MARCELINE shifted her gaze from Sage to Selen. After getting home from the orphanage, Sage called his manager and asked her to come.
“So, you adopted that kid without consulting me.”
Sage did not respond to that. He remained silent on his seat with his arms clasped above the table.
“And now you’re telling me that Selen will no longer work as your house helper because she is your girlfriend now.”
“Yes.” At last, he opened his mouth.
“Are you kidding me?” Marceline scowled at him.
“No.”
“Sage!” His manager slammed her hand on the table. “Did you know what this might cost you? The kid… do you think the public would believe you that he is adopted? The public will always doubt you because the press always twists the facts! I thought you already learned your lesson three years ago.”
“You’re right. I learned my lesson three years ago. That’s why I’m doing this,” Sage said firmly.
Selen looked at him. She was still puzzled about what he was thinking. But one thing is for sure, his life is about to change.
His manager groaned and bumped her head on the wooden table.
“You’re such a pain in my—” Marceline raised her head again and looked at her with blazing eyes. “What did you feed him, huh?”
Her eyes widened. “I—”
“Come on, Marceline.” Sage cupped her hand. “You’re scaring her.”
“What do you want to do in your life, Sage?” Marceline tapped her finger on the table. “Look, Dad and I are doing our best to protect you. But look at you, you brat! You keep on giving as a headache!”
Sage heaved a sigh.
“I want my freedom now. I want to live a normal life.” He looked at her.
Selen saw the determination in his eyes.
“Two years.” Marceline turned to her. “Please wait for two years, Selen. His initial contract will end in two years. By that time, you and Sage could—”
“I am not going to wait for another two years,” Sage chimed in.
“What?” Marceline’s eyes grew wider.
“Terminate the contract. I’m willing to pay no matter how much it cost.”
“You—” His manager fished her phone and called someone. She put it on speaker so that they would hear the person on the other line. “Hello, Dad! Our bratty Sage here is demanding his freedom. He wants to terminate his—”
“Then, let him get his freedom,” said the baritone voice in the other line.
“Dad!” Marceline groaned. “No! Not now when he is already one of our top stars in the agency—”
“Marceline, your cousin wants his freedom. Give it to him.”
Marceline’s dad hung up.
“You heard that?” Sage stood up and tugged her up. “Let’s go, Selen.”
“And where are you going?” His manager turned to them with a grim look on her face.
“Well, we’re now officially a couple.” He pulled her closer to his body. “We’re going on a date. Ah, please take care of Sean for a while.”
“I’m not a babysitter!”
“You’re now.” Sage grinned and ushered her out of the house.
“I can’t believe your uncle let go of you that easy,” Selen told him as they strode out of the house.
“His conscience must have kicked him.” Sage opened the door to the passenger’s seat.
She held him by the hand. “Are we… really going on a date?”
A smile curved on his lips. “Yes. Why? You don’t want to?”
“Who would say no to Sage Avelino?” She got into his car.
THE MANAGER escorted Sage and Selen to one of their private halls. It turned out he wanted to dine in private, away from the public’s eye. She did not mind that. He hasn’t retired officially, and their date will definitely cause the paparazzi and media to bug them.
“The food will be served in fifteen minutes,” the manager informed them before leaving the hall.
Sage pulled a chair for her.
“Thanks,” she said with a smile as soon as she settled on the chair.
Her eyes roamed around the hall. It looks like it was used for celebrating parties and occasions.
“The hall is too big for just the two of us, don’t you think?” Selen burst into laughter after hearing her words echo. “This is kinda funny. Our voices will echo around the hall whenever we speak.”
A smile curved on his lips, showing his deep set of dimples.
Selen could not help herself. She raised her head and poked one of his dimples.
He immediately caught her hand. “You seem fond of my dimples, my lady.”
“Hm… You look so adorable with them.”
She flinched when Sage kissed her knuckles. It was gentle, and his lips were too soft. Selen wondered how those lips would feel against her lips.
“Why are you looking so flustered?” He cocked his head to the side.
“I… ah… I’ve never been kissed.” She slowly pulled her hand away.
“I just kissed your knuckles, Selen. What more if I kiss you on the lips?” Sage said seductively.
Goodness gracious, why did he have to sound like that? Was he seducing her? The thought made her cheeks burn even more. She felt hot all over.
“Don’t they have an AC here?” she asked as she fanned her hand to her face.
He pointed upwards. “It’s a centralized air-conditioning.”
“O-oh? Really?”
Sage leaned towards her. She gasped because their lips almost touched.
“Relax, Selen.” He pressed her chin. “It’s not like I’m gonna eat you for lunch.”
She slowly drew a breath to calm herself. Selen wondered if her ancestors all felt the same way as she did.
Silence soon ensued between them. If not for the knock on the door, no one would dare to break that silence.
The manager walked in, followed by the waiters and chef. They served their meal as if they were members of royalty.
“It’s been a long time, Sage,” the chef smiled at him. “For your lunch date, we are serving your favorite premium rabbit steak—”
“Rabbit?” All eyes turned at her. “Hey, isn’t this animal cruelty?”
“I didn’t know that you’re vegetarian.”
She looked at him. “No, I’m not vegetarian. But I don’t eat rabbit meat. How do you expect me to eat such a cute creature?”
She made everyone laugh at that.
“Ah, yes, you’re right. Rabbits are way too cute. That’s why when they were brought to the Philippines, they were raised as pets when in fact, they were supposed to be raised for food consumption,” the chef explained. “If you really don’t wanna eat rabbit steak, then let me make another set of meal for—”
Selen raised her hand. “It’s okay. I’ll just eat the salad.”
“WHAT are we doing here?” she asked when Sage’s car entered the mall’s underground parking.
“Marceline messaged me. Sean was almost out of milk and other things.” He put on his cap, mask, and shades. “Are you coming with me?”
“Do I still have to follow that four feet distance rule?”
Selen knew he smiled. She saw his facial muscles move.
“You choose, Selen.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “It depends upon the situation.”
They got off of his car and went inside the mall.
Selen stopped in front of the arcade and looked at the cat-stuffed toys inside the claw machine. They were cute, and the black one looked exactly like Lulu.
“Selen!” Sage called.
“Coming!” She ran towards him.
“What are you staring at back there?” he asked as they entered the supermarket.
“The cats inside the claw machine looks—”
Sage grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her back to the arcade.
“Sage… there’s a lot of people—”
“Ssshhh…” He brought out a hundred-peso bill from his pocket and bought some tokens.
He tugged her towards the claw machine with cat stuffed toys and started playing. But Sage sucked at playing the claw machine. He was almost out of token, yet he was not able to fish one.
Selen tapped his arm. “That’s enough.”
“No, I can do this. Believe me.” He inserted another token.
The claw caught the ginger one, and to her amazement, he succeeded. He laughed like a proud kid and get the cat stuffed toy.
“Here.” Sage handed it to her.
“Thank you.” Selen kissed the toy and smiled at him.
“Why are you kissing that toy when I was the one who made an effort to get that. I even spent my money for that.”
“E-eh?”
He pulled her closer to his body and swiftly lowered his head on hers. The next thing she knew, Sage was kissing her lips. He was kissing her in public!
Then, she heard voices mumbling near them.
“Hey, isn’t that Sage Avelino?”
“Oh, my gosh! Who is that girl?”
“Let’s take a picture.”
But even before they could capture a picture of them, Sage ended the kiss and tugged her out of the mall. They ran fast as if they were running for their lives.
Well, it kinda felt like that…