Plans no plans.

Entering the room, Pauline saw her daughter, Carla still sitting on the same spot where Leon left her before. Her head was lowered as if she's too shy to face her mother.

Pauline was obviously hurt seeing that as it was very different from before where Carla will immediately shout ' Mommy! ' then will run towards her embrace everytime she sees her.

Pauline can't help but think that perhaps, her daughter, Carla, hates her now. But then, she remembered the words Leon told her earlier which gave her the courage to step forward and sat down in front of Carla.

" Are you okay, Carla? " she asked, reaching both her hands to hold Carla's.

Carla nodded and with her head still lowered down,she replied. " Mn. Yes mommy. "

" Oh, then why are you not looking at me then, Carla? Are you angry at me? Are you angry at mommy now? "

Carla shakes her head. " No no. I'm not angry at you, mommy. Leon told me that I should not be angry at mommy. "

" Hmm? " Pauline was a bit surprised. She didn't expect that Leon will do this much for her sake. " Leon told you that? "

" Mn. " Carla nodded again.

" Then.. then why are you not looking at me then, Carla? "

" That.. be.... because... I... *sniff* " Carla slowly lifted her head and looked at her mother's face. It didn't take long before the two of them made an eye contact with each other. " Mommy..... my... my daddy he... is alive, right? "

" Mn. That's right, Carla. I... I'm sorry for hiding it from you." replied Pauline, trying her best to calm down as she didn't want to show her weak side to Carla. She took a couple of deep breaths before asking, " Do you... want to see your father, Carla? "

Carla hesitated for a few moments before finally shaking her head.

" No mommy. Leon said that daddy made you cry before so...so... I don't want to see him. I don't want to see someone who hurts my mommy because... because I love mommy. And... and mommy loves me too, right? "

Tears unknowingly flowed from Pauline's eyes after hearing that. She stood up and went to Carla's side before hugging her tlas tight as she could. " Mn. I love my Carla the most. I don't know how I can I live without you in my life, Carla. "

Knowing how her daughter really felt about her even after knowing that she lied to her about her father made Pauline felt relieved. She also did not forget about Leon's credits and decided that she will definitely reward him after this.

" Mommy, are you angry? " asked Carla confusedly while still in Pauline's embrace.

Pauline was obviously surprised hearing Carla's question. " No. I'm not angry. Mommy is very happy right now. What made you think that mommy is angry, Carla? "

" Because Leon... Leon said that... "

Carla then began telling her mother what Leon told her earlier and it brought another smile on Pauline's face as she listened to it.

" * giggles * Leon really did said that, Carla? " asked Pauline after Carla was done telling her everything.

" Yes mommy. So.. so I thought mommy is angry because mommy also hugged me tightly like what Leon did. Mommy is so... warm. " Carla also hugged her mother back, feeling comfortable.

" Mn. Leon is right. Hugging my little angel like this is indeed very comfortable. "

" You too mommy. "

Pauline and Carla then had a deeper conversation after that. Pauline also began telling her Carla more information about her father and once again asked if she wanted to see him but Carla still answered the same No or at least, not yet.

Her daughter's answer of course made Pauline very happy but she also knows that she can not keep Carla away from her father forever so she started to think what she will do in the future.

....

In the dining room.

* giggles *

" You really said that to Carla? You're so bad, Leon. Where did you learn to be that evil? Now I'm starting to pity Carla's father after hearing what you said. Christina laughed merrily. Leon had just finished telling her what happened inside the room and she can't help but find it really funny and..... cruel.

