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~Park Baekhyun~

"Baby, if you don't eat this, Papa will be hurt." I reasoned habang naka-abang sa bibig ni Jesper yung pagkain niya. Nag-pout pa ako saka inilapit pa yung kutsara. Ano bang masama sa broccoli with cheese? Masarap naman ah. 

Umiling ulit si Jesper sabay iwas ng mukha. "Papa, I don't want."

"Sir Baekhyun, kanina pa po yan." Malungkot na sabi ni Manang Bebang sa likod ko, sabay kamot sa ulo niya. Siya ang personal yaya ni Jesper. "Ayaw kumain ng gulay."

"Yaya! It's not that!" dahilan ni Jesper kaya sabay kaming napatingin sakanya ni Manang. "I was calling Daddy a while ago..." simula niya sabay iwas ng tingin. "But he's too busy about something."

Napatingin ako kay Manang Bebang. "Kanina pa ba nakauwi si Chanyeol, Manang?" tanong ko sa isang mahinang boses.

Tumango si Manang Bebs. "Opo, Sir." Sagot niya. "Kanina pa po."

I bit my lower lip and looked back at Jesper. "Anak, why are you looking for Daddy ba kasi?" I asked. Then suddenly, he pulled a paper from his back. Medyo madumi na din ito at crumpled, but by the looks of it, activity nila ito sa school.

The paper is full of colors and drawings. Hindi ko alam kung ano yun kasi nakafold pa.

"I want to show him this, Papa." Jesper mumbled.

I frowned. "Then why not show it to me, instead?"

"You're always there," Jesper answered. "Well Daddy... he's busy most of the time. I want to show him this at least." Then he leaned in to whisper something. "I got three stars." he murmured.

I smiled and patted Jesper's head. He wrinkled his nose and looked down. "Okay, here's the deal." I finally said and rested my hands on my knees so I could level my eyes with his. "I will go talk to Daddy. But first... you need to finish your food. Deal?"

Napatingin sakin si Jesper. He studied my face and looked at the food. "Deal." He beamed.

I ruffled his hair and stood up. I walked fast up the stairs into Chanyeol's office on the third floor. I round up a corner and found Chan Hyun leaving his room. Hawak niya yung cellphone niya habang nakakunot noong nakatingin dito. He made his way to the third floor.

I was about to follow him when I heard Min.

"Papa!" she called, peeking from her room. "I need help."

I walked up to her and when I opened her room, books are scattered on the floor, covering most of the carpet. I gasped, eyes wide.

"Anak... what happened here?!" gulat na tanong ko. Pinulot ko yung isang book at libro pa ito ni Chanyeol noong college days namin. I flipped through the pages and noticed Min's hand writing.

"Papa, you really need to help me." determinadong sabi niya habang seryosong-seryoso ang mukha. I gulped and gazed at her, noticing Chanyeol's frown and ears. Really. Min looks so much like my husband.

I sat on the carpet. "What is it? How can I help you, baby?"

Then suddenly, my daughter started gathering books from the carpet, giving them all to me. "You..." then another book. "need to..." then another. "make a very..." then another. "long exam..." then two more. "from these, Papa." Then she stopped, wiping sweat from her forehead.

I gaped at her. "S-seriously, Min?" I breathed, looking at the books. GANITO KARAMI? Anong tingin sakin ng anak ko? Computer?

Tumango-tango siya. "Yes. Please, Papa, please?" then she pouted, sitting in front of me. "I need to do well in school. I really, really need to do well!"

I raised my eyebrows in disbelief. "Hindi mo na kailangan, anak." I whispered. "You're more than good already. I'm starting to think hindi ka na tao." 

But she shook her head fast. "Papa... you don't understand."

Then after a couple of pleading and begging, I went out of her room, carrying books I never read before. Bakit ba biglang gustong maging genius ni Min? Na-threaten ba siya o ano? Ano bang nangyari sa school nila? May bagsak na ba siya? Na-fail na quiz? Subject? Grabe naman to. 

Napagdesisyunan kong sa study nalang ni Chanyeol gawin ang lahat ng yun. Naglakad ako papunta sa third floor at bubuksan na sana ang pinto papunta sa asawa ko nang marinig ko silang nag-uusap ng panganay namin.

"Uncle Jongin?" I heard Chan Hyun asked. I frowned and leaned to the door.

Ano kayang pinag-uusapan nila?

"Yes." Chanyeol answered, his voice serious. "He's from the US."

"So... what's your plan now, Dad?"

"Look after your Papa, of course."

My frown grew deeper. Ano? Look after me? Bakit? May sakit ba ako? Teka... hindi ata ako na-inform.

Napatingin ako sa tiyan ko at hinaplos yun.

Hindi naman ata ako buntis ulit, diba?

I heard Chan Hyun chuckle. "Dad, if Papa would know about this..." then he grinned. "He'll get mad."

Chanyeol laughed. "I know." He answered, amused.

Hala. Ano bang pinag-uusapan nila? Nakaka-intriga naman.

Bago pa sila makapagsimula ng bagong topic kung saan OP ako, kumatok nalang ako sa pinto.

"Come in." Chanyeol said, his voice serious again.

I turned the knob and peeked in. "Babe?" I called.

Chanyeol's eyes went wide and he slowly smiled. "Babe..." he started and glanced at our son. "What brings you here?"

I pursed my lips and went in. Sinara ko yung pinto at pinakita yung mga librong binigay ni Min. "Went to make some tests, I guess." Then I smiled shyly at him. "And Jesper wants to show you something later."

Chanyeol nodded and smiled.

"Pa, Dad, nakalimutan ko, may gagawin pa pala ako." Chan Hyun suddenly said and he abruptly went out of the door, leaving me and Chanyeol alone.

Chanyeol immediately stood up from his seat and walked up to me. He grabbed some of the books and looked me over. "Hey..." he started, touching my face lightly. "You fine, Baek?"

I nodded and bit my lower lip. "I'm fine, Yeol." I answered. Tatanungin ko sana kung anong pinag-uusapan nila pero edi nagmukha na akong eavesdropper doon, diba? Kaya huwag nalang.

"You look troubled." Chanyeol noticed and he took all the books from my hands. Pinatong niya ang mga ito sa isang table sa gilid ng kwarto. He then grabbed my waist and made me sit on his lap at his table.

"It's nothing." I said and smiled at him. I wrapped my arm around his neck and leaned in to give him a kiss on the lips.

Chanyeol grinned. "Oh yeah?" he asked, kissing me back.

I nodded and pulled back to stare at his face. "How about you?" I asked and raised an eyebrow. "You look stressed." Then I ran my fingers over his forehead, down his cheeks, and the side of his neck.

Chanyeol sighed. "How do you feel about Yifan?" he suddenly asked.

I frowned. "What about him?"

"He's strange, isn't he?"

I pouted. "Not to me, though."

Then suddenly, the phone inside my pocket started to vibrate. I grabbed it and looked at the caller ID. Unknown number this time.

I tapped "Answer" and a familiar voice welcomed my ears.

"Baekhyun?"

I frowned, looking at Chanyeol who is also watching me with a frown. "Who's this?" I asked, feeling Chanyeol's hand tighten around my waist.

"Your voice sounds so good anywhere." The man on the other line chuckled. "This is Yifan. Can we meet tomorrow? Just... the two of us?"

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