New Story: Four-Letter Word

I know, I know–what is happening to Tease, you ask?

Well, it’s an unfortunate event that I am actually stuck with that one. But despite that hardships that I am experiencing with writing, I am able to come up with Four-letter Word. For the summary, please see below:

Love, lust, hate, fear, pain, care—all the four-letter words Callie don’t want to feel. After Travis and all the other men before him, Callie is now by nature and by design afraid to feel. She likes things muted and calm. But Fate is one four-letter word she couldn’t control, and one that would play with her life in all ways. Will she be ready to play Fate’s game?

For the chapters:

• Fate: April 22, 2009
• Lost: July 4, 2011
• Stop: April 22, 2009
• Home: July 4, 2011
• Calm: April 22, 2009
• Weak: 2004
• Tell: July 4, 2011
• Life: June 28, 2009-January 7, 2010
• Wake: July 4, 2011
• Lust: 2007
• Love: July 4, 2011

PDF download will be available by Friday, July 15, 2011. UPDATE: Download PDF here.

Enjoy! <3

Much love,

Kessica

Four-Letter Word: Love – July 4, 2011

¹love \ləv\ n 1 : strong affection 2 : warm attachment <~ of the sea> 3 : attraction based on sexual desire 4 : a beloved person 5 : unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for others 6 : a score of zero in tennis — love-less adj

²love vb loved; lov-ing 1 : CHERISH 2 : to feel a passion, devotion, or tenderness for 3 : CARESS 4 : to take pleasure in <~s to play bridge>   — lov-able \lə-və-bəl\ adj — lov-er n

­­Merriam-Webster and Garfield Dictionary (1999)

The program was starting, so Callie had to go back to Caramoan table, where she found a grumpy Richard. She touched his cheek affectionately but his jaw just hardened, and she was about to ask why or what happened but Richard just shook his head dismissively. She opened her mouth to speak but was already interrupted by Patty and Arnold who were on the stage, thanking their guests for coming to their anniversary celebration.

“So before we continue with the festivities—I do think we have a program somewhere, right Catherine?” Arnold said, and Catherine popped out of the backstage and held two thumbs up. “I think you guys should grab something to eat first. We’ll start in ten minutes,” Arnold continued, draping his arm over Patty’s shoulders and they went down the stage. On cue, the waiters flooded outside of the kitchen, carrying trays and trays of the appetizers.

Callie turned to Richard, waiting. His eyes were intent on his plate, as if he was waiting for it to grow legs any moment and scurry away. Callie waved her fingers in front of Richard. “Okay. What’s wrong?” she asked, a smile in her voice. Richard tried to ignore her, but she was insistent—she took his face in her hands and made him look at her in the eyes. Richard took an easy way out—he looked away, staring at her right ear which he loved to nibble on. Bad idea, he thought. He couldn’t let his thoughts stray towards that direction.

“What’s wrong?” she asked again, and Richard just shook his head. “We’ll just talk about it at home,” he just said, with warning in his voice, and Callie sighed, knowing that tone very well, the tone of Richard about to explode.

“Is this about Alec?”

A grunt came as a reply. Callie, pissed at Richard for acting like this, excused herself and Richard from the others in the table, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the exit. As soon as they reached the lobby, Callie accosted Richard.

“You told me to talk to Alec. Then why are you acting like a PMS-ing bitch after I talked to him?” she said angrily, and Richard rolled his eyes.

“You didn’t just talk to him, Callie,” he said in a controlled voice. He gritted his teeth, the lines on his face more prominent now that he is angry. “You kissed him, which you almost always end up doing—”

Richard stopped when he saw the surprised look on Callie’s face. “What? You think I won’t see you?” he asked angrily. He grabbed her by the shoulders, his nails digging into her skin despite the coat she was wearing. “You think I won’t keep an eye out for you?”

Callie’s surprise melted into a naughty grin. “You’re jealous?” she asked, pure amusement in her voice. “You’re jealous?” she repeated, hitting Richard playfully on the chest. He didn’t move, still a stone standing in front of Callie.

Callie wrapped her arms around Richard’s broad body. “Richard, he kissed me because I don’t believe what he was telling me,” she explained, and she looked up at him, her eyes twinkling with happiness. Richard frowned, removing Callie’s arms around him but still kept her close.

“What do you mean?” he asked her, curious.

She was about to answer when they were called back inside the party, as every single one of Paddy Talent Management’s models and talents were being called onto stage. Richard groaned and went inside, closely followed by Callie. She went back to her seat as Richard headed to the stage. The announcement of the talents and their messages to their managers took a good part of the hour, and Callie was getting anxious by the minute.

And then it was over.

Their couple of hours at the party was also over, but Richard didn’t make a move for them to head home. Callie knew he was cooling his heels off, and that was fine with her. She didn’t know what to say to Richard either. Will she be the one to say it first? Technically, she had been the one who made the first move to change their relationship from being just friends to being more than just friends—a.k.a. friends with benefits—and it did get them somewhere.

But this time, is it worth it? Is it worth saying those words when things are doing okay without saying them? Is it worth risking the home that she and Richard had made for Milo? Is it worth risking the status quo, the calmness, the mute, the silence that they have between them? Are unspoken words better than spoken ones?

Richard cast a sideways glance towards Callie’s direction and saw that there was a crease on her forehead, and he knew almost immediately that she was thinking hard. He was thinking hard too—he didn’t know how to begin to say the words he wanted to say—all he could think of were two lines from a David Cook song that he had heard a couple of days ago.

I’m afraid of losing all that we have now. It could all get ruined if it’s ever said out loud.*

But seven years with Callie. Seven years of friendship with Callie. He knows they can survive it. So what if she doesn’t feel the same way for him? They still have Milo, who is, by far, the best blessing he has ever received tied with Callie. They still have a home. And should Callie decide that a life with Richard isn’t the one she want to have, he’d let her go.

But he wished to heavens she’d feel the same way.

Richard took Callie’s hand, his fingers intertwining with hers, a ghost of a smile lighting up his face a bit. He cocked his head towards the exit, and they stood at the same time, walking over to Patty and Arnold to bid them their goodbyes and thanks. When they passed by Alec’s table, she leaned towards him, whispered “thanks” in his ear, and he gave her a salute in response. Callie knows Alec can move on because he’s resilient. And he’s strong. Just like how she was before every other guy hurt her. Before Travis hurt her and left her. And just like how she is after Richard came into her life.

Richard caught Callie’s move, and he wondered what they had talked about that led to their ‘amicable’ parting of ways. He will find out soon, anyway, when they get to the talk.

He didn’t start the car when they got there, and he could hear Callie’s breathing through the silence of the night. He turned on the car’s AC and waited. Waited for someone to speak first.

Silence passed, and Callie was the first one to break the silence.

