Part 23

On Saturday morning, Abigail and Flavia were already pestering Claire with their plans.

"Anyway, we'll buy tickets first, then have lunch, watch a movie, go to the bookstore, and then we can go to the cafe to visit uncle Yudhis." Abigail detailed her plan. Claire who was drying clothes could only roll her eyes. "Anyway, today, we squeeze your cock." Abigail looked at Flavia with enthusiasm.

Surprisingly, instead of getting angry, Flavia nodded enthusiastically.

"You guys, you keep talking. I have a headache. What time is it anyway? You haven't brushed your teeth. You haven't had breakfast. No shower." She grumbled as she went back down to the first floor in the backyard.

Claire's drying area was indeed in the backyard. It was specially made next to a water reservoir that had a canopy installed as well. So there was no fear of getting caught in the rain even if Claire was not at home.

"I'll have some porridge in front of the compound for breakfast." She said.

"Hmm..." Claire replied flatly. "Brush your teeth first, bring a jacket, then we'll go there." Claire instructed.

The three of them walked hand in hand towards the front of Claire's housing complex. Still in their pajamas and wearing only slippers.

After finishing the porridge. The two teenagers looked still not full. They went back to buying food sold in the small shops around the neighborhood.

After being satisfied with their snacks, the three returned home. Claire chose to go inside, while the two teenagers were engrossed in their food on the front porch.

"Your father, what time will he pick us up?" Abigail looked at her best friend with her mouth full.

"I haven't called him yet. What time do you think he should pick us up?" Flavia asked her best friend's opinion back.

"Nine o'clock. Do you think that's too early?" Abigail glanced at her cell phone clock, which read seven past fifteen.

"I don't know. I'll try to chat him?" Flavia asked.

Abigail nodded. Flavia immediately sent a message to her father. Asking if he was awake or not. But the message was only delivered. It wasn't read.

"It looks like my father is still sleeping. I'll try to call him later." She replied. Abigail nodded.

At eight in the morning, Abigail and Flavia, who were still hanging out on the front porch, again tried to contact Antony. This time by making a video call.

On the third ring, the call was picked up. Unfortunately it was not her father who picked up the call. Instead, it was the woman who previously felt like a hostess at Antony's place.

"Why are you answering my phone?" Asked Flavia in a soft but clearly displeased tone.

"Your father was in the bathroom. His cell phone rang, so I answered it." The woman on the other side replied with an air of innocence. "Want to leave a message? I'll pass it on." She said again.

Flavia glanced at Abigail. Abigail just shrugged. "Please ask Papa. If he picks me up at nine, is that too early?"

"Pick you up? Where are you going? Your Papa already promised to go to the mall with me, so it's not like he can pick you up."

What? Abigail looked at Flavia with an angry glare. But Flavia only replied with resignation. "Oh, okay then." And without further ado Flavia hung up the video call.

"Via! You can't just give up. You should have scolded her and forbidden her to go with your father. Remember, your father had an appointment with you first. After all, you are his son, you should be his priority. He can't break a promise let alone break it because he's going with that flirtatious woman." Abigail said with annoyance.

"Never mind, I can't do anything. Maybe my father did make an appointment with that woman first. Did you forget she was home when we came back yesterday?" Flavia reminded. But her face clearly showed that she was disappointed. This was the first time in thirteen years that her father had said he would travel with her. And now he was breaking his promise without saying a word.

Flavia was obviously disappointed. But she was used to that kind of treatment from her father. She had never been prioritized by her father.

Abigail put her arm around her best friend's shoulders. "Never mind, don't be sad. Isn't there my aunt, I'll rent her to you." Her persuasion made Flavia chuckle.

"Aunty C is a doll. You can lend it to her and then take it back, is that it?"

"Think of it that way." Abigail replied casually. "It's better now that we take a shower, dress up pretty. Who knows, on the way we might meet parents who want to adopt you as their child. Or meet a handsome man who wants to make us his girlfriend." She said, which made Flavia giggle again.

"Who wants to be whose girlfriend?" Claire appeared from inside, looking at the two teenagers in turn. "Look, it's already the time. Don't you guys have a lot of plans? But why are you still wearing those ugly pajamas?" Claire shook her head. Abigail and Flavia just grinned.

"Flavia's father isn't coming to pick us up. He has an appointment with someone else." Abigail told her aunt.