" Please stop laughing, mom. I'm already feeling guilty here you know? " complained Leon with a pout. " I feel like I'm manipulating her, no I'm literally manipulating Carla. I'm taking advantage of her trust in me to make her believe everything I am telling her. Also, I have never even met her father yet but I already made him the bad guy in Carla's mind. "

Christina's expression on her face turned into a serious one. " I know. Yes, it was indeed bad manipulating Carla like that and part of it was also my fault for letting you do that, Leon. But aren't you doing it for Carla's sake? Yes we haven't met that guy yet but we already met Pauline. It's only for a short time but I can tell that she's a good woman and also a good mother that will do everything for her daughter. You also feels the same aren't you, Leon? "

" Mn. That's why it made me confused, mom. For me, auntie Pauline is a perfect wife material. She is beautiful, she's kind, she's a good mother and she also know how to cook. So..... so why did Carla's father left them for another woman? That's a bit....unbelievable right? I believe that there's more to it that we didn't know yet. "

" You're right. I'm also confused about that so I asked Pauline before. But she told me that she also don't know so I didn't ask her any further. By the way, when did you even learned about ' Perfect wife material ' huh? You are still too young to think about that you understand? " said Christina as she reached out her hand and pinched Leon's cheek once more.

" Awy.... I know mom. Haym..... haym sowry. "

" Good. Now tell me what you wanted to eat so I can buy it later. " Christina let go of his cheek.

" Anything mom but please add some fried eggplants in it if possible. "

" Fried eggplant again? Seems like you really liked that a lot. " she said, smiling. "Then, I'll buy a few of them later. Let's just wait for Pauline and Carla to come he-.. oh, here they are. "

" Leon! "

Leon suddenly heard a cute voice calling him so he turned his head and saw Carla bolting towards his direction.

" Hey, be careful Carla. You might fall. " he said. Leon stood up so he can catch this clumsy little girl if ever she fell but it's a good thing that didn't happen.

* giggles *

" Don't worry so much, Leon. I'm a big girl now so I won't fall. " said Carla after arriving in front of him. She also used her hands to compare her height to Leon which made Pauline and Christina chuckled a bit because of how cute Carla is as she does that.

" Fine. But you still have to be careful okay? Avoid running inside the house from now on. No, avoid running anywhere okay? I don't want you to get hurt. "

" Okay, I'll be very careful. " she nodded. " So... so let's continue making our book now okay, Leon? "

" You're done talking with your mother? " asked Leon before turning his head to Pauline and saw her smiling back at him. Her smile is still as charming as before so Leon can tell that everything went well.

" Finished already. So let's go now, Leon. "

" Okay then. " he then let himself to be dragged away by Carla towards their room.

....

" Based on that smile on your face, I think I can safely say that everything went well right, Pauline? "

" Mn. Thank you, sister Christy. "

" You should thank Leon, not me. I didn't do anything. "

" I know. What things do you think Leon will like, sister Christy? Toys? Clothes? Let's buy him some of that. "

Christina shakes her head before saying, " I don't know. Leon has grown up a lot mentally so I don't know what that son of mine wants anymore. I think it would be better if you ask him yourself later. But for now, we need to go to the market to buy ingredients. "

" I.. I see. I'll just asked him later then. But who will watch over them if we leave now, sister Christy? "

" No need for that, I guess? I'm sure Leon knows what to do since I already left him here alone before and he just stayed inside the house obediently. "

" That...sister Christy, are you sure? "

" Mn. I'm sure. " Christina confidently replied.

Pauline looked at her for a few moments before finally giving in. " O...okay then... "

Christina then pulled Pauline with her and the two of them went to the market to buy the things/ingredients for lunch.

...

In Leon's room.

Leon and Carla are both manning their 'battle stations' doing their assigned work.

Carla has a bright smile on her face as she continue coloring the paper in front of her. She clearly enjoys what she's doing right now.

The two of them have to attend their class tomorrow so they can't continue doing this for another 5 days. They have to finish as many pages as they can today.

But unlike Carla, Leon's thoughts was divided. Although he didn't stop drawing images, his speed visibly lessened.

' Mn. I think I have to convince mom to go to Carla's place again tomorrow then. Also, I have to earn money for that thing. I know some ways on how to easily make money but.... I'm sure mom will not allow me to do those things at all. As for teaching her how the do it.... *shakes head* No. I can't do that either. That will only make them more suspicious of me and will ask me plenty of questions again. ' Leon thought to himself.

He's currently thinking/planning the things he will or has to do in the future. He wanted to do a lot of things and start as early as possible but his age was stopping him from doing so.

* sigh *

" I'll think about that again next year. For now, I have no choice but to stay put and enjoy this life to the fullest. "

"....."