“Alec called us ‘friends with a kid,’” Callie finally spoke, her voice sounding throaty all of a sudden. “And he said it’s not possible. We can’t be just friends after all this time. We sleep together, we have a child for Pete’s sake, and we have a home. He wanted to prove to me that we’re more than friends. You and I. That’s why he kissed me.”

Richard nodded, but not wanting to look at her just yet. Part of him wished there was booze—talking with Callie about deep and life-changing things had been somewhat easier had there been booze—but he knew this kind of topic shouldn’t involve booze.

You don’t mess with this kind of topic with alcohol, because it leads to another thing—and he and Callie actually made it there without the help of booze.

“I was jealous. I never really experienced any guy making a move on you in front of my eyes ever since we’ve been friends,” he admitted, “and I don’t know how to deal with it. Frankly, if this experience came back when we were, um, you know, weren’t sleeping together, I know I would have reacted differently. Or at least I think I would.” Richard exhaled, finally turning to her.

“I didn’t know when the entire… feeling started to change, Cal,” Richard said, almost whining, a complaint that he didn’t know the turning point. “I think it was just dormant—those feelings—and I kept on killing it whenever it surfaced. They were definitely here tonight, and I know they’ve been here for a long time. I just don’t know when it started.”

“We don’t have to… know when,” Callie replied, and then she backtracked. “Do we?”

Richard shook his head. They both know where they’re heading, but neither of them wanted to say it first. There is something about saying those three words first—you’re letting your guard down, giving that other person the power to make you or break you depending on their reply.

And, despite feeling it for each other for God only knows how long and just by how much, nobody wanted to say it.

Callie took his hand in hers. “You know me, I was a robot the past years. Unfeeling. I wasn’t strong, I know that, but I was just fine. And just fine doesn’t really cut it for anyone. Just fine isn’t healthy,” she whispered. “The only time I was actually feeling was when I’m with you—how you drive me mad with your ways, how you make me miss you when I don’t see you, how you make me jealous with every girl you’ve dated after we’ve met, how you make me feel strong…” Callie’s voice trailed. She leaned in to kiss Richard, her lips barely brushing across his.

“Do I have to say it aloud, Richard?” she asked, not drawing away. Richard held her face in her hands, their nose touching.

“No,” he whispered, “because I already know it. I feel it. But I will.” Richard drew back just a few inches, looking deep into Callie’s eyes, melting black with gray. “I love you, Callie Romero,” he said, his voice quivering a bit, “I love you for so long that it was stupid not saying it aloud.”

Callie’s eyes filled with tears, and she blinked them away. She playfully touched Richard on the nose. “And I love you, Richard Feliz,” she replied, and Richard didn’t waste any more moment—he held her tightly, kissing her deeply just as he had done countless of times before. But this time, Callie isn’t just a friend he was having so many benefits with; she wasn’t just the mother of his son.

Callie is the love of his life.

Callie held onto Richard, returning his kiss with as much passion as he could. She was kissing her best friend, the best man she ever has in her life, and the father of her son.

But he’s more than that—and he has been for a long time.

They were both breathless when they released each other, meaningful smiles on their faces. They gazed into each other’s eyes, almost the same as they did before but very much different.

Richard was about to kiss her again when his phone rang. Both Callie and Richard grinned as the voice of their son wailing “Papa, Papa, Papa, Papa,” over and over again filled the car.

“Milo,” Richard and Callie said in unison, and Richard tossed his phone over to Callie, revving the car. As Callie talked to their son that they’re already heading home, Richard held her other hand, unable to erase the smile on his face.

Callie squeezed Richard’s hand in hers, a grin on her tear-streaked face.

Friends but not just friends.

Friends but more than friends.

Friends before love, lust, pain, hate… could ever happen. Before some four-letter word starts to happen.

Friends.

That’s where everything starts.

THE END

Friends with benefits isn’t a purely sexual relationship — it’s two people who like each other having sex, not a random hookup. And when two people who like each other have sex, eventually someone catches feelings and everything is fucked.

-Mila Kunis

Us Magazine

*From David Cook’s 4 Letter Word song, Track #10, off his This Loud Morning (2011) album.

–

Author’s Note | Acknowledgement

While writing this, I actually had Azkals team captain Aly Borromeo in mind, but I didn’t know where the story actually headed and why the main character still remained to be Richard after all the edits this story had undergone. The four-letter thing idea just came after listening to David Cook’s This Loud Morning album (I’ve had it on loop for DAYS). The song is just so clever—thank you David for being such a huge wordsmith. <3

–

PDF copy to be released on Friday, July 15, 2011. UPDATE: Download PDF here.

Four-Letter Word: Lust – 2007

lust \ləst\ n. 1 : usu. Intense or unbridled sexual desire : LASCIVIOUSNESS 2 : an intense longing — lust vb — lust-ful adj

Merriam-Webster andGarfieldDictionary (1999)

Callie arrived at Richard’s apartment at three in the morning, home from one of her overtime gigs. At the rate that she was sleeping over at Richard’s, she can be called his roommate. It was 2007, three full years after they first met. After that fateful night when she found Callie bawling her heart out, they’d been friends—better friends than what either of them had expected from each other. It took a little bit of warming up, but they got around it.

Friends.

Who knew?

After some time, they started to refer each other as best friends—not just friends.

Callie was standing at the doorway of his room, the light from the living room casting her shadow into the dark room. Despite just seeing her silhouette, Richard knows she is crying.

“Callie?” he called out to her. He sat up rather lazily, grabbing one of the pillows to cover his half-naked body. He was so used to just being in his boxers all the time since he was in his pad, but he forgets that Callie is almost always there. She doesn’t complain that he’s half-naked when he’s around her—she joked once that it’s fine because he looks yummy. She walked towards him slowly, and he took that chance to turn on the lampshade by his bedside.

Callie slid on the bed next to him, and Richard reflexively placed his arm over her shoulder. They always had an affectionate kind of friendship—the touchy-feely kind. “I’m single,” Callie announced, and Richard just barely stopped himself from laughing.

“Cal, you’ve been single for so long. Three years?” he reminded her gently, and Callie grunted. Her tears still flowed freely.

“I know!” she said, frustration evident in her voice, and she rose, Indian-sitting beside Richard. “I’ve been single for three years, and with my job, I don’t think I’ll be getting any semblance of a love life soon,” she continued to whine, and she was wringing her fingers, showing her stress.

Richard reached over and stopped her from doing that with fingers. “What happened? Why is this becoming an issue all of a sudden? You were fine the past three years. You’re happily single,” he asked, sounding concerned. He saw how after Travis, she grew guarded, never letting any other guy aside from him in, but to her credit, she was happy. She was fine being single. She was fine not loving because she’s scared of hurting. She was good at not feeling. She was good at screening her emotions.

She was fine.

Until today.

