"Caleb?"
I called out as I looked at my wristwatch since he was taking his time out. Caleb left to his room to get his book but he's been taking too long. I decided to slip on my own shoes and grabbed Caleb's shoes and make him slip on it on the car since we're running late for his class.
"Caleb! Hurry up we're gonna be late." I called out one last time.
The sound of small footsteps sounded from inside and Caleb finally showed up with nothing on his hand. I frowned.
"Where's your book?"
"I forgot. I already put it in my bag." He shyly answered which made me breathed a tired sigh.
"Dad, where's my shoes?"
Without an answer, I picked my son up from the floor and quickly locked our house.
"You can put it on in the car. We're running late dear."
I unlocked the car door and buckled Caleb on the passenger seat before bending down and putting on his shoes.
"Thanks dad!"
"You're welcome buddy." I replied while ruffling his hair.
I quickly ran to the driver's side and went inside and turned on the car ignition then drove off.
Since the day is still starting, the streets wasn't that jammed with cars so I can freely drive on the streets without worrying about traffic. It only took a couple of fifteen minutes to reached Caleb's school. I parked the car on the school's parking lot and quickly got Caleb out from the car.
"Waaah! Caleb!"
Someone called out with a cute tone of voice. I glanced back and saw one of Caleb's classmate.
"Zoeeeeey!" Caleb also chirped and went out from my grasps to give his classmate a friendly hug.
"Oh goodmorning Mr. Malcolm. Sorry about Zoey, she's just so fond about Caleb that she's so excited to go to school."
A petite and blonde lady in her late twenty's came up to me. And judging from Zoey's features and this woman's features, she must be her mother.
"Ah... hello. So you are Zoey's mother, please to meet you." I gave out a smile and stretched out my hand to give a handshake.
"I'm Rhian Chase, Zoey's mother." She also reached out to get my hand and shook it with a tender smile.
"I was so busy with work that I didn't have time to send my daughter to school myself. It has always been her nanny who accompanies her but now I'm off from my job, I can finally send her to school myself."
"You are such an admirable dad to Caleb. Even though you're so busy you still have the time to drop Caleb to school."
"Ah yes... can't help it since I'm a single parent." I laughed awkwardly.
"Oh? Where's your wife Mr. Malcolm?"
"Ah?" I trailed as I blinked my eyes quickly.
I tried not to frown but I just couldn't help it. I wanted to tell her that I am the one who bear and carried Caleb for nine months but I don't know why my mouth refuses to say it.
"Ah... she left us a long time ago." I lied with gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry. That girl must be dumb to leave someone like you, a capable and a handsome man to boot!" She chirped which made me laughed awkwardly.
Yeah... If only you knew that I was married to a guy, I bet you wouldn't dare utter a word. I would've laughed at your stone face upon hearing it and you would've eaten those 'capable and handsome' words to yourself.
"Dad! The class is about to start. Bye dad!" Caleb yelled.
"Ah yes! Take care buddy. Dad will get you later."
Before Caleb could vanished inside the building, he quickly ran back to me and grabbed my hand to make me bend down to his height before kissing my cheek.
"Take care dad."
Then he quickly ran back inside the building.
"Oh! What a sweet child! You are so lucky Mr. Malcolm."
I felt a huge smile emerge from my lips as my eyes never left at the entrance of where Caleb went in.
"You bet I am."
Even though my first love left me, a love more greater than a first came to me. And it was my own son. My own flesh and blood that I had carried with me for nine months.
- - -
When I arrived at the restaurant, my face frowned when my eyes spotted the all too familiar car parked just a few meters from the establishment.
I went out from the drivers side and locked my car before crossing the street to get inside. Since the restaurant was still closed, I went into the back entrance of the building.
When I got inside, my staff and workers greeted me. I walked up to the counter and sat down on one of the stool there as I scan my eyes on the logbook placed on the table.
"Hey boss! Good morning."
I looked up and saw one of my employees who was incharged of the reservations walked up to me.
"Oh hey Dylan. Tell the guys to hurry up and we'll open up in fifteen minutes. Make sure that the breakfast and lunch menu are ready." I instructed.
"Yes boss! Everythings good and ready, I'll tell them to be ready in fifteen minutes." He saluted and walked away.
After the preparations, the restaurant opened up and the bell on the door indicates our first customer for the day. I looked up from the book and I almost felt my eyes gauge out from my own sockets when I saw Alexander walked through those doors.
He had on a black pants and black turtle neck shirt then a white trench coat. His hair was hanging over his forehead as his eyes were covered with black tinted glasses. He was holding a fresh bundle of roses as he looked around.
When his eyes landed on me, I felt my body froze as my eyes stayed on his. Even though his eyes were hidden under those glasses, I couldn't deny the feeling of his eyes straightly looking at me. As if he's assessing my soul, to entrap and to seduced me.
But before I could react, he turned around and sat down on one of the empty seats then calmly put down the roses he brought with him on the table. He called a waiter over and gave his order.
I felt myself heaved a long sigh and decided to finish my work but the more I wanted to do my work, the more my eyes turn back to where Alexander's figure was seating. His back was against me so he didn't know that I was checking him out and the roses on the table.
Even though I felt so relieved that he didn't came to bother me, I just can't deny the disappointment I felt in me. With an angry huffed, I stood up from my chair and carried the logbook with me and decided to look at it in my office.
When I arrived at my office, I quickly locked the door, threw the logbook to my desk and sat down on my chair with a disgruntled look.
"I still love you Lay... blah blah blah!" I mumbled, mimicking how Alexander had said it with a too exagerated moves.
I grabbed my pen and decided to sign some papers but I only managed to hold the pen in front of my face then glared at it as if I was seeing Alexander's smug face.
"Even though I fell in love with you, that was in the past! The past so don't hope that I will fell in love with you again! You asshole!"
"I admit that you have good looks but your good looks won't help in melting my heart for you! Don't think you're lucky enough to win me again!! I am not that innocent and naive anymore! I've grown and knew to stay away to the likes of you!!" I yelled at my pen.
"Bullshit! Why am I talking to my own pen?! Fuck! I'm losing my damn mind over that fucking rose." I frowned and huffed through my nose.
"What?! I don't care if you gave it to another woman! I already know how a flirt you are, you asshole!"
"And you Lay, don't hope! I thought you have decided not to fall for his charms but look at yourself right now!" I frowned again upon realizing what I was doing.
"Shit. I'm talking to myself now."
A soft knock sounded from the door which broke me out from my internal conflict. I stood up from my chair and opened the door. An employee of mine greeted me. She handed me the roses Alexander brought with him when he came.
"Mr. Miers gave it to you boss." She chirped and left.
I stood there frozen as my hands clasps those bocquet of roses. With an awkward smile, I went back to my room and sat down on my chair. The roses were placed in front of my desk.
For the whole day, my eyes would always took a quick glance on the roses as I do my work. Even though I had the urge to just threw them out, there was also a faction whispering inside me that I shouldn't. Now, I'm suffering another internal conflict that I knew the latter would win.
"Damn..."