Bente-Quatro 2 - Star Witness (Completed)

17 - 0900H

A/N: Reality pa more! Late update pa more!

The hour-hand and the minute-hand the memorial clock opposite Rizal's monument and the flower clock just beside the dancing fountain showed identical time.

It's already 9AM and small crowd, mostly Koreans, making a tour of the park started tricking in on a Monday morning.

There was momentary silence as Richard's words began sinking in. It was not the mention of Lion's Lair that registered in Maine's mind.

"What did you just call me?"

"Mahal. I don't know, but endearment in Tagalog has such a nice ring to it, more so now that I got to finally use it to address you. Now for the address, mahal."

Not that she doesn't like it. But Maine is not used to hearing endearments even at home.

"Now you're being cheesy."

"No. Cheesy is greeting you a happy 3rd hoursary, with a flower that I picked while the park attendant is not looking. Like this." He pulled out a single flower cutting from his behind his back.

A grin spread over her face as he placed the blossom behind her ear. "You're getting cheesier by the minute, Agent Reyes."

Richard surveyed the results. "Just taking advantage of every minute I get to spend with you. Now for the address, you're distracting me!"

He brought her hand to his face, placing a kiss on the inside of her palm.  He did not let go while he went back to reviewing his notes

"Ako pa? Ako pa talaga ang nakakadistract sa 'yo?" She has never seen him this carefree that she simply has to take a snapshot when he looked up.

She can't imagine that he looked so dark just more than an hour ago in that McDonalds delivery guy getup. The things we do for love.

"Madaya! Bakit ako lang may picture? Now who's being cheesy? Mabuti pa, selfie na lang tayo." He transferred seats and despite her protests, placed his arm around her shoulders to take their selfie.

And another. And another.

With tacit agreement, they allowed themselves to be carefree even for a moment. They were like teens let loose in the park, in love and without a care in the world.

The couple was so engrossed with each other that they did not notice a guy with a camera approaching them.

"Ma'm, Ser, baka gusto n'yo pong piktyuran ko kayong dalawa? Trenta minutos lang po makukuha n'yo na. May wallet size, 3R, 4R. Sayang naman ang ganda at guwapo n'yo kung sa cellphone lang ang picture n'yo."

A/N: Sa mga nakapunta na ulit ng Luneta, meron pa ba nito? Manong, kung ako sa 'yo, Instax camera na lang gagamitin ko. May binebenta ko, you want? Four gives. Tapat na.

Richard can immediately sense Maine's discomfort. "Hindi na po manong. Okay na kami sa cellphone. Salamat na lang."

"Kung sakali pong magbago isip n'yo, pakalat-kalat lang po ako dito sa park. Eto po number ko." The guy handed Richard a piece of paper.

Richard put inside the paper in his back pocket, without even glancing at what's written then hurried after Maine, who went directly to where the motorbike is parked. It partly secluded by trees with only a handful of candy vendors and a few passersby.

"Mahal! Intay!"

Maine, her lawyer mind working like clockwork, realized the gravity of their lapses.