Chapter 5

We are now in his car and heading to the grocery store. I first looked at what I had written on a piece of paper and then looked at my driver who was now frowning. He acted like a child.

"What?" he was annoyed when he saw me looking at him.

"You're so handsome," I said and I laughed when I saw that he’s trying not to smile at what I said even though his lips were lifting up. Was he blushing? Too cute.

"Are you going to buy a lot today?" he said, trying to open up conversation.

"Yes," I answered briefly while texting my son how he was doing. My son wanted me to go home because he misses me and so do I but I have no choice because I have to do this for him too.

If Steven will soon earn my trust. Maybe soon, I will introduce our son to him.

"What are you doing?" he asked so I looked at him and saw that he was frowning again. I hid my cellphone because he didn't seem to like what I did.

"I just texted my family sir," I said and looked away.

"What's with the formalities?"

"Pardon?" I wondered.

"You keep on saying it, sir. Do I look old?" I looked at him again and laughed when I saw his forehead wrinkled.

If so, what does he want me to call him? Just like casual?

"What should I call you?" I asked innocently.

"Sweetheart,” he answered.

"Huh?" I think I was deafened by what I heard.

"I mean Steven," he clarified and focused on the road.

 I know what he said, I heard the word sweetheart, 'Your father is a very flirty son. No wonder I immediately went with him even though I have never drunk any alcohol that night,' I thought.

"Okay Steven," I said and looked back to the roan when the car suddenly stopped causing me to gasp. I was holding my chest when I turned to look at Steven. What was on his mind?

"What did you say?" he asked looking only at me.

"Huh? Am I saying something?" I wondered.

"Say it," he said which messed up my brain even more. What should I say?

"My name. Say my name once again," he said.

"Steven," I repeated.

"Weird. It sounded so familiar," he said and went back to driving as if nothing had happened.

What's weird about his name? Of course it is familiar to him because that is his name.

"Have we met before?" Steven asked so I kept quiet. Does he remember anything that happened to us in Canada?

"Not yet," I tried to speak as if it was normal. I'm afraid that he might notice that I'm nervous now.

"Are you sure?" he asked again.

"Yeah," I answered and turned my eyes to the window to avoid his scrutinizing glances.

Thank God because he didn't ask any more questions. Just a little longer we arrived at the grocery store. I don't really know why he came so I just let it go.

He took a big cart and he followed me. I went straight to the meat section to get some meats.

"The person carrying the cart is handsome, miss," I heard Steven say. I just shook my head and ignored him. He’s very confident to his looks.

"So tell me about your family Ria," I stopped taking the chicken when I heard him mention my name.

"My adopted parents threw me away six years ago," I began. I first took seven packaged meats and placed them in the cart, then continued to speak.

"I haven't met my biological parents. When I was a baby until I was 2 years old, my grandmother took care of me but she died so they had to find someone to take care of me," I continued.

"Then I met mommy Violet and daddy Alberto, they were my adopted parents. They raised me. But just like what they said that blood is thicker than water, so they kicked me out for a sin I didn't commit," I said. .

"I'm sorry," I heard Steven say. I just smiled and took the vegetables on the list that we will buy today.

"It's okay. It's not your fault. My sister and I argued about it. My sister did something bad and passed that sin on to me. I tried to explain my side but mom and dad believe her over me," I said and pointed him to go to the rows of cup noodles.

"So you still go home to them? How about the school?" he asked.

"I didn't finish my degree," I said because she got me pregnant 6 years ago. I need to stop studying for my baby.

"But I'm not sorry that all of that happened because I met you," I said while putting the cup noodles that I got into the cart.

"Huh?" he asked confused. I just laughed and went ahead of him to look for those still on the list. I don't really regret it because I met Steven and my son came into my life and he’s my life now.

"Ri? Is that you?" I looked at the man looking at me. My eyes widened when I recognized who it was.

"Oh Rex. Is that you? Oh my God!" I screamed and hugged him with great joy.

"Hey how are you? I mean look at you. It's great! You're already promoted!" I said and he laughed at what I pointed out.

"Hmm, I’m okay. I just came back from the States actually. How are you?" he asked.

"I’m okay. I’m great! I didn't recognize you right away.. I mean look at you now.. Wow!" I said. Rex is handsome, and it’s been long since the last time we saw each other.

"Oh Ri, it's still me. By the wat, I messaged you on your I***a-gram account. You haven't read it yet," he said.

I was about to speak when Steven stood next to me and extended his hand to Rex.

"I'm Steven," Steven's arrogant and authoritative self-introduction. It’s obvious to his face that he’s mad.

"I'm Rex," Rex said and accepted Steven's hand.

"Tss.. what a bug," Steven whispered but it’s impossible that Rex didn’t hear that.

"So what is your message to me for?" I asked to get the attention of Rex who didn't seem to like what Steven said.

"I offer you a job Ri. I need a secretary to-

"He already has a job. He won't accept your offer," Steven interrupted into the conversation so I glared at him.

"Can you leave us alone?" I said in a low voice then faced Steven. His face darkened and I know right away that I pushed his button.

Seeing that I was serious, he left and left the cart next to me.

After leaving, I faced Rex who was watching me and Steven.

Rex was my ex-boyfriend. He's a good friend of mine and he’s Hivo's godfather.

"I've been wanting to ask this for a while, but he's Hivo's father, right?" he asked and I nodded.

"So do you have a thing?" he asked again.

"We're not like that, Rex. Hivo demanded to meet his father, so I pretended to be his maid to get to know him first. Thank you also because you didn't show the surprise when you saw him earlier," I said referring to what he did.

I know he was surprised when Steven intervened in the conversation and I know he recognized him right away but he immediately returned his reaction to normal so Steven did not notice it.

Like I said, my son and his father look alike.

"I dropped to your house yesterday and I saw that Divine was the one taking care of Hivo. That's why I knew something was wrong. Anyway, I need to go to Ri or else I'll be dead later." Rex said so I glanced at Steven's direction and saw that he was glaring at us.

"Let's catch up together? You have a lot to tell me. And may I remind you, that that man was already marking you Ria. I know it cause I'm a man too," he said and he's referring to Steven.

I? marking? I don't think so. Maybe he is attracted to me but I don't think he will mark me.

"You're crazy. That's impossible!" I said laughing but he just looked at me seriously.

"When will you introduce him to your son? Hivo needs a dad, Ri. Your son keeps on saying that he will soon meet his dad," he said.

"Maybe soon Rex. So far, Steven is nice. But I need time, even just a little bit because I want to get to know him better," I said.

"Okay. If that's what you want. Just call me if you need some help," he said.

"Thank you Rex," I said and hugged him.

"That's enough!" Steven's voice separated me from Rex and he dragged me out of the grocery store.

"Hey," I tried to withdraw my hand but he held it tightly. He didn't let me go until we got into his car.

"What are you doing?" I asked him in surprise.

"No Ria. It's you. What are you doing? Why are you hugging that man? Are you out of your mind?" he said blushing with anger.

"What’s your problem?" I said.

"My problem? Oh.. it's you lady," after he said those words, he slammed his lips against mine that stunned me. What the!!!!