CHAPTER 9

I still try to smile even though I am nervous. My son and I slowly approached Mike's side. He immediately greeted us and led us to sit in the empty seat.

"Guys I'd like you to meet my friend Shareeka, she's working also at the SCC. We're on the same department. And this little guy here, Shawn her son. A very possessive and over protective son to her mom. I was sampled already." He introduced me and my son. He was laughing when he told them about my son. Those in the living room also laughed at what he said.

"Sha this is my mom Charena Mendoza, my dad Mekail Mendoza and my lil sis here Charry Mendoza. She's also working in the company as CEO's secretary." I looked at Charry she was just smiling at me. That's why she looks familiar. She also works there at SCC. And she's so pretty.

"And this is my favorite aunt my mom sister Charmane Smith, and her husband my favorite uncle Jaime Arthur Smith. And my favorite cousin here James Arch Smith, his our new Boss now. And you already know their other son Jason Arth Smith." My eyes asked him as I looked at Mike. So his one of them. I just felt crazy.

"Hello, good evening." I greeted them shyly, I almost stuttered. One by one they approached me and my son they kissed us on the cheek. So Shawn and I got up. "Hello little boy, how are you doing?" They even told Shawn. "I'm good, thank you." My son said shyly.

But Sir James and his parents just stared at Shawn silently. Even my son stared at him. It was like they are scanning my son's faces carefully. I can no longer imagine how I feel. I was very nervous with fear, I could not explain.

And my knees also seem to be weakening. I was still slightly shivering. I really feel uncomfortable.

"Sha are you okay?" Mike whispered to me, he must have felt my trembling.

"Y-Yeah I-I'm Okay" I tried to compose myself even though I'm so nervous. But I tried to act normal in front of them. I smile, a bit too. I breathed more when I felt Mike pull me softly to sit down.

But it was as if the sky fell on me in shock when I heard my son. "Mama, why he really looks like me?" He said that he was still pointing at Sir James and himself.

They looked at us in shocked. Oh God Please help me I don't really know what to answer to my son's question. I prayed in my mind.

I cleard my throat before I answered him. "Really son? I didn't notice that. Hmm, yeah right." I forced myself to smile and not stutter again when I said that. It was a lie to say I did not notice. Fortunately, I remembered something.

"Hmm, I don't know either. Why is that? Ammm maybe it's really like that. Sometimes there are people who look alike. EVEN THEY ARE NOT RELATED TO EACH OTHER. Sometimes the others seem to be like an identical twin. But its a rare case son . " I was felt relief. oh thanks God because I said that well.

Will fortunately, I have seen some in the news a case like this. They really look much alike but thety are not related to each other. Others thought they are reincarnated. I breathed a sigh of relief, as if he also understood.

"Is that so mama." He said to me. And I just nodded at him and I smile at him sweetly.

"Maybe you look like your father Shawn, what's his name by the way and where is he? Why he's not coming with you here?" The old man Smith said. I was surprised again.

"I'm Sorry Sir, my father can't be with us, cause he's not with us. And we don't know where he is. And we even don't know him. My mama only know his name. We don ' t know he's whereabouts. " I was amazed at my son's answers.

I even heard those in front of us sighing. Their faces, shocked I can't believe my son said that. But It's true then, in fact my son knows what really happened. And how he came up, he knows the truth about himself.

I kept nothing secret from him, I told him everything when he started asking questions about his dad. Why he doesn't have a dad, why we are not with him. Why does he not see him and a lot more.

Instead of making up a story about what lies I told him the truth. Than he still hopes and will only get hurt in the end. And then my son is so smart. He understood, and I told him that even he was formed that way. I never regret what I did, in fact I'm happy and I feel so bless.

"What is his name?" I heard Sir James asked but his eyes looking at me. But my son, the one who answered him. "His name is Arch Sir, that's what only my mama knows. And that's why mama named me after him Shawn Arch Alcantara". My son was still smiling looking at Sir.

"ARCH !?" The people around us said in shocked. And obviously they really looks so chocked. And I noticed that they looked at Sir James who did not take his eyes off to Shawn.

My son just smiled and nodded. "How old are you buddy?" I heard Sir James ask again. "I'm five years old Sir"

Oh My I covered my mouth as I remembered something, but it was impossible.

"Mama!" My son called me, so I looked at him. "Let's go home and I'm already tired and you still have work tomorrow. So you should take rest now too."

"Ohhh how sweet of you Shawn." Sir James' mom said uncontrollably. "I remembered James was just like that." She said. "You were also sweet to me when you were that age." She looked at Sir James as she spoke again. "Right hon?" She smiled and seemed to cry even more to her husband.

I got up and said goodbye to them. "We're leaving, Mike thank you Happy birthday again."

"We will let the driver send you home hija." Mike mom said. "Oh, don't be shy anymore." As if she knows already what I feel. So I agreed with her offer.

"Yes hija, you will have a hard time on getting taxi from here." Ma'am Charmane said next.

"Mike tell the driver to send them."

"I'll just take them auntie. I'll go home and I'll take them with me." I turned to Sir James.

"Thank you Sir but no need to, we re fine the driver were here." I said shyly.

"Oh! Don't be shy hija" Her mommy said. I can't protest nymore. Cuz they are pushing me to go with him. So we did agree. They kissed ang hugged us before we left.

But when Mike approached me, Shawn immediately stopped him.

He even looked at him sharply, "I told you not to kiss, not to hug, not to touch and not to come near her. She's off limits and she's mine I aready told you that." He said he even pulled me away from Mike. My son still looks bad at him.

But Mike's laughter was so loud. "So possessive kid, there is a strain"

"Shawn !?" I called my son. He just kept quiet and pulled me out.

Those with us laughed as well.

"All right, we're leaving." I said goodbye to them again. I also said goodbye to those with us outside.

They were looked shocked while looking behind Shawn and me. I just turned and looked around, and I saw Sir James following us.

"Good evening Sir" they greeted him.

But Sir just nodded at them and was very quiet. "Let's go." was all I heard and walked away.

"We'll go ahead of you." I said goodbye to them again. "Sha?" Marie and Kris told me with a doubtful look.

I just shook my head and carried my son and we followed Sir James.