Page 47 of Chasing Mr. Prefect

“It’s awesome, what you did back there,” I said, breaking the silence.

“She reminded me of Risa. I did what I hoped a stranger would do if Risa got lost in the grocery,” he said. “Thanks for paying, by the way. Sorry I got distracted.”

“Understandable.”

“You ever want or plan to have kids in the future?”

I raised an eyebrow and considered that seriously for a moment before deciding to troll him instead.

“Why? Aanakan mo ako?”

Cholo laughed out loud and nearly spit out his food.

“Hey, just making conversation. I’m curious on where you stand on this matter.”

“Regular lunchtime subject?” I said, wrinkling my nose. “Hmm. Jokes aside, probably not. I’d be a terrible mother. Trauma and stone cold heart and all that.”

He nodded, looking thoughtful.

“Valid.”

“You’d make a good dad, though,” I offered.

“I’m starting to think it’s you who wants a child with me,” he said.

My usual reaction would be a shocked yelp, a small shove, and a number of expletives but my system betrayed me yet again by blushing instead.

I could feel the heat in my ears. At a loss for words, I took a large gulp of Pepsi instead.

“Hala, namula na siya!” Cholo said, pointing at me.

“Do you want a Pepsi bath?” I snarled to stop him teasing me.

We spentthe rest of the afternoon trying to find the last two things on the list in Alabang Town Center and going around the stores to find a suitable present for Liana. I felt awkward and weird about the whole thing as I did not usually get anything for her but Cholo guilted me enough that I ended up buying a hardbound set of her favorite book series. We bickered in the car all the way back to our village and made it just in time at Gian’s house.

“Ang tagaaal!” Gian greeted as he opened the door. “Did you two sneak a date in when I clearly told you we’re pressed for time?”

“His fault,” I immediately said, pushing through the door with four grocery bags on my hands. “I told him we needed to hurry but he found all the excuses to make me spend more time with him. Tsk.”

“Sus! You’re one to talk after asking me if I wanted to father your children?—”

We heard yelps and funny noises and realized we were not alone. Aside from Gian, there were other people in the next room who heard every word.

“What?”

“Cholo and Vinnie?”

“Please explain?”

We laughed it off and talked over each other trying to explain to the group that it was clearly a joke, my warm ears be damned. Some stood up to help me and Cholo with the bags, all smiles, except for Liana who was staring at me with a blank expression.

“Liana needs the vanilla essence,” Gian told me pointedly. “Can you help her with the sugar cookies, please, Vinnie?”

People left us alone,which was annoying. It was awkward. I was too nervous to say anything while Liana’s stony expression remained. I tried helping with the cookies but she had to take the bowl back as I was overmixing it.

“Sorry,” I said. “I know nothing about baking.”

She let out a huge sigh and set the bowl on the counter.