"Mom? Why are you crying?"
Cazzandra abruptly wiped her tears away and sniffed before facing Nheo's innocent face. Then she smiled and combed the child's hair with her fingers.
"Oh nothing, son. I just remembered something very, very sad. Come here, sit on Mommy's lap," she softly said and gently made Nheo sit on her lap while hugging the child so tightly with her eyes closed. Oh she badly needs Nheo's presence right now.
"Oh. Okay, mom. But I suggest you forget about that sad moment of your life now, mom. I don't like seeing you in sad tears." The child said and cupped her cheeks with its small, innocent hands. She smiled bitterly.
"I will. Thank you, baby."
Nheo giggled innocently. "Hehe that's my mom! Hey, mom, you know what? I missed dad."
She felt like choking her own saliva when she heard that. God, Nheo missed White Francis. Now conscience is starting to eat her whole again. God, if only Nheo knows the truth. If only Nheo knows what's already happening that very day. And if only Nheo can already understand everything. She would gladly explain it with all her heart. But how can she also tell Nheo what was happening right now already, what was the real reason behind her tears that morning, if the child didn't even know that the man he calls "Daddy White" is not really its daddy at all but just its godfather? But.. Was White really just a Godfather to Nheo? She felt like something blocked her throat when she thought of that. Something so hard that she's afraid she can no longer speak when Nheo spoke up again.
"Mom, why are you still quiet? Didn't you miss dad?"
She gulped and cleared her throat. "I.. I missed him too, of course."
"Then can you check if he's online right now? I want a video call with him."
She gasped for precious breath while her eyes immediately widened. "U-Uhm, s-sorry, son, he's still busy right now."
Then she looked away and thought, 'Busy on his wedding day with the woman I don't want to see ever again. And the woman.. That I don't want you to meet.. Even a glimpse.' She painfully thought in her mind and hugged Nheo tightly again with tears in her eyes. God, Nheo is hers. Only hers. She is Nheo's mother. And no one else.
"Oh he is? I wonder what dad is probably doing now again. Scanning his paperworks? Or doing a meeting? Hehe."
She gulped. "Y-Yes, son. Probably. So probably.." She said and thought, 'Yes. Probably. He's probably on his long, sweet vows right now with the woman he's been so in love with since then.' Then she remembered what White Francis told her over the phone the other day.
"Cazz.. I'm getting married the next day."
Cazzandra tightened the grip of her phone when she heard what Francis just said. Her breathings suddenly became heavy. Her heart was even pounding nervously. No.. White isn't serious.. Right?
"Y-You're.. Getting married?" She asked softly and glanced upon Nheo who was playing in the living room that moment. And she was in the kitchen right now, baking snacks for the child. But she's afraid she couldn't continue making Nheo's snack now after what White Francis just excitedly said on the other line.
White chuckled. "Yes, Cazz. I know it happened so fast but.. It's Venz, Cazz. Funny how fate did this second encounter of us again, but I know there is a reason behind all this. So I'm going to know that soon, while not letting go of her again."
'Yes there is probably a reason, White. But that probable reason.. Will never happen while I'm still breathing. No. I won't let that reason happen. No, White. Never.' She firmly thought and looked at Nheo with tears in her eyes. Then she tightened the grip of her phone again and said, "Good for you, White. That's right, don't let her go again this time. Congratulations my dearest friend."
"Thank you, Cazz. But honestly, I was just worried about Nheo's reaction to this."
She smiled bitterly. "Don't worry, White. I won't tell him about this. Just get married there and make it memorable. Don't worry about us."
White sighed deeply. "I want the both of you to be there the next day, your presence is highly important and requested, Cazz. I mean, the two of you. But I just can't afford to see the pain in my godson's face when he sees me on that day. He'll probably hate me."
"Oh don't worry, White. Everything will be alright soon. Just be happy on your wedding day soon. And make it memorable with her."
"I will. And soon.. I will tell Nheo everything when everything is settled here. I promise."
She nodded with a weary smile. "Thank you, White.." She softly said while her eyes were completely filled with heavy, painful tears.
"Mom? Call daddy later okay? I want to talk to him about school already. I want to hear his voice again."
There goes that excruciating pain bleeding tremendously in her heart again. Damn it. So she sighed and kissed Nheo's head gently and said, "Yes, son. I'll call your daddy later. I promise."
Andrew filled his lungs with air while looking at the view outside the giant glass window of his office, mindlessly watching at the other high rise buildings near theirs and the vehicles that were passing to and pro on the bridges and the roads outside. Then he heaved a deep breath as he pictured in his mind what happened earlier at the wedding ceremony of Nelica's wedding and what is currently happening at the reception now; the newlyweds were probably dancing smoothly now in front of gazillion crowd while hugging each other tightly and sweetly. He chuckled bitterly. Damn that thought. The thought that's exactly the reason why he left after the wedding ceremony. He just can't handle the pain anymore. It's seriously killing him silently. Damn it. He still didn't get the chance to meet the man closely and know his background deeply though because Nelica and him did not get the chance to talk personally, even when the latter invited him to the prenup shoot. He didn't appear on the prenup. And on that day at the wedding, he really did it on purpose to appear at the ceremony when it finally started because he didn't want to talk or congratulate his best friend if the man is around. So he didn't get the chance to ask his best friend about that sudden wedding. But he's going to ask her about that, he's just waiting for the perfect time. Where they're gonna be alone. Then he wet his lower lip with his tongue as he remembered the sweet scenes at the church earlier.
And that thought made him scoff with a bitter grin forming his lips and murmured, "Lucky bastard.." He reacted and sipped his wine on the rock glass while fidgeting his fingers on his lap, while his other hand held the wine glass. Then he suddenly gazed upon his phone vibrating on his office table and picked up the call without even glancing who the caller was.
"Hello?" His tone even lacked enthusiasm and it shows.
"Hello, Andz?"
He immediately drank the wine straight to the glass' bottom as he heard that angelic and lovable sweet voice of Nelica. The woman he was secretly in love with, from then up to now. And the woman who's the reason why he was silently breaking down to pieces that day. Damn it.
"Andz? Are you still there?"
He cleared his throat and acted as if nothing happened. As if.. He's not secretly hurting inside. Damn it. Damn that feeling!
He faked a laugh. "Yeah of course, Har. Sorry I didn't get to attend your wedding reception now because uhh.. My ex was there." He lied and shook his head slowly.
"Your ex? Wow small world! But it doesn't matter now, all I want to know is if you're okay already as of this moment after seeing your ex at my wedding."
"Oh don't worry, Har. I'm okay now. I'm really sorry again."
"Oh it's okay. The reception is not a big deal anyway."
He frowned. "Not a big deal? What do you mean?"
"U-Uhm, let's just.. Let's just talk about that when everything is settled already, Andz. I know you're confused by my sudden decision where in fact I already told you I'll put an end eventually when we meet but I'll make sure you would know the real reason soon. I promise. But just don't tell anyone about this."
Now his frown gets deeper even more. "Har--"
"Venz."
"G-Gotta go, Andz, talk to you soon. Bye."
"Wait, Har--" The call suddenly ended that made him want to "tss" but he stopped himself. He knew the owner of that baritone voice who just interrupted their conversation. It was Nelica's husband. So he's in no position to act like that after all. But that's not the thing that's suddenly bothered him. But the words Nelica said earlier. So he breathed deeply while a deep frown intact on his forehead. Then he thought.. What was Nelica talking about? Now he had a terrible bad feeling about it. But he knows that he'll find that out soon. Very.. Very soon.