In His Arms

Chapter 9: Father Duties (Eli's POV)

Morning came, it's a brand new day. I woke up shirtless and cold. I flipped myself around and I felt comfort when my back landed on the soft sheets of my bed. I massaged my head with my fingertips with my eyes closed. I feel like I have a hangover but no, I was not even drunk last night. Oh right, I had a 'minor' argument with Kendra last night. Well, I can't really say that it's a minor. When it comes to her and Beatrice, everything is a big deal. And yes, that is why I got mad at her last night. I just hate how insensitive she can get sometimes. I don't get how she can't feel how jealous I am. Maybe it's because she just treats me like a friend? Well bullshit. I don't treat her 'just like a friend,' I treat her more than that. And she knows that. She knows how I love her but she just keeps on rejecting me. I frustratedly covered my face with my palms. "Ah shit. This life is unbelievable." I cursed.

After a few minutes, I got up from bed. Like what I always do every morning, I jog. This is the best thing that I can do now- run, literally run away. I just want to loosen up and shake everything off. I need to get myself back together.

Before I headed back home, I stopped by the nearest convinience store to buy myself a cold drink. As always, I didn't bother getting my change. I exited the convinience store and decided not to run back home. I decided to just walk.

When I got home, I checked Bea's room first. She's not in there. 'Maybe she's in Kendra's room,' I thought so I went to check her room. And I'm right, they slept beside each other. There it is again, that tingling feeling inside me. I just feel like smiling with the sight of them. They look so cute. When can I sleep beside them, too?

After looking at them, I headed to my bedroom's bathroom and took a bath. It feels amazing to remove all those sweat I got from running earlier. When I finished taking a bath, I exited the bathroom half naked with a towel covering my lower half body. I was still wiping my hair with a small towel when my phone rang. My manager, he's calling. "Hey, morning." I said as I sat down on the edge of the bed. I placed the phone down and tapped an icon to put it loud speaker mode. "Hey. I just want to remind you about your schedule today." He said. "By 10 am, you have to go to SBS for filming. I'm not sure about later this afternoon, but just be ready because I'm going to close the deal about your latest endorsement and hey might want you to show up later." He said. I got myself dressed while he was talking. "No, cancel my schedule this afternoon. I have important things to do." I said as I hopped on my pair of jeans. "What? No, we can't. What if they look for you? And you'll have to be there to sign the contract, you know." He said. "That is why cancel it because I'm not going anyway. Re-schedule it tomorrow or something." I said. Just before he can talk once again, I tapped my phone and ended the call.

Shirtless, I left my room. I went downstairs and headed to the kitchen. Before I go to work, I want to cook breakfast for the three of us. Let it be as a little peace offering to Kendra for acting like an asshole last night. I really don't like what happened last night. I feel so bad about it and I just regret acting like that. So I'm cooking to show how sorry I am.

I started cooking. Bea likes meat so much so I am trying this new recipe for sweet and sour spicy chicken. I hope she likes it. Kendra, she likes continental food. She hardly eats rice, actually. For a business woman like her, eating becomes impossible sometimes. So she's just used to having coffee in the morning and a little toast. But today, I'm cooking her pancakes. She seriously needs to gain weight. But she won't eat it if it looks unhealthy so I just placed strawberries and some whipped cream and syrup. "Daddy?" I looked at a direction and saw Bea rubbing her eyes with her left hand and her right hand holding the foot of her bear. "Hi baby, good morning." I smiled at her but she only stood there. I know exactly what she wants. I finished garnishing Kendra's pancakes abd wiped my hands with some paper towels. I walked towards her and carried her. I took her bear and made it sit on the counter's stool so she can freely hold and hug me. I can tell that she's still half asleep. She's been like this ever since she got here. Every morning when she wakes up, she either finds me in my bedroom or here in the kitchen. Sometimes, she wakes up with just a note given to her by her nanny. But I never failed to make her breakfast before I go to work.

