***

OHM

I've been calling Fluke since we arrived home, but he was not answering. I didn't know how many times I called him, and I was getting anxious already.

Why did I even forget my phone? I was not able to send him a message in the morning, and when I saw his messages when I got hold of my phone, I knew I was in trouble. He must be worried based on his messages. There was a call logged on the received call list, and I guessed it was my sister who answered it, but she wasn't home yet, so I couldn't ask her about it.

"Dad, I'm back!"

I heard my sister shout from the living room, so I immediately ran outside of my room to talk to her.

"Princess, did you answer the call for me this morning?" I asked as I waved the phone in front of her.

"Yup. Why?"

I let out a sigh and asked again, "Did he say anything? Did he leave any message for me?"

"Why?"

"Because he's not answering my calls and messages," I said in a frustrated tone. "Tell me the truth, Princess, did he, by any chance, say something to you?"

"He asked who I was, and. . ." She said and looked away. "I told him I was your girlfriend. Then. . . he ended the call."

My eyes widened with what I heard. "You. . . What?"

"I'm sorry, P' Ohm! I was just kidding him. I didn't know he would end the call. Don't be mad at me, please."

I took a deep breath to calm myself. "I'm not mad, Princess. Just pray that he will still talk to me after this. We are all gonna lose him if that happens." I took my keys and said goodbye, "I'm leaving now. I need to see him right now."

I ran outside praying that Fluke was not mad at what happened.

***

I heard the doorbell ring as I was preparing something to bake in the kitchen. I knew that was Ohm, and I smiled as I remembered what his sister texted me.

Then it was immediately followed by another one.

By the way, I told him that you dropped the call right after I told you that I was his girlfriend. He is very worried that you might be angry at him right now. You know what to do, Phi. Don't be too soft on him, okay? Update me on what will happen. See you soon, Phi. I miss you already.

My phone rang as soon as the doorbell stopped ringing. I decided to answer it.

"Yes, Ohm?"

"Baby. . ." Hmmm. . . so it was true that I was his baby. It was the first time I heard it from him. "Finally! I'm outside right now? Are you home? Why did you not answer your phone? Were you busy? Did I disturb you? Can we. . ."

He bombarded me with questions, so I needed to stop him.

"Ohm. . . I'll open the gate. Just park your car inside." I said seriously.

"Oh. . . Okay." I heard him reply in a low tone. He sounded sad.

I ended the call to open the gate for him and waited for him at the front door.

I looked away when he was already in front of me, not because I was shy, but because I wanted to control my laughter. He looked worried and distressed.

"Get inside," I said and entered the house.

I heard him following me, but I was startled when he back-hugged me and leaned his head on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry." He said.

I stiffened at his action, but then I instantly got comfortable in his arms.

"What are you saying sorry for?" I asked as I put my hands on his.

"For everything that happened today."

"Oh. . . you mean, for not texting me, and for making me worried the whole morning?" I said in a serious tone. "Or are you saying sorry for not telling me that you were with your girlfriend?" I even emphasize the word 'girlfriend'.

He lifted his head from my shoulder and turned me around. His arms were still around my waist. "Baby, that was my sister. I swear I don't have a girlfriend." He hurriedly told me. "She said she was just kidding, and she didn't know that you would drop the call." He lifted one hand to my face and caressed my cheek. "I don't have a girlfriend, Baby. I didn't have any girlfriends in the past. Damn, I'm not even interested in women, romantically."

I looked at him in the eyes and see how serious he was. I suddenly felt guilty, so I decided to tell him the truth.

"Ohm. . ." I removed his hand from my face and held it with both of mine. "I know that she's not your girlfriend." I smiled when I saw him let out a sigh of relief. "Well, at first I was surprised that a woman answered the call. I thought you were busy with another woman that's why you weren't able to contact me."

"No, I was with Dad the whole morning."

"I know. Your sister told me."

"Huh? How?" He asked in confusion.

"I didn't drop the call, and she didn't tell me she was your girlfriend." He was surprised by what he heard. "Your sister planned to make you worried as a punishment for not telling them that we are already dating," I said and gave him a cheeky smile.

"So. . . I was worried for nothing?" I nodded my head. "Ah! That woman! She's gonna regret what she did."

I hit his arm a little. "Hey! Don't you dare do something bad to her or else I won't talk to you anymore!"

"Wait. . . What else happened? Why are you protecting her?"

"I like your sister. She's so sweet."

"How did you. . ."

"We ate lunch after we talked on the phone," I said nonchalantly.

"So you were the one. . ."

"Yes." I didn't let him finish and just tell him everything about what his sister and I talked about. "I'll tell you now if she called me crying because you did something bad to her, I won't let you live, too," I said seriously.

He let out a deep sigh. "I can't believe I would lose you to my sister."

I chuckled at his statement. "Why didn't you tell them?"

"I just want to keep you to myself for a while. Also, because I don't want to pressure you. You know, the whole family loves you, and if I told them that we're dating, they wouldn't let me sleep and ask about our status, or worse, they would even want to see you. I want us to get to know each other more first. I planned to tell them once you agreed to be my boyfriend." He said with wriggling eyebrows and a wide smile.

I just looked at him and thought. Am I ready for this? This man is too much of everything. What are you afraid of, Fluke? What are you waiting for?

***