The weather is surprisingly pleasant that day. Clouds hovering the light blue sky with sun beams peaking in between. It wasn't particularly windy but the breeze is quite refres.h.i.+ng. It wasn't scorching hot either which was favorable enough for Laurice. This is one of those rare days when she would rather prefer lazying around or would just tucked in bed and slept in for the entire day. She wasn't a morning person to begin with but oddly enough she was not adamant to spending the day outside this early.

Frankly speaking, Laurice felt it was quite a bit like L.A., where it was usually sunny during the day carrying warm dry winds, and with seasonal cold fronts bringing in the rain. Only it was mostly humid all throughout the year in the Philippines. It was hot and humid everyday and not particularly chilly at night either. The last and first quarter of the calendar year is relatively dry in the country with p.r.o.nounced rainfalls and wet for the rest of the year.

So much for being a tropical country.

It was probably the reason why most Filipinos are fascinated by snow. She was an exception though, because she despised winter. Although it rarely snows in Los Angeles with mild temperature during the winter season, having traveled across various countries with cold and chilly weather, she wasn't particularly fond of the ridiculous dropped in temperature. She could not stand the cold. In fact, not much with the hotness either.

So today was simply perfect for her.

Since it was such a fine weather after all.

However, from the moment Laurice sat on the wooden bench of the seesaw swing set at one corner right beside the kid's playground, she unconsciously drifted back to her past and nearly ... until she completely ... like absolutely forgot that she got company all along.

...

With eyes half-closed, Laurice smiled to herself as she gently leaned above and over her head and inhaled in some air around her. She felt that same familiar impression from way back. Fragments of vague memories from her own childhood flooded her mind.  She remembered the few instances where she met some good friends in the province where she spent most of her days idling and playing around with kids her age. It was all fun and games. Not to mention, her parents have spoilt her rotten despite her humble upbringing. As far as she could remember, she had a bright and joyful childhood back then. Her smile widen with the thought.

Laurice was sort of missing those days she spent in the countryside. But not until her recollection stopped with that particular memory of the same day she saw that stern but immaculate face of that person which resembled that of her mothers only a bit older than her. Laurice hated not forgetting that day. Well how can she ever forget though, it was the very first time she witnessed her mother cried back then. It was actually the first and the last time. And who knew, just after a few days since that inauspicious visit, they were sent packing and without her knowing who that person is, they have already fled overseas. She was five years old when they moved to the states and have lived there ever since.

And now, she was finally back in the country.

Laurice was wondering what awaits her unexpected return when she heard a husky voice near her spoke.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Sid said.

Laurice casted a sidelong glance at the man beside her.

Oh! She almost forgot about him. Her guilt was eating her away as she tried to suppress an awkward smile on her face.

"Oh! Nothing much." Laurice simply replied.

"I was just hoping it won't rain." She added as she glimpse back at the cloudy sky above.

It was already the month of March and summer is fast approaching. Summer season in the Philippines is mostly hot and wet climate. Laurice was kind of worried about the typhoons and the heavy rainfalls it carries.

Sid squinted his eyes slightly when he heard her reply.

'Who cares about the weather?'

He felt his nerves twitching. The woman was ignoring his presence again. He had just brought her to his own place to spend the day with and the view from where they currently are is so stunning that he thought he could pull a romantic stunt afterwards. They have already kissed and such but every single time seems just like a pa.s.sing moment for her. His patience was growing thin.

With a sullen expression, Sid stared down at Laurice and with a deep low voice he said to her, "Don't you have anything to ask me?"

That statement caught Laurice's attention in an instant.

Right, weren't she frantic awhile ago about knowing the fact that the wealthy man beside her was apparently wooing her? But what was she worried about again?

Laurice's eyes narrowed in slits as she pondered until she caught a glimpse of a familiar small figure from the side of her eyes striding up the ladder as he pushed his body forward and swiftly slid down from the peak of the wavy park slide not far away from where they are. The child was beaming with joy as he puffed some air out of his lungs, excitement was evident in his handsome small and round face. The moment Little Louie fell down the slide, he had maintained balance on his feet and went back for another ride and another. Butler Han cautiously watched over the little young master as he played.

At that moment, it finally struck her.

Her eyes glinted with uncertainty and inexplicable sorrow.

Sid who managed to faintly rose from his seat to change position have given Laurice a gentle nudge in the forehead. He was gripping at the side of the swing with both of his hands on the galvanized chain and slowly, his head descended as he rested his chin right above the woman's shoulders.

Laurice: " !!! "

Laurice jerked and gasped with the man's sudden reaction.

She have failed to notice that Sid was already leaning behind her. The closeness of their bodies was easing its way up to her heart calming her nerves down to a notch in a second but that did not even last long as intended. She felt a throb in her chest when she felt his warm breath at the side of her neck. It was giving off a tingling sensation.

"Are you not curious about me and my son?"

The man whispered in her ear.

That tickled. Laurice had gooseb.u.mps over half her body.

d.a.m.n!

The man's bedroom voice was making her heart waver. She could not speak a word though. But she really ... really do want to ask him exactly that. She just don't know how to put it into words. Was it even proper for her to ask the man where's the mother of his child?

Not long after, Sid spoke again. With longing gaze, he stared at the direction to where his son is and said to Laurice, "It would have been amazing if he was our own son."

Laurice: " ...???!!! "