"My classmates were teasing me that I don't have a mommy but I have a mommy! Daddy said she is abroad and she's just busy with her work that's why she can't come home" -Camila 

ZANDER's POV

"Do you want to go out this afternoon, sweetheart? Daddy will go home early so that we can go wherever you want" She looked at me like she didn't hear what I've said to her. She was staring at me, waiting for me to answer her question. I know she's a smart girl and not easy to give up until she gets the answer she desires.

"Is mom doesn't love us anymore that's why she never comes home?" I opened my mouth to say something just to close it again when I realized that I haven't had any idea how to answer her question. Her mother abandoned us but I couldn't hurt my daughter by telling her that.

Since she started asking for her mom, I told her that her mom was busy abroad and couldn't see us. She seemed to understand that when she was younger but now that she's getting older, there were a lot of questions on her mind and now, she seemed to be longing for her mother's presence and love and it hurt me just by seeing her like this knowing that it seemed to be impossible for her to experience that because she left us.

I gritted my teeth as the familiar pain and anger began rising inside my heart. It's been 6 years but I still couldn't forget the pain of her leaving us like that. Because of my anger of her and my love for my daughter, I did my best to complete my internship and then took the board exam. All my hard work were paid off when I passed the exam with flying colors. I topped it.

That was the key to my success because after I passed the board exam, almost all the big companies asked me to work with them. Instead of looking for a job, jobs were the one who chased after me. I accepted the offer of one of the best architectural firms in the country and the pay was good enough for me and my daughter to live comfortably.

But I didn't stop from that. Two years after I started working there, I decided to start my own small architectural firm with my best friend King who was also an architect like me. The first year was kinda hard for us being a beginner in the business field but we managed to succeed.

Being the top 1 in our board exam helped me a lot to acquire many investors not to mention my excellent records in my internship and to my previous job. It was already 2 years after that and I still couldn't believe how my life changed these past few years. All my hard works paid off.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my daughter called for me again, waiting for my answer impatiently. I heaved a sigh.

"Sweetheart, your mom.....is kinda busy" I said as I averted my eyes from her face. I couldn't bear to look at her face while telling her lies.

"But she will eventually come home to us right daddy?" She asked expectantly and I groaned inwardly with frustration.

"Yes baby. Why don't you wash your face and brush your teeth so that we can have breakfast together? I need to go to the office and then I will come home early so that we can go out. Sounds good?" She nodded but she still looked sad and obviously thinking about her mom.

"Do you want me to call Vanessa and tell her to come with us?" I asked her. She stood up and she looked mad. She doesn't really like Vanessa.

"No! I hate her! I don't want to see her!" She said and stomped her foot on the floor.

"Okay sweetheart. I won't call her. C'mon, go wash your face so that we can eat breakfast now. Daddy is already hungry" I said. She obliged and went to the bathroom while I waited for her. My heart was feeling heavy as I remembered the only girl I ever truly loved but she left me. I gritted my teeth in anger.

****

"Did you tell your teacher about those classmates of yours?" I asked Camila while we were in the middle of eating our breakfast.

"I told Mrs. Hendricks about it and she talked to my classmates but when she left our school, my classmates began teasing me again" She answered as her eyes looked down to her plate.

"Then tell it to your new teacher" She nodded her head and continued eating. I drank my glass of water and wiped my mouth with the table napkin.

"Okay. I will talk to your teacher about this. Those kids need to know what they're doing is not right" She snapped her head to my direction and she looked alarmed.

"No dad. Please don't do that. I will just talk to my new teacher about it" I stared at her and she looked like she doesn't want me to go to her school.

"Okay. I won't go there for now but promise me that you'll talk to your teacher about it"

"Yes. Daddy"

****

JEWEL's POV

I was in the hallway, walking to my class when I heard the usual loud noises in the classroom. I quickened my steps and was almost at the door when it suddenly burst open and Camila came out it while crying and she collided to me. She looked at me through her wet lashes and my heart sunk at the sight of her crying like that.

"What happened to you Camila? Why are you crying?" I asked her but she just shook her head and was about to run again when I grabbed her hand to prevent her from running from me.

"Camila, I won't get mad. You can tell me your problem. I am your teacher, you can trust me" I said gently, trying to persuade her. She wiped her tears angrily with the back of her hands. I took my handkerchief and handed it to her. She stared at with hesitation before she took it and used it to wipe her tears. I could hear the other students playing and talking with each other. They haven't notice us yet because I closed back the door.

"My classmates were teasing me that I don't have a mommy but I have a mommy! Daddy said she is abroad and she's just busy with her work that's why she can't come home" She explained and began crying again. I don't know why but it's so hard seeing her cry like this. It felt like someone's squeezing my heart. I sat in a squatting position in front of her and held her hands.

"Don't mind them Camila. The important thing is you know the truth. Tell me who were teasing you" She looked at me like she was having second thoughts if she would tell me their names or not.

"The boys" She mumbled.

