DEVOTED

Chapter 1- Friendship and Troubles
The sun's bright appearance reflects on the calm surface of the blue sea. From above, you can tell that the whole body of water is probably endless within, for you cannot see anything unless you figure the hidden treasures beyond its depth.
As the small waves whispers and head towards the east, they dragged along a huge cruise ship. It exserts smoke that goes high up the thick clouds, but lately disappears.
People were scattered inside this ship, doing things they want, eating foods they want, some were getting sunburns, some goes sunbating, but most were enjoying their own businesses.
"Just always remember..."
Two little children held their swimsuits in their hands as they listen to their mothers, trying not to jump out of excitement. The girl bit her lip while the boy just patiently listens.
"And never ever forget..."
As their eyes met, they nodded, and finished their moms' scripted warning.
"Do not talk to strangers, always keep an eye on each other, and do not go far away from the pool."
They all laughed loudly. Loud enough to get the entire crowd's attention.
Apologizing for the mistake they'd made, the young boy's mother grabbed him by the arm as he and his friend started to make their way towards the swimming pool, where many children like them were already playing, trying to get their tiny toes reach the bottom to make sure that they will not drown soon or later.
"Lord, do not take your eyes off from Catherine. Remember, she will gonna have a baby sister to take care of, and I know she's excited about that too. You don't wanna make her sad, do you?"
He think of an answer first, putting a finger on his chin, tapping it slowly while blinking. "No, no I don't." he said as he came back looking at his mother's smiling eyes.
"That's my boy... Now go! You can go swimming now!"she rubbed his head, and Lord ran away, stopping right beside a trembling Catherine, too scared to jump into the cold water without somebody to suddenly push her. And Lord did so, he heard her let out a quiet scream before a splash soaked him from head to toe. Lord pouted as Catherine laughed like an absentminded maniac, time by time pointing at him like as if he was a naked statue.
Catherine's mother and Lord's watched them happily chase each other around the pool.
"Oh, how I just wish they could stay like that forever." Lord's mom told Catherine's mother, which has been her friend since their unforgettable High School days.
"I know, Rose. That's what Henriette and Emmie told me too."
She nodded. "And I still can't believe I and Herriette, you and Emmie started with the same year of pregnancy, luckily, we're gonna have our second babies, while you got your first. Sure enough, Lordie can't wait to see his brother."
"And Catherine too, you know, to squeeze her sister until the baby's brain popped out." Rose added as she stared down at her oversized womb. They both stifled a laugh. "But Berna, I think this situation was destined. We wouldn't know, and we'll never know, that the reason why He planned this, was just for our children's good. Perhaps, just perhaps someday they're going to need each other, to help them pass through the life's cruel fate and problems, to avoid giving up, just like us in the old days."
"Do you really said that to make some sense on the sentence I said earlier about what-I-still-couldn't-believe, or you said that to make me break down and put up some drama here?" Berna crossed her arms, her friend laughed in reply. She picked a stick of barbeque on the small round table beside her glaring daggers at Rose, who somehow didn't care. There was a moment of silence before Rose shook her head.
"You still hadn't changed." Rose told Berna afterwards.
Meanwhile, inside an ice cream parlor somewhere in the cruise, named as "Freeze Zone". Many people like children, teenagers and even adults enjoy each and every flavor of ice cream they have. There's the typical flavors we usually see in any ice cream parlor in town like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, cheese, mango, etc... But "Freeze Zone" focuses on making many unique tantalizing flavors of their own, they had discovered exotic flavors, and those ones on which you can't tell if it is sweet, sour, bitter, or salty according to your taste. It's like an insanely delicious combination mixed with your brain's curiosity to find out what it really tastes like, making you beg for more, which means more money for them.
The guard, as what is written on his I.D. pinned on the right side of his white uniform above a small pocket, he stands in the name of Rey Guanzon, got approached by two young men wearing black hoodies and long pants. They also wear two pairs of sunglasses and one of them holds a brown suitcase. As if ready on cue, the shorter young lad stepped nearer towards "Rey" and whispered on his ears before handing him something and shoved it quickly into his pocket. The man with the suitcase stands as the look out as it happened. By the time the two young lads stepped away from "Rey", he gestured them over to get inside the ice cream parlor without examining the brown suitcase or what big deal was placed inside it.
The sun had set, and the sky was now filled with nothing but darkness, the wind was so cold that it almost freezes a baby's tiny toes. It's going to rain, I'm sure about that. Lord and Catherine sat on their bed while playing rock paper scissors. They noticed a lightning flashed from their window. Both of them hurriedly hid under the covers and covered their ears as the thunder roared so loudly, they could still hear it within their palms.
"I-is it g-gone, Lordie?" Catherine stuttered.
"I don't know, Cake. I guess it is." Lord replied with Catherine's nickname. Why 'Cake'? It's because of Catherine's first name(s), CAtherine KElly Mertens, and the fact that she loves any kind of pastry.
"Are you still scared of thunder?" Lord teased and suddenly, Cake hopped out from the covers.
"What? Of course not!" she crossed her arms and looked away. The little man giggled at his friend's reaction.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"Well... what about we do a test! To find out who's really a scare-laloo here? All we have to do is hide our blankets inside the closet, and covering your ears is strictly prohibited! So, what do you say? In or Out?"
Cake turned back at Lordie with a mixed expression of surprise and anger, but mostly fear. She furrowed her eyebrows and pointed at him accusingly.
"B-but, you're the one who hid under your blankies first! I just... I-I just followed you!"
Lordie looked at himself and back to a glaring Catherine, he smirked.
"Who? Me? No way, dude! IMMA BRAVE MAN!"
He stood up and raised his left fist, just in time another thunder roars. He quickly fell from his bed down the cold floor, face first. Catherine started to laugh so loud at him as he stood up rubbing his aching cheek.
"THE BRAVE MAN FELL! SUPER GIRLIE... STRIKED!" she cheered and twirled around her own bed.
"Who's the scare-laloo now, huh? Bwave Mon?"
Lordie pouted, but it suddenly transformed into an evil grin. And just before Cake knows, he jumped onto her bed and started tickling her. He didn't stopped even though Cake's eyes almost popped out off her head because it's getting a little too much. They made more fun that night without knowing what else will happen to them. If it is even good... or the worst that could possibly change their lives forever.