uests, I noticed all eyes were on us.
“Good afternoon, everyone!” I greeted with a broad smile.
The guests smiled in return.
I turned to Pia. “Happy birthday, Pia!”
“Thank you, dear! Thank you for the cake you brought,” the old lady replied.
“You’re welcome.” I thought about mentioning that Sia had paid for the cake, but decided against it to avoid any awkwardness with the guests.
“Come on, let’s eat.”
“Pia, let’s hold off for a moment. Let’s light your birthday candle first,” Sia suggested as she placed the cake on the table.
Pia had no choice but to follow Sia’s instructions. After Pia blew out the candles on her cake, the meal began.
Sia took my hand and led me to sit on one side. I settled with Adrian on my lap.
“You two stay here. I’ll get your food,” Sia said before she turned away.
As we sat, I noticed that the guests kept glancing at us. I didn’t pay much attention because I am used to being looked at, especially by women. I remembered that when I was in elementary and high school, almost all my female classmates would get excited because of me.
“Are you hungry?” I asked Adrian.
“Yes. I want spaghetti, chicken, and cake,” the child replied with a smile.
“Okay. Mommy will get those for you,” I said, gazing at Sia. I saw her getting food. I noticed that the guests were lining up to get their food as well. Of all the parties I had been to, this was the only one where there was a line for food.
When Sia got the food, she walked back to where Adrian and I were. She carried two plates, one of which was full of food. I put Adrian down.
“Stay here, baby. I’ll just help your mom,” I said.
The child frowned but let it go.
I stood up and approached Sia. I took the plates from her.
“I can handle this,” Sia complained.
“Nah! I don’t want to see you struggling, Sweetpea.” I walked ahead because Adrian seemed to be about to cry when he looked back at him. “Here’s our food, baby.” I placed the food on the table and picked up my child again.
“Don’t cry, baby. Daddy’s back. I just helped your mom so we can eat.” I kissed the child’s forehead and head.
“He’s becoming spoiled because of you,” Sia teased.
“It’s okay. I haven’t been with him for a long time, so I’ll make it up to him, to both of you.”
Sia raised an eyebrow at me. I just grinned.
“Go ahead and eat. I’ll take care of our child,” I said.
I fed my son while my wife ate. However, after a few spoonfuls, Adrian refused to eat as well. He pointed to some kids playing, so I put him down. Adrain ran off. I stood up, about to chase after him, but my wife stopped me.
“Let him be. He just wants to play.”
“But he might trip. He’s running so fast,” I said, worried, my eyes still on Adrian who continued to run.
“It’s probably fine. That’s just how he is, he likes running and playing.”
I felt relieved when my child stopped running and started playing. I returned to my seat and ate what was left of my child’s meal.
“Are you going home tonight?” I immediately turned to Sia when I heard her question.
“Do you want me to go home? Let me finish eating before you kick me out, Sweetpea,” I teased.
Sia raised an eyebrow at me, which made me laugh. “What’s with the Sweetpea?”
I laughed when she finally noticed my endearment for her. “For me, you’ll always be my Sweetpea. Even if we have more children and grow old together, that’s what I’ll call you.”
Sia rolled her eyes. “What are you talking about? More children? Are you daydreaming?”
I felt a little sad at her words. “I’ll wait for you to accept me again. If I endured five years without you, what are a few months or years of waiting? There’s another heavy reason why I want to wait. Adrian is here. He’s one of the main reasons why I want to build our family.”
Sia didn’t respond. We continued to eat quietly. After we finished eating, Sia excused herself to help clean up. I went to where my son was playing. I smiled as I watched Adrian happily playing.
Adrian stopped playing when the mothers of his playmates approached. The children said their goodbyes to each other.
“Baby, you smell sweaty. Let’s go inside. Let’s find Mom so you can take a bath,” I said, holding my son’s hand as we walked towards the house.
“Daddy, are you going to sleep here?” Adrain’s question brought a smile to my face.
“Yes, son. If your mom agrees, I won’t go home yet.”
“I’ll tell Mom,” Adrain happily said.
We found Sia helping a woman wash dishes in the kitchen. Adrian approached Sia. “Mom, Daddy will sleep here,” Adrian said while holding onto Sia’s clothes.
Sia looked at Adrian and then at me before looking back at our child.
“I’ll talk to him later. It’s better if you take a bath first so you can change. Your body smells sweaty, and your scent isn’t nice either,” Sia said as she sniffed Adrian’s head.
Adrian hurriedly approached me.
“I’ll bathe you, baby. Just show me where your bathroom is.”
Adrian then led me to a door near the kitchen. When he opened it, I found a small bathroom.
“Where’s your towel, baby?” I inquired upon seeing Adrain unbuttoning his shirt.
“It’s in the room,” Adrian replied without looking at me.
“Which room?”
“In there,” Adrian gestured outside.
I blinked. Which outside was my child referring to?
“Stay here, okay? I’ll just talk to your mom quickly. Don’t take a bath yet. Wait for me,” I instructed firmly before quickly leaving. I needed to return promptly because I was worried about my child. Something might happen to him. He might slip in the bathroom or fall into the toilet bowl.
“Hi, Miss, i was just wondering where Sia at?” I asked the woman I found washing dishes.
“She went to the room, sir,” the woman replied, turning to face me.
I thanked her and immediately turned away. But before I could take a few steps, I bumped into Sia.
“Here’s Adrian’s towel. After he’s done bathing, you can dress him up in the room,” she pointed to the end of the hallway. “His clothes were on top of the bed. Just wait for me there. You can watch the TV later,” she instructed before turning back to the kitchen.