What If...

3: Unlikely Connection

I had a heavy heart after our conversation with Lolit. I know that I must be happy and content with my life as a family man, but I still long for something which was only filled back when I was in high school. And as I lay down in bed and give my wife a hug, I felt very guilty about everything. I feel like my life as a successful man, loving husband and caring father is all a lie. I even think of it as my consolation prize for letting go of my true happiness.

The next morning, I woke up to the sounds of someone whispering to my ear. The words are very hard to decipher, that's why I rose in bed to ask Lolit what she was whispering to my ear. But, to my surprise, I was alone in my room. She was downstairs preparing our breakfast. Who was whispering to my ear all this time?

And so I prepared and dressed up for work. I was thinking of having a change of wardrobe, so I set aside my usual attire of collared shirt, matching coat and slacks; and wore a t-shirt, fit denims and my favorite leather jacket. I enjoy this new feeling of wearing something youthful for a change in my daily grind. As I was looking in the mirror, some mumbling sounds passed again through my ears.

   "Whoooossh...whooosshhh..."

It kind of given me the chills at first as I heard that again, but I realized that there's nothing to be afraid of. It might some be some breeze trying to play tricks on my mind. Maybe, it's just its way of saying that I stayed too long to dress up, and I headed immediately to our breakfast nook.

   "Love, you look good. Do we have a date that you aren't telling me? You're dressed for the occasion," Lolit said as she looked entranced with my new style.
"I'm just heading to work after dropping the kids at school and back," I replied in a casual manner.
   "I knew it, Papa. You are experiencing mid-life crisis. First, the hair. Now, the clothes!" exclaimed Tristan with a teasing smirk.
   "Can't I wear clothes that are different? I'm not wearing any uniform for work. Besides, don't you like your dad to look good sometimes?" I wittingly answered back.
   "Papa, you look good in any clothes you wear. Whether formal or casual, your style is always spot on," Casper said while eating his oatmeal.
   "That's what I like about, Casper. You never know how to lie. Plus, you know how to package the right words at the right time," I cheerfully noted to my youngest son. "I think I already know who will take over my PR firm. Hehe."
   "But really, Love, why are you wearing that outfit?" Lolit asked again.
   "I just like to wear this. It's just hanging in our closet for quite some time, and I haven't had the chance to wear this on an appropriate occasion," I calmly replied as I feel that the hot topic for today's breakfast was my choice of clothes.
   "You can wear that on one of our dates. We haven't had one for a long time, Love," Lolit said as she was giving me that puppy dog look waiting to be invited for a date.
   "So sorry about that, Dove. I didn't realize it was that long when we had our last date. Maybe because I was busy with my projects at the PR firm and other board meetings. Plus, we can't leave the kids when we go out on a date," I apologetically replied to Lolit.
   "Don't worry about us, Papa. We can manage. I can take care of Casper and be in-charge of the house while you are away. Go enjoy and spend some quality time together," Tristan confidently responded.
   "That's right, Papa. Spend some romantic time together. I will be a good boy while you're away," Casper cheerfully added.
   Then I gently held my wife's hand and said, "If that's the case, then I will set our date. Will find a way to clear my calendar just for our sweet time together."
   To which, Lolit blushed a bit and replied, "Awww, that's really sweet of you, Love. I was just joking about the date thing. But since you offered it, I would definitely look forward to that." And then she kissed me on the cheek.
   "Ain't our parents sweet? We hope we can have partners as loving and mushy like them, even though they are old," Casper merrily remarked as he was giving flying kisses while saying that.
   "Who told you we're old? We're just matured and slightly aged. We're not that old!" Lolit replied with her puckered brows yet giving a sweet smile.
   "Stop that, Casper! You're just making mom angry. Go finish your breakfast," Tristan reprimanded Casper while throwing his table napkin to his younger brother's face.