DK grabbed King’s collar the moment they reached the bar area. “How dare you trap me inside your trick!” he said; jaws clenched and eyes glaring sharply to King. “Chill man. I meant no harm. I just want to be with Joanna this Christmas” King replied and forcefully removed DK’s hands in his polo’s collar. “And that’s how you will ruin my plans of being with my family” he replied.
A bartender started placing drinks on their table. “It’s been so long, DK. Why do you keep forcing yourself to the nice woman you broke because of your trashy attitude?” King uttered. “It’s because we still love each other!” he answered and took a shot of tequila. “Who even said that she still loves you? After everything you did, you still assume that she is the same woman you loved before?” King continued intrigued.
“She may not say it. But I can feel that she still loves me” DK answered. King took a shot; feeling confident of taking Joanna’s feelings away from DK. “Then why won’t you ask her? So she will tell you directly that it is me who replaced your position in her life” King argued with DK’s sentiment. “And what makes you special in her life?” he asked back, chuckling.
King looked straight into DK’s eyes. His intention pierced DK’s eyes conveying anger. “Joanna thinks that I am a special person in her life because the things you did not give her… she got it from me. What connects you and her is just the money you provide for Dion. More than that, she only perceives you as a cheater, a bastard, and a guy who cannot prove himself clean from accusations” King uttered making DK sense things that are true.
“You don’t know how it feels being in a bubble, King. No matter how much I want to prove myself clean, I just can’t find the way to regain Joanna’s trust” he said. DK is desperate to prove himself innocent of the issue that tore their relationship apart.
“Why do it in the first place? If I were in your place, having a girl like Joanna is like winning the lottery. And without thinking of the consequences, you did something that would disappoint her. You did something that broke your marriage apart, DK! Imagine, how can you console your woman from a lustful mistake?” King uttered, pushing more and more guilt to DK.
DK clenched his fist. He hates himself for not making an effort on how he ended up in a situation that led to his and Joanna’s breakup. But he knows only one thing – he did not do such a thing, and it would be much of a coincidence if he explained that he just woke up lying beside a club prostitute. “Once I discover how that thing happened, I will drive you away from Joanna” he replied and left King drinking alone in the bar.
Aunt Marge and Jake went to the hotel’s restaurant and waited for Joanna to come. It is almost dinner and they are gathering as one. Aunt Marge hurriedly came to Joanna who was holding the stroller. “Is this my grandson?” Aunt Marge asked while playing with DJ. Joanna just nodded with a smile. Jake commented, “At first glance, you’ll see how the baby resembles Sir DK’s features. No DNA needed!” he chuckled.
“Such a handsome young boy. Joanna didn’t even have the chance to pass down our genes” Aunt Marge added. King entered the restaurant, making Aunt Marge and Jake curious about who he was. They all sat down at a long dining table full of specially-made food DK requested. They started having dinner while catching up.
Jake signaled Joanna, conveying who King is. Joanna understood what Jake wanted to say. “Pardon me. I forgot to introduce him to Aunt Marge and Jake. By the way, this is King, DK and I’s a common friend” she Joanna introduced. King gave them a smile and added, “Right now, I have Joanna and Dion in my care”. All of them got confused about what King revealed.
Joanna looked down. DK saw how uncomfortable Joanna was; she barely touched her food. He held her hand and explained what King said. “It is because King is a good friend to us. Just think that he is a soon godfather of DJ” he said, breaking the confusion so that they can all enjoy their meal.
DK sat in the sand bed, holding a bottled beer in his hand. He stayed to watch the waves colored by the moonlight. King sat beside him and pestered his relaxation. “I get it now. Your family is not aware of your co-parenting setup. Worth your overthinking indeed” he said, starting a conversation. “None of your business” DK replied and stood up to go back to his room.
King stayed behind him. “You know Joanna is happy having me on her side. I am her pillar right now; I made her stronger than ever. I fixed her from being broken. Give her up, DK. You can’t hinder her from loving me. Do not use your son to get her back” King spoke. DK just continued walking away without minding King’s words.
The more he processes what King means, the more his heart breaks. He hates that King is making sense. What if he is right? That Joanna is hindered by him? Is he the reason why Joanna cannot fulfill the happy life she wants to have?
He laid on his bed with eyes focused on the hotel room’s ceiling. A tear fell from his eye; he is fed up by the things he does not know. “Dad, I wish you were here” he whispered. He convinces himself that it is just him being drowned by alcohol. Nothing beats a father’s advice on love. The more he has Joanna by her side, the more she feels the pain of reminiscing what he did.
King removed his shirt and took a warm shower. DK does not give up, and it makes it hard for him to do his plan in mind. DK is determined to take his family back. And now that he has become stronger than ever, he will make sure to not allow DK to hinder his plans.
He faced the mirror and splashed water on his face. “Everything is happening according to how I want it to become,” he said in his mind with an evil smirk flashed in his face.