"SUNDATE"

Lana cannot avoid being affected by her friend's behavior. She is aware of his feelings for her. But she didn't expect the pain she saw to draw in his eyes when Marius stared at her.

"Do you have a problem, Lana?" Mama Cecille when she joined her at the table where she was quietly having coffee.

Lana sighed and then glanced at her aunt. Then lift the mug of coffee then sip there before speaking. "I'm confused Mama," she said looking down to hide her tears.

"Why? Where are you confused?"

Lana sniffed and then tried to control her emotions. She knew that being emotional would not help at such times. "Because Marius was here lately. You're still asleep so you haven't seen him," she said sipping coffee again.

Her aunt nodded. "Leave right away too?"

With that question, Lana felt the seemingly drawing of sharp pain on her chest. "I'm hurting him, M-Mama," and the young lady's voice broke again.

Lana felt her eyes warm again. But as much as possible she did not want to cry. So again she fixed her own emotion and she succeeded there.

"We both know that your friend has always had feelings for you for a long time, haven't we? And even him, he hasn't run out of any way to convey and prove that to you. That is the reason why on so many occasions he's with you," her aunt also started brewing her coffee.

"W-What do you mean Mama?" Lana asked confused.

"Aren't you prepared about it?" instead her aunt questioned her.

"I-I didn't expect Andrew and I to meet again," he admitted then seemed to be asking for help when she met the stares of her Mama Cecille.

An understanding smile tore from her aunt's lips. "Why sweetie, do you have to choose between the two?"

"I-I don't want to choose, Ma," that's true.

She doesn't want to choose because Marius is really very important in her life. He considers him more than a friend. Because for her, he will always be the brother she never had.

But Andrew, she always knew what her feelings were for him. And she doesn’t want to give too much focus to that because that’s what she sees as possibly causing her to deepen her feelings for the young man, and she doesn’t like that idea.

She is older now so it is only right that her life decisions are more matured. Because more than anyone, Andrea was the one she had to put first. All that is good for her daughter is what she must choose, the cause of all her doubts. And her own happiness, as much as she could, she would sacrifice.

"But sometimes, something like that comes into our lives, even if we don't want to," was the meaningful explanation of her Mama Cecille.

A bitter smile tore from Lana's lips. "I really don't know what to think Mama. I felt sorry for Marius, I was hurt for him. Because the truth is I'm not used to seeing him like that. When I'm with him he's always happy. But lately, I saw the pain in his eyes, " Lana paused for a moment then let out a heavy sigh. "I see myself as a bad person because I hurt the only man who stood up for me since childhood," that's true.

"Don't say that Lana, because Andrew, if by chance you didn't hide your daughter from him, I can see he will stand by you," Mama Cecille's tone was reassuring.

Even if Lana didn't say it, what her aunt said was right. But she still couldn't really stop feeling intense guilt because of Marius. And she was afraid of the thought that he might never see her again.

*****

"GOING somewhere, brother?" Samantha as she passed his open room.

A wide smile tore from Andrew's lips. "I'm going to church with Lana and Andrea," was his short reply then sprayed his favorite cologne. "What do you think?" he added that he was referring to the simple white polo shirt and denim pants he was wearing.

Samantha shrugged his shoulders. "You look like a father," she said followed by a weak laugh.

Then Andrew's eyes gleamed. "Really?" this lively question.

"Seriously? It's okay with you even though I said you look like dad?" his sister laughed though the two eyebrows were knit.

He shrugged. "I'm really a father, aren't I?" the tone of his voice still did not change.

Samantha shook her head and smiled and then approached him. "I'm glad to see you like that, Andrew," she told him.

"Thank you," he said touching her shoulders and then kissed her forehead. "Sundate with my family," he said releasing Samantha from his embrace then picked up the car key on the console table.

"Sundate huh," his sister said with amusement as she followed him with her gaze as he went out of his room.

