Not an extra long chapter... Just regular length. I hope you will put lullaby on loop while reading this chapter.

= Away =

I was sitting in the garden, looking at the moonchild flowers seedlings growing from where Cosmo buried our child. I felt someone placed his warm hands on my shoulders. I knew it was Cosmo without even looking.

"Saying goodbye to our child?" Cosmo asked. It's been nine weeks since the night. I had recovered. Cosmo spent every night in my room, but we were just cuddling. We couldn't risk having another child at this moment. "By the time we return, this will be a beautiful garden." He hugged me.

"Can't believe we are leaving for school tomorrow. Have you done packing?" I asked.

"Yes. You?" "Almost." "It's dinner time. Mom fetched me to get you," Cosmo held my hand and brought me back into the house.

After dinner, I finally stuff the last piece of clothing from my closet to the luggage. Looking at the empty room and the three full cases. I had only half a case when I moved in. It's only been a year and I had already accumulated too much. Cosmo sneaked into my room. I touched his face and stole a kiss. I sang, "I feel the heat from your skin, and the stubble on your chin. You're no good. You've got dirt on your hands, and everybody understands. You're no good. Oh, what a joke. You feel like choking. You play for broke. He'll leave you smoking."

"Oh, romance is not a children's game," Cosmo continued. We understood that idea very well. We held our hands out and had elbow copulation.

"But you keep going back. It's driving you insane." I climbed onto my bed. We were too tired to pretend we were just sibling. Tomorrow, we would be free.

He held me close to him in bed and sang it to my ear with his beautiful smooth voice. "Night-night, it's time for bye bye. It's been a great day thanks a heap. Now is time for everyone to go to sleep." I felt his warm breath behind my neck.

We moved into a small apartment, just enough for the two of us. We would gladly lie to our parents by saying Cosmo was sleeping on the couch, since we only had one bedroom and rent was expensive. Thank you for the free contraception from school, Cosmo and I had returned to our normal way, with extra protection.

I started studying medical and Cosmo's ex-girlfriend Monique was in my class. I wouldn't say she is my best friend, but we spent a lot of time together. She never suspected anything between Cosmo and me. I guess we were good actor and actress. I would feel so tired when I was in front of her, pretending.

She did drive me crazy sometimes. She asked way too many questions about Cosmo, and whenever Cosmo and I went out during weekend, she would always tag along. She would show up at our apartment without calling. I wasn't sure if she was just being friendly or she still had a thing for Cosmo. I trusted Cosmo, but I didn't trust her completely.

Maybe because I knew my time with Cosmo was limited, I appreciated our time together even more. We did everything together, when Monique was not around. We helped each other with housework. We studied together although we were not having same courses. We never quarreled. Because we loved and understood each other so much, we compromised instead of argued for pointless thing. Our relationship was much better than any other couple we knew.

Gift and Innie did get married. They had a boy, Honest. If only our child were not stillborn, she would be as old as Honest. They moved into the two-bedroom apartment next door to us, since Cosmo and Gift were in the same class. When Cosmo and I were free, we would babysit for them. In a way, we projected our love to our child on Honest. We would make much better parents than Gift and Innie.

I finished reading a letter from mother. I had this bad feeling coming from my gut, something I had not felt for three years, since we left for school. Cosmo entered the room and I anxiously hide the letter.

"Tomorrow, we are returning home. Are you ready to be brother and sister again?" Cosmo asked.

"Never," I wrapped my arms around his neck, "Cosmo, I have one thing to ask you."

"What is it, my dear," Cosmo kissed my forehead to comfort me, "You are not pregnant again, are you? We used a broken condom last week... Please tell me I am not lucky enough to be a father again."

"No," I knew it's a bad time to have a child too, but that's not my worry.

"Mother is arranging me to marry her business friend's son," I bit my lips.

"Oh."

= To Be Continued =