Zaydi fist-bombed with DK. It’s been months since they last saw each other. “DK! Can’t believe you achieved this far” Zaydi said while handing over his bag to the assistants. “Neither do I,” JL said. “Why did you call us here?” Silas asked. He smirked, “You’ll know later. For now, occupy the rooms on the third floor. Any room of your choice” DK simply answered.
 DK's closest cousins are JL, Silas, Zaydi, Olivia, and Endrei. They were the six elites and skilled in their family’s generation. DK stayed in the lobby to wait for Miss Elizaga, his mother. The more the clock ticks, the more he can feel his nervousness. He seemed to be excited but he was pressured about how he would make the holidays worth spending.
A black luxury van stopped in front of them. It accommodated only four passengers. The driver opened the van’s door; Miss Elizaga got out of the vehicle with Georgia, her assistant, carrying her Fendi bag. One maid also carried the lady’s baggage and accessory boxes. She removed her sunglasses and looked around. “You’ve really invested so much in this venture” she commented and breathed the island’s naturally fresh air.
“That’s how I gambled my shares. Business really made me doubt in using my own money” he replied and went closer to his mother to give her a kiss on her cheek. “By the way, have your cousins arrived? They messaged me saying that they are invited” Miss Elizaga asked. “They are in their rooms now. Do you want to see your room?” he asked.
She faced Georgia and requested, “Take all my things inside the room. I would like to walk around first”. The hotel staff helped Georgia and the maid to carry up Miss Elizaga’s things to her room. “Do you mind touring me around in your establishment, Mr. Tiueco?” Miss Elizaga requested.
“Oh come on, no need to be too formal. You are outside a board meeting” he answered. He asked one of his employees to get him a key for the golf cart they will use to roam around the area. Miss Elizaga was delighted upon seeing his favorite flower planted near the hotel’s pool area. “These fire lilies caught my eye” she commented while touching its soft petals.
“I honestly don’t know what plants I should put here. My assistant suggested planting my mom’s favorite. I remember Dad buying this type of lily when we were young every time you celebrate your anniversary” DK answered. A bellboy approached DK and whispered, “Sir, Miss Joanna is in the lobby already”. DK and Miss Elizaga went to the lobby; for the first time, his mother will meet Joanna face-to-face.
King unloaded the things they packed at the back of his car. The staff also accommodated them and helped in carrying the bags upstairs together with King. Joanna sat on the lobby couch, busy scrolling on her phone, and with DJ sleeping in a stroller. Delia went to the receptionist to receive the key card for their rooms.
A familiar smell greeted her; she glanced up and saw DK coming her way with a lady wearing a burgundy dress. He smiled; showing a welcoming face. Joanna stood up beside DK. “Thank God you came” DK said, giving a hug to her. Joanna didn’t know what to feel and so she stood there, waiting for DK to introduce her to Miss Elizaga. “By the way, this is my mom, Miss Carmina Elizaga-Tiueco” DK introduced. Joanna offered her hand; Miss Elizaga gladly accepted the introduction. “I am Joanna Nievez, nice to meet you, Miss Elizaga” she introduced herself.
“Mom, Joanna is the mother of my son” DK added. Miss Elizaga’s fierce look turned welcoming. Her feelings are light upon seeing Joanna’s simple beauty and innocent look. They were distracted when a little cry was heard from the stroller. DK hurriedly came to look for his son. His heart was touched; he carried DJ in his arms and managed to stop the crying.
“He came a lot bigger and heavier,” he said while swaying the baby in his arms. Miss Elizaga went near them and glanced at the baby. She caressed its cheeks and felt its soft skin in her fingers. “It feels good having a baby in my life again,” she said.
Joanna glanced at her son reunited with his real father. She couldn’t ask for more; her heart is happy to see herself being in that kind of situation. “Let me bring you to your room so DJ can sleep comfortably” DK offered while still carrying his kid. Miss Elizaga opted to stay to breathe some fresh air.
Delia opened the room’s door upon hearing Joanna’s knocks. Her eyes circled when she saw DJ being carried by his real father. She assembled the crib so DK could place the baby comfortably to sleep. “I’ll leave you here so you can rest. Just knock on the room beside this. My room is beside yours” he said and made his way out.   
The moment he closed the door, a familiar man approached him. “So, this was your plan?” a baritone voice sounded in the hotel’s hallway. “What the hell are you doing here, King?” he asked in a low voice. “Have you forgotten that I still want Joanna regardless of you and her having a child?” King asked back. “Let’s talk somewhere else,” DK said and went inside the elevator down to the ground floor.
“As far as I know, you are not invited here,” DK said while they are inside the elevator. “I know. Is that how you welcome your best friend?” King asked to trigger DK’s patience towards him. “No, the last time I know, we were not friends anymore” DK replied.
The elevator door tinged open. “What are you trying to do, King? I am fixing my personal issues with my family. And now, you are here bugging me all the time just because you have that petty crush on my wife?” DK blurted out. King chuckled, “As far as I can remember, you cheated on your wife even before she gave birth, am I right?” he teased.
Miss Elizaga showed up; “What is happening here? What seemed to be the problem?” she asked. Once again, the elevator door opened, showing Joanna holding something in her hand. “Joanna, did I forget something inside your room?” DK asked, erasing the awkwardness between the four of them.
“Uhmmm… I am just here to return your phone. You dropped it inside the room” Joanna answered, her eyes focusing on King. “Joanna, you came down at the perfect timing. DK said that I can stay here as long as I want” King told Joanna. DK’s eyebrows raised; he did not say a thing. Miss Elizaga commented, “Great. It seemed so long since these best friends had a bond”.
DK remained silent but his eyes conveyed shock and anger. Joanna just nodded and went back upstairs to their room. “Mom, we’ll just go to the bar” DK informed his mother. “Alright. Have fun, do not drink much” Miss Elizaga replied. And so, both of them proceeded to the hotel’s bar and drinking area.