Closure

I stood up and before I could walk away... I looked at the man I was with. He was looking at me too.

"You want to see him? We can now visit him inside." I told him.

He immediately stood up to follow me. We walked down the hallway together and when I arrived. Seyah was already there sitting on the edge of the bed and holding my son's hand, crying. My face softened.

"He won't die. Don't cry too much." I said as if I hadn't almost cried before.

She looked up at Cedrick and me and her eyes were red from crying. "Because!" She cried out loud. She stood up to hug me.

"He's just my nephew's attempt." I gave him a tight hug until he looked up at the man I was with.

Seyah was still shocked because her mouth was still covered and I think she just noticed Cedrick's presence beside me. "Omg!" Seyah blurted out in shock. She let go of me and hit Cedrick's arm. The man winced and I think it was painful. "Our baby boy now has a daddy if he will wake up! O to the m to the g!" She said dramatically.

His words seemed to caress my heart. My baby boy has a daddy... My Cairo when he wakes up has a daddy. And that would be the best gift for him. Maybe out of all the gifts... His father is the best I can give.

I turned my eyes to the boy I love the most. He is still sleeping soundly... Get well baby... When you wake up... I will try to force your daddy to spend a lot of time for you... Even if mommy will be embarrassed, just for you... I will do everything . I love you, Son.

"Alright! Go home first. I cook food at home. You two must eat there. Especially you Cedrick. You need to rest now because tomorrow you will have blood transfusion. I will take care of my nephew first. For now ... You and your wife should take a break first today because you two are now parents and maybe tomorrow Cairo will need your presence. He probably won't wake up in the middle of the night." Seyah told a long story, she smiled at us. "I'll take care of him first." She added, pushing us both out.

I took her hand away and there was a little smile wanting to peek on my lips but I didn't show it.

"Nah, it's fine. He is my son. I can stay up all night. Even if I haven't slept yet." I told her.

"Huh? Don't! Stop! You need to rest. You cried a lot earlier. You need to sleep and I will never leave here. It's final." She said emphatically.

"But—"

I couldn't continue what I was going to say when my eyes caught Cedrick who was already at Cairo's side. He slightly bent over to my son's side while caressing his forehead. He was staring at our son, and I could not deny that admiration and love were all over his eyes. And it was like my heart just completely melted when he kissed our son on his forehead.

I looked away when I felt tears welling up in my eyes. This was the moment I deprived my son of having. I felt even more guilty in my chest. Seeing how Cedrick made skin contacts to my son... Seeing how he showed worries... Are enough reasons for me to accept him and let him do his part in Cairo's life.

My son has been living without a father for a long time.

And after my son and his father's path aligned... I am happy that Cedrick did not doubt him. With just one look, I knew he already felt Cairo is his. That's why I really want to keep our son away from him. But now... I thought to myself that I shouldn't have done that.

I quickly wiped the tears that fell down my cheeks.

"You? Aren't you going to rest?" I grabbed Cedrick's attention.

Our eyes met and he stared at me for a few seconds... Until Seyah spoke. "You go with Sherin, Cedrick first. I cooked a lot at home. You go there first and eat. Then you come here together tomorrow." he said.

That's exactly what Cedrick and I did. I went with his car and sat in the shotgun seat. The man's car is also new, and I'm happy about that, because if it was his old one... I'm sure I'll be swallowed by shame because I'll remember everything we did in his car.

I was silent inside the car while it continued to operate. I also set the way to Seyah's address on Maps so Cedrick didn't have to ask any more questions. While we were inside, I smelled her perfume. My lips are watering because of its scent.

I simply looked around the inside of his car. He was watching to see if his wife had left anything here and I almost slapped myself when I realized what I was doing. Why am I searching for woman's things?

Why am I doing such an illegal job? Why, Sherin? Are you even his wife to have doubts like this?

We have arrived at Seyah's house. When I arrived, I was the first to go in and turned on the light because it was dark. I knew Cedrick was following me now so I didn't bother look at him again.

"Let's go to the kitchen. Let's eat first." I'm sorry. Earlier when we arrived, he was about to leave but I stopped him to invite him to eat.

I don't know if I did the right thing so now I feel a little sorry. Maybe he was going to go somewhere or say hello like his girlfriend, then I stopped. I prepared the utensils and spooned our food. I let Cedrick sit there. Right now my hair is up in a bun and I'm left in a red tank top because I've taken off my jacket.

"Um... You don't have anywhere else to go, do you? Uh no, if there is... you can leave first... just go again tomorrow night... Maybe you still have work." I said while putting the plate.

He helped me in my business.

"I'll donate blood tomorrow for my son. I can't work..." He stopped for a moment and looked into my eyes. "Why? Did you hate my presence there?" I looked away when he softened his voice. Damn.

