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"Hey, Rina. It's me."

The woman on the other side of the line didn't hesitate to pick up the phone when you dialed her contact number. It only rung once before you get to hear her greeting voice.

"[Name], what's up?" She asked gently, curious to know about your intention in calling her.

You glanced back at the little boy who went and rushed to his room to start packing for the overnight stay. He didn't pay no mind about your phone call, although you suspected that he would.

A small sigh blew out your lips before Rina could realize your disbelief, so you covered it quickly by letting out a lighter and chipper tone. "I was just wondering if you're available today."

She hummed softly before replying. "I think I am. My clients haven't given me a call today. Why? What's up?"

Despite how much you weren't fond of the idea of Rina coming to your trip, you were only thinking about Tetsu and his wishes. And you wondered why he suddenly wanted to be around her today, you can suspect that he knows she's his mother.

What will Rina's reaction be then?

"We were wondering if you want to come to a beach trip with us," you suggested. "I think it will be good if you have more bonding time with Tetsu."

"Are you sure?" baffled by the question, she seemed a bit in shock to hear. Her last couple of visits weren't the most pleasant memories for herself but this could be the opportunity for her to actually make an impression for Tetsu. "That will be great!"

Ecstatic, she seemed eager about the invite. You added, "Also, a few of our friends will be coming. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all!"

"Alright, just meet us at the train station before noon. We should be there in an hour."

She understood your instructions and bid you the typical farewell. The phone went silent and you turned to the direction where the boys could be and you can only assume that Tooru is helping out Tetsu in getting his things.

You spotted them through the doorway of Tooru's room. His Google Home was quietly playing an uplifting song from his playlist, Blessings by Hollow Cove, in the background while he was doing his packing routine.

The sun beamed in the white room when you entered, noticing your beloved boyfriend dressing his son in a little blue striped shirt and white shorts. A straw hat decorated his head while Tooru knelt in front of him to tie a matching blue bandana around the boy's neck, giving him a little summery and farm-look appearance. Like always, your favorite kid looked so adorable.

"Are we ready?"

Two pair of brown eyes were sent your way as they both nodded.

Tooru stood to his full form. His copper hair is tucked underneath an off white denim dad

hat as it formed a dark haze in his eyes by the casted shadow. Over his baby blue buttoned shirt was a black Nike fanny pack slinging over his chest. But you eyed his lean, veined arms under his short cuffed sleeves and his tone legs shown off under his olive green shorts.

Once Tooru approached you by the door, he muttered your way. "Miss me?"

You stifled a mocking laugh. "What makes you say that?"

"That was the same look you made when we met at the train station," he mentioned as Tooru made a delighted hum at the memory. "Like you're dying to see me."

The man is so observant, he knew that you were into him back then. The memory made you forget your current event so you quickly adjusted the fanny pack strap that was about to fall off his shoulder, and you securely tightened it. As you did this, you pulled the strap to suddenly inch him forward.

"I know a daddy when I see one," a cheeky grin plastered your face, only to be rewarded by a mirrored grin.

His hand came up to your cheek, pulling your head to near his puckered lips. A kiss was meant to be made but Tetsu's small voice reeled you back into reality.

"I want a kiss, too!" The innocent boy declared with arms up and little hands opening and closing for your reach, only to receive a startled yet disapproved look from his dad.

Tooru's mouth gaped in shock then turned to jealousy after he heard you chuckling at his pouted and embarrassed expression.

"Okay, okay," you let out playfully and kneeled down. By circling your arms around his tiny body, you granted him a flock of kisses with extravagant smooching noises as he cackled with laughter. You cooed while you rubbed your right cheek against his left one, "You're so cute~!"

Tooru's fists began to curl by your act and he groaned in discomfort in hopes to get your attention, seeing that his son is getting more affection than he is.

Once he pulled away from your arms, Tetsu stared up. "Is she going?"

Your eyes blinked at his sudden question, brining you back to the present once again. Instead, you nodded.

"Yeah, she'll meet us later," you instructed, expecting him to show some sort of excitement by your answer. But he remained silent, and looked down to his feet.

