Magdalen was very happy because the amount of food she tasted was really new to her taste like ‘ginataang labong’ mixed with ‘saluyot’. It was mixed with coconut milk and some seasonings. I also liked the taste because it was really good. The labong is said to be a baby bamboo, the one that seems to be sprouting and is still soft.

I just felt uncomfortable because Lavender and I were together in one table. She seemed to be watching every move I made, it's like she's a living CCTV. But instead of getting affected, I decided to ignore her. While we were eating, she could not keep her mouth shut, she told stories about the places she had been to in other countries. Gosh, did she think I didn't know she was just bragging? Her arrogance to the highest level.

"You, Yvo, what country have you been to?" she suddenly asked while raising her right eyebrow. "For sure you haven't been to any yet."

"Ah, eh, you’re right. You’re right," I lied. I was no longer surprised when I noticed Tary staring at me. I didn’t care about what he was thinking.

"I see," she said sarcastically.

“But I came in first in his heart,” I said sarcastically. If she understood that, congratulations to her.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"In my daughter’s heart," I said before smiling. I also glanced at Tary for a moment.

“You're the one I'm referring to! Don't be an idiot,” my mind shouted.

"I was first in my daughter’s heart, of course I'm her mother. I know she loves me dearly even without her daddy."

"Well, that's good to hear. It's good to hear that someone loves you." She smiled but it felt fake.

She could really do anything just to insult me!

"Even she is the only one who loves me, I'm contented. What matters is her genuine love."

"If you say so. Let's finish this breakfast," she said. Maybe she couldn’t say anything about what I said. I won.

After we ate, we went back to our room to rest for a while. I didn't let Magdalen play at first because she had just finished eating.

"How's your breakfast, darling?"

"It's great!" she answered immediately before smiling.

"Very good! Magdalen, don't forget ah. Just like I told you, don't let them know you speak English ah."

"Yes."

At Magdalen's age, she was fluent in speaking the Filipino language. She also got used to speaking English because I often spoke English at home even when she was a baby. In America, I used to be really good at speaking English. She is a fast-learner. Maybe because she is Constance's child. Her father is not only rich but also smart.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door of our room and he called my name so I immediately opened the door.

"Why?" I asked Tary after I opened the door.

"Elton is looking for you."

I was a bit confused by what he said so ... "Darling, stay here. I'll be back. Don't ever come out."

After Magdalen nodded in response, I hurried out of the room until I could get out of the house. Tary just followed me. But I was very disappointed when I didn't find Elton when I came out.

"Are you kidding me, Tary?" I asked him after I looked back at him. "Elton isn't here at all."

"Because you started the war unprepared. Why didn’t you ask where he was? That's the problem with you."

"That's enough. Where's Elton?"

"He's at the back of the house. He went through the gate at the back of the house so that no one could see him. He came to see you. Did you elope?"

I frowned at what he asked. Idi*t.

"You do not know?"

"Tsk. Shall I ask if I know?"

"The ex is not allowed to ask," I said sarcastically so that he would not ask again. I thought he already knew we were hiding from someone. "You stay here; I'm going to Elton."

"I'm coming."

"No way! We're going to talk about private matters." Because of what I said, he stopped tailing me.

I quickly walked away from him and headed to the back of the house until I saw Elton waiting inside a small cottage that was made of bamboo.

"What's up?" I immediately asked him before I sat down on the bamboo chair inside the cottage.

"They are here."

"They? Who are they?"

"A beautiful woman and her body guards. She has twelve body guards with her."

I just slightly scratched my forehead because of what he said. "That’s exaggeration."

"I just lied to them that you suddenly left the hut because you couldn’t pay the rent. Even Aling Speranza did the same."

"Did they believe?"

"Maybe. They also left right after they heard what Aling Speranza and I said."

"It's good that they left right away."

"But you still can't go back to the hut. That man looks like he has a lot of connections and he won't stop looking for you."

"I know. He’s been my problem for a long time. By the way, I thought Tary already knew about Magdalen and me. I thought you'd already talked about that."

"I just asked Boss Tary to let you stay here. I thought he wouldn't let me but I was shocked when he thanked me for coming to him."

I frowned because of what he said. Tary thanked him? What a miracle it was!

"He thought we eloped," I said.

"I never thought boss is a joker," he almost laughed. "You’re so pretty to be my girlfriend."