"Okay. I will talk to them. C'mon, stop crying. You are a big girl now. You need to be strong so that when your mommy returns, she will be proud of you" I encouraged her and I almost gasped in awe when she smiled at me upon hearing it. She was really cute especially with her dimples.

"Really Miss? She will return?" She asked full of expectation and I wanted to take back what I've said. She looked like she was now expecting her mother to come home. I didn't know their family situation but I need to tell her something to lift her spirit up. I groaned inwardly.

"Of course" I said reluctantly. She looked so happy and I didn't want to take her hope away from her.

"C'mon Camila, let's go inside the classroom" I coaxed her and she nodded. I was a little bit surprised when her small hand reached for my hand and pulled me towards the door. I couldn't help but to smile to myself.

When we entered the room, I began discussing the lesson and as usual, the kids were happily participating. After the class, I told all the boys not to go out yet. They suddenly looked agitated.

"Okay boys. I want to know why you were teasing Camila a while ago just because she has no mother" I asked to them but they just stayed quiet. I heaved a sigh and stood up from my chair.

"What about you Carson? Is it funny that Camila doesn't have a mother?" I asked him and he just shook his head no while staring at the floor.

"What about the rest of you, is it funny?" I asked the other boys and they also said no.

"Then why were you making fun of her?" I asked them again but they couldn't answer it.

"You know what, you are very fortunate because you have both parents with you. The situation of Camila is not to be make fun off because she is hurting. What would you feel if you were in her situation? Isn't it sad?" I queried and they agreed. They all looked embarrassed.

"Okay. I won't tell this to the principal or your parents but next time that I hear someone making fun of Camila or anyone else in the classroom, I will make sure to tell it to them. Understood?" I questioned them.

"Yes, Miss" They chorused.

"Very good"

****

Time passed quickly and it has been one month since I started my job here and living my simple life. I was enjoying my new lifestyle that I forgot about seeing him that day. For these past years, I really struggled forgetting about him. Losing both the love of my life and my daughter really made me almost insane and now, I had recovered.

My class were behaving better now and they never teased Camila again. I was glad they listened to me. They were really good kids after all. Camila started warming up to her classmates a little bit including me. Even though she was still quiet, she would join her classmates when there were class activities. I also saw her laughing with the other girls.

"Hey, don't forget about the class trip next week. You need to make sure to prepare everything" Lovely said. We were at the faculty room. It was 2 pm and I didn't have a class until 3 pm, so was she.

"Don't worry. I am already prepared. I even gave the waivers to my students. I just hope that the parents would agree to this educational trip. The kids can learn from it academically and they can even learn how to interact with other kids since other schools will come too" Lovely chuckled and continued munching her chips.

"Wow. You sound like you have already a child. If I didn't know that you're a single, I would think that you already have a kid" My smile died down upon hearing what she said and the image of my daughter while carrying her on my arms suddenly flashed on my head.

"Hey, is there a problem?" I heard her asked while staring at me with concern. My eyes brimmed with tears but I tried my best to blink it back.

"No. I'm okay. I just remembered something" I said while trying to laugh it off. She reached for the bottled water on her desk and gave it to me.

"I think you need to drink. You suddenly look pale" I swallowed hard and I realized that my throat was indeed dry. I opened the small bottled water and gulped the water down and I felt refreshed.

"Thank you" I mumbled and she just nodded her head while looking at me intently.

****

ZANDER's POV

"Daddy! We have a school trip next week. My teacher told me to give you this" Camila said excitedly while holding a piece of paper. I just came home from work and there she was happily welcoming me home with a hug and kisses. She really makes my fatigue go away always that's why I prefer to just go home instead of going out with my friends.

I leveled to her height and kissed her cheeks then took the piece of paper she was holding. I read it and it says that the children would go to a science center. There will be activities too.

"Do you want to participate in this trip sweetheart?" I asked her, unsure if I would let her go. Judging from the expression on her face, she looked like she really wanted to go.

"Yes daddy! I want to go! My classmates will all be there and even our teachers. C'mon daddy please, allow me to go. I want to go there" She said with puppy dog eyes and my heart melted. I heaved a defeated sigh.

"Okay. I will sign this but promise me you'll be a good girl. Listen to your teachers and don't go away from them. Understood?" I said with a serious tone. She squealed in happiness upon hearing what I've said. She even jump for joy and then hugged me.

"Thank you daddy! Sign it now daddy so that I can give it to Miss Morrison tomorrow" My smiled faded away upon hearing the surname of her teacher. My heart suddenly felt heavy but at the same time I felt a rush of other mixed emotions I couldn't comprehend.

"Miss Morrison?" I asked in an almost inaudible voice, not to be meant as a question. Morrison? Nah..That's impossible. There's a lot of people with the same surname.

"Yes daddy. She is our new teacher and she is so beautiful and nice" My eyebrows almost frowned of what she said. This was the first time she said nice things to a woman and she seemed to be fond of this teacher too.

****

What do you think of this chapter so far? 

COMMENT, VOTE, SHARE and FOLLOW. 

Thank You!