Tooru cut in by patting the boy's back to encourage him to leave the room. "Okay, okay. We don't want our friends to wait for us. Can you get your backpack from your room, Tetsu?"

Without hesitance, Tetsu averted his happy stare at his dad. "Okay!"

The toddler ran off as you hear the small tapping of his feet descending away from Tooru's room.

It was like the intimacy sparked again between you and Tooru, feeling his right arm drape around your shoulders so he can pull you closer to his side.

Without a word, Tooru gave you a longing kiss, surprising you by the way he grabbed your head with both of his hands to lock your lips with his. You were so immediately entranced that you had to circle your arms around his neck to draw him deeper.

His large hands slid down from caressing your sides to the bottom of your white smock dress. You began to have chills by his cold fingers sneaking underneath and feathering the skin behind your thighs, just reaching up closer to the curve of your ass.

You gasped when he gently slapped against your left bottom cheek with his right hand underneath your dress.

"Soon you'll be calling me 'daddy'," he grinned slyly to peak your interest on him.

You chuckled at his sudden behavior, knowing that he is looking forward in getting to be alone with you once more. "Why the sudden offer?"

"So you have something to look forward to on this trip. Consider that as a reward for going through the day with your arch nemesis."

"She is not-"

"I'm ready! Can we go now?" Tooru's hands flew back to his sides. Disappointment was read across from your and his face yet the warmth from his hands lingered at the surface of your thighs.

"Yes, baby, we're right behind you," you smiled wearily, feeling your cheeks gotten hot due to the risky moment.

"Hurry, before the sun is not hot!"

Laughing at his choice of words, you followed with Tooru next to you, sending that his eyes kept giving you suggestive looks. He waited until you leave the bedroom first as he held the door open for you.

As you slowly waltzed around him, you purposely brushed your body against him. Tooru flinched when he felt your hand almost touching his crotch area.

In a mere second, when you thought you got away with it, he groped your butt and slapped it in return.

"Tooru!" you gaped your mouth at him, rubbing underneath your ass where he shamelessly hit you. The loud smack made you worry if Tetsu heard it but he paid no mind to the two of you sexually horseplaying.

He grinned innocently but you knew he's being sadistic. "Remember who's in control here, mommy."

>>>

Your journey to the station wasn't long. It was oddly entertaining to say the least since Tetsu's energetic form brightened the mood by his tuneful song and prance, which made you completely forgotten about the stressful nights that you've had in the past week.

With your hand linked to the toddler's tinier one, he swung your arm while the three of you approached your designated spot. The crowd of early noon rush didn't make it easy to find a particular head amongst the heavy traffic, but once the current train arrived, the space became clearer as many people evacuated the area.

"Stay close to me, okay?" you instructed Tetsu who happily nodded at your words.

Tooru looked over your way while he pulled his gray cellphone out to signal a call. "Should we ask her where she is?"

As your eyes scanned over the distance, they squinted over the horizon in search for Rina. Before you could answer back to him, your brows raised once your view landed on a familiar tall woman. "Oh, I found her."

By a bed of plants, she leaned against the brick pillar of the station with a pair of earphones pushed in her ears. Her bright red ribbon gave her location away and her significant beauty, as well as a few men almost surrounding her and recognizing her womanly appearance. It was easy to spot her.

Before you can get a chance to greet her, you could tell from a far that she held the same kind of anticipation on her face and it looked similar to the day when you first met her. For some reason, you felt sympathy the second you looked her way.

"You guys are on time," Rina's voice broke out of your trance. She approached the three of you with her silver Samonite luggage dragging behind her feet. Her outfit looked appropriate for the occasion. The sound of her flip flops slapped against the tiled floor and a pair of dark brown sunglasses hung at the collar of her oversized white T-shirt draping over her denim shorts. Underneath that shirt, you can make out the outline of her black bikini top peeking at the crook of her neck.

Your curious eyes wandered down at the boy next to you who seemed gazed at the picture of Rina in front of him. Tetsu was entranced which it took you by surprise.

It was like he was meeting her for the first time again.

"Hey there, buddy," the taller woman waved down at him.

Her voice startled him and a pink shade dusted at the apples of his cheeks. Tetsu aimed his attention down at his feet.

