After the series of interruptions that had just happened, the duo finally settled down to start watching the movie. Since Zaria liked science-fiction movies, it wasn't long before she was engrossed in the storyline. She barely let out a peep and she barely blinked.

She almost forgot about the presence of the man beside her until she felt a weight on her shoulder. Turning to take a glance, she found that he had rested his head on her shoulder and had fallen fast asleep, letting out soft, slow breaths.

"Desmond?" She tried to shake him awake and whispered out his name. He did not move and continued resting with his eyes closed. Thinking about how busy he had been, paired with the complications he had to take care of in his family, she couldn't bring herself to wake him. He must be too tired.

She continued watching and let him take a nap. When she felt him stir and almost wake up, she raised her right hand to pat him on the head. She tousled his soft, brown hair as she gently whispered, "It's okay. Go to sleep."

Unbeknownst to her, the man whose head was buried in her neck let out a bewitching smile.

Earlier, he had realized that she was so engrossed in the movie that she didn't even touch the popcorn. He had been looking forward to chatting with her—he had heard people claim to have paid zero attention to the movies they watched and chatted or made out the entire time. Those who watched it exchanged comments once in a while, and it was surprising for him to find that there was one who could watch with such silence.

He leaned on her shoulder to seek her attention, but who would have thought that he would get something much better than her attention? She was so gentle that he almost truly fell asleep. Was this how she had always been? If he didn't irk her in the past, would he have enjoyed her gentleness much more?

He wanted to curse at himself for missing out on so much, but then he smiled it off. It didn't matter. He would make sure to keep her happy now that she was comfortable around him.

The movie was short and it was only an hour later that the credits started rolling.

She finally pulled her gaze away and stretched her limbs. "As expected of my idol. Every movie he acts in is a hit."

"Your idol?" The keyword alerted him out of his pink bubble. He was not about to gain a new romantic rival, was he? It was already hard enough to deal with Ryan.

"Jupiter." She explained as she pointed at a handsome man who had appeared on the screen in a post-credits scene.

"Do you like him?" He questioned without looking at the man she had pointed at.

She shook her head at his ridiculous question. "I'm not head over heels for my idols. I just admire his determination. His path to stardom has been rough, but he has embraced all his hardships and used them as a stepping stone to fame. If I were a man, I would want to be him."

He chuckled at her unique way of appreciating stars. Luckily, it was admiration and not infatuation, so he was relieved. He even offered, "Would you like to get his autograph?"

"I can?" She tilted her head to ask, her eyes not hiding the anticipation she was feeling. Who didn't want an autograph from their idol?

As soon as her question fell, she looked up to meet his knowing smile and it made her realize how silly her question was. As a famous businessman of his caliber, was there anyone he could not meet? He only needed to say the word.

"You don't need to use your connections for me…" She declined the offer. The thought of him seeking a superstar just for an autograph was really…

"Okay." He dropped the matter after stating that Jupiter would attend a fan meeting soon.

"It's getting late. I should get going." She realized that it was almost midnight.

"I'll drop you off." He did not ask her to stay over for the night since he already knew what she would say.

She thought about what happened when Liam dropped her off and chuckled. "What if you get a beating from my dad?"

Desmond recalled the same incidence and laughed. "Will you stand to the side and watch me get beaten up?"

"Of course not! I will record a video and laugh at it for days with Ximena." She teased and made fun of him as she checked her phone for missed calls. There were two of them from her dad and a voicemail message stating that he would not return tonight as he had to rush to Luxenville.

She was curious, but she knew that if she called to ask now, he would not answer her. She could only ask when he came back.

Having overheard the voice mail, Desmond grabbed the opportunity to use it to his advantage. "Why don't you stay over tonight?" When she looked at him sternly, he coughed up an excuse. "Your dad isn't home. Do you want to be alone?"

She knew there was more to it, but she did not expose him. She politely declined the offer. "I can't leave my darling on his own for too long. He is still so young."

"Your darling?" The two words almost shattered his rationality before he recalled that she had a pet now. "Right, the puppy. I thought you would have dumped him already."

"Why would I do that?" She was baffled at his cruelty. Would anyone want to dump a pet as adorable as Des?

"I bought you toys." He stated when he remembered the toys he was unable to give them to her earlier. Since she was worried about the time, he went to retrieve them and took his car keys while he was at it.

"Here." He handed a shopping bag to her and she peeked to see a few chew toys in the shape of animals.

"Thank you. He will love them." She smiled and couldn't wait to get home to give them to him.

When they arrived, she excitedly opened the door and looked around. The puppy didn't rush out to her as it usually did so she looked around as she called out, "Des, I'm home!"

"Des?" The man beside her was intrigued.

"Uhm…" She had forgotten that she had named the puppy after him and didn't expect him to ever find out.

"Do you love me so much that you named him after me?" He trapped her against the wall to tease her. "Don't tell me you usually tell him how you feel for me?"

"Shut up." She pushed him away, and luckily, the puppy came running over and interrupted the awkwardness.

The little ball of fluff did not hop onto Zaria to play, but instead, he took two steps back when he saw who was beside his owner.

"Des?" Zaria was confused when she heard the puppy's fierce growls. He stared at Desmond like he was going to attack, looking more fierce than she would have expected for a puppy this young.

Zaria crouched to pet and rub his ears. While the puppy did calm down, he continued staring at Desmond and looked like it would tear him apart as soon as Zaria looked aside for a second.

"He doesn't like you. It must be because he knows that you're mean to me." Zaria teased Desmond and he was speechless. Weren't puppies supposed to be friendly?

"I'll leave now." The man stated and she did not protest since it was already so late.

She placed the puppy on the couch, gave him his new toys, and then straightened up to show Desmond to the door. "Goodnight."

He pulled her into his arms and pressed a peck onto her lips. Before he could kiss her any longer, he felt something fluffy slot itself between them. No need to ask because the puppy was here to interrupt.

"He seriously doesn't like you." Zaria burst into laughter, not comprehending the source of hostility. Was the puppy mad at Desmond for giving him away?

The man speechlessly looked down at the now calm little thing that was rubbing his fluffy coat against Zaria's leg. Why did it feel like he adopted his own romance blocker and shoved him right into Zaria's arms?

"Do you want to take a walk together tomorrow?"

"Maybe some other day? I promised to catch the movie that I missed with Ximena tomorrow. We will also go shopping in the afternoon." She explained as she petted the puppy in her arms. It was cold outside and the wind made her hands feel chilly.

Noticing her rub her hands, he urged her back into the house. "See you on Monday, then."

___

Lol, Des and Des aren't each other's favorite.