Chapter 22
“WHAT are you doing?” Caroline asked Benjamin. She can see on her cell phone screen that he was busy with some paperwork in his office. “It’s too early to do some paperwork, you know.”
Benjamin took moments to answer. His brows were slightly furrowed while looking at the paper in his hand. “Just some inventory reports…”
Hyacinth peered on her screen. “He looks busy, girl,” he said with a shake of her head. “And, it’s obvious that you’re disturbing him.”
Benjamin looked up on the screen. He greeted Hyacinth before he gave her an apologetic look. “Can I just call you later, Caroline? I really need to finish these inventory reports now.”
“Of course, y-you may take your time, Benjamin,” she said, sounded embarrassed. “I’ll wait for your call then.”
Benjamin smiled awkwardly before he ended their video call. Hyacinth gave her a look that says ‘sorry, girl’.
Caroline diverted her attention to her coffee mug and sighed. “I just want to have a coffee with him, even virtually.”
“Girl, it’s obvious that Benjamin doesn’t like you,” Hyacinth said without hesitation. “Can’t you see it?”
“Didn’t you hear what he just said? Are you deaf?” Caroline rolled her eyes ceilingwards. Her harsh words were like a dagger stabbing her chest. “He’ll call me after he finished his paperwork—”
“Caroline, this is the first time that I saw you chase a guy. What’s happening to you?” Hyacinth asked her while she’s pouring milk on her cereal bowl.
They were having their breakfast at home because of the early morning rain showers. They usually have their breakfast at the cafeteria, no matter what time it is. But, the rain changed their routine again. Just like how Benjamin changed the game of her life.
“Because I like him. I really do,” Caroline said gruffly. “I’m willing to do everything just to win his heart—this time. I’m no longer the high schooler that chose to isolate herself from the judgment of others.”
“Wow, you sounded fierce, girl.” Hyacinth occupied the chair in front of her. “Have you told him about your best-kept feelings for him?”
Janessa shook her head. “I can’t find the right moment to confess. He’s always busy and…” she trailed off, she felt the sudden tightening of her chest again. “He’s avoiding my eyes every time I tried to make eye contact with him.”
“Maybe because you were too aggressive,” Hyacinth said with an arched brow. “Some guys don’t like girls that often initiate the first move. It hurts their ego and somehow feels pressured to enter a commitment. We all know that men are afraid of commitment—”
“Immature men are afraid of commitment. But, Benjamin wasn’t a kid anymore, he’s been married once in his life and had two kids. What’s keeping him to enter a relationship again?”
Hyacinth shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe his kids… or, maybe he still loves his wife.”
That words hit Caroline straight in the chest. “Should I compete with a dead wife?”
“You’ll surely lose. Eternal love often wins,” Hyacinth chuckled. “Did he open up to you about the death of his wife? Because if he still hasn’t, your chance to get his heart is very tiny.”
“He will learn to love me soon,” Caroline said with determination. “I’m sure of it.”
Her ever supportive best friend snorted. “You can’t force him to love you, Caroline. You can’t force his heart to give you the same amount of love that you gave him.”
“But I can teach him to love me. That’s why it’s called ‘falling in love’, right? You don’t force yourself to fall, you just fall. I know that someday he’ll realize that I have a particular space in his heart.” Caroline picked up her phone and stare on the screen, hoping that Benjamin will call her back. “He’ll know my worth soon.”
“And, what if he doesn’t?”
Caroline looked at her friend, a smile formed in her lips. “Benjamin is a man, and I am a woman… maybe it’s about time to play the role of his wife.”
*
“I’M sorry, Benjamin. I can’t find any available apartment near Café Demitasse because it’s a commercial location. What I only found were villages with rent to own houses. If you want, I can give you the agent’s contact number in some of the available properties,” Polo said from the other line.
Benjamin hesitated. He doesn’t have plans to buy a new house because he still wanted to get their home back. But, how was he going to do that if his café was on the brink of bankruptcy? He has posted on their social media page that the coffee shop is open for investors. But, unfortunately, no one has shown interest yet.
“Thank you, Polo. I apologized for waking you up this early. Please send me the agent’s number, I’ll see if I can set an appointment next week.”
After he ended his call to his college friend, Benjamin returned his attention to the café’s paperwork. He remembered Caroline and her reaction when he cut their video call earlier. It’s not that he’s avoiding her. He just doesn’t want her to think that he’s taking advantage of her kindness to him. Using Caroline to solve his problem was the least thing that Benjamin wanted to do.
Caroline was kind to his kids, and he won’t do anything to ruin their relationship with her. Benjamin heaved a sigh. If only Camille was alive… none of these will happen. They’re still living in their house, the Demitasse was still on its top monthly sales because of Camille’s pastries, and their twins… He turned to look at his daughters, who were still sleeping in the improvised beds in his office. The sound of their rhythmic breathing filled the early morning silence.
“Maybe they’re still doing the things that they both love…” he murmured while looking at them. “And, Antonette wouldn’t be so grumpy.”
The faint pop of his incoming message ringtone distracted Benjamin from his thoughts. He looked at the screen and saw a message from the person that bought his house. Benjamin didn’t know why he felt a little disappointed that it wasn’t Caroline who messaged him.
Benjamin shook his head, he shouldn’t be thinking like these. Caroline is a friend, and he should keep it in mind. He opened the message to type a reply. He will drop at the bank today.
“Dad?”
Benjamin turned his swivel chair around. “Anastacia? It’s still early—”
His daughter’s expression didn’t change. “I’m Antonette, dad.”
Benjamin felt ashamed of himself for not knowing his daughters’ identity. They really looked identical at any angle. “Antonette, what is it? Does your stomach aches?” he asked when he noticed that she’s holding her tummy.
Antonette hesitated. She clutched on her clothes and bit her lower lip.
Benjamin approached immediately when he saw his daughter’s bothered expression. “What is it, Anastacia?” he asked, worriedly. “You can tell it to your daddy.”
Antonette looked up, her eyes showed worries. “I think… I just got my period, dad.”
***
