Chapter thirty-four: Breakfast Together

~~~Everything I know about love, I learned from you and everything I know about pain, I learned from you.   But the most important thing you ever gave me was the one that hurt the most. So thank you for the broken heart and thank you for the permanent scar, 'cause if it wasn't from you, I might forget how it feels to let go and how it feels to get a brand new start...~~~

-J Rice-

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"Good morning, mommy."

I opened my eyes only to see my daughter who had the brightest smile on her face.

"Good morning." I got up and kissed her on the cheeks. I also checked the time from the mango-shaped wall clock that's hanging above the television set and I couldn't help but sigh and smile at the same time. It's only 7:30 am... San Francisco time.

My mom told Jack and me to stay and sleep in the house last night and she'll just ask the driver to get our things from Jack's apartment. And as usual, Jack initially refused as she thought of seeing my brother would lose her insanity... but when mom told her that he no longer stays in the mansion, she excitedly agreed. She used the guest room which was right next to my room while Cali slept with me.

"Breakfast is ready, mom and we're all just waiting for you."

"Ohh... yeah."

I slapped my forehead. I almost forgot that in this house, we should all get up by 7:00 and eat breakfast before 8:00.

"Uhm... why don't you go first and I'll follow you when I'm done changing my sleepwear?"

"Okay." She nodded. And I noticed her hair was already wet.

"Honey, have you already bathed?"

"Yes, mommy." Her smile almost reached her ears as she tried to curl up her hair using her tiny fingers. "And daddy helped me find this dress earlier."

That made me frown.

"W-What? Who helped you to find that dress?" I asked her again as I wasn't sure what I had heard.

"Daddy." She shrugged. "He does it every day before going to work and sometimes he let me go with him to his office and play games on his computer." She beamed upon mentioning the word 'games'.

But that's not what made me stop.

"If your daddy helped you find your dress, does that mean he came here early?"

"Nope, he just woke up early."

"But that's the same."

"No, mommy, because he slept here. He used the other room next to Uncle Dale's room."

I didn't pay much attention to what my daughter said. Luke is Cali's father and he still has good communication with our family, well, of course, apart from the fact that our parents were now business partners, he and Dale were best friends.

I took almost 15 minutes to do my morning routine and changed my clothes into something comfortable. And when I say 'comfortable', of course, it's based on my taste preference... white maong shorts and beige spaghetti-strap for the top.

"Good morning." I smiled when I found mom placing the tray of sandwiches on the table.

"What took you so long?" She asked me instead of returning my greetings.

"Good morning to you too, Sam," I said rolling my eyes but still have a happy smile.

Mom laughed at me and I didn't wait for any second to hug her.

"I missed you, mom."

"Hmmp! I missed you too." She hugged me back. "We have a lot of things to talk about, Samantha."

"I know. But anyway, I thought the breakfast was ready? Cali told me that I was the only one you're waiting for."

"Nope, we're still preparing and it was who asked her to tell you because knowing you, you always having a hard time to choose your dress."

"Ahh... I've changed, mom." I said taking the glass of juice from her hands and winked to of one the maids watching our conversation.

A few minutes later, I heard my daughter's voice and I turned around only to be surprised seeing her holding her father's hand as she pulled him to the table.

"Daddy, I want you to sit here." And she pulled out the wooden chair, but since it's too heavy for her age, Luke helped her do it.

"Mom, what is he doing here?" I whispered to my mother with furrowed eyebrows. I thought he was already gone after helping her daughter change her dress.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you he stayed here---"

"I know, Cali told me this morning, but I thought he already left?"

"No, he's having breakfast with us today, including your brother."

"Dale is here?"

But before my mom could answer, Dale came out from nowhere.

"Yes, I'm here. Good morning, ladies." He hugged me and mom before giving us a loud kiss on the forehead. "And of course, to you, weirdo." He winked at Jack who had just returned it with a sneer.