Callie started to bawl again. “Sandyis getting married. Liza is pregnant. George and Eric are happy with their own lovelives, and one of them is gay. Even Raffy went home early today because he said he has a date,” she said through her sobs. She was ticking off the members of her production team in the ad agency one by one. “And I am single. I am fucking single.”

A sarcastic smile played on Callie’s face. “And you know what?” she said, and Richard didn’t speak because he knows she’s still going to say it without his probing, “I am a fucking virgin. I am a virgin. I am 25 and I am a freaking virgin.”

Richard remembered stopping, but he couldn’t hide the look of amusement on his face, which Callie caught. “Sorry,” he apologized quickly, and Callie just pouted. “Go ahead, poke fun at my virginity,” she said wearily, and Richard laughed, hugging his best friend.

“Cal, come on. I’ve known some women who are still virgins at thirty. Don’t worry about it,” he tried to assure her, ruffling her hair, and all he got was a scoff.

“You’re just saying that. Name names,” she countered, and Richard fell silent.

“See?!” Callie said, frustration evident in her voice. She pushed him away but he kept a tight hold of her. “I’d die a frigging virgin,” she whispered against his skin.

Richard held Callie on the shoulders. She disarmed him again when she looked up at him. Her face was red from crying, her gray eyes barely visible through the tears, her hair in disarray, but she still looked beautiful. She looked childish because of her frustration. Richard breathed sharply, and he shook his head.

“Cal—”

“Sleep with me, Richard,” Callie cut in. “I just want to get over with being a virgin. Sleep with me.” Determination was evident in her voice. Richard took it in stride, hiding his surprise at the request. He took three deep breaths. Between the two of them, he was the one who is sane and rational at this moment.

“Cal—”

“Richard, you’re my best friend. It’s just straight up, platonic sex—”

“Cal, there is nothing about having sex that is platonic, are you crazy?” Richard argued. “When you have sex with someone, you make a connection. And it’s not just the physical connection—”

He stopped when he saw Callie smiling bitterly, dismissing his statement with a wave of her hand. “It’s fine, Richard. I’m not sane, and I’d probably regret asking you that by tomorrow—or later, I mean,” she said, and she slid down the bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up before she sleeps. She grabbed her clothes from one of Richard’s cabinet and disappeared into the bathroom.

Jesus.

Richard could hear the rush of water in the bathroom, and he couldn’t help but imagine Callie inside the bathroom. Naked. Callie always had a sexy body. Curvy. She wasn’t thin, and he was thankful for that because he couldn’t take reed thin, anorexic-looking girls. You can hug her and you wouldn’t fear she’d break. And she was gifted—both in the boobs and butt department.

He shook his head. Damn it. Callie planted the seed, and now he can’t get it out of his head.

But Callie is his best friend.

And he doesn’t want to ruin that, but—

“Richard, you look like you’re constipated or something.”

Callie exited the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel, in a tank top and short shorts. She wasn’t making it easy for him. He could almost imagine the curves of her body underneath those clothes, as little as they were. Without thinking about it any further, he stood up, walked towards her and grabbed her by the nape, stopping only when his face was mere inches away from hers.

“Richard—” Callie gasped, surprised at the fire and feistiness that was in Richard’s eyes.

Lust.

Something she never thought she’d see in her best friend’s eyes.

Lust for her.

“Jesus,Cal,” he whispered gruffly. “I am going to kiss you. If there’s any awkwardness or weirdness, we won’t do it. But if there is, God forbid, I’ll take you right here. Right now.”

Callie wasn’t able to react—she just waited for the promise of the kiss.

And when their lips touched and Richard just held her tighter and closer to him, she knew she was not going out of Richard’s place a virgin.

When their lips touched and he held onto her tighter and closer to him, Richard knew there was no going back. He was crossing that thin line between friends and lovers.

Four-letter Word: Wake – July 4, 2011

¹wake \wāk\ vb woke \wōk\ also waked \wākt\; wo-ken \wō-kən\ also waked or woke; wak-ing 1 : to be or remain awake; esp : to keep watch (as over a corpse) 2 : AWAKE, AWAKEN <the baby woke up early>

²wake n 1 : the state of being awake 2 : a watch held over the body of a dead person prior to burial

³wake n 1 : the track left by a ship in the water; also : a track left behind

Merriam-Webster Garfield Dictionary (1999)

“What do you mean?” a baffled Callie asked Alec, who had an arrogant grin on his face.

“I can’t handle you and Richard being together like that—you guys having kid and you guys having feelings for each other,” Alec said, smug. The clueless look on Callie’s face frustrated him even more. “Callie, please don’t tell me you don’t see it,” he said in dismay.

She frowned at him, shaking her head. “No, I don’t,” she insisted. “Richard and I have been friends for so long—”

“Friends who have a child, Callie! Or much more—friends who have a child and they live together in a home as a family,” Alec cut in, his voice rising a bit. He spat the last word as if that was the most sacrilegious part of this conversation. He took a deep breath and said more calmly, “I have girl buddies. One of my best buds is a girl. But I don’t sleep with her,Cal. And I don’t even kiss her in public like how you and Richard did two years ago in that party. I don’t have a kid with her and I don’t play house with her. Don’t you think there’s something more here than what you guys are letting on?”

Alec scoffed at her. “I don’t know why I bothered waiting for you. I hoped for this someday, you know? You were that girl that night two years ago that I actually wanted to have a future with. I should have seen it two years ago. I shouldn’t have ignored that warning bell in my head that screamed you were taken when you were letting people believe otherwise.” He wasn’t sure if he should be mad or disappointed, but either way, the road has been paved: he and Callie couldn’t be together—unless she settled her matter with Richard.

“Jesus, I am not taken, Alec!” Callie said in frustration, and she stood up, leaving the table in haste. Alec thought about it for a split-second and decided to follow her. She was nearing the restrooms when he stopped her, grabbing her by the arm.

“Two years ago, you said we had chemistry, and you proved it when you kissed me,” he said, pushing her against the wall. The hallway was empty and even the restrooms were—the party was, after all, already starting. Callie didn’t fight against Alec’s grip—she wanted to see where this is going and what Alec wanted to say—or do.

It was a no-brainer—he kissed her. His lips that once tasted sweet and once sent shivers to Callie’s spine were on Callie’s, and she waited for something to happen—for the spark to reignite, for a passion inside her to burn. She tried to respond, but nothing happened.

Nothing.

Alec released her, flushed, shaking his head in disbelief at Fate’s game. He could almost taste the bitterness of this loss—he thought he and Callie could have a future, and a bright one at that—but there never was one. She was Richard’s—even before he saw her two years ago at Gypsy.

Callie tried to catch her breath, staring at nothing in particular, head reeling. Jesus, no. It can’t be.