"I didn't say anything..." I pulled the bench and sat down.

After we ate, I accompanied Cedrick walk up to his work room. But before we got there, he was stunned when he passed the room where Cairo's toys were scattered. There is still his pillow that he often hugs and his favorite super man.

There was a pain in my chest while watching Cedrick's eyes... There were pieces that told me he was wondering, he was curious about things.

"That's our room... And where Cairo plays a lot." My introduction.

I walked in and turned on the light. It's a bit wide and a bit messy because my son's toys are really scattered inside. Especially the small toy cars that Cedrick is staring at now.

"When I was a child... I had a collection of toys like this... I love playing cars... That is why... When I saw him playing these at once... I have no doubt that he is mine." He sighed and knelt to grab one piece of them.

"Sherin..." I was surprised when he mentioned my name.

I'm currently nervous.

I did not answer him and remained silent.

"Will you allow me to also have the custody of him? I... I wanna retrieve those times that I was not at his side. I wanna spend the rest of my life with my son." he said sincerely, playing with the toy car in his hands.

I breathed a sigh and walked towards the window. "Why not?" I opened the curtain, and the wind hit my face very softly.

"Really?" I could hear Cedrick's footsteps behind me, probably walking towards me.

"Yes..." I hugged myself. "Why would I deprive you of that... This might me the time... You know he's your son... And the fear in my chest of you rejecting him vanished when you have already found out."

"Was that the reason why you didn't tell me about him?" Cedrick scoffed.

I looked behind me and saw that he was very close to me. That was the reason why his voice was so weak.

"We're not on good terms Cedrick... Sorry... You can't blame me for hiding him from you." I swallowed saliva.

"I'm not blaming you..." Cedrick said and started stroking my hair gently.

I blinked few times. I sighed... remembering the words he asked me back when I was in his office. "You know I was... still engaged with Trevor since that warm night even though he's dead. I felt guilty for hooking up with you. I was panicking. I was afraid, I was mad at the fact knowing that I had sex with you even though I am enraged to you. And when I heard of the news that you were searching for me with a price of more than a million, I panicked, and even gets more mad at you for almost selling me that way. That is why I left Philippines and migrated to Australia... just for you not to find me. And after a month of staying there... that was when I finally knew that I was carrying birth from you."

I can still feel Cedrick combing my hair. Sometimes I get tickled every time his finger touches my nape, but I don't let him know that.

"Did you regret having my own flesh in your life? Did you feel anger towards me for letting you carry birth for months? I know... it went hard."

"That's bullshit. I never felt regretful for having Cairo in my life. Well, honestly speaking, he is the only good thing you gave to me. At first... I hate you for touching me... I hate myself for gaving in... But when I finally knew of my baby's gender for the first time... when I finally saw his image in an ultrasound... that is when... I muttered my first true and overwhelming thank you to you even without you hearing it... After another loss... Cairo gave me hope to live again. He made me feel contented for the life I have right now. As long as he is with me... as long as I have his custody... My life will forever go on." I couldn't help but tear up so I wiped the tears that were currently flowing down my cheeks.

I felt Cedrick holding my hand.

"Sherin... baby..." He whispered. "You don't know how much you broke me when you left. I almost went crazy when you left me, when I woke up alone in the hotel I thought while sleeping... you were still next to me. I was desperate to find and to see you that is why I offered a million pesos. And you're wrong when you thought that I was selling you. Am I selling you if I want you to be with me? I was just craving to see you. Especially after that night , when we collided... I thought you had the same

feelings as me... But you left for Australia. And that was enough to answer the question that remains in my mind." He sighed for another time.

"I know it is so hard to love me. After all the things I've done to you? I know... You can't forgive me. But... all the time I'm in bed with you... all the minute I held you and listened to your every moan... I don't regret it. Because those times were so precious to me. And whenever, even when you were far away from me... You never left my mind... And maybe... you are the right answer for my crumpled relationship with Elise at that time. When I was broke after knowing Elise cheated on me... I almost banged a woman and there I found you..."

That's when I became aware of everything what he said.

Elise was cheating on him even before we met? So it's like he used me to avenge himself. He fucked me to be fair with Elise? And now I know... I am not really the reason of their break up.

"Thank you for giving birth to my son. Thank you because even though you are engaged to me... you never thought of abandoning him. Lastly, thank you for being such a brave, wise, kind, and loving mother to my son. You have done so many grateful things in my life. And my heart can't help but to fall for you even harder..." I gasped when Cedrick kissed the back of my neck.

I quickly faced him and stepped away from him. Because I couldn't deny that my body heated up instantly after that.

"Please... Don't think that we are all good in spite of me treating you better. We are here for our son. And not to upgrade the friend relationship we have." I reminded him, with heavy breathing.

"Y-Yeah... I'm... Sorry," He bowed slowly.