"Well, what's the problem? You guys are used to draining my money, so what, if you really want to be treated by Via's father. Later, all your shopping, watching and eating receipts, you deposit with Via's father. It's that simple. Don't complicate a small matter." Claire continued casually. Encouraging the two teenagers to enter the house so they could change their clothes as soon as possible.

Finally, at half past ten in the morning, they were already at the mall area. Claire just followed along as the two teenagers in front of her went to visit the shopping area for Korean cosmetics and fashion. 'Kids these days.' Claire grumbled when she saw their enthusiasm.

The two teenagers kept going in and out of the outlets. Trying on some items, putting them in the shopping cart and handing them to Claire when it was time to pay. Claire could only roll her eyes. It seemed like the two kids were really intent on blackmailing Antony Quirino.

They took a break for lunch. And it seemed like the two girls had rubber stomachs because they liked to try various foods. Trying one outlet after another.

They ended up at the outside area of a coffee shop. Their huge purchases were placed on the left and right sides of the chair they were sitting on.

"Your father hasn't called you?" Abigail asked curiously.

Flavia, who was about to sip her Choco Boba, glanced at Abigail. Then she reached for her cell phone and her eyes widened. She showed her cell phone to Abigail. "Waaaw..." Abigail looked mesmerized. There were dozens of voice calls and video calls from "Papa". "Let's call back." She ordered. Flavia nodded and dialed her father's number with the video call.

"Flavia where are you? I went to Claire's place but you're not there." Her father exclaimed in a displeased tone.

"We're already at the mall." Flavia replied honestly. The girl switched the camera direction to the rear so Antony could see the scene in front of Flavia.

Antony's forehead furrowed slightly when he saw Claire. The girl was wearing a knee-length navy-white Heringbon chiffon dress with short sleeves and a V-neck that showed off her neck and a bit of her collarbone. Her long black hair was left to flow beautifully. She looked seductive, and beautiful despite her modesty.

"Why did you leave without telling me?" Antony grumbled, trying to divert his attention from Claire.

Abigail moved closer to Flavia's face until she was in a small corner of the screen. "We called you this morning, but your girlfriend said you had an appointment. So we decided to go."

"When? My girlfriend? Who?" Antony asked confused.

"That woman who was at your house yesterday." Abigail answered again. "Anastasia."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Antony said in a loud evasive voice. "And I don't have any appointment with her. Are you still there? I'll catch up with you."

"We're done here. We're going to the bookstore after we eat."

"Which bookstore?"

"The bookstore in Mall B. We haven't had a chance to watch it yet and at the same time we want to drop off Aunty C.

"Alright, let's meet there. What time?"

"Probably in about an hour." Flavia replied again. Finally after the appointment. The video call was closed.

Sure enough. An hour later they were in the parking lot of Mall B. Flavia looked around for her father, who she hoped would be waiting in the parking lot. But perhaps he had chosen a different parking lot.

They entered Claire's restaurant on the second floor. As usual, Claire would be busy with Judhis. And Abigail and Flavia would choose to go to the third floor where the movie theater was located before going down to the first floor to the bookstore.

Just as Flavia and Abigail were about to queue up to buy tickets, Flavia's cell phone that she had been holding vibrated. "Where? I'm already at Mall B."

"We're at the movie theater on the third floor."

"Wait a minute. I'll be right there."

Waited for about five minutes. The figure of a man wearing a white Polo shirt with black jeans came into the cinema area. Don't exaggerate like in the novels that Antony's arrival would garner a lot of attention. Making women gape and marvel at his good looks.

It wasn't like that.

Although some of the single women did look twice or stole glances.

Flavia waved a hand, beckoning her father to come closer to her. "Just the two of you?" The man asked in surprise. Abigail and Flavia nodded. "Where's Claire?"

"Aunty C is on business on the second floor." Abigail replied. "Do you want to watch a movie too? If you do, let me order the tickets for you."

"Just order." Antony replied. He reached for his wallet and handed a credit card to Flavia.

Instead of entering the queue, Abigail reached for her cell phone. She deliberately turned on the loudspeaker. "Aunty, we want to order tickets. Do you want to go with us?"

"Usually you two watch it together. I'm busy. You guys go."

"Poor Uncle Antony has no one to keep him company."