Well, it can be but—

“You’re taken, Callie,” Alec said, reaching up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You guys don’t realize it. Wake up. You’ve been with each other for how long? Five or so years? You’ve been in love with each other for God-only-knows-how-long, and you guys are just stupid not to see it.” His voice was gentle—he was over it. Two years, sure, down the drain—the time he spent waiting for Callie—but it was fine. Two years of not dating gave him a little bit of perspective about life and gave him more time to focus on other more important things—his career, the foundations and charities he wanted to support, the travels he had always wanted to do.

It was fine.

Not too great on losing out to Richard again, but it was fine.

Alec sighed one last time before giving Callie a kiss on the forehead. “Wake up, Callie,” he whispered, and then he stepped back, gave her one last sweeping look coupled with the hottest smile he could muster, and then walked away from the woman he thought he could have a future with. He walked away from the woman whom he only saw twice and yet he managed to change his life in a huge way.

He walked away from the woman whom he only saw twice and yet she managed to break his heart—just a teeny tiny bit.

Callie watched Alec, the guy she thought could save her, as he disappeared into the crowd. She thought Alec was some kind of a The One but she was actually wrong—she had been saved a long time ago, by the guy she thought was just her best friend. But he actually stopped being just a best friend somewhere between sleeping with him and carrying his child.

Richard stood stunned by the Caramoan table, his hands clenched in tight fists by his sides. Jealously consumed him, eating his insides. Sure, he had pushed Callie towards Alec this evening, but he what he actually wanted to do was for her to finish off whatever she had intended to start with Alec a couple of years back.

Guess he should have been straightforward.

When Richard came to this party tonight, he had every intention of changing the game between him and Callie—he wanted everything to be real this time. He wanted everything Callie has to offer—life, love, family—so long as he could give everything to her too. He wanted to have a family with her, he wanted to make her his wife—for real this time. He wanted her—and it wasn’t just the lustful kind of want this time.

He had crossed this line once before—for sure he could cross this line again. But will Callie cross with him again this time?

Four-letter Word: Life – June 28, 2009-January 7, 2010

life \līf\ n, pl lives \līvz\ 1 : the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body or inanimate matter; also : a state of an organism characterized esp. by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction 2 : the physical and mental experiences of an individual 3 : BIOGRAPHY 4 : a specific phase or period <adult ~> 5 : the period from birth to death; also : a sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of a person’s life 6 : a way of living 7 : PERSON 8 : ANIMATION, SPIRIT; also : LIVELINESS 9 : living beings <forest ~> 10 : animate activity <signs of ~> 11 : one providing interest and vigor <~ of the party> — life-less adj — life-like adj

Merriam-Webster and Garfield Dictionary (1999)

Callie struggled with putting the key into the door of Richard’s apartment. Her head was still reeling from the information she got a while ago, and she didn’t know what to do with it. She did what she normally would do when she has a problem: run to Richard, her best friend, for advice.

Only this time, this one is Richard’s problem too.

Finally the key fit and she stumbled into Richard’s bachelor pad. Two boxes of pizza—one empty, the other half-empty—and a six-pack were on the center table just in front of a black leather couch, where Richard was lying, playing PS3. Sounds of gunfire and bomb explosions echoed around the room because of his Dolby Digital surround sound speakers. Those same sounds usually give Callie headaches whenever she at Richard’s place and he’s abusing his PS3. The only fun thing about those same set of speakers that Callie can appreciate is when she and Richard do movie marathons.

Some of Richard’s clothes were draped over the loveseat to the right of the couch, while his towel was over one of the two lampshades in the living room. Rubber shoes and slippers were laid abandoned a few inches next to the shoe rack, a product of haphazardly throwing them towards that direction instead of placing them properly there.

One of his quiet, I’m-so-bum days—no radio show as it was Friday, his day off, and no hosting gigs or modeling stints. No dates too, apparently.

Richard, in only his boxers, immediately paused the game he was playing when he saw Callie enter his pad. He saw her nose crinkling at the sight of his dirty apartment, causing him to stand up and tidy up the living room in under thirty seconds, something he perfected ever since Callie started to come over and she would almost always find his place in a mess. Callie, ever the neat freak, will give him hell for the mess. Over the years, Richard learned to manage his mess when he’s around Callie.

She didn’t give him hell this time—she just flopped on the couch he vacated. Richard frowned, weirded by Callie’s actions.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, grabbing one of the shirts he had lying around, tossing it on. He sat next to her, playfully placing an arm over her shoulder. Callie pushed it off, facing him, her eyes on her hands in her lap. He took a can of beer, popping the tab off and then took a swig.

She exhaled loudly. “Richard, I’m pregnant.”

Richard drew in a sharp breath, choking on the beer. “What?” he asked Callie, and she repeated what she said, not even rewording anything. When she finally lifted her head to look at him, she saw what she didn’t expect to see—happiness.

“You are?” Richard asked, elation evident in his voice. He reached for her hands and held them tightly. “We’re pregnant?” he asked again, and Callie nodded, the fears she earlier had about Richard running away from her or something quickly dispelled by this kind of reaction.

Richard pulled Callie to stand, hugging her, and twirled her in circles. “We’re pregnant,” he repeated over and over, in varying degrees of glee, enclosing her in his arms, kissing her on the hair. He held her close for one long moment, Callie’s head on his chest, hearing the excited thump thump of his heartbeat.

“What’s going to happen, Richard?” she asked him, stepping out of his hold. They sat down again on the couch, hands intertwined.

“I’m staying, Cal. I’m not running away from my responsibility,” Richard said earnestly. “Wait—are you keeping the baby?” he asked pointedly, and Callie was surprised at the question.

“Of course!” she said, and Richard gave her a small smile. Callie always liked kids—the question was pointless. He was rubbing his thumb across her palm unconsciously. “How do you plan to go about this?” he asked her, and Callie shrugged.

“Frankly, I don’t know. When I found out this morning, the first thing I did was to go here and tell you. I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

Richard took a deep breath, holding her gaze. “I want to take care of you and the baby.”

Callie closed her eyes, leaning her forehead against his. “Why are you doing this? Why are you accepting everything so easily? You’ll be a father—it’s not a joke anymore. You’ll probably date less—well, less than you are dating right now, anyway. All our dilly dallying resulted into this. It’s a life-changer, Richard. It’s not this easy,” she said in a whisper, and Richard touched her face, cradling her cheek in his palm.

“Cal,” Richard whispered, and there was this gentleness in his voice that made Callie open her eyes, “you’re my best friend. It’s an easy decision, one I won’t hesitate to make on any given day.”

He kissed her on the forehead, and Callie tipped her head so that he could kiss her on the lips.

“This got us into trouble,” Richard teased as he kissed her, soft and sweet, not rushing, and Callie laughed against his lips. She pulled away and laid across Richard’s chest, closing her eyes and breathing evenly, finally calm.

