The Second Person

~~~CAT'S POV~~~

Nate took us to a steakhouse that surprisingly serves a variety of keto-friendly steaks, salads, and sides that not only I will enjoy but the girls as well. I appreciate internally how considerate he is towards me even if he originally planned this dinner for the girls.

On our way here, I took Alvin's car and I was thankful that Nate didn't oppose it. I just thought that it would feel wrong if I took Nate's car just like Aenid and Faye requested because it was supposed to be a dinner between just me and Alvin.

I sat between Aenid and Faye while Alvin and Nate sat side by side in front of us. Ever since we came I have been noticing Nate's stern look towards me, especially whenever I am interacting with Alvin.

I tried to ignore it by talking with the girls most of the time but I guess I failed because I could still feel his stare and it made me feel uncomfortable.

I introduced the girls to Alvin and Aenid was ecstatic when she found out that Alvin is a doctor. I've always known her dream of becoming a doctor while Faye wanted to help her father with the company.

While waiting for our order, we just talked about the girl's school and once in a while, Aenid will ask Alvin about his job. Throughout, Nate rarely talks and joins our conversation. He is just watching me and I know that in the corner of his eyes, he is also watching Alvin.

"Are you Cat's boyfriend?" Suddenly Aenid asked while I was slicing a steak for Faye. Fortunately, I am not drinking any liquids right now because if I did, I would certainly choke on them. But that doesn't mean that I will not pale and tremble at her question.

I mean, why would she suddenly ask that question? And it is not in the way that she just asks because she wanted to continue the conversation. Her voice shows interest in finding out the answer.

I noticed the men in front of us stiffened before Alvin smiled at Aenid.

"I hope I am," Alvin said, making me curse internally and all the blood from my neck crept up to my face. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Nate's reaction turn darker.

Oh, God! I suddenly felt anxious about what was running in that gorgeous head of his.

But then, why would I become anxious if my boss thinks that I am in a relationship with my doctor? Well, the dark expression on his face is why.

"But, no. I am not," Alvin continued shaking his head, making me sigh. "We are friends," He added, making Aenid grin wide.

"Really?" She asked, her eyes twinkling.

Why do I suddenly feel that she is up to something?

Alvin nodded.

"So, you wouldn't mind if we wanted Cat to be our Mom?" She said making Nate cough and Alvin paled.

I thought that I was already red as a tomato but her words made me redder if that was possible. Suddenly it becomes hot in here, I am sweating and I am sure as hell that my jaw is already on the floor.

"Aenid," Nate said softly but his eyes were sending her a warning.

Aenid bit her lower lip and lowered her head. I noticed that she fiddled with her hand on her palm. I reached out for her hand and squeezed it. She raised her head to look at me and I smiled at her.

We continued our dinner after we all regained our composure, Aenid avoided the topic of her wanting me to be their Mom or the relationship between me and Alvin.

"So, how was your therapy session?" For the first time tonight, Nate speaks to me. And suddenly I didn't know what to say even though his question was simple.

"Uhm...it was fine. I'm getting used to it," I said and that was the truth except for Jenny who kept on giving me sex advice which I found a little awkward since I am single and don't have an intimate experience before.

"Were you always with her?" Though Nate is not looking and kept his focus on his steak, I knew that his question was for Alvin.

I glanced at Alvin and found that he remained composed.

"Yes, I have to. I sent her there and I wanted to personally monitor her development," Alvin replied.

I frowned a little. When Alvin referred me to that support group, he was not a part of it yet until my second session. I was surprised to find him there. When I asked what he was doing there, he told me that the support group was lacking some doctors so he volunteered. He didn't tell me that he was there to personally monitor me.

I watched as Nate just nodded his head. I wonder what he is thinking.

The dinner ended quite well. Nate offered to drive me back to my apartment but I refused knowing that Alvin would take me back to my apartment and besides, he has the girls with him. Faye is already asleep in the backseat of his car.

I watch Alvin from the corner of my eyes. That is why I know that he has been glancing over at me. I sighed, "Spill it out,"

"Why are you so close to your Boss's daughters?" He asked and I cursed internally. I forgot to tell him that I am taking the girls to school and seeing them after. Though it is not his business as my doctor, he is my friend that cares about me and I thought I should tell him. But I always forgot, or more like I am procrastinating knowing that if he found out, he would not like it.

"When Nate hasn't found out about my health condition, he asks me to take his daughters to school every morning and see them in the afternoon until he finds a permanent nanny," I said though now I am certain that Nate is not looking for a nanny.

Alvin sighed exasperatedly and brushed his face with his free hand. "Catherine,"

I know I am in trouble when he addresses me by my complete name. So, I had to stop him from worrying further.

"Everything has been fine, Alvin. He provided me with a car and a driver. And when he found out about my condition, he even treated me better. I cannot leave the girls suddenly until Nate found a permanent Nanny. Nate has been good to me. He never lets me wear heels, or lets me work overtime. He makes sure that I eat on time. He has made adjustments in my working hours as well as in my office to make sure that I will not have another flare."

"And you are not wondering why?" He replied, making me stunned.

Yes, I do wonder why. I replied only in my thoughts. I look ahead on the road avoiding his gaze. I realize that we already arrived. The car stops in front of my apartment building but Alvin doesn't move, and neither did I.

When he realized that I was not saying anything he continued.

"And you are on a first-name basis," He noted.

"Only outside the office and when it was just the two of us," I replied, refusing to look in his direction.

Alvin shook his head, "His daughters want you to be their mom, why?"

I look at him, I am not sure how to answer that so I just told them that they don't have a mother figure because their biological mother died when Faye was born. No one has shown them motherly care since then until me, I guess that is the reason.

When I said that, Alvin fell into a deep silence making me uncomfortable.

"You are too naive, Catherine," He said, staring ahead of us. We are still parked outside my apartment building. It was already dark outside and his hazard lights were blinking. It was the only sound I could hear inside the car.

"I am not," I defended myself. After experiencing the pain of losing my mother and the physical pain I am having now because of my condition, I don't want to consider myself naive. I may tend to ignore my surroundings or the people around me but I am not naive.

Ok, maybe when it comes to love, I am. I failed to notice Alvin developing that affection towards me. So maybe, in that aspect, I could tell that I am naive.

"He is in love with you," I heard Alvin say in a low and almost inaudible voice. It was as if he wanted me to hear what he was saying and at the same time he didn't.

"What?" I whipped my head in his direction so hard that I almost felt my neck crack. I found Alvin already looking at me so intensely that I almost could not stand it.

"Your boss is in love with you, Catherine," He repeated this time addressing my boss.

I faked a laugh as I shook my head, "That's impossible," I said though my heart is already thumping harshly in my chest. My heart likes the idea but my brain opposes it.

"Catherine, I am a man, and I know when a man is in love. I see that man is in love with you. He looks at you the way I look at you. And believe me when I say that I know what that look means because I feel the same,"

I shook my head and looked outside the window. Alvin is the second person to tell me that Nate is in love with me. First, it was Grace. My heart wants to believe it but my brain doesn't want to. I cannot let someone fall in love with me. I cannot be in a relationship, especially with a man who already has two daughters. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have Aenid and Faye as my daughters, and I don't mind if they were not biologically mine, but I will only just be a burden to them.

Instead of me taking care of them, it will be them taking care of me. And I don't want that. I don't want to be a burden to Nate and the girls.