CHAPTER 28: YOU ARE YOUR FATHER'S DAUGHTER

THE GIRL WHO CAN’T DATE

By Eleventh

CHAPTER 28: YOU ARE YOUR FATHER'S DAUGHTER

PRESENT

“Raine?” Ira was surprised when she entered the house and saw her daughter standing by the door. Her eyebrows crinkled as she stared at her. “I thought you’re going out with your friend?”

“I…” Raine was lost for words. What excuse should she make? If she lies, her mom would surely catch her because lying isn’t her specialty.

“Hi there, Ira Bear! What made you visit?” Mageneo’s smile lit up the room as he came out from the kitchen with a cup of tea in his hands.

“Hello, Pops!” she greeted, walking closer to her father to kiss him. “I’m here to let you try my baked goods. I badly need your opinion because I’m gonna put this on the menu. I’m with a friend, by the way. I hope you don’t mind. He’s just getting something from the trunk.”

“I don’t mind. I love how I’m having a lot of surprise visitors today. It’s refreshing!”

Mageneo sat beside Miguel who was looking pale on the couch while Ira, noticing the unfamiliar young lad, looked at her father with a curious look.

“And who’s he?”

“My colleague, Mom!” Raine answered, joining the conversation. Ira looked at her daughter suspiciously, her eyes peering at her. Raine understood those eyes and she immediately debunked her mother’s thoughts. “No, seriously, Mom! He’s just a colleague. He was the friend I was talking about. And when I say we’re friends, we’re really just friends.”

Ira scoffed and pressed her lips for a teasing smile. “Why are you so defensive, girl? I ain’t saying anything.”

Her daughter rolled her eyes that made Ira snigger.

“Up, boy! Come and drink this tea! It’ll make you feel better.” Mageneo tapped Miguel.

“He doesn’t look well,” Ira remarked. “Good thing you brought him here. Pop's tea would definitely make him feel better.”

Raine’s face glowed.

“Got that right, Mom! You got that right. He's having a bad stomach so Pop's tea is the key.”

Suddenly, the door swung open and came in the CEO of Coffee Works with a conspicuous entrance. He was carrying with him a box of baked goods.

“Good morning, Mr. Pardilla!” he greeted gleefully.

“Oy! Long time no see!” Mageneo replied. Then he peered his eyes towards him to study the features of his face. “Ugh! Wait! Mmmm… Aaaah! You’re the other twin. Claude, right?”

Claude beamed brightly and gave the old man an embrace after placing the box on the table. “You can finally tell the difference.”

“Pft! Of course, I can tell. I don’t think my daughter is on talking terms with your brother, anyway.”

“Oof! Your dad knows the tea.” Claude teased.

“Shut up!” Ira chided at her friend, and then glowered at her father. “Pops! Can you not talk about him? It’s all in the past.”

“You two had a past? I thought you were just friends or… is there something we don’t know.” Claude teased.

Both men sniggered.

“Ugh! Stop it. You’re digging dead things in front of my daughter.”

The moment Ira mentioned Raine was the moment Claude saw the teenager which he left unnoticed upon coming in.

When he saw her familiar face, he gasped. “You?”

Raine swallowed her saliva hoping he won’t say anything that would put her in trouble.

“You’ve met her? The last time I remember, you only saw her when she was uhmmm…”

“She was yet 8 months old,” Claude replied with a whisper-like voice, staring at Raine pensively.

“What? He knows me?” Raine was taken aback. She hasn’t moved on yet from what had happened back at the café.

“Of course! He’s your uncle. Compare your face to him. You have your father’s side’s features. Pft! You might even be mistaken that you’re his daughter.” Ira explained while opening the box of goodies.

Raine was even more curious, her mind running into puzzles, mysteries, and doubts. Perhaps, knowing a part of her mother’s past is making her thoughts more complicated. Meanwhile, Claude crossed his arms as he stared at his niece with so many queries in his head.

“So, this is your daughter. I should have known the moment I saw her.”

“Right! There’s not a doubt that your blood runs in her veins. Anyway, guys, you should taste these truffles. I baked them and they’re heavenly. I guess they're perfect with coffee. You guys want some coffee?” Ira blabbed.

“How about I brew them for you, Mom? And maybe, Uncle Claude could help me?” Raine looked at her uncle with an invitation for a secret discussion.

Claude smirked. “Yeah, sure! I think it would be lovely to have a moment with you. We can talk about a lot of things. Don’t you agree, my precious niece?”

“Right!” Raine replied, her eyes fixed and unblinking towards Claude.

Ira, amused at how the two are getting along, let the two do whatever they want. The two quietly went into the kitchen. As soon as they are out of their sight, Raine faced her uncle and looked at him furiously.

“I can’t believe you’re my uncle.” Raine heatedly confronted Claude. She blurted out the words in a whisper, trying to make the conversation as discreet as possible.

Claude just laughed and looked at Raine amusedly. “Disappointed much? Why? Would you rather have me as your father?”

Raine crinkled her eyebrows and frowned disgustingly. “You? As my father? No way!”

The old man covered his face and laughed hysterically. “The other day you were so adamant to get my DNA to prove that I’m your father. But now, you talk like you hated the idea so much. What did I ever do to disappoint you, dear niece?”

“Stop calling me that. It’s so annoying. Of course, I’ll be disappointed. You’re a jerk and, and... you are so arrogant!”

Claude folded his arms and leaned on the fridge. His eyes were eagle-like as he glowered at his niece. He was wearing a smirk.

“I guess people nowadays still mistake confidence and self-assurance as arrogance. When you asked me stuff, I just told you the truth and you were unaccepting. And today you just heard the confirmation. How is that my fault?”

“I never said you were at fault or what…” she replied, surrendering her proud eyebrows.

Claude moved to boil water from the kettle, making noises in the kitchen. “Listen, kid! I don’t know what’s got in your mind to doubt your DNA, but let me assure you. You are your father’s daughter.”

For so many times she has been called adopted, her relatives’ favorite joke about her for having no spot of resemblance to her parents, which pushed her to create a wall that made her distant from the Pardilla Clan. Her principles tell her that Mageneo’s lineage is the only family that matters.

Claude’s words consoled her wounded soul. Perhaps, it was the only statement she longed to hear to free herself from all the doubts and insecurities built by the words thrown at her.

“How did you know my father?”

Raine sat at the table as she watched Claude transfer the hot water inside the thermos.

“Like what you’ve heard from your mother, we are family. We’re cousins.” Raine’s face portrayed curiosity and interest, so Claude initiated a chat. “We’re pretty close, you know.”

Her eyes glowed. “Really?”

Claude smiled. “Your father and I did a lot of crazy and stupid things when we were young. Let’s say we’re kind of rebellious. Our family sees us as outcasts. Aside from our mothers, we are the only ones who can understand each other. Not even our own brothers could empathize with us.”

Raine, despite finding him irksome, felt an improbable warmth towards Claude while he reminisced.

It must be the coffee that he was brewing. She thought.