Destined

Chapter 5 ~ Resigned Acceptance

Chapter 5

She woke up to the insistent ringing of her cellphone. She reached for it at the bedside table where she usually put it when she realized something. She bolted from the bed and accidentally bumped her head on the headboard.

"Ouch!" She exclaimed massaging her head with her hand. The ringing stopped. She looked around confused. She sure as hell did not change her ring tone and that was not hers. But no one else is in her condominium. She lives alone since she was in middle school, except when her best friend, Misty sleeps over. She picked up her cellphone from the night stand and check for missed calls. There was none. She stood up shaking her head.

Then the silence was broken by another set of ringing. It seemed like it was coming from the living room. She ran out of her room and looked around. She checked her purse which she left at the console table near the door. And there it was, the blinking light of a ringing phone. She took it out just when it stopped ringing.

"Oh my god!" She nearly shouted. Where on earth did this iPhone come from? It was not hers. This one is the newest model and hers is an old phone. She sat on the couch staring at the phone when it started ringing again. The screen showed "Baby calling."

"Hello?" She answered tentatively. "Hey, baby it's me. Thank God you're awake," the man answered with relief.

"Me, who?" She asked confused. "It's Luca," was the curt reply. It was then that she heard screaming in the background. "Is that Yuri screaming?" She asked.

A sigh and then, "Yes, he woke up looking for you. He ran to my room believing you were there effectively rousing me from sleep. Then he ran to the kitchen thinking you were preparing breakfast. No one can pacify him. He's been screaming and crying for more than 30 minutes now."

Oh, Lord. How can she extricate herself from this mess? She cringed and then spoke to him. "Put him on the phone, please. " She can hear Luca telling Yuri that mommy is on the phone.

"Mommy?" a hesitant voice spoke. "Yes, baby. This is mommy. Why is my baby crying?" She asked while she walked back to her bedroom. She already knew what will come next. Oh, boy.

A hiccup and then more sobbing, "Because you left me. You promised, mommy, you promised," and more sobbing followed.

"No, baby. Mommy did not leave you. I just need to do something first," she tried.

"Really? Are you coming home now?" She sighed inwardly but said, "Yes, baby. But I want you to stop crying now and be a good boy, okay?"

"Yes, mommy," was the immediate answer. "I'll wait for you mommy so you, me and daddy can eat, okay?"

"Okay, baby." Then he yelled, "Yay! I love you, mommy. See you."

She glanced at her alarm clock and ran her hand through her hair in frustration. It was just 7:00 in the morning. She slept for only 4 hours for heaven's sake. She threw the iPhone on her bed and ran to the bathroom. She showered while reliving what happened in the last hours.

After the refreshment at the balcony which was filled with Yuri's childish talking and questioning, he dragged her back to his room and showed her his toys. What was really amazing was how talented the boy is. He asked her if she wanted to see his drawings and she said yes. But the boy changed his mind and started drawing a new one. It looks like a happy family which he described to her.

"This is daddy," pointing to the man at the left holding one of the boy's hands, "this is me," pointing to the one in the middle, "and this is you, mommy," pointing to the woman who has the boy's other hand. "This here is the beach and we are about to go swimming."

She didn't know what to say so she just smiled and said, "You are so talented, baby." She kissed his cheeks to his delight.

She ended up staying for dinner. In the end she wasn't able to leave until after putting Yuri to bed. He was fast asleep in the middle of her reading his favorite story. Luca and the driver accompanied her home despite her objections. But she still did not accept his proposal. She spent hours in bed thinking. She's just 23. Surely, that's too young to be a mommy or to play mommy. Then there's still the unresolved 'fiancée' issue.

She sighed again and went out of the bathroom to dress. She chose a skinny, black jeans and a white top. A black ballerina shoes completed her attire. She blew her hair dry and left it hanging over her shoulders. She didn't wear any make up. She wasn't really fond of any. She just wear it when necessary, usually for work. She picked up her purse and was about to get out of her bedroom when she remembered the iPhone. She picked it up from the bed where she threw it out of frustration.

She noticed a text message. It was from Luca saying, "The driver is waiting for you down at the lobby of your condominium. See you at home, baby :)"

"Grrrr......that.....that, oh!" She stomped her foot in frustration. "He had the audacity to call me 'baby.' Baby, my foot! I'm sooo going to get you for this." She mumbled on her way to the elevator.

She immediately saw the driver, Roberto from last night when she reached the lobby. She smiled at him and answered a 'good morning' to his greeting. After all, the driver was just following orders from the feeling high and mighty king.

Her car ride as well as the elevator ride was in total silence. She was trying to calm herself for the sake of the child. In fact, she is doing this for the child alone. Or, is it? She tried to eliminate the forbidden thought of the hunk father. She cannot afford to dwell on that now.

She gasped when the elevator door opened. Yuri and Luca were sitting on the floor facing the elevator door waiting for her.

"Mommy!" Yuri jumped up in excitement and ran towards her before she could get out of the elevator. Luca followed suit chuckling.

"Good morning, mommy," he said hugging her legs. So she bent down and he was kissing her all over her face. She can't help but laughed. She hugged him and said, "Good morning, baby." She looked up to Luca and mumbled, "Good morning."

He grinned widely and said, "Good morning, baby." She stiffened but felt a strange feeling at the raspy greeting. She blushed and looked down at Yuri to avoid his penetrating gaze.

"Let's go eat breakfast, baby," she said. Yuri nodded and raised his hands to be carried. She smiled and turned to Luca with raised eyebrows. "Oh, of course. I'll carry you, buddy."

He hoisted him up on his left hip, put his right arm over her shoulders and started walking towards the kitchen whistling. She looked at him sideways and caught Yuri's beautiful smile. Her answering smile made Yuri giggled.

They ate happily and messily with Yuri sampling everything on her plate and that of his dad's, once again a picture of a happy, perfect family.