"What do you want this time princess?" I asked as I swayed her around. She clung to me tighter and she started to giggle. "What's this? My highness is laughing?" I pretended to sound dumb. "Hmm. I wonder why she's laughing?" Without warning, I suddenly swung her around in my arms and she laughed harder. I made her land and sit on top of the counter. "Good morning princess." I greeted her once again. "Good morning daddy." Finally, she greeted back. I carried her once again and made her sit on a stool beside her bear this time. I took the plate with some red chicken and white rice and served it to her. I could see how she looked so amazed with her food. She took her fork and and started eating her meal. I just watcher her the entire time amused to how she can eat everything like that. She finally placed her fork down. "Done?" I asked and she nodded. There were stains of ketchup on the sides of her lips so I took some paper towels and wiped it off for her. "So, is mommy not yet awake?" I asked and she shook her head from left to right. We started at each other for a moment. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I closed my eyes half and she did the same after I did. Then my lips started to make an evil smile, and so did hers. After a minute, we exchanged high fives. She jumped out of her seat while I took a tray. "Daddy, daddy, daddy!" I turned around and saw Bea pointing at her bear which was still sitting on the stool. I immediately took it and handed it over to her. "Go upstairs now. I'll follow." I said then she gave me a nod before she left. I took the plate of strawberry pancakes and placed it on the tray. I made her coffee and juice as well, just for her to have an option. I carried the tray and followed Bea upstairs.

Thank God Bea left the door slightly opened or else I might have had troubles on getting in. I kicked the door gently and I gained acess on the sight of Bea and her bear waking up her mother. I slowly entered the room to avoid unnecessary noises. "Mommy, wake up." Bea mimicked a cartoon character's voice as she had her bear poke Kendra in the face. Instantly, she woke up. She stretched her arms. "Mommy, are you awake already?" Bea asked. "Hmm. Yes baby. Good morning." Kendra greeted with her sexy sultry morning voice. "Good, good!" Bea exclaimed happily. "Because." She planted her head on the soft blanket and tumbled herself on the other side of the bed. "We brought you breakfast." She cheerfully said with her back on the soft sheets and her head rested on Kendra's tummy. "Breakfast? Who made-" Kendra flipped her view from Bea to the side until she saw me. I could say that she lost her words. She then smiled at me. "Hey. Good morning Eli." I walked towards her. "Morning. How do you like your breakfast served?" I asked. She quickly adjusted herself and reclined her back at the headboard. "I'll have it now, thank you." She said with a fake British accent. I handed the tray over her and she placed it on her lap. She took the fork and knife and sliced some of the pancakes. "Is it good mommy?" Bea asked as Kendra took a mouthful of pancakes. She looked at the child and nodded. "It's super good." She turned to look at me. "Thanks Eli." She said wih a smile. I took the chair and sat beside her bed. "No problem." I said.

This is it. I should apologize now. It's time for me to say sorry. "Ah. Kendra." I said as she was about to take another bite. She stopped and looked at me. "Um. About last night.. Sorry.. Sorry about last night." Feeling shy, I didn't match her stare and just looked away. She let out a sigh then reached out and cupped my face with her left hand. "Hey." She said as she tilted my head just so I can face her. "It's ok, it's fine." She smiled. Finally, I felt relieved. Her phone rang just when she removed her hand from my cheek. She took her phone and answered it. "Hello, this is Kendra speaking. What can I do for you?" She said as we both kept an eye contact with each other. I mouthed the phrase 'who's that' to her. "Oh, Mr. Kang, good morning too. What can I do for you?" She talked to the other end of the line. "Uhuh. Uhuh. 9:30 today?" She gestured asking me what time it is already. I checked my watch and showed it to her. 7:45 am, it's still quarter to eight. "Ok, I think I can make it." She said. "Ok. Ok. Ok. I'll see you later Mr. Kang. Ok. Bye." She then hung up.

"What was that?" I asked. "Hmm. It's Mr. Kang from Lotte. We have an appointment today." She said. "Um. About that. Can you keep Bea in company today? I mean.. I can't take her with me today. So.. Maybe can you keep an eye for her today?" She asked me. "But.. I have a schedule by 10 am today." I said. "Maybe we should just call the-" "No! Not the nanny mommy!" Bea yelled. So she was listening the whole time. "Daddy I don't want the nanny today. Please please please." She pleaded with her wide puppy like eyes. "Tris, baby, I'm sorry. You can't go with us today. I'll just make it up to you when I get home later." Kendra talked to her frowning daughter. "No. It's fine. She can come with me today." Bea's face brightly shined. "But Eli-" "It's fine. You should get ready for your meeting." She just smiled at me. "Thanks Eli." "No problem." I said. "Come on princess, let's get you ready." I motioned Bea to come with me and I got her ready since Kendra has no time to do it. Father duties.