“No, I got us into trouble, Richard,” she said after a long while. “I asked you to sleep with me.” She placed her chin on his chest so that she could look at him.

“And I gave in, didn’t I? I had the choice to say no but I didn’t. If this was a mistake, then it’s as much as my fault as it is yours,” he replied, brushing her bangs away from her eyes. “But this isn’t a mistake, Cal. It’s a blessing. I don’t know anyone better with whom I’d have my child with other than you. You’re my best friend. And I’ll know you’d be the best mom.”

“Thanks,” she said, blushing. “But why did you give in? When I asked you to sleep with me. Why did you give in?” she insisted, determined to get an answer. Richard sighed heavily. He let his fingers brush across Callie’s forehead, down the bridge of her nose, and then gently over her lips.

“Do you know how cute you looked that night? I mean, you were horrible because you were crying initially because you were suddenly feeling all alone but when you got out of the bathroom…” His voice trailed. “Cal, I don’t regret that night. Or the days after that.”

“So you slept with me because I was cute,” she summarized, a playful smile on her face, and Richard grinned. He rubbed his thumb on her cheek, and she cuddled closer.

“I slept with you because you were my best friend, Cal,” he whispered, sincere. “You trusted me enough, I mean, to… ask me.”

“You better not sleep with any of your future girl best friends then.”

Richard smiled at her. “Cal, I won’t have any other girl best friends. It’ll only be you. Just you.” He stopped. A four-letter word was somewhere at the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t say it. He wouldn’t.

Callie returned his smile, not taking her eyes off the father of her baby. A four-letter word popped in her head at that instant, and she knew better than to say it.

She had already changed the course of their friendship once—she wouldn’t do it again.

–

Four-letter Word: Tell – July 4, 2011

tell \tel\ vb told \tōld\; tell-ing 1 : COUNT, ENUMERATE 2 : to relate in detail : NARRATE 3 : SAY, UTTER 4 : to make known : REVEAL 5 : to report to : INFORM 6 : ORDER, DIRECT 7 : to find out by observing 8 : to have a marked effect 9 : to serve as evidence syn disclose, discover, betray

Merriam-Webster and Garfield Dictionary (1999)

“How did that happen?” Alec was part-amused, part-baffled, part-shocked and part-mad at the knowledge that Callie and Richard have a kid together. How did that happen? he asked himself.

Two years ago, he waited for the next party. Three months after seeing Callie for the first time, the next party was a gala for one of the country’s premiere fashion magazines, and he knew Richard will be there and he knew he’ll be dragging Callie along with him. But she wasn’t there. Richard was notoriously stag at that ball, and he couldn’t gather up enough courage to ask Rich where Callie was.

“Preview Best Dressed Ball,” Alec said when Callie didn’t speak. “I was waiting for you at the Preview Ball. Rich was there but you weren’t. And you weren’t in the next party, and then the next.” There was accusation in his tone, and Callie couldn’t really blame him. She deprived him of the chances to make him fulfill his promise to her: to break down those walls and not let her slip away. She didn’t know he would actually want to make good on those promises—she thought he’s like other guys who forget their promises as soon as they let it out. She didn’t know that he had already prepared himself to accept her complexities and brokenness.

Callie eased back and took a deep breath before answering. “I was already ten weeks pregnant come Preview Ball, and I was having the most horrible first trimesters ever—morning sickness that extends to the entire day, the nausea, and a couple of instances of bleeding. I nearly lost the baby twice during that phase. I… was asked to do bed rest. I needed to resign from my job,” she explained, her tone calm.

Alec nodded repeatedly, trying to absorb her explanation. He stayed silent, waiting for more.

Callie stopped, studying their situation. Richard left her to Alec to explain. Why she needs to explain that Alec that she was out of commission for two years because she started a family is something she has yet to realize. She and Alec weren’t even together—there was only a potential of being together.

So I am explaining to a potential love interest that our love isn’t exactly going to happen now? But then again, Richard and I aren’t even together. Maybe Alec and I could still happen. Is that what Richard is making me realize? That I have other options, that I can date Alec now?

“Callie?” Alec prompted, interrupting her thoughts. He touched her hand and she nearly pulled away but she didn’t. Two years ago, Alec emitted warmth and electricity. He gave her a buzz, but today it wasn’t present. It fizzled out. Could it be her hormones? Where did the spark go?

“And then you and Richard…?” he said lightly, and Callie breathed deeply.

“Richard was supportive—you know he’s my best friend. He was there all the way. He stayed strong for me when I am crazy. He even put up with me whenever I just pick a fight with him.” A misty smile lit up Callie’s face. “When he forgets to put the toilet seat down or when he wears that stupid Bvlgari—” She cut herself in midsentence. “He… bought a house. He wanted Milo to have a good home,” she continued instead, mentioning her bright and cheerful one-year-old son, who is a splitting image of Richard save for the eyes. The kid got Callie’s gray eyes.

A handsome boy, everyone said. Cassius Milo Romero Feliz is a handsome baby who will be a handsome boy.

“And you and Richard?” Alec asked again, and Callie sighed, hesitating. Alec caught this hesitation, his eyes narrowing. She let out a shaky breath before saying, “We’re friends.”

“Friends who have a child.”

“Yes,” Callie answered slowly, dragging the word to make it sound like it has two syllables.

“Wow.”

“Can you handle that?” Callie braved to ask, and it was Alec’s turn to stay silent. While Alec brooded, Callie searched the crowd for Richard, and, as if she always knows where he is, immediately found him, standing at the bar, a flute of champagne in his hand. He was watching the stage, where a popular balladeer and also a talent of the Paddy Talent Management, Christian Leni, was making his preparations for his performance. His other hand was in his pocket and he was just leaning against the bar. He looked so carefree, so much so that Callie felt the urge to go over to him.

Alec watched Callie as she watched Richard. There was this certain light dancing in Callie’s eyes, and he wondered if she really was telling the truth about them just being friends. Obviously they’re more than that—they have a son for Pete’s sake. But he wondered if Callie had, in fact, asked the right question.

“I can handle you and Richard being friends and having a child, sure,” he said after a while, and Callie turned to him, amused.

Alec gave Callie’s hand in his a squeeze. “But I can’t handle you and Richard being more than friends and having a child.”

 

Four-letter Word: Weak – 2004

weak \wēk\ adj 1 : lacking strength or vigor : FEEBLE 2 : not able to sustain or resist much weight, pressure, or strain 3 : deficient in vigor of mind or character; also : resulting from or indicative of such deficiency <a ~ policy> <a ~ will> <weak-minded> 4 : not supported by truth or logic <a ~ argument> 5 : lacking skill or proficiency; also : indicative of a lack of skill or aptitude 6 : lacking vigor of expression or effect 7 : of less than usual strength <~ tea> 8 : not having or exerting authority <~ government>; also : INEFFECTIVE, IMPOTENT 9 : of, relating to, or constituting a verb or verb conjugation that forms the past tense and past participle by adding –ed or ­-d or –t — weakly adv

Merriam-Webster and Garfield Dictionary (1999)

Richard. Dominic Richard Carreon Feliz.

