Part 74

"Have you eaten?" She asked the two teenage girls. Abigail shook her head, as did Flavia. "Order food online, I'm hungry." Claire asked again.

"Is it okay to buy food from outside?" Abigail asked "Aren't you not allowed to eat carelessly?"

Claire shook her head. "I know myself too, Abby. Eating chicken won't put me into a coma. Never mind, just order it." She asked again.

But before Abigail could order. Antony looked at the door from outside. "Do you want to eat here or eat outside?" He asked.

"You were eavesdropping, huh?" Abigail looked at her best friend's father with narrowed eyes. Antony looked at Abigail confused. "Never mind, ignore it." Abigail replied incoherently. "What do you have?" Shee then got up and took Flavia with her.

"I don't have anything. That's why I asked. Do you want to eat here or outside?" Antony replied flatly.

Claire chuckled. It seemed like Abigail had an overly suspicious nature. "I thought you were offering but you actually asked. Aunty wants to eat chicken, I'll just order online." She replied.

"No need to use the online application, it takes a long time." Antony answered from outside the door. His voice was low, but Claire could still hear as the three talked. "You guys just go directly to the restaurant. Order more menu." Antony said again. And it seemed like the two teenagers did as Antony instructed because they passed silently.

Shortly after, Antony came back into the room.

"Are you feeling better?" He asked gently. Claire smiled and nodded her head. "Your head doesn't hurt? I have something to talk to you about. It's serious." Antony said again. Claire shook her head again and nodded. "I heard everything you guys talked about." Antony continued. Claire who didn't understand what he meant could only frown. "The conversation between you, Gladwin and your mother." Antony said honestly.

Claire was momentarily stunned. "All of them?" She asked nervously. Antony smiled and nodded.

"Especially the phrase 'the man I love', somehow it makes it feel like it's going to come out." Antony said, squeezing his left breast. "Well, I'm old, I shouldn't overact like a teenage Abigail or Flavia." Antony said listlessly. But then shrugged his shoulders indifferently. "But what can I do? Love knows no age, doesn't it?" He teased again.

Claire looked down in shame with a flushed face that Antony laughed at. He inched closer and then cupped her face with both hands.

"I know, I have a bad past. And I also can't promise what our future will be like. I can't promise you to be happy forever, because I know, there is no such thing as happy forever. Sadness, hardship, pain, it will always be there as long as we live. But Claire." Antony said softly. Claire looked Antony straight in the eyes. "I can only promise you that I will always take care of you, try to give the best for you, for us.

"I can't pluck you a star, nor can I wrap you a moon. But I can give you a whole Antony Quirino. Would you like that?" he offered.

Claire bit her lower lip, while her eyes glazed over.

This was not what he had imagined. In the movies or dramas she had seen, the proposal had never been like this. But why did this unromantic thing touch her so much? Why did something like this move her so much and make her heart beat with love.

Antony Quirino. I don't know if this is what is called blind love. But Claire felt like she believed every word he said. She was sure that Antony would give everything for her. Whether she asks for it or not.

"Claire?" Antony called her name again. Claire smiled, and then she slowly nodded her head.

"Yes, I want to." Claire replied softly.

"You accept me, a package with Flavia?" repeated Antony again.

Claire chuckled. "Of course. In fact, I'd take Flavia over her father first." She joked.

Antony laughed again. He came back closer and then kissed Claire's forehead.

"I wanted to kiss you on the lips as a token. But I'm afraid I won't be able to resist. So that's the down payment?" joked Antony which made Claire laugh again. "And now, the other thing I have to say is that your brother and I have plans to meet the man your mother is going to set you up with." Antony said with a serious look that made Claire gasp in shock. "Relax, I won't be boxing with him. In any case, it looks like he will lose to me." He continued. "There are things that we, as men, should talk about." Antony said again.

Claire still looked at him skeptically, but then nodded her head. Antony isn't a petulant person like Gladwin. He certainly wouldn't be as extreme as Harry. Since Antony was his brother Richard's best friend, Claire would classify the two as the same. Cool-headed and always organized.

"After the kids come back I'll leave. It might be a while until I come back here. So, eat your dinner well. Yes?"

Claire just nodded her head. And somehow, it was as if there was an alarm in the distance. Abigail and Flavia had started making noise again.

"Aunty, your order has arrived!" The teenager exclaimed from outside the room.

Antony, who was quite surprised by the girl's voice, straightened his shoulders. He walked out of the room and looked at the two teenagers who were transferring the chicken from the box to the plate.

"So fast?" she asked in surprise.

"I bought it from a fast food shop outside the housing complex. Where do you want us to buy it? To China?" She asked with pursed lips. Antony chuckled but then shrugged.

"Eat a lot. Watch your aunt when she eats." He ordered Abigail. Abigail just nodded enthusiastically. "I have to go." He said to Flavia. "Lock the door. If there's anything, call me immediately." He continued.

Flavia just nodded her head. And was surprised that before leaving her father rubbed her head and also kissed the top of her head.

Until Antony disappeared behind the door. Flavia was pensive with her chest pounding. "Papa..." she called softly.