"Deive, you are mine!" Rubie pulled Deive's nape and kissed him. More live shoving her mouth to his.
The devil. She has no right to kiss Deive after her lies nearly ruined him. And it must be a trap again to take him back. Deive was hers now. He protected her and it was now time to protect and claim what was hers.
"Excuse me!" she yelled and march towards them.
"What! Can't you see that we are busy here?" Rubie shrieked. While Deive was staring at her with wide eyes. He didn't even blink, as if she was an apparition. She wanted to wipe the lipstick on his lips.
"Well, the lipstick shade doesn't look good on you," she said while shaking her head. She grabbed tissue on one of the tables nearby and dabbed it to his lips. "I am sure your lips will be itchy if we don't clean this up right away."
"What? Who the heck are you?" said Rubie and grabbed her wrist. "One of Deive's admirers? If she doesn't like me, he won't like you either. He wants that lunatic girlfriend of his. You have to look like a bloody vampire or a she-wolf for him to like you."
"Callea!" Deive took her wrist back from Rubie and kissed it. "What took you so long? I am so worried."
"Traffic. Who is she?" Callea asked with a raised brow.
"Rubie Canales," Deive introduced and pulled her closer. "His father used to be a major client in our company. I told you about Rubie."
"Yeah!" The very pregnant bitch and a desperate liar. But she didn't voice it out. SHe decided to be civilized instead and offered her hand for a handshake. "Hi! I am Callea Lopez."
"My future wife," Deive added with pride and lifted his chin.
Rubie's face paled and looked at her from head to foot. "N-No. You are supposed to be a…"
"Lunatic?" Callea offered. "Oh! I am off being a lunatic today but I might change my mind if someone wants to force themselves to Deive. He is mine." Her eyes flashed and looked at Rubie's tummy. "How's your child? How far along are you?"
She suddenly cupped her abdomen. "Don't ask about my baby. If something bad happens to my child, it will be your fault. You are an aswang. You might eat my child." Then she ran back to the party, her face ashen with fear.
"Do I look like an aswang? I like babies but I don't eat them," she told Deive.
"No. You look like a nymph." He caressed her face. "Thank you for saving me and for looking neat today."
"You mean, if I come here looking like an aswang and there's someone who is as beautiful as Rubie, you will replace me?" she asked then pouted her lips.
"Do you think I will replace you?" He placed a kiss on top of her head. "Let's elope."
"Silly. I am not jealous." And she was glad that he liked her transformation. "I know you will choose me. And I am glad you approved how I look tonight. I don't want your family and business colleagues to think that you are crazy for choosing me."
"I will punch anyone who says anything bad about you. And if Rubie is not pregnant, I will show her out of the party myself. She thought the money could persuade me. It holds no appeal then, how much more now that I got you? I am sorry about the kiss. I don't like it."
"I know," she said. "Good thing I am here or else she will create a scene to ruin you."
"And you showed your face. I thought you will wear a veil again or something to hide your beauty."
Callea sighed at looked up. "Well, there's nothing to be afraid of. You are here to protect me. I trust you with my life now, Deive. It is not easy to change and be normal. You see, I am trying to reclaim my place in this world and live without fear like any normal girl. I don't want to hide in the dark anymore. And during our wedding, I want you to see this face when you lift the veil."
"I love that, Callea." He took her in his arms and swiftly claimed her lips. The cold wind blew and Deive cradled her in his arms to shield her from chills. "Let's set the engagement party."