Chapter 39 Chapter 13.3
“You lose!” I shouted at him and then laughed. Desmond slammed his cards down in annoyance.
“Brother, the punishment is a flick on the forehead. If you don't guess the correct number of my standing fingers, we'll still flick you until your guess is right,” Randy explained. Desmond covered his hands with his palms and then tried to guess the number of Randy's fingers, but he just frowned because he couldn't guess.
I was still laughing earlier, but when he couldn't guess the number of my siblings' fingers, I felt sorry for him. His forehead was already red. When Randy and Jerome finished, Desmond faced me. He caressed his forehead, which was already red.
I didn't flick him hard because our flicks might leave bruises on his forehead.
We just repeated our game, and Desmond really took his playing seriously. It seemed like he already knew the technique. He didn't immediately put down his defenses.
In our fifth game, I lost.
“Just do it lightly, okay?” I said to my two siblings because when they flick, it's as if they're very angry.
“You lost, Heaven. Just because you're older than us doesn't mean we'll be easy on you,” Randy replied. I glared at him. I covered my eyes and then tried to guess the number of his fingers.
“That hurts already! Be gentle!” I complained to him because he had already flicked my forehead five times, but I still couldn't guess.
“Just guess so you won't get hurt anymore,” Randy replied while laughing. He really has no mercy. After Randy and Jerome punished me, I faced Desmond. He looked at my forehead. I know my forehead is already red because of my two siblings. I covered my eyes and waited for Desmond to flick me, but I lowered my hand when I felt his lips on my forehead.
“Does it still hurt?” he asked me. “I won't punish you anymore. I can't hurt you,” he said, which made me look away. My two siblings were suppressing their smiles.
“That's unfair, I punished you earlier every time you lost,” I replied. He caressed my forehead.
“That's enough, I know your forehead already hurts.” I looked at his forehead, which was very red. He lost more often earlier, so his forehead must hurt more.
“We're going to eat, wash your hands,” Dad said to us when they finished cooking. “Why is Desmond's forehead red? What did you do?” he asked when he noticed Desmond's forehead.
“He lost in our game, Dad,” Jerome replied.
“I hope you didn't flick him hard. It's embarrassing that you did that to him. What if his parents see that? I know you're just playing, but I hope his forehead doesn't look like that,” Dad scolded us.
“I'm fine, Dad. Our game was fun, and I really enjoyed it. That will also disappear later.” Desmond answered.
“See, Dad? We're fine here.” Randy said. The two of them stood up to wash their hands. I looked at Desmond and his forehead.
“Does it still hurt?” I asked him because his forehead was very red.
“I'm okay, it's fun to play with your siblings, and I'm only experiencing this now, so don't worry about me. Is your forehead okay?” I just nodded at him. I don't want to give in to his concern for me, especially since there's another woman who owns his heart. I know he's trying to forget Macie, but it's not that easy to forget someone you've loved for a long time.
“Let's wash up so we can eat too.” I said and then stood up. He also followed me to the kitchen. I know our house is cramped for him.
“I'm sorry, Desmond. Our house is small. Are you okay?” Mom asked him.
“I'm fine, Mom, don't worry,” he answered. The two of us sat down. I looked at what they cooked. Why did they cook so much?
“Do you still have an allowance, Mom? Why did you cook so much?” I asked them.
“Don't worry about us. Your dad has a job. I also save some of what you give us. You only visit here once in a while, so let us prepare delicious food for you.” I wanted to give them what Desmond gave earlier, but I knew they would just refuse me because Desmond was facing them.
“Come on, eat, son. Taste your dad's signature dish.” Mom said with a smile and then brought other food closer to Desmond. Dad also put viand and rice on my plate, but when I smelled its aroma, my stomach suddenly churned.
“Excuse me,” I said and then quickly went to the comfort room to throw up. I love Dad's cooking, why don't I like the smell?!
I'm just annoyed at myself because I'll only be able to taste Dad's cooking again now, and then I don't even like the smell.
“Are you okay there? Do you want water?” I heard Desmond's voice. When I had thrown up what was churning in my stomach, I went out.
“I'm fine,” I answered him. The two of us went back to the kitchen. They were all looking at me.
“Are you okay?” Dad asked me. I just pouted.
“I don't like the smell of caldereta, Dad.” I answered. Dad replaced my plate and then put rice on it again.
“Try the other things I cooked. It's a good thing I didn't just cook caldereta.” he said. I sat down again and then smelled the other things Dad cooked. I tasted his chicken soup with a lot of malunggay leaves. I smiled when I liked the taste.
“Your cooking is really delicious, Dad. I wish you could cook for me every day.” I said with a pout. He laughed at me. I know he can't do that because our house is far from Desmond's house.
“Can I learn your recipes, Dad, so I can cook for Heaven?” Desmond chimed in, so we all looked at him. Mom and Dad smiled at him.
“Thank you for taking care of my daughter, Desmond. I'll write down my recipes later and give them to you. Just remember this, if you don't like my daughter anymore, return her to us properly and whole. I don't want to see any bruises on her body.” Dad reminded him, which Desmond nodded to.
“Don't worry, Dad, I'll do my best to take care of Heaven and our family.” I smiled secretly. I won't deny that I'm thrilled with what Desmond is saying to my parents.