Watching Sunsets With You (Original, English Version)

Chapter 8 - Carin Mae Sanchez

"Don't misunderstand." I stopped for a second. There's no way he won't misunderstand. I grimaced as he stared me down. We walked out from the restaurant he took me to, currently just standing outside his truck.

"Forget it. There's no way you won't misunderstand. Just think whatever. Just tell me straight. What I'm trying to say is... if it was you that night, and if you are in fact Keith's father, would you..." I paused again. I can't find the right words. What should I say? All through dinner, I wasn't table to ask him anything.

"Do you have someone else you're interested in?" He suddenly asked, and I lost track.

I frowned as I answered. "None. Does celebrity crushes count? Fictional characters?"

Goodness. I started getting flustered when I remembered that I actually like him. Good thing I already blurted out my answer before my brain could keep up.

"You want Keith to have a father?" He asked.

"Well, to be precise... I want Keith to have his father." This mouth of mine.

I continued before he can object.

"It's fine if you can only visit him sometimes or spend time with him when you're available. If you can come for his birthday, that would be good as well. If you can allow him to call you over the phone from time to time, that would be great, too." Wait, we still haven't confirmed if he was the guy that night.

I looked up at him, waiting for whatever he has to say.

"I have one condition." He stated slowly, leaning on the side of his truck.

"What condition?" I asked.

"Will you do anything for Keith?" He asked.

"Anything." I affirmed.

"Should I take that as a confirmation that you will agree to anything?" His statement sounds like a scam sentence I read on crappy novels.

"You sound like a scammer, but sure, why not?" I replied. He grinned at that, before standing straight and leaning down towards me. His face so close to mine. He dropped his gaze. I can't help looking at his lips.

"Marry me." When he said that, my gaze went to his eyes again. We stared at each other. Before I can react, he reached a hand to hold my nape and brought his lips to mine. I don't remember how long that encounter lasted. If we weren't outside, I knew something would have happened already. Wait, how many times have I thought that? Almost every single time we go out on a date and we kiss.

I can't bring myself to talk to him after that. He pushed me into the passenger's seat and told me he'll take me home.

When he parked inside the grounds of the apartment, I called myself a fool. I still haven't gotten his answer. When he was about to alight from the vehicle, I caught hold of his arm. He effectively turned to me.

"That... what's your answer?" I timidly asked, gathering all my courage just to look him in the eye. His gaze was tender.

"When should we register our marriage?" His nonchalant tone is a little annoying.

"What?" Is he still talking about marriage?

"That's my condition."

"Are you nuts?" Seriously, I can't keep myself from asking that question.

He stared at me before sighing. "My logic is simple. Since Keith is your son and he is also my son, let's get married. He'll have my name and both of you will have me."

"Do you admit being that guy ten years ago? Wait, to be sure you should take a paternity test."

"I already did a DNA test with Keith." His statement made me freeze.

"What? Why?" I asked stupidly.

"I recognized you when I saw you and that kid resembles me when I was young."

My eyes got big at his admission. He knew. He actually knew. And he had his own suspicions long ago.

"I... that... what?" I was confused. His earlier logic statement still doesn't make sense to me.

"Go and sleep on it. You can tell me your answer tomorrow." He reached for my hand and caressed it for two seconds before he went out the vehicle. I did the same, but he was waiting for me at the door. He kissed me and I got lost in him again.

I'm not sure how I got to my unit. I was completely out of it.

"You look out of it, mom. Did dad kiss you senseless?" Keith's question made me snap out of it. This kid... Gabe explained to me that Keith already knows, which means... he has been hiding it from me this whole time.

"How old are you? Where did you learn these things? I'm telling you, kid... focus on your studies. No girlfriend until after you graduate college."

"You're too strict, mom. I'm sure dad had a girlfriend while he was still studying."

"Wait, since when have you been calling him dad?"

He shrugged. "Since I saw the DNA test result. And earlier, I was watching when you guys arrived. Dad said you already know, so I can keep calling him dad now, right?"

His explanation is straight. I don't even have the energy to get angry at him for keeping those details from me. I'm glad to get my senses back, though, as I ran my mind at our topic earlier.

"Well, if you want your dad to be your basis, I'll ask him tomorrow when he had his first girlfriend. That would be fair for you, right?"

"Deal." Keithactually nodded.