Office Diaries - Chapter 132

“One for you, one for me. One for you, one for me…”

Alvin watched in amusement as his son seriously divided the food between them. The two of them were sitting on one of the benches outside on the school grounds. Before coming here, he had bought disposable plates and chopsticks and two bottles of Sam’s favorite drink just as the boy requested. It seemed his son forgot his juice bottle at home so he asked him to get him some.

Sammy was now using the chopsticks to transfer food from his lunchbox to the paper plates he bought. Looking at him reminded Alvin of himself years ago. His parents were right. Sam was his dead ringer. It’s a wonder Jena hadn’t noticed it yet.

“Oh no!” Sam exclaimed making Alvin turn his attention back to his son’s face.

The boy looked genuinely distressed.

“What’s wrong Sammy?” he asked and the boy pouted.

“Mom made sweet eggrolls in an odd number,” the little boy answered seriously and Alvin had to cough to cover his laugh.

“Ah, that’s problem indeed,” he stated a little too seriously as he scratched his chin, pretending to think hard. “Why don’t I let you have that eggroll, but in return, you have to have lunch with me again?” he asked innocently which earned him a grin from the little boy.

“Sure!” Sam replied happily but then he paused and frowned. “But will that be okay?”

“Why ever not? It’s lunch,” Alvin answered as he started eating his share of eggrolls and wieners.

“But mom said, you are a very busy man,” Sam answered. “Actually, I thought you can’t make it today because mom said you had a…” the boy paused, thinking.

“A luncheon meeting?” Alvin supplied and the boy nodded.

“Don’t worry about that,” Alvin told Sam. “I told your mom to cancel it. Lunch with you is more important,” he continued as he leaned over, his fingers beckoning the little boy to do the same so he could whisper in his ear. “I’m more interested in eating your mom’s sweet eggrolls than listening to old people talk. Don’t tell your mom though. She’d be angry at me for making her call those old people to cancel,” he said conspiratorially making his son giggle.

“I won’t tell,” Sam promised in between chuckles and Alvin held out his hand for a shake. “That’s a promise between men, okay?” he prompted and Sammy bobbed his head up and down as he shook his hand.

“Promise,” he agreed cheerfully and the two of them continued to eat.

Unbeknownst to them, behind a tree a few feet away from father and son, another person stood. In her hands was a small cooler containing iced juice that Sam forgot to bring. Jena’s cheeks were flushed, her heartbeat fast. She’d been there for a good while and was able to hear most of the two’s conversation.

Be still…

Jena ordered her heart to stop ramming her ċhėst. She couldn’t understand but seeing Alvin and Sam together made her ċhėst ache but she felt happy at the same time. They looked good together as if they were real father and son. She’d never seen Sam that happy before.

Remembering Sam’s wish for Jena to go out and date, and her decision to stay single, the single mother couldn’t help but ask if she was being selfish or not.

Quietly, she stole another glance at the two and she felt her ċhėst ache once more at the sight. Maybe she was wrong about Sam wanting her to date so that Jena would be happy. Maybe her son wanted her to go out because he was, in fact, looking for a father. Judging from his happy face, he had found that father already.

Alvin So…

Looking at her boss, Jena couldn’t help but admit that the man’s feelings for her and her son were genuine. Alvin seemed to really like Sam and her son seemed to like him a lot too. Honestly, her attraction to the other guy’s growing every day that she found herself stealing glances at the young president when the other’s not looking. But her past had made her turn the man’s proposal down over and over again without considering her son’s feelings at all.

“Mom!” Sam called startling her. “Mom!” her son called once more and she had no choice but to swallow hard as she joined them.

“Hello,” she greeted awkwardly as she reached the table.

“Hi,” Alvin greeted back with a shy smile as he stood up, his hand automatically reaching for the thing she was carrying and placed it carefully on the table.

He then ushered her to sit next to him but Jena opted to sit next to Sam.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” Sam asked and Jena cleared her throat.

“Well…since my boss cancelled his meeting because of something urgent that came up, I found myself having some free time so I thought I’d bring you your jug,” she answered, stressing the word “urgent” as she looked at Alvin innocently.

Alvin made a choking sound as a piece of wiener clogged his throat and Jena handed him a cup of juice with practiced speed.

“T-thanks…” the young president said sheepishly as he pouted. “But eating lunch is urgent,” he said stubbornly and Jena couldn’t help but laugh.

“What’s urgent?” Sam asked and Alvin smiled.

“It means very important,” he answered patiently and the boy nodded.

“Ah, yes, eating lunch is urgent. My teacher said so,” Sam stated as if lecturing them and Alvin’s smile widened as he winked at Jena.

“See? Urgent,” he said making Jena shake her head as she smiled.

Alvin and Sam gladly shared their food with her and the three of them ate comfortably amidst Sam’s constant chattering. Jena noticed that her son seemed to be so happy and excited having Alvin and him there. Again, she thought of how stupid and stubborn she’d been— how blind.

When the bell rang signaling the end of lunch break, Sam visibly saddened.

“Hey, don’t be so down,” Jena cajoled her little boy, who, for the first time, was showing his baby antics, clinging onto her as if he never wanted to let go.

“Yes sport, it’s time for you to go back to class,” Alvin added as he brushed Sam’s hair. “Don’t worry, I’ll take you and your mom out for dinner later if that’s okay,” he continued and Sam’s eyes widened like saucers.

“You will?” he asked hopefully.

“If your mom says okay,” Alvin said putting Jena on the spot but the latter didn’t mind.

She was after all finally decided on something.

“I’m not sure about that,” she answered and she almost laughed when both Alvin and Sam pouted, readying themselves for some disappointment. “But I think I can cook something tonight. Why don’t we just have dinner at home?” she continued and laughed when the two suddenly whooped.

“Ok sport, go back to class now,” Alvin said happily as he gave Sam a hug and Jena did the same.

The ȧduŀts watched as Sam ran back to his class and waved at the boy when he turned to them before entering his classroom.

“Are you sure?” Alvin asked as they walked back towards the parking lot where he left his car.

“Sure about what?” Jena countered as she glanced at the man and found him staring at her, making her blush.

“About dinner,” he answered and she nodded.

“Yes, but on one condition.”

“What condition?” Alvin asked immediately.

It seemed he was ready to say yes to anything Jena would say as long as he’d get to be invited to her home.

“Don’t put me on the spot again with Sammy,” she said with her tone a little scolding. “He’d get to be spoiled. I don’t want him questioning my decisions next time, and I promise to do the same thing when it’s your turn to tell him off.”

“Next time?” he asked, his voice a little hopeful as his eyes searched her face. “Jena what are you telling me?”

Jena bit her lip as she turned to the handsome man. Her heart beat fast again; her hand turned cold in her nervousness that the warmth from his hand made it feel wonderful.

“I’m saying that I’m…” she paused, her nerves getting the better of her but Alvin urged her on with his eyes. “I’m saying that I’m ready to accept you in our lives.”

“You mean…” Alvin couldn’t believe his luck. “You’re accepting my proposal?” he asked hopefully, his eyes shining with happiness.

When Jena smiled shyly at him, Alvin couldn’t help but pull her close and embraced her tight.

Oh God, oh God, he whispered his prayer audibly making her laugh.

“I’ll make you happy. I’ll make you and Sammy happy,” he promised her over and over again.

He just hoped that Jena would be safely within his grasp as soon as possible so that he could finally tell her his secret. “I love you. I love you…”