"You're exaggerating it! I'm not pretty," I said before laughing slightly.

"My boss misunderstood our relationship. Of all the women he sees with me, you’re the only one he thinks is my girlfriend."

"Are you a womanizer, Elton?" I seriously asked but I was just teasing him.

"I’m not!"

"It’s just a joke HAHAHA!" I just couldn’t stop laughing. Elton really thought that I was serious about my question and that I was accusing him of being a womanizer.

"I thought you really thought I am a womanizer."

"No, ah. All I know is that you're kind."

"The women my boss sees with me are my friends. I have a lot of friends who are women here."

"You're a gay!" And I couldn't help but laugh.

"You're so mean to me," he said before suddenly bowing his head.

"It’s a joke again. I know you're not gay. Thank you for the update and for everything. I'll be back inside. Magdalen was left alone in the room."

"Welcome. I'm leaving too."

He stood up and started to walk away.

"Elton ..."

"Why?" he asked immediately after he stopped walking and looked back at me.

"Please tell Aling Speranza we're in good shape and to take care. Thank you."

"Noted. Goodbye."

"Take care."

He just smiled at me after he left. I also entered the house to accompany Magdalen to the room. I was aware that we couldn’t always stay outside Tary’s house because that could put us in trouble. But it seemed difficult to stay inside always, Magdalen might get bored.

As I sat on the sofa, there was a sudden knock on the door and I knew immediately who it was. Tary was the only one knocking, Lavender had never knocked on our door.

"What now?" I asked him after opening the door.

"Magdalen, do you want to play first? We have a playroom here at home," he said. He didn’t answer my question. I hated him but I couldn't be a dragon in front of my daughter.

After offering the playroom, Magdalen actually smiled. "Yes, I want to play!"

"Yaya Melba, please join Magdalen in the playroom. Magdalen, come with Yaya Melba."

"Ma?" Magdalen said softly. She knew that I didn't agree yet.

"All right. Come with Yaya Melba," I said before smiling at her.

"Yehey!"

She hugged me first before she finally went with Yaya Melba. I didn't waste time and immediately asked Tary about what he wanted to say.

"I'm here to make sure," he replied bluntly.

"Make sure of what? That we're not stealing anything in this room? Oh, we're not thief. I raised Magdalen well. So if you're worried about things, well, calm down. What are you thinking, huh? You imagine things. You think wildly! " I couldn’t filter what I was saying because he’s thinking that way.

"Let me talk first, will you? You're the one who imagines things. I never think that you would rob my house. Do you see your daughter? She looks like an angel, doesn't she? So how can I think that you two are thieves." He spoke calmly but I felt that he was annoyed with me.

I just slightly scratched my head when he finished talking. "Okay. Now, what are you going to make sure? Answer me right away!"

He seriously stared at me and I felt uncomfortable. "Is Elton your boyfriend? I saw you laughing earlier."

"What?! HAHAHA, are you serious?! Wait, I'll just laugh for a while."
"Don't laugh at me. I'm serious."

"I'm serious too, HAHAHA!"

I was not really laughing. I was horrified by what he was saying. I was just acting. He slapped me before and I couldn’t forget it.

"Just answer me," he pleaded.

"Why do you care? Hey, wake up! What are you talking about? Maybe some air entered your brain that’s why you're like that."

"Why don't you just answer? Why it seems that you want me to look like a fool here?"

He tried to hold my arm but I didn’t let him. "Don't touch me. Don't."

He didn’t have the right to touch me. It’s been a long time since he lost his right to me! It's been a long time!

"I'm sorry. I just really want to know."

"Can you go back to Lavender?! Don't pester me. You can also think of something you can do so that you can do something with your life. You even fooled Magdalen just for that nonsense question."

"Is it prohibited to know things about you now? Why are you like that? I'm just asking."

"I'm losing my patience, Tary! My blood is boiling! Isn't it obvious that Elton isn't my boyfriend? Are we sweet to each other? Do we have a call sign? Have you seen me hug him?"

"Not everyone is showy," he said briefly.

"Now that your question has been answered. Maybe that’ll calm you. And just in case Elton and I get along well, maybe that's fine. We're both single."

"I got jealous," he seriously said before finally leaving me in the room.

He got jealous? Wow! He forgot that he already had Lavender.