Autumn was mesmerized; truly mesmerized. She had her small hands and face pressed against the glass as she stared at the penguins playing and diving in the water. She loved the noises they made and she loved the way they walked and she especially loved the mommies caring for their babies. She missed her own mommy so much. She barely remembers her but she has seen pictures and her grandma told her stories of how much Nicole loved her. She sadly smiled as a lump formed in and tears escaped her eyes. How she wished she was a penguin so she could have a mommy to take care of her.

Kris and Lay watched Autumn watch the penguins in fascination. They were so glad she was having a good time.

“She really loves those penguins,” said Kris

“I’m glad she’s having fun. Are you ready to look at the other animals Autumn?” asked Lay

“No,” she simply said. They boys noticed she didn’t sound happy

“Autumn what’s wrong?” Lay tried to look at her face but she just pressed her face closer to the glass

“I want to be penguin,”

“Why?” Lay touched her back to comfort her. He didn’t know why but he felt he should comfort her at the moment

“Those penguins have mommies who love them and take care of them. I want to be a penguin too,” she said sadly as more tears fell down her face; tears she could no longer hide

“Aw baby. Come here,” Lay scooped her up in his arms as she cried

“I want my mommy,” she clung to Lay like her life depended on it, “It’s not fair,”

Kris felt terrible about this situation. He was really glad Lay was with him because he wouldn’t know how to comfort her.

“I know baby but your mommy loves you very much and I know she wouldn’t want you crying,”

“But I want her here. I don’t even remember her anymore. Grandma would tell me things about her and I would store it in my memory but now she’s sick and I’m sad,”

Lay hugged her tighter, “You have so many people who love you. Aileen loves you and I and Kris and Chen love you too. And no matter what happens; we’re going to be there for you. I don’t want you to be sad or cry. Ok baby,” he kissed her cheek as he shed a few tears

“Ok I’ll try,” she smiled a bit, “But I still want to be a penguin,”

“Yeah me too,” said Lay

Lay stood up and grabbed Autumn’s hand as he stared at Kris. The boys carried on with their day as planned. Autumn did recover from her sadness as they tried to make her life and enjoy herself. They bought a stuffed penguin for her Grandma and ate at a Korean restaurant. The day was long but it was worth it. By the time the guys got home, Autumn was passed out in Lay’s arms and Aileen was sitting on the couch waiting for them.

Lay placed Autumn in her bed and kissed her forehead and said a little prayer.

“How was the day?” asked Aileen

“It was good,” said Kris, “She had fun at the aquarium,” Kris walked passed Aileen to go into the kitchen and smelled the perfume again. Suddenly an image of her under him flashed in his head.

“Although she cried today,” said Lay as Kris was trying sort out the images in his head

“Why?”

“She missed her mom. She wanted to be the penguins because they had mommies to take care of them,” Lay said sadly

“Was it awkward for you?”

“No not at all but it just broke my heart and she realizes her grandma is sick…no kid should have to go through this at such a young age so I just held her in my arms and told her that we love her and is going to be there for her no matter what,”

“Oh Lay,” Aileen was overcome with emotion that she gave him the biggest hug ever. What would she do without Lay; she didn’t know. He was so sweet.

“You like Lay. You called him my Lay,” said Chloe as she chuckled

Chloe’s words played in her head as she was chest to chest with her longtime friend. It felt nice to be in his arms. She furrowed her brows as she released him.

“Sorry,”

“It’s ok. You’re overwhelmed. I’d hug me too,” he laughed as he turned his attention to Kris, “Long day buddy?” he chuckled at Kris

“Sorry I was in LaLa Land for a moment. Yeah it was a long day. I’m just glad Lay was there to comfort her. I don’t think I would have said the right words or done the right thing,” said Kris

“Oh I’m sure if the opportunity presented itself and you were alone; you’d do fine,” said Aileen

“Lay is really great with her,” said Kris

“You too man,” said Lay

“Oh Kris,” Aileen looked at him and shook her head. She didn’t know why he was beating himself up about this

“Oh Kris,” Aileen moaned

Kris shook his head to get that sound out his head. What was going on? Why were these sounds and images plaguing his thoughts? Was it a dream? And why was Aileen’s perfume all over his sheets and pillow last night.

“Hey I’m going to take a shower,” said Lay as he went to his room

Finally Lay was alone to collect his thoughts. Aileen hugged him. His heart was beating so freaking fast. Thou shall not break the golden rule. And he wasn’t going to be like Chen and Kris and compete for her attention. He knew they would lose because she said she would date him. But he told her they couldn’t because of everything going on. And wait did he even mean it? Could he keep his word? He had never really thought of her in that way until she said she would date him. And she was all he thought about.

“So confusing. Get yourself under control Lay. Your best friend and family member likes her though. Would you do that to your boy even if she would date you,” he said to himself, “I need a hot shower,” he went into his bathroom

Kris sat across Aileen as she continued working on the wedding. He needed to confront her and set things straight.

