Tord's P.O.V

"Your wife must be beautiful.." I commented as I looked at Tom with sad eyes. He shot glances with his daughter for a bit before turning to stare at me. Maybe that beautiful woman that passed by me earlier was actually his wife?...

No.. She said that her son was at the counter and none other than Tom's here.. She must be...

Suddenly Tom laughed. One that I have never seen for a very long time.. It warmed my heart up so fast that I was just staring at him with a confused expression.

"No! No!" Tom said between laughs as he hugs his stomach like it was hurting because of laughing. The little girl shot a glare at me making me jolt up in my place. Seriously, what's up with people glaring at me whenever they have an eye contact with me?!

Tom wiped a lone tear that escaped from his eye from laughing before stading straight and looking at me again, "She's my mother's daughter. My stepsister." Tom said as the little girl ran and hid behind Tom's leg. She was still glaring at me but when she looked up to Tom she turned into a complete angel.

I pointed at Tom and playfully gave him a suspicious look, "She called you daddy though..?" I asked with all doubt inside in my head.

Tom chuckled and pat the little girl's head, "My Stepfather left my Mom years ago and it was because she was pregnant. Which explains why my Mom gave me a hard time getting closer to her. And.. I was 19 and was acting like a bitch and didn't understand her situation and just ran away." Tom paused as he looks down to the little girl with a smile on his face.

"Now, I practically act like her father so.. That's why she calls me daddy." Tom explained.

"But.. Isn't it weird for her to call you that? Daddy? And your Mom's the mommy?" I asked as I try not to show how much I am cringing right now.

"What?.. No. It isn't like that because she isn't that close to Mom as well.. Mom had been pushing Tamori away like what she was doing with me. So when I came back home to her. Tamori got really attached to me and now sees me as her father figure." Tom replied. I stared at how his face turned into love.. An expression that I was longing to see for a very long time.

My attention averted to the child. She must be very confused when her own mother was pushing her away... Good thing Tom came back and took care of her.. He sure did fix things in his life when he left.

I honestly thought that he wouldn't be able to handle his burdens alone. But I underestimated him. A lot.

Tom gave the little girl a smile, "This is Tamori. Tamori this is Tord." Tom introduced. I extended my hand to Tamori and smiled at her, "Hello there, I'm sorry if I had scared you earlier." I said hoping to make Tamori feel less alarmed. But she just glared at me again, "I don't like you devil." she said before climbing up to Tom's arms.

Tom carried her in his arms and told her that I was a former 'friend' of his and that she shouldn't be alarmed around me. But the child ignored him and just ran back inside the door while pouting because she didn't like it that Tom was telling her to go inside so that we can talk.

"You think it's okay for her to be angry because of me?" I asked as I sat on the counter.  Tom slowly shook his head and smiled, "Nah, she's just being bratty as usual." he told me and it made the two of us chuckle.

"You know she reminds me of someone VERY familiar to you." I said and chuckled.

"Who?" Tom asked, I turn to him as I try not to laugh.

'Aunty Rosy.'

"Ah.. Nevermind. So how old is she? Tamori?" I asked as I hopped off the counter and stand a bit far from him because maybe he's feeling discomfort when I'm close to him. Especially with all the things I've done..

"Well she's 6 years old." he answered,

"Oh, then your mother had her when you were--"

"20 years old." he interrupted and smiled at me. I grin at him slyly, "You left a pregnant woman alone?" I playfully sighed in disappointment and clicked my tongue. Tom playfully slapped my arm, "I WAS 19 at that time! I was selfish, I know." He answered with a sarcastic tone. We both laughed as if nothing happened between us in the past.. I missed this a lot..

Silence soon took over us when our laughter died down. The sweet aroma of the flowers fill the air.

"So... About your Mom and You.. Are you guys..?" I nervously asked because I didn't want to end our conversation too fast even though I know that it ain't got nothing to do with me.. Tom perked up happily as he smiles. I swear.. I felt my heart skipped a fucking beat.

"We're good now. She heard me out and I did the same for her. We sort things out and spend a lot of time to catch up with each other and eventually... She decided that she'd want to open a business with me." he explained, grinning from ear to ear. He looked gorgeous and relaxed. I suddenly forgot the last picture of him in my head a few years ago..