Callie first met him at a photo shoot for a broadband internet stick six years ago. It was her first ever project, and she wanted it to be perfect. The minute she laid her eyes on him, she immediately hated his guts and his arrogance; he found her and the way she was mad at him for he was five minutes late for his call time adorable and too endearing.

How did they start? How did everything start?

Party.

For Richard and Callie, parties hold significant importance in their relationship, just as the park holds significance for some couples because that’s where they met.

It was the branch launch of the said broadband stick and Callie was finally able to breathe, to exhale. A couple of martinis in and she was already giddy, and then that phone call.

That life-changer of a phone call.

She had to step out because the party was already in full swing, the DJ spinning groovy and upbeat music that plainly epitome the brand’s equity: young, vibrant, loose, confident. She wouldn’t hear what Travis was saying.

I’m done, Callie. I’m sorry. That was Travis’ text message to her a couple of minutes ago. Travis, the love of her life. Travis, the guy she would give up nearly everything for (three years together and despite Travis’ pleas, she didn’t get into bed with him). Travis, her best friend. Her love. Her life.

“What’s wrong? What do you mean you’re done?” she asked as soon as she got to Gypsy’s veranda. Richard was there by the metal swing, finishing his cigarette, a habit he promised to kick out of his system. He was down to three sticks a day from a pack a day just a month from the day he started laying off it, and he personally thinks that is some sort of progress.

He turned towards the direction of the stressed voice, recognizing it as Callie’s. He watched her as she started to pace, panicking. “Trav—”

“We’re over, Callie. I can’t do this anymore with you,” Travis said, and Callie ran her hand over her still pixie cut hair.

“Travis, please don’t do this. My hell months are over. We can—”

“No, Callie,” Travis said, his voice firm and solid, as if saying there is no more backing out. “We can’t. I can’t. I’m sorry. I will drop off your things tonight.”

Before Callie could plead even more or ask for any explanation other than the shitty can’t-do-this-anymore, Travis ended the call. She tried to call again but Travis had turned off his phone, obviously not wanting to talk to her any further.

“Shit. Shit!” Callie shouted. She did this crazy thing that you only see in movies—throwing her cellphone into the unknown, and it sailed in the air, narrowly hitting Richard on the head. It landed with a clang on the metal swing, the back cover, battery, and the SIM card flying out of the apparatus. For a split second, Richard wondered if that would still function.

He ignored the phone, watching Callie as she slumped down on the veranda, her face in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wasn’t just crying—she was bawling.

Darkness loomed around her. She felt the void in her heart, a black hole, growing bigger and bigger with each passing moment. She knew it was her fault—all those overnighters she pulled, all the dates she had to cancel, the phone calls that ended up in fights and pointless arguments, the stress she was taking out on him—and she wasn’t sure if she even deserves a second chance.

Was it worth it? De-prioritizing and sacrificing Travis and their relationship in lieu of a job that underpaid and enslaved her?

It wasn’t. Sure, she is successful—she was promoted, and some wanted to ‘pirate’ her and get her for their own company because she does a kickass job for someone who is just relatively new to the business—but now she is empty.

She is broken, boyfriend-less, best-friend-less, loveless. Travis is gone.

Richard started to walk towards her, almost tiptoeing, fearing he might scare Callie away. Hesitating, he placed a hand on her shoulder when he reached her. She looked up at him, eyes red and swollen, and his first thought was her eyes are gray. It disarmed him for a moment—it was the first time he saw her this close and this vulnerable.

“Go away,” Callie said, her voice throaty, pushing Richard off with all her might that he nearly stumbled. Her don’t-mess-with-me tone made his resolution to help her waver a tiny bit. He regained balance, steadying himself before looking at Callie bravely.

He shook his head. “No. I’m staying,” he said defiantly. Callie scoffed at him, pushing herself off the floor. She lost her balance, stepping on her foot instead and she landed into Richard’s ready arms. She clung to him, like he was her life force, like he was her strength.

“He broke up with me. It was my fault. It was my fault,” she wept, sobbing into Richard’s newly bought Lacoste shirt, and Richard held her. “Shh,” Richard whispered, touching her hair, offering comfort. He pulled her closer to him, hugging her while simultaneously helping her to stand.

“Travis is gone. He’s gone. He’s gone.”

Callie repeated this over and over until she couldn’t sob anymore, passing out in Richard’s arms.

 –

Callie.

Sandra Calliope Sy Romero.

When Richard first met her, he had already heard about her. According to Patty, Callie is a bright, cheerful person, friendly and approachable. Richard remembered smiling when he remembered Patty’s description, because Callie was anything but those words when they first saw each other. She was so consumed with her stress, her drive for perfection that she forgot how to be nice. She was a stickler for rules when working, and a stickler for time—counting hours down to the milliseconds.

She was strong, so strong that she intimidated some people.

But the Callie who is sleeping in his bed right now is far from that. Curled up in a fetal position, buried under his sheets, this is Callie.

When she passed out in his arms earlier, he didn’t know what to do with her, so he just took her home. He was watching her sleep for the past hour, noting how serene and problem-free she looked. She was beautiful, but it was the type of beautiful that told him she didn’t know that she was. He knew if she made efforts, she would be stunning, but he liked her simple.

He liked her either way.

Callie stirred, finally opening her eyes. She looked around her, baffled at the unknown surroundings. When she sat up, her eyes immediately fell on Richard who was leaning against the door, arms across his chest.

“Richard?”

His heart broke at the frailness of Callie’s voice when she called out for him. He gazed at her, giving her a small smile.

“Yep,” he said, walking towards her. He sat on the far side of the bed, his movement tentative. Tears started to well up in her eyes again, and when she smiled that bittersweet smile, he wanted to hug her. Sure, some guys liked girls weak because that would mean they would have to be strong for the girls, but not this way. Not when you see her crumbling. Not when you see her breaking down when you see how strong she could be.

“Thank you.” She breathed out the words, heartfelt and sincere. “I was horrible to you, yet you—”

“Callie, you were doing your job. Outside of that, I know you’re not that kind of person,” he cut her off, and then braved through it all, reaching out to hold her hand. “How are you feeling?” he asked her, and she shrugged, a tear streaming down her cheek.

“I’m… coming nearer to hug you. Don’t… snarl at me,” Richard tried to joke and Callie managed to smile. He slid near to her, gathering her smaller frame in his arms and she allowed him without any protests. She hugged him back, needing to fill the gaping hole inside her chest.

