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Colin carried their tray of food and pick a booth on the corner for him and Penelope. He sat beside Penelope and gives her utensils.
Benedict sat on the table across them, munching on his chicken burger, he is the designated chaperone for the two minors. At 22, he never expected that he will be tasked to watch over a thirteen and fifteen year old teens.
Colin clears his throat. "Ben.. could you move farther?"
Penelope hugs Colin's arm and watches the interaction.
"What?" Benedict asked, annoyed. "I won't even hear you, I am playing on my phone."
Colin grunts. "Please? Chaperone makes Penelope shy. She would not hold my hand."
Benedict groans. Why must he be punished? And why must his brother be always so convincing? "Fine." He stood up and moved three tables apart, making sure they are still within his sight.
Penelope giggled and kissed Colin on the cheek. "Thank you, husband."
"Always." Colin winks and encouraged Penelope to eat.
The couple were halfway through their meal when Penelope took a sip of her iced tea. Weird. This tastes like water with a bit of acidity. She frowns and took another sip.
"Whats wrong, my wife?" Colin tilts his head to look at her.
"Colin.. it taste.. weird."
"Your drink?" He asks.
Penelope nodd. "I can't.. I can't really taste it."
"You sure?" Colin frowns.
Penelope had finished the small cup from several attempts to "taste" the drink. "Colin." She whispered and covered her mouth.
"What?" Colin bites into his chicken.
"Remember I had colds?"
Colin nods. I was few days ago which made her grumpy. "Why?"
"I think..." She grabs on to his arm. "I have COVID or something!"
"What?" Colin's eyes widened.
"Let us go home!" Penelope urges, she grabs their take out bag which contains their orders for later.
"Alrigh. alright. Calm down." Colin tries to pacify her. He asked Benedict to get the car since they're ready to leave.
The two stood at the entrance of the fastfood chain and waited for Benedict. "Will you tell Ben?" Penelope asks while biting her thumb nail, her one hand entwined with Colin.
"Later, Pen." Colin squeezes her hand. "When we arrive at home."
Benedict honked and signals them to hop in. He was curious why the two of them were whispering at the back of the car.
Colin waited for Benedict to fully parked the car before he spoke. "Ben. Follow us to my room, be quick and do not talk to anyone."
Benedict frowns. "What is this again?"
"Just.. do it." Colin opens the door and pulls Penelope's hand. The duo ran to his room.
Colin waited for Benedict to enter his room before he closes the door and clicked on the lock. "You may need to sit."
Colin's room is the largest one in the house next to the master's bedroom which is being occupied by Violet. It has a small living area since he loves hosting play nights, he has a walk in closet and a solo bathroom with a tub.
Penelope, who is sitting on the edge of Colin's bed, points to the sofa of Colin's mini entertainment area, instructing Benedict to sit.
Benedict shook his head but obeyed the two. "Be quick. Out with it."
"Ben." Colin sat beside Penelope. "We may need to quarantine."
"What?" Benedict frowns. "Is this a prank?"
Colin shook his head. "We think.. Penelope has COVID or something alike.. something contaigous."
"Why would you think that?" Benedict looks at the two, they looked serious, a bit spooked even.
"She had a fever a few days ago.. colds.. now she cannot taste things." Colin explains. "Be kind of far away from us. You're exposed but not so much."
Benedict frowns. "Fine. I'll call Mother and Ant." He stood up and went to Colin's large window to make a call.
"Colin.. you are not that exposed too." Penelope fidgets her dress.
Colin suddenly lifts her chin and plants a chaste peck on her lips. "Now I am." He smiles.
"Colin!" Penelope covers her mouth. It was their first kiss.
"I will not leave you. That, I am certain." Colin held her hand.
Penelope hugs him from the side. "Thank you." She looks at him through her lashes, fluttering them. "Can we do it again?"
Colin glanced at Benedict, he is still explaining things to whomever he is talking to. "Okay." Colin nods.
"You know.. cause.. it can kill us." Penelope blinks. "I don't wanna die without being properly been kissed."
Colin wets his lips. "Right."
Their face met halfway and their lips touched with their eyes closed, lips just pressing against each other, as neither knows how to do it.
Benedict hits the end call button and was surprised to see the two kissing. "Oi!" He shouts.
The two moved apart but Colin covers Penelope. "What?"
Benedict plops himself on the couch. "Mama and Portia agrees to let Penelope to quarantine here. I shall stay here on the sofa with you two."
"Thats it?" Colin asks.
"Well they wanted to make a doctor see you two.. and a test.. but it will take days, and its not that serious anymore." Benedict explains.
"Alright." Colin gulps. "Uhm. Ben.. can we have snacks?"
Benedict groans. "Call Mama, she loooves you." He closes his eyes.
"I can call Mama Vi." Penelope smiles.
"Let me." Colin stole a peck on the lips.
___________________________________________
It was day two and the couple have started to feel the boredom. Benedict had claim the stake on the TV and Colin's gameboxes, he is currently playing GTA alone.
"Husband" Penelope is laying in bed with Colin, her head lays on his stomach.
Colin hums and plays Penelope's curls. "Yes?"
"What if we die and we could not do our dream wedding?" She asks.
Colin frowns. "We have no symptoms, Pen."
"I dunno." She murmurs.
Colin grins. "What if we do it now?"
"Do it now?" Penelope looks at him.
"Let us ask Ben to witness us." He carefully sat up, helping Penelope to follow suit.
"Oh I have a dress here!" Penelope beams. Colin purchased a pink dress as a gift to her, Violet had it dry cleaned, thus, it is still in Colin's closet.
