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His pink lips spread into a shy smile. “Okay.”

Soon, all our friends crowded the apartment and Luka was the man of the party, as he met all his new friends who adored him to bits.

Matty and Sierra gave him a kid-sized drum kit which got him so excited that he even played us a beat and I already felt like a proud Mama, watching him.

When everyone cheered and clapped after his performance, he got so shy that he ran and hid behind Lan’s leg.

Mikey and Lily brought him so many colors and papers and anime toys that made him so curious. Knowing Lily, she was soon going to make Luka an anime fan.

Emmie and Evy brought every expensive toy under the sky. I even saw a limited edition transformer set and a rare collector’s Ferrari truck that probably cost a fortune. They even bought Strawberry, their golden retriever, who made Luka giggle as she chased him around the living room, causing a ruckus.

Luka was spoiled, and I knew you shouldn’t really spoil a kid all at once from the dozen parenting books that Lan and I had been trying to read.

But then why wouldn’t I spoil my child?

I didn’t know if at the end of this, Luka would be my son but at least till then, I would give him the childhood he actually deserved.

A safe roof and nights where he would never have to go to bed hungry.

CHAPTER 25

KATY

“Let me see.” I fixed Luka’s little tie for probably the fifth time since morning.

“I think it looks fine, Katiew,” he mumbled, sipping his juice box.

“Yes, Katiew.” Lan mimicked Luka. “I think it looks a bit more than fine. I think Katiew wants to go to school herself.”

Luka chuckled like it was the funniest thing he had heard in a while.

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes as I let go. But I couldn’t help but smile at the gleam in their eyes as they made fun of me.

It wasn’t fair how boys got to bond a lot faster.

Luka and Lan got along so well that Luka even declared he only wanted Lan to read him bedtime stories. He said my voice was scary. I couldn’t blame him; they did get a bit raspy when I spoke too much.

In a way, I was happy it wasn’t me because I didn’t realize Lan reading bedtime stories in his animated voice would soon become my favorite thing to watch. It made my heart flutter and at the same time, made all my lady bits squirmy.

“Ready for the first day of school?” I picked up his tiny bag as Lan helped him with his jacket.

“Yes Katiew,” Luka answered me while Lan zipped his jacket to his collar.

I nodded, mustering a smile that hid the nerves that churned my guts.

I hoped Luka had the opposite experience of what I had in my earlier school days.

“I’ll take it.” Lan didn’t even wait for my answer as he took hold of Luka’s bag and we all descended to our private parking lot, where Lan pointed to Luka all the expensive cars that our friends owned while Luka watched in awe.

Luka’s favorite was Mikey’s collection of violet sports cars, the same shade as his lover’s eyes.

“Lawndon, what’s that?” Luka’s curious eyes landed on Lan’s motorcycle collection. As soon as he moved in, he had them all shipped from LA. The only other thing he brought from there was his clothes. I guess neither of us wanted anything from that house.

My eyes couldn’t help but drag to his Ducati Monster, and a betraying blush burned my cheeks red.

Lan’s eyes darted to me for a flash with a knowing smirk like he knew exactly what I was thinking, and that only made me blush deeper.

“That’s my bike collection buddy.”