A Glance from Afar

Chapter 2

Fawn was nervous as she entered the restaurant. She immediately saw Cane sitting at a far corner of the restaurant. Cane already ordered food for both of them. And most of them were her favorite. 

"Mi ija.."

Mi ija. Only him calls her that. Much like her father, this man also treats her like princess. That's why she couldn't hate this man despite what Cale did to her.

"Tito, how are you? I heard that you're sick. Are you taking medications properly? I always tell you to take care of your health. You and dad are the same."

She immediately replied. But the man just chuckled at her.

"Sit first. Let's talk while we eat."

Cane said as he gestured for her to sit.

"Mi ija, as people grow older, we forget about the important things and we tend to focus on the things that make us happy. That's exactly the case for me and your father. I heard about your father's health. How are you?"

She sighed.

"I'm still having a hard time accepting that fact. But I don't want him to worry so I'm trying my best to toughen up."

She said as she forced a smile. Cane observed her for a while before he spoke.

"How are you? Where have you been all this time? I searched every corner of the Philippines to find you. You don't how worried I was when I learned what Cale did to you."

The man bowed his head. Guilt was evident on his face and Fawn could feel his sincerity. 

"I was in Japan. I needed space and time for myself. I'm sorry for disappearing without a trace, tito."

"That's why I couldn't find you."

"It's okay, tito. I'm fine now. It's all in the past, all I want to do now is to let go and move on."

The man looked sad with what she said. 

"Letting go and moving on.."

Cane looked at her and faked a smile.

"You know how much I treat as my own daughter. But if what you meant by moving on and letting go is to distance yourself from me and my son, I'll respect your decision."

She immediately looked at Cane as he misunderstood what she said.

"No, that's not what I meant. I've distanced myself for a long time already and I think that it was enough. But I'm not ready to face Cale right now. I'm far too scared right now."

The man smiled.

"As long as you don't distance yourself, then we're all good."

Fawn smiled. She was about to respond when her phone beeped. It was a text message from her dad.

"Calyx is asking when you're coming home."

She looked at the man and hesitated. Cane spoke.

"It's fine. You can go. I can see from your expression that it's urgent. Take care of yourself. Take time to visit home. You're tita Sielle wants to see you as well."

Home. Cane and Cale's house was like a second home to her. She smiled at Cane before she went out of the restaurant. 

"So, you're back."

Fawn froze on her tracks. That voice was a voice that she's absolutely familiar with. No matter how many years have passed, she still remembers who that voice belongs to.

"Cale.."

She whispered. She knew who it was and she couldn't turn around. She doesn't have the courage to face that person.

"Seeing your reaction, I guess you're still that lovesick fool who was head over heels for me."

Fawn clenched her fists as she breathes in. She was about to walks away when Cale grabbed her arm and turned her around. She could now see him smirking.

She was having difficulty breathing. It was suffocating. She was about to push the man away when a stranger bumped into Cale. Strangely, the back of that stranger looked very familiar to Fawn. Her attention was turned back to Cale when he spoke.

"Why did you come back? Are you here to mock me? Huh, are you here to show me that you're superior just because you'll be receiving all of your dying father's wealth?"

Fawn was furious and dumbfounded as what he said. She slapped him hard on the face that her hand felt numb.

She immediately turned around and headed towards her car. She was furious as she was driving home. She was actually praying that Cale would already change when she came back. Well, he did change. For the worst. Worst than before she left. Their conversation today only made her hate him more.

Calyx was already waiting at the door when she arrived home. It felt like all her anger melted when she saw her son. Calyx was literally her happy pill.

"My baby! Come here."

She said as she hugged him and and gave him kisses all over his face.

"Mom!" 

Calyx complained as he giggled. Fawn chuckled at her son. He's just too adorable for his own good.

"I made you your favorite, mom. Chocolate chip cookies!"

She gave her son another soft kiss on the cheek. She love how sweet her son is when it comes to her when he's cold to others. Calyx is way too cold and mature for his own age when he's with other people. That's why she's thankful that her son is sweet to her and to his grandpa. 

"My baby, would you like to go on a date with mom tomorrow?"

Calyx's face lit up.

"Of course! Let's take grandpa with us. I'll go talk to him."

Calyx came back with a long face.

"Grandpa says he couldn't come."

"I'm really sorry, Calyx. But grandpa has something to do tomorrow. I'll make it up to you when I'm no longer busy, okay?"

Dad came right after Calyx. He was fully dressed like he has some business meeting or something.

"Dad, where are you going? Shouldn't you just stay home?"

Dad just looked at me and chuckled.

"Nothing would change even if I just stayed home. Might as well do some work. Besides, tomorrow is a date for the two of you, right? It would no longer be a date if I came with you."

He said as he looked at his watch, as if he was running late.

"I've got a lot of things to take care of in the company so I'll be out for five days. Also, make sure to bring Kael with you tomorrow."

Kael is her dad's personal butler. Well, he's her dad's childhood friend as well. She has known him since she was a kid. The always had a cold presence but he was always kind and warm to her.

Fawn sighed as her father left. 

She saw her son reading a book at the sofa. Calyx was not like any other kids. He learnt to speak fluently at the age of one and he could already read and spell properly at two. Well, she can proudly say that her son is a genius. At the age of four, he often read books instead of playing outside like other kids. Although he does go outside sometimes to play sports, only when she asks him to play with her. She's a bit worried since her son doesn't have friends around his age, but Calyx always reassures her that he'd manage on his own. 

She sighed. Her son and her dad were both stubborn. And she could do nothing about it.