I gulped when I felt Luke's eyes on me, but I pretended to be oblivious of it. I was about to take a seat when Cali pulled me to sit next to her father. I wanted to ask her or say something, but when I noticed the way how Luke scanning my clothes, I seemed to swallow my words.

Disapproval was evident in his eyes when he looked at me. I also noticed the way he tightened his jaws, but instead of being afraid--- I don't know but I celebrated inside. In my head...

'Why? What's wrong with my outfit?'

And I remembered that maybe because he wasn't just used to seeing me wearing this kind of clothes, because if I would look back from four years ago, I always wore pants and pajamas and he never saw me wears shorts like this. Well, time has changed as well as my lifestyle. I am no longer the old fashioned Samantha who always listened to whatever he dictates me. I am now the new version of me... Samantha Soriano version 2.0.

"Alright, let's eat." I smiled when I heard mom and we all seated.

But that smile faded when I noticed that Jack was watching us. She was sitting across my seat and her eyes have the looks that silently telling me 'huh! let's see if you can prove your words that you're no longer affected with him, Samantha Soriano version 2.0.'

I held my chin and gave her a smile as my eyes also screamed silently... 'tss! Girl, watch me!'

* * *

I was done eating when my phone vibrated on the table and everyone turned their eyes on me.

"Oh, it's Uncle David!" I turned to my daughter as she squealed excitedly and she asked if she could instead answer the call. "Can I, mom?"

"Sure, baby." I smiled and placed the phone in front of her, but I didn't know she would put it on a speaker. "Hello, Uncle David, it's me, Cali."

"O-Oh...hi, little sweetheart." David's voice was somewhat surprised as he was expecting to hear my voice.

'Ohh...' I just bit my lip as everyone suddenly stopped moving and started listening to the unexpected conversation.

"I'm fine. I asked mommy if I could answer your call and she said yes."

"Well, it's okay. Anyway, how was your birthday yesterday? Did you enjoy the party?"

"Yes, I did and I was surprised to see mommy came out of the big box---like in a big box, uncle David."

"She came out of the big box?"

And my little girl started telling him my surprise yesterday while I enjoyed listening to them... unaware of the stern look I was gaining from the man sitting next to me.

"Can you tell your mom that I really miss her and that I love her?

"Sure." and she giggled and then glanced at me. "Mommy, uncle David said he misses you and loves you."

"Yeah, I heard him, baby." I couldn't help but chuckle at her, even my mom. "Hi, babe, I miss you too."

I don't know but I kinda said it out loud.

"Ohh, my goodness, I miss your sweet voice, babe. How was your sleep?" I smiled at his question and when I look up, I saw Jack with her thumbs up.

"Well, I got a good sleep despite my light jetlag, maybe because Cali hugged me to sleep."

"Haist, I wish I was there to hug you."

"Yeah---huh!" I stiffened on my seat when I felt that Luke's hand brushed my bare knees. I looked at him with wide eyes only to be more shocked at the things he was going to do next.

"I'm sorry, but my towel has fallen near your feet so I have to get it."

I was just about to open my mouth, but he has already lowered his head in exactly levelled of my thigh and slowly picked up the white towel.

Slowly... that I can feel his hot breath fanning against my skin... and he's doing on purpose.

"Okay, I got it." He smirked, waving the towel in front of me.

I couldn't help forming my fists. This damned man was lucky that we were surrounded by my family otherwise I would have slapped his face so I could also wipe irritating smirk on his lips.

"Babe, are you still there?"

I took a deep breath and smiled at my daughter who seemed confused about what's going on between her parents.

"Yes, I'm still here," I said, picking up the phone and brought it to my ear after turning off the speaker.

And since I'm done eating, I excused myself to talk to my boyfriend in a somewhere private... emphasizing the word 'boyfriend'.

"I just have to talk to my 'boyfriend. I love you, babe."

And with one last hard look to the suddenly became serious Luke, I left the kitchen and ran outside until my feet reached the pool area.