"We won't get to do this once Ma'am announces her candidature, right?" Nat wondered out loud.
"Not as often. Sorry..." Aika sighed softly.
"It's all good. I can do all the shopping and all you have to do is visit, eat and spend time with us...that's not against protocol or anything right?" Nat didn't mind as long as he and Jamie could still spend quality time with Aika.
"Of course. Wouldn't give up anything for you two." Aika gave Nat a smile.
Friday nights were now family nights for the trio. Nat and Aika were on the way to pick Jamie up from kindergarten and grocery shop before heading home to make dinner.
"Daddy! Tita Aika!" Jamie lit up the second she saw the two familiar faces coming to pick her up.
Jamie ran pass Nat straight into Aika's arms, leaving Nat with a gaping jaw and injured heart.
"Jamie Lee. Is this how you greet your father?" Nat rolled his eyes jokingly as he took Jamie's back off her shoulder.
"I see you 7 days a week but I only get to see tita Aika 2 days a week!" Jamie wrapped her arms around Aika's neck tightly.
"My girl is so smart. I see your daddy lesser than you do and I get tired of him, I understand you totally..." Aika teased as she let Jamie down.
"I know right? Daddy can be such a nag at times..." Jamie pouted as she complained to Aika.
"Wow...I feel excluded and betrayed? Aren't you scared that I leave the two of you here?" Nat scoffed.
"We'll just go to my house and have dinner with your lola Leni and tita Tricia if that happens, right sweetheart?" Aika looked at the little girl.
"Sounds like a fantastic idea." The girls did a fist bump before breaking out into laughter at Nat's expression of disbelief.
"Come on big baby, let's go get groceries..." Aika held Nat's hand, making him melt immediately.
"I'm so weak for you two, I'm not even complaining..." Nat chuckled as he took his position on the other side of Jamie.
~
"May I have this please?" Jamie held up a pack of sour candy in front of Aika. Nat had left them alone to grab something in another aisle.
"You know your Daddy doesn't like you eating too much candy...If you promise me to eat only one a day, we can get it." Aika knew that restricting Jamie's sugar intake was only going to make her want it even more. Teaching her moderation was a more effective and healthy way.
"If only Daddy thinks like you. He says no to anything dangerous or unhealthy..." Jamie complained.
"I know your Daddy can be a little protective at times but it's because he loves you..." Aika knelt down to meet Jamie's eyes.
"I know...it's also because I don't have a mummy to ask..." Jamie hung her head low.
"Come here..." Aika carried Jamie and stroked the girl's back softly.
"If there are things you really want, you can always tell me and I can talk you Daddy for you..." Aika whispered sweetly to Jamie.
"Really?" Jamie perked up, thrilled at the thought.
"I can't promise you anything since the final decision lies with your Daddy...but no harm trying, right?" Aika didn't want to cross boundaries and give Jamie false hope.
"Ready to check out?" Aika and Jamie turned at Nat's voice.
"Yep, let's go. I think we're all hungry..." Aika nodded, relieved that Nat didn't catch their conversation.
YOU ARE READING
Beneath The Surface
RomanceAika Robredo was a poster child: with a Masters from Harvard, a respectable career trajectory and dependable eldest daughter of the Robredo family. Everyone was telling Aika that all she had left to do was finding her 'dream guy' to settle down with...
