Love and All It Does

05

Anika's POV

Daddy gets discharged later that afternoon. Anne had to feign to be mad before he agreed to go straight up to bed to rest for a while. I nested in my room, fed up with homeworks and reports that are needed to be passed the next day.

At around eleven in the evening, I got out of my room to unwind a bit and to probably grab something to snack on as I continue doing my homework. Daddy was sitting on a stool by the counter, staring into space. I hovered a bit, hesitating to disturb him. He sees me and he jumps up. "Oh, hey! Have you been standing there all this time?"

"What's keeping you up? Is everything alright?" I searched the fridge. I brought out the box of doughnuts sitting by the corner.

"I'm just worrying about you."

I don't think that answers my question. "Me? Why?"

"Do you have a boyfriend?" He asks, his eyes following me around as I get myself a glass from the cupboard.

I stopped, side-eyeing him. "I'm fine, Daddy."

"How would you be then when I'm gone?"

I slowly turned to face him. "I don't have to have a boyfriend to live." I nervously chuckle, not sure where he's getting at. "And besides, I have Anne and Arren—I have you still!"

He was about to say something, but I went ahead of him. "Daddy, let's not get ahead of things."

He sighs. "Nika, I just want to make sure you won't be alone." I won't be, I tell him silently. "What about that kid—what's his name?" I narrow my eyes at him. "P—Patrick? Paul?"

I knew exactly who he's referring to. "Peter, Daddy." I finish for him, avoiding his eyes. This is awkward. Hearing his name after all these years is giving me a weird feeling in my stomach.

"Peter, yes!" He exclaims, leaning back with a grin on his face. "I like that kid. Where is he now?"

Peter used to live in the neighborhood. I remember he's just two houses down. Daddy once told me he helped Peter fix his bike, that was why he used to come here and play Scrabble with Daddy and help him refurbish the garage; as a way of saying thank you, I guess. I admired how patient he was with Daddy. He would listen to everything he talked about, even though it wasn't in his line of interest. He got along with my sister and my brother too. I have to admit, we all liked having him around. He moved in just when Harry moved out. I had a short-lived liking of him, to be honest.

And so I was taken aback when Daddy says, "He liked you, you know." He was smiling sweetly, as if thinking about that made his heart warm.

I blinked at him.

"He told me that once. He said he didn't have the courage to tell you—heck, he was asking for advices!"

I laughed. "But he had the courage to tell you?" That's pretty ironic.

He shakes his head, grinning. "That kid." Then he glances at me for I was already by the stairs. I hesitated, and he went on. "He would have told you the next day because I nagged him to. But then they moved out. Just too bad. I would have liked if you two dated."

"Daddy." I furrow my eyebrows at him as I feel my cheeks heat up. To be liked by a boy. It felt strange and...empowering. I've never had someone like me before. So, the feelings were mutual. We just didn't know.

"Ooh, you like it." He winks at me and chuckles. "Good night, little Nikky."

I smiled. "Good night, Daddy."

Peter was all I could think about the rest of the night.

— —

It's almost our prelims and it's pretty much obvious because of how everyone was too preoccupied with studying. Half an hour has passed since classes ended and there were still people filling up the hallways and the cafeteria tables, heads stuck on open books as their hands hold onto a highlighter or a pen.