I clicked my tongue and chuckled, "So... You.. Finally got your dream job, huh?" I asked. Tom looks up to me, "What?" he asked. The look on his face made me want to hug him again but I muster all the strength I could to hold it in.

"Didn't you hoped to be a florist someday?" I asked as I lean a bit closer to him.

"How did you--"

"Well, we heard you and Zion through the speakers when you were talking to him. It was only till that part okay? I muted the speakers so we wouldn't know something we shouldn't." I interrupted.

"O-oh! I see..." Tom murmured while blushing. Why is he blushing? Is he embarrassed?

"Oh hey.. About Zion.. Is he-" Tom suddenly stopped talking but from the way his facial expressions and body language changed. He's pretty aware of what has happened.

I took a deep breath, "He's dead. Just earlier..."  I confirmed, suddenly Tom was gripping on to the counter like he was trying not to cry. I got even closer to him and caress his cheeks gently as he hesitantly nuzzled into my hands.

"Edd and the others already told me everything.. I cried at first.. And they've comforted me. But I didn't think that hearing it from you would be 5 times more painful since I know you were the one who did it...." Tom admitted before giving me a broken chuckle. He was trying not to cry. It was obvious.

"Did you really loved him?" I asked suddenly and I knew that it wasn't right to ask him that at a time like this. So I had to mentally scold myself for being so careless.

Surprisingly Tom shook his head slowly and looked down, "I don't think so... I think that I was just using 'Love' as a pathetic excuse to forget the pain I've felt during that time.. I messed up so bad, huh?.. Zion may be some kind of experiment. But I looked up to him as a 'friend' I've admired." he answered before scratching the back of his head nervously.

"But I guess.. With him gone. You'll be going back to Norway for your job, huh?" He asked, I nodded making him chuckle.

"Zion is our last mission here. With him gone... We are required to go back." I said, clenching my fists tightly.

"Zion.." Tom called out silently and faked giggled, "Too bad I didn't get to know what he meant by 'Mahal na mahal kita' before he had to rest. Such a bad timing.. I could've asked him when he still was alive." Tom said with his eyes saddening.

"I love you so much."

'is what "Mahal na mahal kita" means Thomas. I've learned it when I was learning tagalog to speak to Zion more properly when he was still held captive and alive.'

Tom tilted his head in confusion, "What?" he asked before I pulled him into a hug. Squeezing him in my arms as if he was going to disappear again. Thinking of that made my heart beat fast. It was painful.

"Uhh.. Tord?" Tom suddenly called out. I just breathed in and out as I close my eyes. I wanted to say how much I wanted him in my life again and that I miss him so much I didn't want to let go. But I know he just got recovered or is still recovering from what happened in the past so I didn't want to bother him yet...

"Tord? I can feel and hear your heart beat.." he murmured as I kept pressing his head onto my chest. Purposely making him hear how my heart is pumping.

I blush as I turn my head to the ceiling, "I'll wait for you." I firmly said.

"Tord--"

"I'll wait for you until you'll feel like you aren't stuck with something anymore. I'll just wait for you. And then when I'm sure that you're free and ready.. I'll come back for you. So please wait for me." I said.

This is what I wasn't able to say to him before I left him. Now that I've actually told him that. I feel happy and secured at the same time because now I know that Tom knows that I wanted him to wait.

Tom stayed quiet for a moment. Looking down while fiddling with my cloth. His cheeks and ears turning bright red making me blush as well. He looks up to me pouting before finally replying with: "Then please. Keep waiting for me, Brat." and hugging me back tightly as well.

End~~

Bonus::

"Wait, you said that Edd and the others told you about Zion... so does that mean you and the others like.. Eduardo, that Merk guy.. Whatever.. Already made up?" Tord asked.

Tom nodded and smiled, "Yep. And I've also had Mom deliver flowers to the Home for the Aged, Aunty Rosy, and Aunt Luce's grave as a thank you gift for the gratitude they've showed me." he answered.

Tord thought about it for a while before looking at Tom, "So does that mean they knew about my 'tour' and set this 'delayed flowers' thing just to make me meet you again?" Tord asked, staring at Tom as the other just stayed quiet.

Tom turned to look at Tord as well before turning away while the tips of his ears were bright red.

"Brat--"

"YOU GUYS PLANNED THIS!!"

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A/N

It has OFFICIALLY ENDED. my Book has Officially Ended QwQ.

Hope you enjoyed the story <3

Hope to get to publish more books soon~