Second Chances

Chapter 4:

As they walked out of the supermarket into the parking lot, Alan noticed Gaipa lingering beside him, carrying his grocery bags. "You should ride with us," Alan offered, opening the trunk to load the bags. "It'll be easier."

Before Gaipa could reply, the twins' eyes lit up. "Gaipa, sit wif us!" Ray squealed, bouncing on his toes.

"Yeah! In da back wif us!" Ayan chimed in, equally enthusiastic.

Alan smiled, shaking his head as he opened the car door. "Gaipa can sit up front with me, guys. There's no room in the back with your car seats."

Ray, never one to give up easily, tilted his head, giving his best puppy-dog eyes. "Pwease, Gaipa, sit wif us? Pwease?"

Gaipa chuckled and crouched down to their level. "I would, but the car seats are too big for me. It's more comfy for me up front, okay?"

Ayan sighed but nodded. "Is otay. Gaipa stil hewe in da car wif us."

Ray reluctantly gave in, climbing into his car seat with a pout. "Otay, but you pwomise you still talk to us?"

"I promise," Gaipa grinned, giving him a quick pat on the head before getting into the passenger seat.

Once they were all buckled in, Alan suggested, "How about we go to a restaurant for dinner?"

"Nooo! We wanna eat Gaipa's food!" Ray protested, kicking his feet in excitement from the back seat.

"Yeah, we want Gaipa cook fow us!" Ayan added, bouncing in his seat.

Alan chuckled, shaking his head. "Gaipa's a guest. We can't make him cook."

Ray, on the verge of tears, whimpered, "Pwease, Gaipa... me wanna eat your fwood..."

Gaipa smiled "It's no problem, really. I love cooking, and it sounds like the boys are excited."

Alan sighed, glancing at Gaipa. "Looks like you don't have a choice unless we want a full-on tantrum."

Gaipa laughed softly. "It's fine. Let's head back, and I'll make something. What do you boys feel like eating?"

"Chiiiicken!" Ray and Ayan shouted in unison.

"Chicken it is," Gaipa agreed with a grin.

As they drove, Gaipa and Alan made small talk. "The twins have been doing really well in daycare," Gaipa mentioned, glancing back at the boys through the rearview mirror. "They're always eager to learn and help out."

Alan laughed, shaking his head. "They only listen to you, apparently. At home, it's a different story."

"We do good, we listen to Gaipa!" Ayan corrected from the back. "We good at school!"

"Yeah, we good boys fow Gaipa!" Ray added proudly.

Alan chuckled. "Well, I'm glad someone gets them to behave."

Gaipa smiled. "They're good boys. Just need a little extra encouragement sometimes."

As the twins excitedly chimed in with stories about daycare, Alan found himself glancing at Gaipa more often. He was undeniably handsome, with kind eyes that sparkled when he smiled. Alan couldn't help but wonder... Is he single? He pushed the thought away, feeling silly. Someone like him can't be single...

"How old are you, Gaipa?" Alan asked curiously.

Before Gaipa could answer, Ayan piped up. "Gaipa's twen'y-thwee! Big boy!"

Ray joined in, holding up his fingers. "But we dun have 'nough fingews to show!"

Gaipa laughed, shaking his head. "That's right, I'm 23, almost 24."