"Hi," he shyly muttered.

Both you and Tooru blinked wondrously at the change of Tetsu's behavior. Why is he acting so strange all of a sudden? He was the one who invited her.

"Shall we go?" You asked, hoping to cut off the awkward tension and hoping that Rina didn't catch what just happened.

Thankfully, she nodded. "Yeah. Now which direction is..."

Her voice faltered while she turned her head around and aimed her question at Tooru who is already pointing at the way where everyone gathered. You soon to follow them behind with Tetsu's hand still linked to yours. Drooping your eyes down at the boy, he is still transfixed at the back of Rina's head.

Of course, you were concerned so you had to squeeze his tiny hand in yours to get his attention.

"Tetsu." His confused, brown eyes looked up at you while he walked by your side. "Are you okay?"

Without hesitation, he nodded with a serious look. "I'm okay!"

It seemed reassuring at the moment, but it will definitely be a matter to bring up to Tooru later, if he knows anything why Tetsu is behaving the way he is. It's sad to think that, because you thought you knew him so well.

The train ride was rather pleasant. With Tetsu nearly face planted against the window with his tiny hands against it, he attentively watched the scenery move in speed. He can barely contain his excitement.

It took an hour or two until the ocean scenery came to view. The crystal clear blue water reflected the bright sun, glistening from away and caught the attention from the people on the train with amazed eyes, including Tetsu who became enthralled by the massive body of water.

The train broke to a stop. People swayed and angled forward by the heavy force, and then snapped back to their original position like a yo-yo. The smell of mixture of salt water and sunscreen fumed the air once you all exited out of the train.

Almost immediately, you were greeted by the blue ocean out in the distance followed by greenery and beach homes. The doors opened as the people trampled in and out of the cart.

"You would like the beaches in Brazil," Tooru approached by your side and lifted your canvas tote bag off your shoulder, then hoisted it onto his. "You should've seen my farmer's tan back then. I couldn't wear a tank top."

"Daddy was red!" Tetsu chimed, pointing at his dad with a gleeful smile. "He peeled like a snake!"

You chuckled despite of Tooru's embarrassed expression. "That'll be you if you don't put sunscreen on."

Realizing that the traffic of people are growing while all of you are walking, Tetsu looked at you with a pleading face. "Hand?"

You knew, it means he wanted to hold your hand. You wanted to grab it quickly but your and Tetsu's belongings took up the space in your hands. "Ah, hold on, Tetsu. Give me a second."

As you shuffled, another voice cut in.

"You can hold my hand for now," Rina offered, seeing that you were struggling. "Your mom has a lot of stuff to carry."

Before you were about to project, Tetsu instantly blurted without thinking. "Okay." And your mouth fell open.

It was weird to witness. Something strange bubbled in your stomach when you first see Tetsu linking hands with Rina. The second his tiny hand was wrapped by her long pale fingers, his brown eyes looked mesmerized by the action. It was as if he was thinking.

Rina didn't seem to mind it at all as her attention was elsewhere. But Tetsu's eyes were fixated at her.

What the hell is this? You thought.

"Tetsu, are you okay with Rina?" you asked while you dragged your luggage, gaining on his tail.

His head turned to you and nodded happily.

As long as he's fine with it, you shouldn't be worried, should you?

"You can hold mine," Tooru winked as he came beside you, and flew a tiny air kiss your way. "I think I might get lost - in your eyes."

Tooru is one of hell of distraction when it comes to situations such as these. It was flattering to say the least but your thoughts kept on wondering back to Tetsu and Rina who are walking ahead of you two.

The tall, pale skinned woman was entranced by the touch of Tetsu's hand on hers, realizing that this is the first time she ever done this to her only child. Yet, this is the first time you ever witness seeing another woman attempting to be a mother to him - and he's fine with it.

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Posted: 06-30-2022

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A/N: I apologize for my long hiatus! Slowly but surely bringing myself back to writing and finishing this story. Went through a long depressive state and been busy with work, spending time with friends, and my alone time. I am beginning to fall back in love with writing again! And of course, interacting with all of you guys :)