"Is Flavia's dad really coming?" Claire replied with a rustling sound on the other end.

"Yes. He's here with us. It would be sad if he was all alone," she coaxed. Flavia looked at Abigail, who was now pleading in an adorably pitiful way.

"I just started. If I have to keep you guys company, you'll need to book the next slot."

"Okay. We can arrange that," Abigail responded again. Then, she hung up the call. "We'll postpone the movie. My aunt just started her business, and it'll take one or two more hours to finish. But if you want, we can watch now, though you might not have anyone to talk to," Abigail explained.

"Where did Claire go, anyway?" Antony asked curiously.

"Downstairs, on the second floor. She's keeping Uncle Yudhis company while she works," Abigail replied. Antony frowned slightly. "On Saturdays and Sundays, Aunt C usually spends time with us. Right, Via?" Abigail turned, and Flavia nodded.

Antony fell silent. Who's Yudhis now? Yesterday, it was Uncle G, who turned out to be the girl's twin brother. And now? Yudhis? Is this Yudhis guy really her boyfriend this time?

"Alright, just get tickets for the next showing. I'll take you wherever you want to go while we wait for the movie to start. Isn't that what I promised yesterday?"

Abigail and Flavia exchanged glances, then cheered excitedly. They joined the line while Antony chose to wait on the sofa in the corner of the room.

Since it was the weekend, everywhere he looked was filled with young couples in the theater area. Antony felt uncomfortable—he wasn't used to being in places like this. Considering his age, he didn't feel like movie theaters were the right place for him.

Maybe a café still fit his standards, but a movie theater? Clearly, that was a place for the younger generation. Like his daughter and Claire.

Yes, Claire was definitely still in the young adult category. She hadn't even turned thirty yet.

Abigail and Flavia returned with four tickets in hand. Without waiting for them to come closer, Antony walked toward them so they could head for the exit more quickly.

They then took the escalator down. The bookstore they were heading to was on the first floor. But before continuing to the escalator, Abigail took him to a Korean snack shop. "Let's grab a drink first, Uncle. We're thirsty," she said. Antony simply followed along.

Abigail ordered an Original Matcha, while Flavia and Antony both got Matcha Lattes. The restaurant was also filled with young people, just like the movie theater, though there were a few tables occupied by families.

Then, the girl wearing the chiffon dress appeared. She emerged from the kitchen area at the same time as a tall, handsome man with a strong, muscular build. Her hair, which had been down earlier, was now tied up in a bun on top of her head, held together by something Antony guessed was a pencil.

"Aunty!" Abigail's shout made the beautiful girl turn around.

"Why are you here? Weren't you going to the bookstore?"

"We were thirsty," Abigail replied. Claire just nodded. "Uncle Yudhis, if I may say so, you're getting more handsome by the day," Abigail teased flirtatiously. Yudhis raised an eyebrow before bursting into laughter.

"I'll wait for you for another ten years, how about that?" the handsome man offered. Abigail rolled her eyes.

"No way, by then you'll be way too old," she shot back, making Yudhis laugh even louder.

"I'll be waiting for you in the office. I need to step out for a bit." He patted Claire's shoulder, and she nodded in response.

Once Yudhis left, Claire focused her attention on Abigail and Flavia.

"I still have things to do. Remind me when the movie is about to start," she instructed. Then she turned to Antony. "Sir, I'm trusting you with them. Don't let them chase after any handsome men, or that could spell trouble for us," she joked, addressing the two girls in front of her. Antony just stared at her, confused. "And you," she said, looking at Abigail, "don't cause trouble like last time. Following someone else's boyfriend just because he's handsome isn't going to end well. If you want to buy a book, buy it, but don't make trouble," she warned.

Abigail pouted but couldn't argue. Claire then said her goodbyes and headed to the room Yudhis had just entered.

Antony glanced between his daughter and her friend. Flavia just shook her head, trying not to laugh, while Abigail's face turned red with embarrassment.

"I once followed a handsome guy in a bookstore. I thought he was my favorite actor, but I was wrong. It happened a long time ago," Abigail admitted, looking embarrassed. "Blame the guy! Why did he have to have a face like those handsome Korean actors? The real problem came when his girlfriend caught me staring at him. She got jealous and... well, never mind, let's not talk about it," she added, defensively.

Antony could only shake his head. This girl was definitely something else.