Early that morning...When Ingrid woke up, she contemplated what to do that day. She stared at her son and caressed his face. She decided to wake him up and talk to him seriously over breakfast about today"s event.
Clark was cheerfully eating his breakfast.
"Son, I need to talk to you about something and I am serious." Clark put down the utensils and waited for his mother to continue talking.
She took a deep sigh and said, "you see, as of now your cla.s.smates and all the people who will attend today"s event doesn"t know that your father is Clifford Briggs because if they"ll know it we will not enjoy today"s activity and there is one thing I need you to do just for today, will that be okay?" She paused.
"What is it mommy?" she sighed again.
"Just don"t call him daddy yet, JUST TODAY, nor freely go to him. I know you won"t understand everything but can you grant mommy"s request?" she really emphasized the words so that Clark may understand it.
"Did dad agreed to this mom?" Clark felt sad at the request of his mother because he knew that he can"t reject it.
"He didn"t. But I"m gonna tell him later. But after we settle everything today, you can call him daddy anytime, anywhere." She smiled rea.s.suring her child.
.....
Ingrid narrowed her eyes on what she saw, Vanessa Reiley standing beside Clifford who looks calm and collected.
"What is that woman doing here?!" she complained. Clark also looked at his father and the woman beside him.
"Mommy, who is that lady next to daddy?" her son"s face seemed angry because his brows wrinkled and his eyes narrowed.
"Just an acquaintance..." she shrugged but deep inside she starts to feel irritated. "How I want to punch their faces! Ahh! Lucky, I didn"t...."
"Miss Howard!" someone called her, it was teacher Mei.
"Hi, teacher Mei!" she greeted.
"I wanna inform you that almost all of the parents are complete today, there are only four persons who have no partner. And since Tristan and Clark are best friends so automatically placed you as a team with Mr. Briggs, I believe you have met him? Besides I haven"t seen you earlier. I think this is your first time attending, isn"t it?" Teacher Mei"s voice is teasing and her eyes with sparkled with overexcitement.
"Ahh, yes..." Ingrid was caught off guard while Clark clapped with happiness.
Without Ingrid"s notice, Clark runs to Tristan"s side that is just beside Clifford after he heard that they"ll be in one team. And true to his promise to his mother, Clark didn"t call Clifford daddy in public.
.....
Vanessa purposely went to the school so that she could prevent the growing intimacy of Clifford and Ingrid. She knew of today"s event because she specifically asked the owner of the school which is their family friend. As an excuse, she donated for that event so that in the event Clifford might ask her she has a valid reason why she"s there.
On the other hand, Clifford is becoming impatient waiting for Ingrid and Clark to arrive. He"s even more annoyed with Vanessa"s presence who constantly sticks at his side even if he"s coldly avoiding her. He tried to appear calm but he wanted to go away from her because they"ve drawn together some attention.
But then he saw Clark came running to them. To his dismay, Clark didn"t call him daddy, he just politely greeted him and focused his eyes to Tristan.
"Teacher Mei said we"re team mates, Tristan..." Clark happily announced.
"Really? That"s awesome and I know we"ll win together!" the children squealed in delight and then they jumped up and down.
"You"re both adorable." Vanessa praised them. But the children just looked at her and did not respond and continued to chatter.
"Clark, where"s your mother." Clifford interrupted their merriment.
"She"s with Teacher Mei. Oh there she is, and she"s coming to us." Clark pointed. Clifford sensed something was amiss the way his son treated him and the way Ingrid looked at them.
"Did she wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning? But I did leave a note. Didn"t she saw it?" he mumbled.
Teacher Mei and Ingrid stopped at their side.
"Hi, Mr. Briggs, you and Miss Howard will be team mates today. And please get your shirts for today"s activities, courtesy of Miss Reiley."
"Teacher Mei, why are they team mates? They aren"t married couple!" she protested because the shirts to be given were custom-made shirts for the family.
"Yes, Miss Reiley but they"re the only partic.i.p.ants who have no team yet." The teacher countered.
"Excuse me, Miss Reiley, but this question was bugging me lately, do you have a problem with me?" Ingrid"s left brow rose.
"Why would I?" Vanessa mocked Ingrid by looking from Ingrid"s head to toe.
Ingrid started to flare up, but Clifford holds her hands and pulled her away.
"What do you think you"re doing? Are you picking up a fight with that woman?"
"Hey! Let me go!" she tried to wriggle from his hold.
"Answer me." he demanded.
"I didn"t!" she angrily denied.
"What do you call it then?"
"I"m p.i.s.sed off, okay? That woman p.i.s.ses me off everytime I saw her. Are you now satisfied?" she retorted.