Richard was there to make her feel better.

And Callie never forgot that.

Four-Letter Word: Calm – April 22, 2009

¹calm \käm, kälm\ n 1 : a period or a condition free from storms, high winds, or rough water 2 : complete or almost complete absence of wind 3 : a state of tranquility

²calm vb : to make or become calm

³calm adj : marked by calm : STILL, UNRUFFLED — calmly adv — calmness n

Merriam-Webster and Garfield Dictionary (1999)

“God, I love this.”

Richard flopped on the bed next to Callie who was lying on her tummy, head propped on her elbow. He just placed the movie of choices in the DVD player: My Best Friend’s Wedding.

Yes, how sappy.

The movie was starting and Richard started to rub Callie’s back. Her body relaxed at his touch, as it always does whenever he touches her.

“You love the movie?” she asked a few minutes in the movie, feigning innocence.  Richard flopped next to her on his tummy and then gazed into her eyes. Callie dropped her gaze immediately after, hair that she released from the braids falling to cover her face.

Richard reached over, tucking her hair behind her ear. Callie tried to focus on the movie but with him next to her, she couldn’t. “This,” Richard whispered, his jet black eyes intense, “you and me. Quiet nights.”

Callie gave him a small smile in response. “Told you that there is this part of you that likes quiet.” She rolled over and laid on her back, totally giving up on the movie. Richard scooted over, looming over her.

“No, I just like you. You’re the silence. The mute mode. The quiet. When I’m with you or around you everything is quiet. Calm,” Richard told her, sincerity in his voice. Callie was lost again in his eyes, and now in his words. She exhaled, her breath warm on Richard’s face.

“Alec wants to know me,” she said, changing topics, and Richard shrugged.

“Yeah, I saw him talking to you. But I also saw him walk away. You asked him to back off?”

“Sort of. I told him I wasn’t ready and he said he’d come for me when he sees me on a next party.”

Richard scoffed. “Jeez, Cal, you always say you aren’t ready. When will you be ready?”

It had been a recurring question that Richard asked Callie, one that never got any answer. But this time, Callie was armed with one.

She pulled herself up, settling for an Indian sit, hands clasped on her lap. She looked deeply into Richard’s eyes, and she drew in a deep breath. “When it’ll never hurt again when I love.”

Richard touched her hands, giving them a squeeze. “There is never an assurance that we’ll never hurt when we love. Those two things come hand in hand, Cal. You love the person—you give them power to hurt you. Pain in love and loving despite the pain is what makes everything worth it.” Callie didn’t believe him, shaking her head before he was even done speaking.

“How about you, Richard? Why haven’t you loved again?” she asked back. “We have known each other for five years—never a single serious relationship.”

Richard grimaced, transferring his hand on her thigh, and he knows he’s about to tread dangerous territory. He knows why, but he never said it to any living person, especially to Callie. And he probably won’t.

“So what are you going to do the next time you’ll see Alec in a party? Run away? He’s not the type to back down, Cal. I saw how he won Tricia’s love,” Richard said, and Callie sighed in frustration. He didn’t answer her question. Again.

“This,” she said, and she leaned in, kissing Richard full on the lips. At first Richard opted not to respond, but he couldn’t resist Callie—he couldn’t ever resist Callie—and he gave in.

He gave in.

“Callie,” Richard groaned, his voice restrained, pulling away but not really. He held her close, pulling her atop him, feeling her against his body. He always loved how good Callie felt, especially after he and Callie had gotten closer physically. She transferred her hair to one side and then laid her head on his chest.

The quiet.

What Richard didn’t know was that Callie also loved the quiet that came along with him. The calmness she feels when she’s around him. And now, hearing his heartbeat, feeling him as he placed his hands on her back, rubbing, appreciating the kiss on the forehead that he’s giving her, she knew there isn’t anywhere she wanted to be on that night.

She gave in.

Into him.

Like he gave in, into her.

Two became one again.

Four-letter Word: Home – July 4, 2011

¹home \höm\ n 1 : one’s residence: also : HOUSE 2 : the social unit formed by a family living together 3 : a congenial environment: also : HABITAT 4 : a place of origin 5 : the objective in various game

²home vb homed: hom-ing 1 : to go or return home 2 : to proceed to or toward a source of radiated energy used as a guide

Merriam-Webster and Garfield Dictionary (1999)

Richard glanced at the Caramoan table and saw Alec and Callie seemingly in a deep conversation. He saw Alec’s deep frown and almost confrontational stance and Callie’s calm composure, never wavering, and he wondered if they were arguing. But if they were, what are they arguing about? They had only seen each other again after two years, and their last encounter was anything but a source of argument. What’s happening?

When Callie’s eyes found his from halfway across the room and he saw her smile, he felt safe, almost secure, as if she was letting him in on some secret.

He excused himself from the conversation he was having with a couple of Azkals and wormed his way towards the Caramoan table, interrupted by some greetings on the way.

“What do you mean by that?” he overhead Alec asking Callie when he reached them. Callie looked up, her gaze locking with Richard’s. Alec stood, shaking hands with Richard.

“Hey man,” Alec greeted his nemesis, who returned his greeting with just a curt nod. Richard turned to Callie, reaching for her hand. “You alright here?” he asked her, and Callie almost blushed.

“Of course,” she replied. Alec was watching this interplay with a curious amusement. When Callie said everything changed, did she include her relationship with Richard too? he thought. He watched the exchange of glances, the almost imperceptible frown of concern on Richard’s face and the look of almost relief on Callie’s.

They changed. The dynamics between them changed.

Callie was first to break their gazes on each other and left out a soft “oh,” fishing her vibrating phone from her purse. She barely glanced on the AMOLED screen when she answered, panic written all over on her face.

“Hey. Is everything alright?” she asked, the worry in her voice not escaping Richard’s ears. He turned towards her, placing an arm over her shoulder, as if to calm her.

Callie listened, Richard’s mother, Louren, on the other line. She was visiting the Philippines for a month and was staying with her and Richard. She was also the one who helped Richard to convince Callie into attending this party.

“Sorry to call, but Milo said he won’t sleep until he talks to you guys,” Louren said apologetically, and Callie’s face softened, a small smile appearing on her face. She covered the mouthpiece and turned to Richard. “He’s fine. He just wants his goodnight thing from you and me,” she whispered, and something in Alec’s head clicked.

Oh.

His realization was only confirmed when Richard took the phone from Callie and crooned into it, “Hey little guy. Can’t sleep?” in a tone that Alec can only recall his father using on him when he was a little boy.

Some sniffles came as a reply, and Richard wanted to go home at that instant to hug Milo. “Papa. Mama. Home,” Milo said, his voice quivering as if he would start to cry again any moment soon.

