Chapter 5 nightmare

Chapter 5

"Did you have a bad dream?" he asked gently while stroking her hair. "Don't worry, I'm already here. Hush."

She wanted to say yes to her husband. It felt like a nightmare, what had happened between her and Erin. She wanted to wipe those painful tears from his amber eyes, but she was determined in her decision. It hurt her to see the young man crying, and she knew she was the reason.

This is what she wanted, right?

So why is she crying now?

Why is she hurting?

She wanted to stop the two of them, but why does she act like they broke up even though they had a complicated relationship

"Erin, you're acting different lately."

He stopped typing on the laptop and looked over his shoulder at Edu, who was leaning on the doorframe of his office. Edu gave him a curious glance, but Erin ignored it and continued his work. He needed to finish it quickly because he had another task to start after sending these documents to his boss, the real owner of their illegal group called the Òs'Caneos organization.

"Are you even listening to me?" Edu's tone revealed his boredom.

Erin hissed, saved the files after finishing them, and pretended he didn't hear Edu's statement. He didn't want to talk about it because he wanted to forget his problems by drowning himself in work. Everyone around him noticed it. He wasn't typically a workaholic, but lately, he was taking on overtime, doing tasks he didn't need to do alone. He had a secretary to handle half the workload, but he took it all on just to avoid thinking about the woman who constantly occupied his thoughts when he had free time.

"Juno, your secretary, is already complaining. He feels like you don't need a work partner anymore because you leave nothing for him to do. He's worried you might fire him because he has no jobs left. You're busier than the president of the Philippines with everything you're doing in a day." Edu moved in front of him and placed his hands on the table, but Erin didn't pay attention.

"You're the only person I know who works without eating properly or resting. What the f*ck are you doing to yourself, Erin? Hey! Speak up, don't just ignore me. You should be grateful that a handsome guy like me is talking to you, even though you're so ugly that I'm wasting my time."

"Can you go outside if you're done talking about me?" Erin calmly requested.

Edu gasped. "Are you serious? You're pushing me away after calling me here because you supposedly had something important to say? Did you take drugs? I have some juicy gossip that you'd love to hear. You always perk up for gossip, don't you?"

"Edu, please just go."

"No way! You called me here, and now you want to get rid of me? I'll stay until you tell me your problem. You can tell me; I'm your friend. I know something's going on with you these past few days. You're not your usual self, always ready to fight with me over dumb reasons. You always chatter about the gossip you hear, and you're so annoying that even though I hate that about you, I'd prefer you to go back to your old self. Now you're too quiet and serious, becoming a workaholic. It's not good; Cholo might get rich from what you're doing, are you okay with that?"

Erin sighed deeply. "D*mn, you're so talkative. Where's your son? Just take care of your son and stop bothering me. You're just annoying me here."

"Holy sh*t, I left my son in the ward. Wait, I'll go get him. I forgot I brought him. Sh*t, I'm leaving, bro."

Erin shook his head as he watched Edu leave. He's really crazy, making up a child and then neglecting him like an idiot. He didn't even know why they were friends. Edu could get a nanny, but he refused because he was afraid his son might end up like those kids who suffered at the hands of their nannies. It was also a valid reason not to trust strangers easily, fearing what they might do if Edu hired a nanny for his son. He couldn't leave his son with his mother either, because the last time he did that, she treated him like a dress-up doll, changing his clothes every hour.

"Erin!"

He jumped as Edu suddenly re-entered, carrying Everett, his son. The one-year-old baby was sucking his thumb while slapping his father's mouth.

"What now?" Erin snapped irritably.

Edu smiled awkwardly at him, and before he knew it, the child was in his lap. Erin quickly held him to prevent him from falling to the floor.

"What the-"

"Take care of my son for a bit. I forgot it's his birthday today. I've had so much on my mind lately, and you're making it worse, so I've been forgetful. As a favor for remembering me, watch over my son for a while. I'll go buy something for his birthday."

Oh right, today was Everett's birthday. He had forgotten that too. Edu's son turned two years old today.

Erin sighed deeply as he looked at Everett, who was bouncing on his lap, holding onto his shirt near his chest. He adjusted his hold on the child because he was so energetic. Edu probably fed him a lot of chocolate again. Erin had told him off about that many times. For a doctor, Edu spoiled his son with too much of the food he liked.

"We'll come with you. I know you're going to invite me, so it's better if I go early to leave early," Erin said.

"What a nerve! Who said I would invite you over?"

"To this little boy, squirming like an energetic worm, he's really fond of me, and I know you'll have a hard time getting him back once you're home. You know how much your son loves sticking around with me instead of his own father."

He always leaves the child with him because his friend can't take him to work, and he's the one who volunteered to babysit before because, even though it's not obvious, he's really fond of kids. That's why Everett and he have become so close that it seems like they're the father and son, not Edu. When they go home, Everett throws a fit and doesn't want to let go, which he finds cute, but Edu is jealous. That's why when he found out Ember had a child, it wasn't a problem for him because he loves kids.

His face softened. "Are you saying he loves you more than me, huh?" his tone irritated.

He grinned. "I'm not saying anything, come on. Let's get this done quickly, poor Everett. Your father forgot your birthday, he's getting old-"

"Wow, coming from your godfather who also forgot your birthday, saying that work is more important to him than you, 'son.'"

He glared at Edu. "You're really poisoning your son's mind." Edu just laughed at him, and they left the office together. He told Juno to take over his unfinished work, and his secretary was so happy about it that she practically jumped for joy and rushed to his office to do what he said.

They spent 2 hours gathering all the ingredients they needed and went to Edu's house. They found Edu's mother inside scolding her son for forgetting Everett's birthday.

"Sorry about that, Erin. You can put my grandson down."

She just smiled at her. "Nah, it's alright. Aunt Eloisa, I'm used to your quarrels, you look younger today, Aunt. What did you do to your face?"

If someone else saw them, they might mistake them for siblings because Edu's mom looks the same age as them. No wrinkles and looks extremely young. That explains why Edu's father is so head over heels for this woman.

He knows Edu's family because they've been friends for years, and they know him very well too. They're actually like his second parents because he used to hang out at their house a lot to be with Edu and annoy him. Edu doesn't have any siblings, and they see him as their own child, like Edu's sibling.

"Mom, even you? Do you love Erin more than me? Look at my son, he clings to her like a gecko. Everett isn't like that with me; he's a sadist when I carry him," Edu complained, arms crossed.

"Quiet down, how can you get closer to your son if you're always working and leaving him with Erin? Of course, the child got used to her, so they're close. Just prepare the food; the decorations for Everett's birthday are already set up. I even asked your dad for help with the setup before he left for work earlier, food is the only thing left. Have you called your friends to come over?" Aunt asked in a snappy tone.

Edu slumped his shoulders. "Yes, it's done, Aunt."

"Aunt, can you take Everett from me? He doesn't want to let go even if I put him down, and I want to help Edu with cooking. We're running out of time before the party starts, and I think Edu needs my help to prepare the food quickly,"

The lady glanced at the wall clock. "Oh, you're right. Thanks, Erin, as always. Everett, come to Grandma for a bit,"

She quickly took the child without him noticing, so he struggled and protested. "Nooooo! Aunt Rin!" He cried out.

Instead of scolding him, he just frowned at his calling. It sounded unholy, which made Edu burst into laughter while holding his stomach. Aunt Eloisa also laughed because of his repeated calls as they entered the kitchen.

"D*mn, my son only makes me happy there; it compensates for how I felt earlier," he muttered.

To Be Continued...