“Aileen can we talk? You don’t have to stop working; you can just listen,”

“Ok what’s up?”

“I’m going to blunt because that’s all I know how to be. Why was your perfume on my sheets and pillow and don’t lie to me like you did this morning. Lay told me that it was you who dragged me to my room. Why did you lie about something so little,”

Aileen’s heart dropped, “I just didn’t correct you when you thought it was Lay who put you in your room. I did not lie. And it wasn’t a big deal because you wouldn’t have remember last night anyways,”

“Ok you answered that question but why was your perfume on my bed and why do I have these images of you my name and you lying under me?”

“What kind of dreams are you having Kris?” she tried to lie this time. He could not know the truth

“Are they dreams or are you lying?” he looked at her with a serious expression

“They must be dreams,”

“That doesn’t explain the perfume,”

“When I was trying to put you on the bed we fell and you fell on top of me. We laid there for second because you are a heavy bastard and I couldn’t move. There that explains the perfume,” she got up

“Why was that so hard to tell me and why do you sound so angry?” he got up too

“Because you’re making a big deal about something you don’t even remember. You have these images in your head…”

“That doesn’t explain the ,” he got in her personal space, “Clearly it wasn’t a dream because you explained our positions on the bed. So why do I hear you my name in my ears. Why does this position feel so familiar to me,” Aileen gulped as she looked up at Kris

“Kris you have to back up. I don’t know why you heard . Maybe you were fantasizing about me because apparently you like me all of sudden,”

“I can’t explain that,” he looked from her, “It happened so fast,”

Lay was finally done with his shower and now he was going to have a cup of coffee but he heard the intense conversation with Kris and Aileen and he saw their current position. He instantly clenched his jaw and hands as he looked on.

“Look I like you…”

“I like you too,”

“Let me finish. I like you as a friend. Just like I like Chen as a friend,”

“What about Lay?”

“I like him as a friend too,” this time she was lying about that

“But you want to date him,” she looked at him, “He told me. You sure you don’t want to date me?” he got closer to her

“You are you want to date me?” she looked into his eyes

Kris was wondering if he really did. He was wondering if these feeling were legit. He was wondering if she was lying; lying about a lot of things. There was only one way to find out.

Lay looked on in horror as Kris closed the gap between himself and Aileen. Lay instantly felt his blood boil as he walked away.

Kris kissed her but something didn’t feel right and Aileen felt it too. There was no connection. No spark; only lips on lips. He pulled from her and stared at her. He didn’t feel anything for her. So it was just lust. He was relieved a bit.

“I didn’t feel anything,” he said

“Me either. Are you sure you’re straight?” Kris rolled his eyes

“Really?” she smiled at him a breathed a sigh of relief

Aileen was glad this weird thing with Kris was over because now she could focus her energy on something else.

“Are you bummed?” he asked

“No I’m actually relieved,”

“Me too. Now we can be normal again,” he smiled at her

“Hey guys,” Lay had come out of his room

“That was a quick shower,” said Kris

“Yeah I’m starving,”

Lay was totally bummed. Kris and Aileen were together or not but they were kissing and she wasn’t pushing him away. He thought she wanted him but he guessed wrong. It stung a little but maybe it was for the best and he wasn’t going to whine about it either.

Aileen was glad there were no romantic feelings between her and Kris but now she had an even bigger problem. She was slowly falling for Lay. How could this great guy be living under her roof and she not even know it? How would she break it to him when they already discussed that they would not get into a relationship.

“Are you ok Aileen? You look constipated,” Lay chuckled

“Shut up. I’m not constipated. I’m thinking,”

She’s probably thinking how to break it to me that she and Kris are in relationship. I’m so freaking bummed right now.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Life,”

“That’s a huge subject. Anything in particular?”

“Well you know I plan weddings all the time and Chloe got me thinking,”

“Chloe said something smart?” he chuckled

Just laugh it off Lay. Wow she wants to marry Kris this fast. I really don’t stand a chance.

“Don’t be mean. She asked me if I’ve ever thought about getting married and I told her of course,”

“Well isn’t that what every girl wants. To meet her prince and live happily ever after?”

“Yeah but she also asked me would I ever consider one of you guys as my prince,”

“Really well believe it or not Kris can be a real prince when he wants to be. He’s a great guy,”

“I know he is…”

“Yeah you know what Aileen I just remember I forgot to buy some more of my curry rice and I know it’s Autumn’s favorite so before she wakes up I have to go to the store and get some,”

“Right now but we’re in the middle of something,”

“I know but I really want to get it for her,” he grabbed his keys and dashed out of the loft leaving a stunned Aileen

Kris came out of his room, “Where’s Lay. I thought he was going to cook?”

“He just ran out of here talking about buying more curry rice for Autumn,”

“What? He just brought some the other day,” Kris went into the pantry to show Aileen the rice

“He was avoiding me but why?”

“I don’t know,”