Rozzean continued looking at me. However, in the way he glanced at me, I didn't see any indication that he felt the need to explain something. It was just a normal look that I always get from him.
"Did you receive my message?" Luther asked Rozzen and he nodded, then turned his gaze to the child he was holding. The child had closed its eyes and seemed to be falling asleep.
"I received. I also got Mama's message. Why did you let the driver bring Taki here? I told you I'd pick him up next week, didn't I?"
I longed to hear something from Rozzean about the child in his arms.
I wanted an... explanation. In one month I spent in his house, I didn't hear anything about him having a child, not even from Manang or him directly. Relax, Thaliana.
My hands were trembling. I could feel it. When I noticed Rozzean's eyes dropping to my hands, I quickly hid them behind my back.
"The schedule of their flight changed, Cyron. I didn't expect it either; Mama just called me earlier. I told her to wait for your response, but Taki's bags are ready, and she already spoke to the person who will bring him here."
Rozzean closed his eyes and looked at the child on his shoulder.
"I'll go to my room now."
My lips parted in surprise as Rozzean turned away. He didn't even speak to me or greet me by name. As he ascended the stairs, I kept my gaze fixed on him, holding the child.
Taki looks like him.
Taki called him Daddy.
He has a child...
"Thaliana."
I turned to Luther when he mentioned my name. He had a mischievous grin on his face. Is this the reason why he didn't tell the truth to Rozzean? Because he had a plan? He knew I didn't know about Rozzean's child.
He's playing with me here.
"Surprised? so, he didn't tell you?"
I gave him a defiant look. But my heart aches because of his question.
"You know I've been looking for a way to avoid the wedding, that's the real reason I came to this house. And you also know that I have feelings for Rozzean. Tell me, Luther, is this your plan?"
He raised an eyebrow and smiled.
"What plan?" he asked, taking a step closer to me.
"I don't have a plan, Thaliana. It's true that our parents are going somewhere, and there's no one to take care of Taki. Of course, if Mama is leaving, Taki will stay here at Cyron's house because he's the father."
I narrowed my eyes. My heart was pounding fast. I didn't expect this. Luther emphasized the word "father."
"Luther—"
"Changed your mind? Because you found out that Cyron has a child?"
"You can use this reason with your father, Thaliana. You don't want to get married, right?"
I gave him a stern look. The situation had changed!
"I love your brother, Luther," I said seriously.
"Even though he has a son..."
But why did he keep this a secret? Why didn't he tell me that he has a child? I will accept it. I would have accepted it.
"No, Thaliana."
Luther approached me and wiped my cheeks. I couldn't hold back the tears in my eyes.
"Be honest. If you had known from the beginning that Cyron has a child, you would have gone home immediately and told your father about it. You don't want to get married to him, right? You wanted a reason to avoid the wedding. You stayed here for a month. Many things happened, you fell for my brother, but admit the truth. If you had known about Taki earlier, you would have gone home immediately and used that as a reason to cancel your wedding with Cyron."
My lips quivered at his words. He's right, Thaliana. If you had known earlier that Rozzean has a child, you would have gone home immediately and told your father.
"I know that George Dela Vezca doesn't know that Cyron has a son. Only those close to us know about it," he said.
Dad doesn't know that Rozzean has a child. In Dad's eyes, Rozzean is perfect and worthy of being my husband.
"I-I don't care now if he has a son. I will accept the child, I—"
I bowed my head and covered my mouth as tears continued to stream down my face.
"I l-love him, Luther. I-I already said that, right? That's why I'm struggling now because of my situation. The reason I entered into this. I'm afraid he will despise me after knowing my reason."
Luther cupped the top of my head and stroked it.
"You are cute when you cry."
I looked up at him. His gaze was distant.
"I will leave tomorrow, I can help you escape—"
"Tali."
I froze upon hearing Rozzean's voice. I didn't immediately turn around because I first wiped away the tears from both cheeks. When I heard his footsteps, I finally looked.
I felt Luther's hand move on my head. He tousled my hair for just a moment before I saw him retract his hand.
"Why are you touching her, Luther?" Rozzean asked after turning me to face him.
I noticed his furrowed brows as he looked at me. His eyes madly looking at his brother.
"Did you cry?" he asked me.
My lips trembled. I wasn't sure whether to say yes or no. It's probably evident on my face that I had been crying.
"She cried," Luther spoke when Rozzean looked at him. I was surprised when Luther pulled my hand closer to him. Rozzean let go of my hand because of that.
What is he doing?
"Luther," Rozzean's voice carried a warning as he called his brother.
"She cried. She was crying because her head hurt. That's why I touched it. You asked me why I touched her, right? That's the reason."
He's good at making excuses.
"T-That's right, Sir Luther. My head hurt, so I cried. He touched the top of my head to help with the pain. That's why," I explained and looked at Rozzean. I just agreed with Luther.
As I looked at Rozzean, I was waiting for him to say something about his child, but he remained silent.
"What time are you leaving? Don't you have work?" he directed the question to Luther.
I kept my head down, and Luther still held my hand. Was he planning to let go of my hand soon?
Did he have any plans of letting go of my hand?
When I looked at Rozzean again, I saw that his eyes were downcast, looking at my hand held by Luther. I was surprised when he took my hand and placed me behind him.
He looked at me.
"Go to my room and can you watch Taki? he is sleeping."
I didn't say anything; I just bowed to them and headed to his room. So many thoughts were running through my mind right now. The child looked like it was two or three years old. It resembled Rozzean so much. Where is its mother? Who is she?
And why is the child living with its grandparents?
Why... why didn't Rozzean tell me about this?
When I reached Rozzean's room, I headed for the bedroom. On the bed, I saw his child sleeping soundly. I approached and sat beside the child. I rested my elbows and gazed at the child in front of me.
He really looks like him...
"Daddy..."
My lips parted when I heard the child whisper.
From what I saw earlier, it seems like Taki really misses Rozzean a lot. He ran eagerly to meet his dad. The smile on his face... even in his sleep, he's calling out his father's name.
"He's handsome too," I said with a smile.
I gently ran my fingers through his hair.
"When you grow up, many girls will surely like you. Oh dear..."
As Taki moved, I was surprised. He snuggled up to me and his small hands wrapped around my waist.
"Ma...ma."
I was taken aback when he said that.
"Ma...ma."
When I heard it again, I patted him gently on the shoulder. I saw him furrow his brow and it looked like he was about to cry.
I hummed a song.
Slowly, the furrow disappeared from Taki's forehead, so I continued tapping his shoulder gently while humming a lullaby.
While I was doing that, I fell asleep too.