Richard sighed. “We’ll be home in a few hours. Lala is there—”

“No!” the kid stammered, obviously not enjoying the company of his grandmother. “Mama. Papa. HOME!”

Richard handed the phone to Callie. “He is going all ‘mama-papa-home’ on me, Cal,” Richard said, obviously torn and not knowing what to do. Callie sighed, shooting Richard a pointed look.

“I told you it’s a bad idea to leave him alone,” she said and then she turned to the phone. “Hey kiddo—” she started, but was immediately cut off by Milo.

“Mama, home. Please,” the toddler pleaded, and Callie cast a helpless look towards Richard’s direction.

“I will see what I can do. But please, sleep now. It is past your bedtime,” Callie whispered, and Milo replied with just a whimper. “I love you, Milo,” Callie managed to whisper before there was a shuffle on the other line and Louren came on. “I will handle this. Go and enjoy the party, Callie,” she said in her motherly tone.

As soon as Callie ended the call, Richard pulled her into a one-arm hug. He held her around the nape, whispering into her ear, “Two years, Cal. You gave up two years for me and Milo. Let loose tonight—”

“My idea of letting loose is actually just being in the mall or park with you and Milo. Or even just staying at home and just being with you guys, making cow cupcakes or origami or some other sappy shit. Everything now involves you and Milo, you have to get that, Richard,” she whispered back, looking up at him, her eyes brimming with emotions.

Richard felt weak at Callie’s words and at the pain in Callie’s eyes. He heaved a sigh. “A couple of hours, Cal. Just for a couple of hours. I promise to take you home right away after two hours,” he whispered back. He kissed her on the hair and then released her. “In the meantime, I think you have a couple of things to settle?” He cocked his head towards Alec’s direction.

Callie sighed, nodding. Richard stepped away from them, heading back to the group he was talking to earlier before he walked over to Callie.

Callie motioned for her and Alec to sit down. He did, and he was partly thankful the waiter came by with refills for their drinks, as he reckons he’ll be drunk before the party even officially starts. Callie breathed deeply, took a small sip of her iced tea, and then said, “So… I guess your list of questions got longer?”

Alec looked at her, his gaze questioning. He drew in a gulp of air before speaking. “What the hell, Callie? You and Richard have a kid?”

Callie gave him a bittersweet smile, setting her glass of iced tea on the table calmly. “Yes. We do.”

Four-letter Word: Stop – April 22, 2009

¹stop \stäp\ vb stopped; stop-ping 1 : to close (an opening) by filling or covering closely 2 : BLOCK, HALT 3 : to cease to go on 4 : to bring activity or operation to an end 5 : STAY, TARRY syn quit, discontinue, desist, cease

²stop n 1 : END, CESSATION 2 : a set of organ pipes of one tone quality; also : a control knob for such a set 3 : OBSTRUCTION 4 : PLUG, STOPPER 5 : an act of stopping : CHECK 6 : a delay in journey : STAY 7 : a place for stopping 8 : chiefly Brit : any of several punctuation marks

Merriam-Webster and Garfield Dictionary (1999)

“What are you doing out here, Cal?”

Richard entered the veranda, saw Callie star-gazing and he smiled despite himself. His best girl friend is star-gazing. At a bar. During a party. At Gypsy.

Only Callie can do that.

But then again, he’s the one who had ordered milkshake in a bar. At a party. At Gypsy.

What kind of bar has milkshakes on their menu?

Gypsy.

Sure, he started dancing sleazy with a couple of girls who looked like he is about to be sued with statutory rape if he gets in bed with either, but he was watching Callie at the corner of his eye. He was worried for his best girl bud—she looked weak while they were in the car, even dozing during the ride to Gypsy. He had cursed himself over and over for bringing up the party to Callie, especially since he knows that Callie rarely says no to him.

He saw the weary look on her face when he helped her down his car, but since she was good with her emotions, she put on a happy, cheerful face even before they got to the entrance. That was one of the reasons why he loves his best girl friend. She would do things—even crazy things like bungee jumping in Macau—just for him.

Richard did see Alec hitting on Callie, smirking when he saw the guy approach her. He and Alec did share an ex—Tricia. He wasn’t ready to share his best girl bud, that he was sure of. When he saw Callie turning away from Alec, he knew Callie was doing what she does best: pushing people away.

He followed them to the veranda, keeping a low profile. He saw her throw her drink away, and he knew it was one of those off-nights—parties and alcohol usually come together for him and for Callie, and if she turns away from either, something is wrong. When Alec popped out of nowhere and they started to talk, there was this fear inside him—fear that he’d lose his best friend, that he’d lose Callie, who was… someone to him.

And the kiss.

Richard saw how she pulled away and the spark in her eyes that was quickly diffused. He knows Callie even better than he does himself—she’s like an extended part of his entirety—and he knew something clicked inside her, something changed inside her. A cog fit, a puzzle piece was put into place.

He wanted to step in at that moment, but he knows better. Callie never steps in when he makes a move on someone, never says anything when he brings a date around, never interferes. Always there but never in the way.

Can’t he do her that favor too?

Part of him felt victorious—he still knows her well—when he watched Alec walk away from Callie.

Things are back the way they’re supposed to be.

Callie turned from the stars to Richard, her lips turning into an upturn smile when she saw the milkshake. She patted the space next to her and Richard slid next to her, handing her the drink. She took a sip from the glass before replying to Richard.

“I… can’t handle the party. I’m just tired, Richard,” she said, obviously fatigued, and Richard draped one arm over her shoulder. Callie leaned her head against his broad shoulders, and Richard took one of her hands, sliding his fingers between hers. Her eyes dropped down to their intertwined hands, and she held his hand tightly, giving it a squeeze.

“It was a bad idea to force you to go to this party,” Richard relented, and Callie just grunted in response. She told him she wasn’t in the mood but he didn’t listen. She focused her attention on finishing the milkshake, despite her tummy calling for some real food. Dinner wasn’t part of the things Richard asked her to do with him tonight, and milkshake, despite being one of her absolute favorites, isn’t doing its usual job as a pick-me-up.

He lifted her chin with a finger so that he could look into her eyes, eyes so empty and soulless.

“Do pizza, mojos, cuddles, and some DVDs sound good to you, Cal?” he asked in a soft whisper, and it was almost instantaneously that her eyes lit up.

“Best. Suggestion. Ever,” she replied, beaming at him, and he leaned in to kiss her. She tasted sweet—must be the milkshake—and Callie tugged at his collar, deepening the kiss. He pulled away before it turned into something much, much deeper, licking the sweetness of Callie’s lips off his lips.

“Cal…” he breathed, his heart racing, and Callie gave him a bittersweet smile. She wiped the lipstick transfer on Richard’s face.

“Richard.”

They nodded at the same time, and stood up, heading for the exit, leaving the party just some full thirty minutes after they got there.