In His Arms

Chapter 28: Formal Meeting (Baekhyun's POV)

I watched Kendra as she dashed out of the restaurant. I know how she feels. I myself am confused to what is happening right now. Eli is not around, he left my daughter with her nanny. And now, Kendra left me with my daughter and her nanny. Things are happening so fast. "You must be?" I turned to look at Bea's nanny. She was looking at me all confused, her eyebrows raised as she waited for my amswer. "Uh. I.. I.." I suddenly lost my words. "I'm Bea's.." Before I could even finish my sentence, she lifted her chin as a sign that she knows who I am. "You're Bea's..." She stopped before she could even spill the truth infront of my daughter. "Then I'll just. Uh. Give you two a moment then." She said and I nodded at her then she left.

Me and Bea looked at each other in the eyes as I slowly walked closer to her. Since she's sitting down, I knelt to match her height. "H-hi." I greeted awkwardly. My eyes glittered to the sight of this girl. I couldn't believe how my very own daughter is right before me. It amazes me so much how happy I suddenly felt just by seeing her and being near her. "Hi.." She greeted back, looking slightly frightened. I held her tiny hand carefully and smiled when she let me caress it with my thumb. "So you're.." She stopped when I looked at her face again. "Hmm?" I hummed, asking her to continue talking. "Daddy Eli told me that I'll meet my father today.." She explained. "So you're my... father?" She asked. Her voice sounded so sweet. So Eli already told her. At first, I hesitated but still nodded slowly. I saw her throat move as she gulped. I guess we're both nervous in finally meeting each other as daughter and father. Sje lifted her hand and slowly reached out to my face. There was an overflowing joy inside me when her tiny palm touched my cheek. All the more that I was shocked when she suddenly hugged me.

Bea smelled like vanilla marshmallows. Even her scent makes me happy. Is this how paternal happiness feels like? Is this how having a child feels like? Still awkward at the moment, I slowly caressed her hair and rubbed her back. "It's nice to finally meet you.... dad." She whispered in my ear. Her words made me smile. "It's nice to finally meet you too, daughter." I whispered back. Her hug loosened until she let go of me. The atmosphere became awkward again. "Um.." She stared at the table while she thought of something to do. Bea looked at me. "Uh. Would you.. like some c-cake?" She asked as she touched the plate of cake her nanny served her a while ago. I smiled. "Sure." I told her. She slid to her left to make room for me. She pat the spot where she was originally seated as she looked at me. "Have a seat.." She offered and I smiled as I stood up and sat down beside her.

"We.. saw each other before.. We already met before, right?" Bea asked, looking down at her lap. "Uh. Yes. We did." I answered. If only I could find a way to make things feel easier, I would. But damn, it's very awkward that we have met like this. "But why?.. Why didn't you tell me.. that you were my father back then?" She questioned me. I held her hand again, hoping that maybe she looks at me when I do. And she did. "I didn't know that you were my daughter back then.. If I only knew.. I couldv'e told you by then." I explained. "I'm sorry that I didn't know." I said. "You mean you didn't know that I.. exist?" She asked. I suddenly held my answer back for I knew it could hurt her. I just shook my head from left to right. "No, I didn't.. And I'm sorry that I didn't know.." I apologized. Her facial expression suddenly changed. A while ago, she looked frightened and curious, but now, she looks very sad. "But why? How come?" She asked with her voice trembling, pained by the truth.

"It's something you won't be able to understand, Bea." I uttered with concern. If I tell her now, she'd probably misunderstand things. It will probbably take all her sanity and hate me to death and I don't want that. "I'll explain it to you when you get a little older." I said. It felt like there were arrows painfully shooting my heart as I saw her eyes brim with tears. I don't want this. Now that I'm with my daughter, as long as I'm with her, I won't let her cry. I don't want her to cry. She closed her eyes as my thumb wiped and stopped her tears. "Now, now. Don't cry little princess. Father is here now, it's all that matter right now." I said as I also stopped myself from sobbing. Inhaling air helped me regain the happiness that I felt a while ago. She nodded and I watched her as she continued on wiping her face all by herself.

Bea then pulled the plate of cake. "You should eat it now." She diverted the topic. "Ah. Yes. But would you like some, too?" I asked. She looked at the pastry as she thought twice on whether to eat some, too. I chuckled. "You like sweets, don't you?" I teased. I took the fork and sliced some of the cake and offered it to her. Without wasting a second, she gladly opened her mouth as I fed her the cake. I watched her chew the food with delight and looked at me after she swallowed it down. "Oh, you want more?" I asked and she happily nodded. After a few more bites, she stopped eating. Instead, she took the fork from my hand and took some of the cake. She wanted to feed me, too. "Open your mouth dad." She instructed and I did. She stretched her arm as she made me eat the cake. I've never felt this happy in my entire life.

Soon, we both finished the cake. "Dad.. I'm thirsty." She said. "Let me buy you a drink then." I said then raised my hand so the waiter can take our order. "What would you like to drink?" I asked her. "Hmm.. Can I have a milkshake?" She asked. "Ofcourse you can." I told her. "Get her a milkshake." I told the waiter. "Strawberry." She added and the waiter smiled at us before he went away. "When is mommy coming? Will she return?" Bea asked. Unlike a while ago, our conversations seemed to be more relaxed and less tensed. Maybe we grew fond of each other that fast. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her near me. "Ofcourse she'll come back. We'll just have to wait for her a little longer." I said. Now that she mentioned about her mom, Kendra haven't returned yet. It's been a while since she left and the worse part is we don't know where she went. When she dashed out earlier, I didn't feel the need of following her. Instead, I knew I had to give her time to ask Eli. After all, we owe him everything that is happening right now. The milkshake came too fast. And as soon as the waiter served it, Bea took a sip of it. I took the moment to appreciate this little child beside me, drinking her milkshake happily.

I remember the first time we met each other. Bea was running to her mother, excited to be with her. That day, all I felt was sadness because I thought she belonged to another man. The second time we met each other, she was running, too. Except, she was running away from something that scared her. Her eyes were closed back then and she was shrieking in fright. She bumped into my leg and continued crying. That was the first time I felt so concerned just because of a child. And when I got to talk to her, everything else became blissful. That day, I felt this one of a kind happiness. And now I know why. We were connected all along. She my child, my daughter, and she makes me extremely happy. Now what I have to do is just prove her that I can be a good father, too. That I can take good care of her and her mother. I'll definitely use this opportunity to make them happy. I'll definitely make up to the seven years we lost. I just love the fact that I could be with my family.