here’ but it came out as ‘W-wh-who’s that someone?! When, when, we’re the only- when it is just us here?!’

‘Exactly,’ he agreed then stated the obvious as he found it cute, ‘You stuttered.’

He went back to his meal while Desiree sorted her thoughts. All of a sudden, she knocked on the table then exclaimed, ‘You were awake that time?!’

‘I was,’ he boringly said but laughed after. ‘You’re kind of slow.’

‘Hey! I’m not,’ she disagreed, hoping to change the subject as she was asking the earth to open up and swallow her whole.

Luckily, Lucio liked arguing, and winning, ‘You are.’

It continued for a moment, just stopped when the coffee marker dinged. ‘I’m not but whatever, you’re childish.’

He stood up to get some coffee but raised an eyebrow before doing so, ‘You’re more childish.’

She let out a frustrated groan. Unsure if she should be thankful that something embarrassing had been forgotten or annoyed that he wouldn’t back out. She thought of another topic, ‘Hey, when did you buy the house?’

‘Hey,’ he said, answering her call. ‘Last year.’

She let an ‘oh’ sound the continued, ‘Did you use your own money?’

‘Yes,’ was his answer as he made his way back to the table with coffee on one hand. ‘Why?’

She paused, took a spoonful first, then, ‘No reason, just curious. How come you have so much money? You said you’re just 20, right? Since you bought it with your own money, what’s your job, then?’

‘I’m a photographer,’ he replied.

‘I didn’t know photographers earn that much,’ she stated. ‘Are you a famous one? What’s your name again?’

She smoothly asked for his name, but he said, ‘I already told you my name.’

‘I forgot it,’ she admitted.

He was taken aback but teased her as a comeback, ‘Someone’s getting old.’

If Desiree wouldn’t let this pass, they would be at it again, so she just sighed and dismissed his remarks, ‘Yes, yes, I’m getting old.’

‘Lucio,’ he said. ‘What about you?’

‘I’m Desiree,’ was her immediate answer that made him shake his head. ‘Oh, you mean, what’s my job? I’m in a publishing company.’

‘An old lady’s work,’ he stated, not really thinking much about it, just trying to annoy her and he was doing a good job.

She glared at him, ‘It’s fun there, plus, I’m still a new hire.’

They both fell silent. Desiree began to feel agitated as she couldn’t think of more topics, then she thought, ‘Hey, why do I need to think of one?’ She finished her meal, stood up, and ready to leave but he held onto her wrist.

Her eyes widened as she looked at him while thinking, ‘What’s this? Is he telling me not to leave?’

She met his serious expression which made her more curious about his sudden behavior so she asked, ‘Why?’

He pointed at the kitchen sink using his chin, ‘I cooked, you wash.’

She felt remarkably embarrassed by her early thoughts that she cursed at herself. She brushed his hands and dragged her feet to clean up. Lucio sure got entertained by how she pouted while she did it.

‘Do you want to watch a movie?’ He offered after she was done with the dishes. He showed his tablet and made room for her on the couch where he was originally lying down. He wasn’t expecting her to join him but she did. ‘You’re surprisingly friendlier today. Why?’

‘Whatever,’ she rolled her eyes as she that.

‘Oh, maybe you do have a crush on me?’ he said, pressing further.

Too tired to argue, and to read lines, she responded, ‘So, what if I do?’ and that simple remark caught him off guard, making him unable to answer. She looked at him and saw his ears became red, ‘Hey! You’re blushing!’

Annoyed by how she called out something clear, he told her, ‘So, what if I am?!’

With blood rushing back to her face, Desiree wanted to escape but unknown to her, Lucio wanted to do the same. They stood up at the same time, bumping heads with each other, and was left with an uncomfortable few inches space between them.

He laughed by how she tilted her head away from him but didn’t add any space for both of them. He decided to make more fun of her and asked her, ‘Isn’t it here where we were supposed to kiss?’

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