"GOODNIGHT, Grandpa." Callea kissed her grandfather's forehead. She brought tea to his room and made sure that he took his medicine. While in Villa Callea, she was his nurse. It was past ten in the evening and he had just finished having a chat with her cousins.
"Callea, please don't play the piano this midnight and please turn off your scary sound effects. I don't want to scare our visitors. Jorje hasn't warmed up to you yet. Even your Kuya Lee was very sensitive to sounds. A little rustle and he would have a panic attack. And he is scared of ghosts," her grandfather instructed.
"Yes, Grandpa. I won't work tonight because I will bring Don Jorje to the underground cemetery tomorrow."
Deive convinced his grandfather to stay in Villa Celesta for a couple of more days so he would get to know her. The real her. She would be his tourist guide tomorrow and would even cook for him. Deive wanted to show his grandfather that despite her weird character, she had a good heart and simply perfect for Deive.
"Did I give you a hard time, hija? I feel like I failed you as a grandfather. I want you to marry a man who is practically a stranger. I want you to change your identity. In the end, Deive, who is practically a stranger, appreciated you more than I do. I am such a shame as a grandfather, right?"
"Grandpa, I know that you love me and you want what's best for me." She caressed his creased forehead. "Thank you for bringing Deive into my life. It was sheer luck, I know. I thought he was a disruption in my peaceful life. He turns out to be a gift instead."
"I hope you are still happy even if I am a failure as a grandfather."
She embraced him. "You reared me well, Grandpa. And I love you."
"I love you, too."
When she left his room, she was sure that her bond with her grandfather was stronger than before. They learned lesson from each other. Callea learned how to accept her strengths and weaknesses. In the end, they realized that respect was important so they could get along.
When she passed by the living room, she saw Don Jorje looking at the window. He was not asleep yet. "Do you want tea, Don Jorje?" Callea asked.
"There is no need. I am about to sleep," he said and walked towards the guest room beside his grandfather's room. They were designated at the first floor because they were too old to climb the second floor.
"I am sorry, Sir. My grandfather has no intentions to ruin your trust and feed you lies about me. He just wants me to have my own family and have a normal life."
"That is nothing, hija. Deive is right. I should not judge you just because you are different. You don't hurt anyone. Like us, we just want our own place in this world. From now on, I will respect that."
Her eyes sparkled. "Really, Sir?"
"Yes. Just take care of my grandson. It looks like you used a love potion on him so he won't leave you."
"Sir, I didn't use any magic spell or love potion on him," she disagreed.
He suddenly laughed, erasing the seriousness on his face. "I am just joking. I want to know you better, hija."
"Thank you for giving me a chance to be with Deive."
He nodded. His eyes were kinder now. "Go to my grandson. I think he is having an argument with your cant. Again."
"SHOO! SHOO! Go away, Luna. You are one annoying cat. Leave me alone."
Callea ran when she heard Deive's ranting. He was under the acacia tree and waiting for her. He was having a war with her cat again. The first time they met, they were like sworn enemies. And Deive was always a victim of Luna's vicious attacks.
"Luna! Deive! What's going on?" she asked with her arms akimbo. Luna ran to her and she took the cat in her arms. She was mewling as if asking for her help. "Deive?"
"I am not abusing your cat or anything. She's the one who keeps rubbing her body on me." He sounded irritated as he brushed off cat hair from his cotton pants.
"Oh, Luna likes you," she concluded and let out a giggle. "She just wants you to pet him. I thought you are getting along just fine. After all, she betrayed me for you."
"Look. I can be nice to your cat as long as he won't come near me. She gives me goosebumps every time she rubs her body on me. I don't really like cats. I am more used to women..."
"What?" she asked and her face darkened.
"Nothing," he said then let out a laugh that sounded so awkward.
"Come on. Finish what you started. You prefer it if other women would rub themselves on you? Cling to you like snakes?" she interrogated and pointed her finger at him. If he would mention other women again, she would ask Luna to scratch him. Even if she was the most special woman in his life, she couldn't help but feel insecure about the woman who was vocal in showing affections to him like Lindsye.
"Nothing. I said I will concentrate on this file," he said then waved his cellphone.
"Your Kuya Torque's rules and regulation."
RULES and regulation? That was not new. As the eldest Lopez among cousins, Torque was a stickler for rules. He had to because he had to run the household at such a young age. He had to act like a parent to Lee and his two younger sisters. And he was thankful for that because he served as a guide and model even to her.
Callea laid her palm. "Let me read it." Deive gave her the cellphone. Her jaw dropped when she read the rules made by her cousin. "We are allowed to hold hands but only for five seconds. You can kiss the back of my hand and my forehead." What the heck! It was not the Spanish era anymore. (The Philippines was under Spanish rule until 1898 and during those times, the people were conservative. No PDAs. No kissing until marriage, among other things.) "I am not a teenager anymore. This is absurd." Even teenagers have a more aggressive love life compare to her.