When Lucas exited the cave restaurant in anger, he searched for somewhere he could go and cool off. He needed to get away, rid the dizzying thoughts off his mind, control his anger and take sustainable breaths.
The thought of Sia being with someone else makes pains ripple through his chest. It was just a stark reminder of a gem he lost. It doesn’t just pain him that Sia enjoys the warmth or jokes someone else provides.
What grieves him the most is the fact that someone other than him has seen, and has felt how amazing and wonderful Sia is. Bouts of jealousy trickled in and trickled out of him.
When he settled in his Uber, the driver peered at him through the rearview mirror and saw the redness that colored his cheeks. The redness is not the blushing kind of redness. It’s the kind of redness you get when you feel nothing except anger. Raw anger.
Lucas fucking loves Sia and never wanted someone to figure out how awesome she is. How she carries herself, her sense of humor, and how translucent she is. Sia is never one to hide her feelings for someone. If she hates someone, although, with solid reasons, she’ll show it rather than cover it up with pretense.
If she loves someone, as she did love him, she pours her heart, her devotion, and her commitment to it. When promises slip off her lips, she’ll cross oceans, hurdles, and whatnot just to ensure she keeps to her promise.
Remembering that truth about Sia now piles up Lucas’s strings of self-blame, self loathe, rage.
The Uber driver didn’t tear his eyes off Lucas from the mirror. He’s staring pointedly at him to spill the destination he wants to be driven to but Lucas muted, spearing his fingers through his hair and chewing on his moist lower lip.
His mind is far away. And only one thing will extinguish this heated feeling deep inside him.
The driver clears his throat and asked Lucas, “Where to sir?”
It was only then that Lucas figured the car hasn’t begun moving. Shit! They are still a few meters away from the cave restaurant.
He quickly removes his phone case and a piece of paper fell off. Picking it up, Lucas’s eyes glance at the ink scribbled on the paper.
Hoisting his head, he hummed, “To ‘Little home’s in Mahan Drive.”
The Uber driver brought the engine to life instantly and headed to Mahan Drive.
“Is it stupid of me to feel jealous when my ex enjoys someone’s company? Someone’s jokes and touch?” The question bursts from Lucas’s lips before he could stop himself.
The driver sent him quick glares. A glare that screams ‘I know it’s love issues you’re having. I figured.’ However, Lucas was too occupied to get a read of the driver’s expression.
“In a way it’s stupid. That’s you being selfish. You guys already broke up, so she has every right to feel comfortable around someone else. It’s a telltale sign she has moved on.” The driver answered but was mindful of his choice of words.
Lucas gave out a wistful chuckle. He’s selfish. He has been since Sia came into his life and he still is now they’ve parted ways. That’s just how possessive he is over Sia.
Blowing out a long breath of air, Lucas just muttered. “It just hurts to see someone cherishing what you love. Or seeing how amazingly beautiful she is. It fucking hurt as hell.”
The thick air lingered in the car until Lucas stepped out of the car when he reached his destination. He squeezed the paycheck into the driver’s hand and flipped around the busy street. There’s a thrift store and boutique opposite the ‘Little Home’.
Lucas ignored every other thing and faced the building. He waddled to the door and rang the bell. When someone opens it Lucas smiled.
“Chaperone.” He called. Before the lady could flutter the door open, Abbey and Nica already snuck their heads outside from the door and peeked at Lucas.
A gleeful squeal spurted from their little lips. The chaperone fluttered the door open and the kids flushed themselves on each of Lucas’s legs.
“Fine uncle!!!” They screamed attracting other kids’ attention. From what Lucas’s gathered, there are just about fifteen kids here. A reminder of the chaperone’s words some time ago.
“Hey, pals. How have been?” He asked, sending his fingers through their hair.
Giggling, they hummed. “Missed you.” Their innocent words and melodious giggles are just enough to chase down the rage Lucas feels. He felt a surge of relief at the sight of the girls.
Jesus! Since when did kids become the perfect dose for mood swings? Lucas doesn’t know and seemed less interested in finding out.
When he hunkered down, his lips goes to the girl’s cheeks. “I missed you too pals. That’s why I’m here.” He hugged Abbey and then Nica.
The chaperone who watched the amazing scene feels happy. Truthfully, Lucas is the only one the girls have felt comfortable with among all the people that bustles into this place.
“It still amazes me how comfortable they feel around you. These girls hardly talk to other people. Especially if they don’t feel comfortable around them.” The chaperone cut through their loving moment.
“Are you being serious?” He asked in utter surprise.
“It’s not a secret.” She cackled. “After watching ‘Baby’s day out’ their notion of uncles changed. They’d say ‘uncles are bad.”
The revelation made Lucas laugh so hard, he forgot his worries. Every other thing in the world turned blur. So all he could see are the two girls in front of him.
“I can’t believe that.” He said.
Nica looked up at him and said in her sing-song voice. “The uncles took the baby. They’re bad uncles.”
The way she proves her point with obvious facts adds to Lucas’s laughter. “Yes, they took the baby. But not all uncles are bad. Okay, pal?” He said assuredly.
“If you don’t mind. Would like you to sign your name, contact number, and address here before I can excuse you.” The chaperone said when she returned with a register. Taking the pen, Lucas signed his details before moving to sit with the girls on the steps while looking out the street.
Nica whispered something in his ear, making Lucas blurt, “Really?”
Nodding, they said in unison, “That’s why we’re selling our candies when they give us one.”
“That’s very smart of you. Okay, I’ll buy candies from you now.” He said and fished his wallet, then shoved out ten dollar notes and stuffed it into their hands.
They hummed in glee and pecked Lucas’s cheeks.
“What’s this uncle?” Abbey asked, touching Lucas’s tote bag and golf club.
“That’s for golf sports. Do you know about it?” He asked and they twisted their heads. “What sports do you like playing?”
“I like to dance…” Abbey wiggled out of his grip and twirled around on her tiptoes in form of a ballet dance.
Catching a hint of what she meant, he said, “Ballet dance? You’re definitely going to be amazing in it.” He told her and the girl grinned.
“Can I play golf with you?” Nica asked.
Lucas look down at her and said, “you’ll but it’s better we start with Tee-ball. It’s good the one kids start with. You’ll enjoy it.”
“Yay! When are we starting uncle?” She asked.
“I’ll think about it and tell you, yeah?”
Nica framed his cheeks with her little palm and placed a soft peck on his cheek.
“Lucas!” He heard someone call him. Lucas raised his eyes to see who it was. Color eliminated from Lucas’s face.
“Ma’am Hera!” He said, standing up.
Hera glanced at the kids and her jaw slacked a little when it landed on one of the kids before looking back at Lucas.
“And what are you doing here?” She asked him, astonished.
Lucas rubbed his stubble and stammered. “I just…uh…came to see the kids here in the orphanage, ma’am.”
Hera hummed as a sneer curled her lips. “I never pegged you as someone glued to kids. Or are you hiding something?” She eyed him suspiciously.
“No. Nothing. I swear, ma’am Hera.” He said defiantly.
“Let me believe you then.” She told him. Slanting her head, she said to the man behind her who looked to be a business partner, “let’s leave.”
They paced to the car parked
a few meters away from where Lucas and the girls are standing.
Before shoving inside the car, Hera whirled around and took one last suspicious look at one of the girls and at Lucas before clenching into the car, slamming the door shut.