"This pen has a dual purpose, camera and voice recorder. You need to click this pen handle if you want audio recording. For the camera, turn this middle ring to the right to take a shot but make sure the tip of the pen is facing the exact person or thing you need. Don't be obvious when you do it."

"Can I write using this?" Ronald's face was frowning.

"Yes, turn the same ring to the left and click the bottom of the pen. You really need to practice before bringing this with you during the operation."

"A lot of clicking. Do you have other detective gadgets that are easier to use? I need to play with this for a while before getting used to it."

" . . oh, I forgot, to make things easier for you, wear these eyegla.s.ses."He took a pair of spectacles from a small gray case.

Ronald took it and wore it while blinking his eyes if the lens' grade fit him.

"Don't worry I made sure you got the same grade with what you are using. Click the upper right corner of the frame. . . now look here at the laptop monitor."

"Whoa, nice, a hidden video cam. No sound?"

"Click the upper left corner of the frame."

"Mike test, mike test, 123"

"Just talk normally to test it. No need to do that."

The video player in the laptop echoed their conversations. It had a short delay in transmission using the blue tooth.

"I'll be sitting somewhere, about 10-meter radius from where you will sit. Don't go further than that or the blue tooth won't work. Got it?"

"Yes, Boss."

"Ronald, I want you to go first to this address. Clean the whole studio. Fill up the fridge with food. Stay there and start getting used with the gadgets. Maybe after a week, Beauty and I will move there."

"The old lady likes Beauty a lot. Do you think she will let her go?" asked Ronald.

"That will be my problem. I'll find a way."

"That doctor, too. Do you think he likes Beauty?"

"That guy? He is only serious doing surgery on the table. I can't recall him being serious with a girl. Ladies were always after him since young. He has status and brain but no heart. Leonard is his total opposite, a very sincere friend, and husband."

"We are talking about this naive Beauty. She might fall for him."

"What do you think of me? Lesser than him? I also got status and brain, most of all, a heart. . . she is not that gullible as you think as well. She might be innocent when it comes to men and relations.h.i.+ps but even I can't run away from her wittiness." His last sentence was based on Beauty who took the initiative to confront him directly which partly forced him to confess. That solidified the logic that she could see the intention of the old lady and John as well.

"But Boss, I disagree. They said smart girls are good at academics but foolish when it comes to love."

"Never mind. Stop talking about this topic."

The truth, Clarence's confidence was starting to waver. He believed Grandma Julianne was trying to tie John to Beauty for she wanted him to seriously start dating and get married. The women he dated lately were older than him and some were even married. Somehow, he could not neglect the thought that this man might take Beauty earnestly.

'Beauty, if that will happen, please choose me instead.'

. . . . .

John visited Beauty during or after meal time making her drink the medicine of which Clarence would examine first. The latter was making sure that John wouldn't stay long and sent out the door personally by him. On the third day, Beauty got better but still lightheaded.

Clarence was still not sure on how to bring Beauty out the gate without alarming the old lady. Even if he had the right to insist on taking her away, still he would not want to cause a strife against them.

Grandma Julianne seldom met Beauty for her body easily got tired from walking. However, she made sure John would go at least three times a day.

"John, when are you going to ask Beauty for a date?" The grandma asked after he came back from one of his visits with his lone patient.

"Grandma, she newly recovered. I can't ask her out that way. Also, do you think Clarence will permit me? He'll be saying a lot of excuses to stop me."

"I'm sure Clarence would totally stop him. Beauty is his girl." Leonard came and intentionally intruded in the conversation.

"Leonard, don't you want John to marry Beauty? She is smart, beautiful like her name, sweet and talented. A good cook as well. She will be a good wife, granddaughter and a mother."

"Grandma, John has never been serious with any girl. I don't want him to hurt her. Also, Clarence was the one who brought her here. I don't want us s.n.a.t.c.hing his girl. Most of all, after he gave us a favor. He is also like my little brother. I can't do that to him."

"Yeah, he is a better brother to you. Big bro, wanna bet?"

"What bet?"

"I will make her fall for me and leave Clarence."

"No way. I would certainly not allow you and I won't bet."

The talk ended into an argument until their grandfather came to stop them.

. . . . .

Late in the afternoon, Beauty was walking by herself at the playground and sat on a bench. She made a lot of thinking. She might be silent with the whole conundrum that was happening, yet she clearly understood her own predicament.

'Grandma Julianne's intention is clear as day. She is a nice grandma like Grand Mommy but why s.h.i.+p that doctor to me? John's att.i.tude was neither cold nor hot but not love at all, unlike Clarence. Oh my, why did I think of that?... Have I fallen in love with him? Is this really love or just admiration, or. . . simply an infatuation? I think I'll try asking Mama for advice. I'm not in high school anymore. They might allow...'

"Eh? Oh my, I forgot to ask Clarence for me to go home first."

While she was in deep thought, she did not realize John was already standing near her, just observing her facial expressions. A slight smile was shown on his face. 'Being with this girl seems amusing.'