"I'll wear my suit!" Colin stood up, pulled Penelope to his small walk in closet.
The two changed into their formals and walked hand in hand to Benedict. They stood beside the couch where he is lounging.
"What?" Benedict asks, he already felt them staring while his eyes are fixed on the screen.
"Will you please, marry us?" Colin asks, he placed two paper rings on the table.
Benedict paused his game and looks at Colin. "What on earth?" he felt like he will have an aneurysm.
"Please?" Penelope pouts. "We do not want to die without being able to wed."
"Please, Ben?" Colin pouts.
Sometimes, Colin would look so much like he is the baby brother in his arms that Benedict could do nothing but succumb to his whims. "Fine."
Benedict stood up and waved a cross in the air. "You may now kiss the bride."
"Hey!" Colin protests. "Come now, Ben."
Penelope stomps her tiny feet. "Will you be nice and do it right?"
Benedict looks at Penelope, she had been their sister since he can remember, but it still amazes him how she looked so cute yet so fierce at the moment. Once they enter Uni, the ladies will need to think twice before they approach Colin.
"Fine.' Benedict performed a whole ceremony with vow exchanges.
Colin puts the ring on Penelope's fingers. "I.. Colin Bridgerton, take thee, Penelope Featherington.. to be my wedded wife.. to have and to hold."
Penelope mimics his actions. "I.. Penelope Featherington.. take thee, Colin Bridgerton.. to be my wedded husband.. to have and to hold."
"With this ring, I thee wed." Colin smiles at her.
"With my body, I thee worship." Penelope equally grins.
"By the power vested in me by the internet." Benedict smiles. "I now pronounce you...busband and wife." He taps Colin on the back. "You may now kiss your bride."
Colin carefully lifts Penelope's chin and dipped his head, he gave her a sweet and tender kiss on the lips.
Benedict groans and plops back on the sofa. "Go now."
Penelope is giddy, she pulled Colin to the bed and the two jumps up and down, shouting. "I am a Bridgerton now!" she shouts.
"I am a wife guy!" Colin shouts as he jumps on his bed.
___________________________________________
Day three and the couple are running out of things to play. On the other hand, Benedict is on his third nap for the afternoon.
"Pen." Colin faces Penelope, they were laying on the bed, side by side.
"Yes?" Penelope turned sideways to face him.
"Can we play never have I ever?" Colin asks.
"How? We cannot drink, silly." Penelope frowns.
"Penalty would be a kiss." He pouts.
"There is no.. logic.. Then we'll just be kissing?" She confirms but Colin was already nodding.
"Okay." Penelope giggles. "I'll start. Never have I ever.. cheated."
"I have not!" Colin looked offended.
"Me too." Penelope laughs.
Colin shook his head. "My turn." He paused. "Never have I ever fell in love to the most beautiful and clever readhead in Mayfair."
"I have not." Penelope whispered.
"I have." Colin answered, he slowly gave her a peck, Penelope moved and his lips captured her upper lip.
Penelope blushes. "Thats nice." She gulps. "Never have I ever.. fell in love with the kindest.. most charming boy with chestnut curls in Mayfair."
"I have not." Colin replied.
"I have.. so.. so much." Penelope pulled Colin for a kiss, she mimics his action and captured his lower and upper lip alternately between hers.
After a beat, Colin pulled them apart. "We need to stop."
"Why?" Penelope's brows furrowed, her cheeks as red as her hair.
"I....uh... feel.. things." Colin replied.
Penelope lookd down below his waist and nods. "Okay."
Colin abruptly left and ran to his bathroom. Sometimes, nature has a weird way of reminding him that he is a teenager now.
___________________________________________
It was night of day three when Penelope had convinced Colin to be his model. She is now on her phase of exploring cosmetics.
"Do not move... I might poke your eye if you move." Penelope sternly says.
"Fiiine." Colin scratches his nape and sat still, Penelope is practicing her signature cat eye on him.
Penelope licks her lips as she draws on Colin's eye lid. "Theeeeere."
She kissed his lips then moved backwards to look at him fully. "My shaylaaaaa" she giggles.
Benedict interrupted them holding a paper bag filled with food that he picked up from the bedroom's door. "Dinner is here, weirdos."
Colin grins, proud of Penelope's creation. "Thanks!"
"Woooow." Penelope grabs the tray and placed it on the bed while Colin takes out all their order.
A clear packet fell on from the bag and Penelope picks it, inspecting it closer. "What is this?"
Colin hums. "Sugar syrup." He placed their iced tea on the tray.
"Huh?" Penelope curiously tilts her head.
"For the iced tea, ninny!" Colin laughs.
Penelope's face turned white as snow when realization hits her. She did not know that. Thats why the drink tasted like nothing.
"Hey.. what is it?" Colin held her hand.
"Colin.." She gulps. "Do not hate me."
"Never would I." He kissed her palm.
"I think...I.. uhm.. may just have forgotten to put some sugar syrup on my drink.. last uhm. last time." She whispered so low.
Colin gave out a belly laugh, Penelope watches him in amusement.
He whispered. "We are not sick?"
Penelope shook her head. "No."
Colin winks. "Might us well enjoy the remaining days?"
Penelope gapes at him. "Wha.. what? Are you not mad?"
"No." He wiggled his brows. "I can get more kisses."
"More kisses!" Penelope beamed at the thought. Maybe it was a gift after all. "Lets stay?" She confirms.
"I think it's best if we both stay." Colin pulled her in for a smack.