He looked at her then smiled. "I'll go ahead. I will be spending my evening in my condo. I just have some work to finish."

"Okay. Anyway, don't forget to think about my idea," Samantha said, referring to her plan to put ice cream on their menu.

"All right, I'll ask Andrea," he said followed what he said with a weak laugh before running the car.

Why not, Andrea is her daughter and he wants her to have a part in all the decisions he will make in his life. It also includes the idea of her mother, Lana.

*****

"DADDY!" Andrea's warm greeting to her father who now stood at the entrance of the house.

"Hey," Andrew carries the child then kissed both cheeks. "You look so pretty, who braided your hair?" his tender question to his daughter.

"Mommy! Look we are the same!" Andrea pointed at her who was quietly but smiling watching them.

That's when Andrew stared at her in amazement, which is why her chest started throbbing again.

"Yes, Mommy is even more beautiful," he said with a mischievous smile then turned his gaze back to Andrea. "She's very attractive, looks young and vibrant," he added, glancing at her again and then without saying a word, he winks at her.

Lana was immediately gasped in shock. At the same time, there was intense heat on her face. She would have opened her mouth to speak but then her Mama Cecille came out of her room.

"Lana, I don't think I can make it this time. My rheumatism is hurting. I'm going to rest first," she said sitting on the long sofa then raised her left foot on the center table.

"O-Oh, A-Are you okay Ma? You want to take me to the hospital?" Lana asked in succession.

Then Mama Cecille waved one hand before speaking. "Don't worry, I've already taken the medicine and I'll just let it rest. There's no need for the hospital. Go ahead and have fun," she shooed them away then picked up the TV remote.

"Are you sure Ma?" Lana assured then glance at Andrew who she found out was also looking at her.

Mama Cecille nodded. "Yes."

"See you later Grandma, I'll buy you something delicious," Andrea promised Mama Cecille as she hugged and kiss her.

Her Mama Cecile also kissed and hugged Andrea. "All right, have fun with your Daddy," she glanced at Andrew. "You take care of them," continued her aunt who was now looking at the young man.

"You can count on it, ma'am," Andrew said.

"Call me Mama Cecille, son, that's how Lana calls me," she said to Andrew in her usual kind tone.

At that time, Lana's eyesight flew to Andrew. And she could clearly see the quick glistening of intense happiness in his eyes because of what her aunt had said. She also couldn't understand why there seemed to be such a warm caress of emotion she felt because of that. Which is why she smiled sweetly.

"I wish to this every Sunday, daddy!" Andrea when they were inside Andrew's white Land Cruiser.

Andrew looked at her with a beautiful smile before he replied to their daughter who was in the back seat. "Of course, sweetheart," he said.

"Hey! Then it's better Daddy when Mommy is sitting next to you, then you're the one driving, then I'm here behind you!" the child spoke in succession in a cheerful tone.

Andrew laughed softly then spoke again. "Wear a seatbelt, sweetheart," he told Andrea.

"Done," the child grinned.

Andrew just nodded at the child. It seems that their daughter has run out of words so that's what she did. Because of that thought, Lana spontaneously smiled which eventually also laughed softly. Andrew heard that with questioning eyes then ended up glancing at her.

"N-No, I'm just happy to see that you and Andrea get along," she said.

Andrew nodded. "By the way, what I said earlier, that's true," he said.

Lana's eyebrows met. "Which one?"

"About your hair being braided. You look young and vibrant," he said again.

The young lady smiled with trepidation.

"You're blushing again," Andrew said in a tone that only she could hear.

"It would be highly appreciated if you would stop," she said unable to hide her excitement so she smiled again.

"Okay, but I still want to tell you something," the young man said.

"What?" Lana staring into the man's beautiful eyes.

"Thank you for taking your rightful place here," Andrew was referring to the vehicle he was driving, and of course the passenger seat.

Lana was stuck there. "T-Thank you too," she thought to answer later.