Chapter 19

“IT took you so long, huh?” Justin told her as he held the door open for her. “Is twenty minutes the new definition of ‘just a moment?”

Penelope glared at her. “If you don’t have anything good to say, can you please just shut your mouth?”

Justin laughed. “Wow, you’re a little tougher for a girl who just left by her ex,” he taunted and started the engine. “Are you sure you wanted to leave now? He looks like he wanted to chase us.” He cocked his head outside the car. “He’s still puzzled, isn’t he?”

“He just can’t believe that I can enter a relationship,” she said, glancing in Nicholas’s direction.

“He said that he’s your older brother, but you said that you’re not related by blood. What are you, step-siblings?” Justin asked on a knotted forehead. “Step-siblings that fallen in love with each other, but parents stood in the middle and believed that it’s incest—”

“That is the worst drama plot that I’ve ever heard,” Penelope cut off with a frown. “Do you often watch K-dramas?”

Justin shook his head. “But I’ve been part of several dramas with that kind of plot,” he said, laughing. “And my personal assistant is a K-drama fan.”

“So, you’re an actor, too? I thought you only do is singing,” she said unwarily. Her eyes and mind are occupied by Nicholas and her love for him.

“I have to make the most out of my good looks to earn more fame and money,” she heard him said, but she doesn’t care.

Penelope sighed as she stared at Nicholas, standing outside the church where she exactly left him. “His love for his calling is much more important than his love for me…”

“Calling? Wait, are you saying that he’s a priest?” Justin asked surprise was apparent in his eyes. “A priest? A real priest that follows celibacy?”

Penelope looked at Justin and frowned. “Why are you so surprise?”

“Why am I so surprised? An odd woman asked me to pretend as his boyfriend to make a priest jealous? Is that a normal thing to do?” Justin gave her a scrutinizing look.

“Odd? You called me an odd woman?” Penelope glared at him. “And don’t give me a look full of judgment, dude. Just to remind you, I have heard about your past issues.”

“There was no evidence that I did that,” he said. “Should we leave now? Or you wanted to throw yourself to the priest and enjoy your immortal sin?”

Penelope leaned on her seat. It’s a good thing that the windows on his car were all tinted. Nicholas won’t see that they’re already arguing inside. However, he might be thinking that they were making out inside. That’s why they’re still not leaving. 

Penelope cringed at the thought that she’s making out with this arrogant man. “Let’s go.”

“So, what did you tell him? I’m sure he asked you about me,” the man asked; his eyes were on the road. “Did he recognize me?”

Penelope shook her head. “Nicholas doesn’t watch TV.”

“And if he happened to see me on TV, he will surely get shocked to know that his ex-girlfriend’s latest boyfriend is a superstar,” he said and laughed. “I can’t wait to see his reaction.”

She looked at him on a knotted forehead. “Why you became so curious suddenly?”

Justin shrugged his shoulder. “He just pissed me off,” he said and pulled to stop when the streetlight turned red. “He shouldn’t be harsh to women even if she looked like a tigress.”

“Are you referring to me?” Penelope asked with an arched brow. “I’m a Maria Clara type of woman,” she said and crossed her arms. “I never loved anybody but him.”

She can see that the man wanted to laugh but just controlling himself. “Maria Clara committed suicide in the ending of Noli Mi Tangere. Will you also do that for the love of your life?”

Penelope made a ‘tss’ sound. “If Nicholas were also killed, I might do that too.”

“Wow,” he commented. “It looks like that you’re truly, madly, and crazily in love with that priest,” he said and glanced at her. “Why don’t you give yourself a chance to love another man?”

Penelope didn’t answer. She had never thought of diverting her feelings to a different man. Nicholas was the only man she wanted, and she hasn’t found a man better than him or just like him. He’s the best among the others—handsome, gentleman, kind, and God-fearing. But, in Nicholas’s case, his God-fearing level exceeds Penelope’s expectations.

“Let’s not talk about that,” she said, then shut her eyes. She was about to take a nap when she remembered to ask something. “By the way, why are you not answering my calls and messages? I thought you have changed your mind.”

Justin looked straight on the road when the streetlight turned green. “I did change my mind,” he said. “What you asked me to do is risky for me. I’m a celebrity that just came back from a long hiatus, and it made me the center of attention of the public. Everywhere I go, there’s a big chance that people recognized me, then took photos of me and post it on social media.”

“Then why are you here?” she asked. “You changed your mind again?”

“I did this for my son,” he said with a sigh. “Vince is looking for you. He’s asking me when he will see you again.” He looked at her. “Penelope, you know that kids with autism can’t easily forget the people that showed care to them.”

Penelope pressed her lips together and nodded. “Then, I should be thankful to your son. He saved my ass from a humiliation today.”

Justin’s brows furrowed. “Can you avoid explicit words while you’re with my son?”

“Of course, I’ll be mindful of my words,” Penelope smirked. “I can be as divine as the nun inside the church in front of your child, as long as you will help me execute my plans for Nicholas.”

“You’re still not giving up?” Justin laughed. “I thought that was the first and last that you will cry in front of him?”

“It is. But now that you have cooperated and I have seen his reactions, I have decided to make Plan B, C, D, E, F, and so on.” Penelope smiled and looked outside the window. “Nicholas is just a newly ordained priest. It’s not too late for me.”

“You’re insane,” Justin muttered. “I regret putting that act to save you—”

“Hey, we’re even. You need me, I need you,” she said and winked at him. “By the way, how did you know that I’m at the church?”

“I received all your text messages,” he said. “I just don’t have time to reply to each text because my manager is checking on me. I just sneak out to meet you.”

“How sweet of you,” she said and smiled. “I promised I will be the best babysitter in town.”

Justin just scowled at her. “So, where do you want me to drop you?”

She knotted her forehead. “Aren’t we gonna talk about the terms and conditions of my job?”

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said, glanced at her, and smiled. “For now, have some time for yourself. I know you need it.”

***