Michael had not stopped beaming since the moment he had seen his friends, preparing to tell them about his new-found happiness.
They were presently in their usual playing ground-a hockey field, where they've always been right since when they were all in elementary school.
"Is it just me, or you too are seeing the lasting smile on Michael's face?" Joshua was the one spoke first as he stepped back from his locker to inspect Michael face carefully.
Scott, who was done dressing and was about to wear his helmet, paused and stared at Michael's face intently as if he wanted to see something behind his eyes.
"Not to exaggerate, the last time I saw Michael smile like this was when he was telling us about Nathan's ex-girlfriend," he uttered, his gaze locking with Joshua's at the end of his statement.
And like that, they both looked over at Michael's face. "Is it what we are thinking?" they asked simultaneously, eyes widening in total awe.
Michael chortled for some time, enjoying the surprise look on his friend's face.
"Well, you're right, guys. Mandy is now my girlfriend," he announced, smiling expressively.
"Whoa, man! I knew it!" Scott moved forward and smacked his head playfully, laughing with him.
Joshua didn't move from where he was standing, but his happy smile for his friend was showing on his face.
"The girl has got you really bad, Mic. You need to see your face in the mirror right now,"
Michael didn't know what to say as he kept giggling and giggling like a jolly panda.
"I can't believe you could settle for less, Michael," said Nathan as he came into view, looking disgusted as he glided closer to his friends.
None of the three guys said anything as they watched and listened to him.
"I told y'all how cheap that girl is, yet you fell blindly for her. Is it insanity, or you're just naturally stupid, buddy?" Nathan scowled, disappointment fleeting across his face.
"Nathan!" Joshua cautioned with a growl, reaching out his hand and Michael back, who had not even attempted to do anything.
However, all expressions had disappeared from his face.
"I think you should stay out of this discussion, Nathan. He loves her and that's all that matters," Scott tutored, hoping Nathan would just listen and keep quiet already.
Nathan burst into hysterical laughter, creeping his hand over his mouth as he laughed.
"You both must be really crazy to think that Michael is really in love with Mandy," he was still laughing quietly as he spoke.
He stopped laughing soon after and gazed at his friend's upset faces.
"Don't you get it? He only wants to have his way with Mandy too and come tell us how she tastes," "Isn't it?" he leaned his smirk-filled face toward Michael, but he got a punch that sent him lying on the floor in return.
Groaning, he felt some liquid dripping out of his nose. Then he touched it and realized that it was his own blood.
"Think whatever you want to, you bastard! I do not care but the next time I hear you mention Mandy's name, believe me I'll ruin your face completely," Michael threatened wrathfully.
His face had a darkness that it never had before which caused Nathan to shiver uncontrollably.
Without wasting another glance on him, Michael walked away, still unable to release his balled hands.
"You'll never learn, Nathan. I hope that would help you gather some senses," Joshua told Nathan as irritated as he felt before following behind Michael.
Scott just dropped the helmet he has been holding and also walked out without saying any word.
Again, Nathan had successfully ruined their good time.
_
_
It was late in the afternoon when Jessica and her family arrived in one of her houses in California.
Daniella was smiling amusingly, not hiding her admiration for the white mansion as they strolled toward the building.
The front yard was covered with a large lawn with green and soft grass. There was a rockery beside the plants with water rushing through it.
Below that was a pool filled with ornamental fish, peculiar looking green fish with long tails. They looked like some rare, valuable species.
In the front, there was a round table, four rattan chairs and a parasol.
"This place is so beautiful, Mom!" Daniella screamed with delight. "Why haven't I heard of it before?"
"And that was because I just got it recently, Ella," Jessica smiled. "A client sold it out at a very cheap rate,"
"Wow, Mom. I would really love to visit this place more often," said Daniella as she kept moving her eyes from one place to the other, really liking the sanity and fragrance the surrounding exploits.
"Hurry, Dad," she beckoned at Liam, who was bringing out their belongings from the cab that had driven them there.
In a matter of minutes, they all reached inside the house and Daniella quickly covered her mouth while her eyes dilated.
The pulchritudinous living room was a perfect definition of paradise on earth. The tall ceilings that were above ten meters; she'd never seen tops that tall.
The next thing that caught her attention was the green and gold royal chairs - they looked so soft and expensive.
"Let's quickly unpack, we'll have a look around later," Jessica notified and headed inside first.
Daniella didn't reply as she continued to feed her eyes with the beautiful ergonomic interior decoration of the room, trailing her fingers around the artistic artwork that were shattered on the walls.
"Come on, baby. Let's go," Liam knew she wasn't ready to oblige. So, he went to her and took her hand and they both walked in the same direction as Jessica.
Thirty minutes later, they've all unpacked, also had their baths and even changed to simple clothing.
Now, Jessica was preparing something for dinner in the kitchen as she happily hummed to a song.
Actually, she had gotten everything prepared, including the groceries, before their arrival.
Not too long, Daniella and her father sauntered into the modern kitchen with a sweet smile flashing before their eyes.
"Do you need my help with anything?" asked Daniella, getting closer to the basin and ready to wash the used dishes.
Liam, on the other hand, had walked to the refrigerator, opened it and brought out a chilled bottled water.
"You really don't have to do that, you know," Jessica beamed at her beautiful daughter and then turned to Liam to tell him something, but right then her cellphone buzzes on the counter in the kitchen.
The three of them shared a glance before Jessica swallowed and picked up the phone. It was her secretary calling.
She cleared her throat before answering the call. "I think I told you I wouldn't be available to pick up any calls fro..." she trailed off involuntarily and listened to the caller.
"What?" she yelled out.
"You mean to tell me that the thirty million dollars contract has been swayed?" her chest was now heaving up and down as she spoke into the phone.
"Who could have done this, Theresa? J-Just hold on. I'm taking the next flight back to New York right now!" she was already out of the door before she could complete her words.
After watching her mother's back view disappeared, Daniella released a deep sigh and shook her head vulnerably.
"You're not surprised, are you?" Liam asked his daughter. "I'm not, Dad. I just thought it would be different this time. I'm disappointed," Daniella voiced out feebly, lowering her eyes.
"But I thought you didn't want this trip in the first place, Ella,"
Daniella sighed again and looked at her father's face, "She wanted this, Dad. After seeing her eagerness for this trip, I couldn't say no to her," her voice broke and tears were now fast building in her eyes.
Maybe she also wanted to have a real good time with her mother.
"It's alright, dear," Liam moved to her and hugged her passionately, stroking her back.
*
Later on in the evening, Liam was watching the TV alone in the living room.
However, his mind was not completely with what he was staring at; it was occupied with the thought of Daniella.
She has been in her room since the moment Jessica has left there.
And when Liam had wanted to stay with her, she told him she wanted to be alone which has never happened before.
It was then it dawned on Liam that she really misses her mom and wished to spend some time with her.
But what to do? Jessica loved her business more.
Sighing, Liam stood up and went to her room again. He really didn't like the fact that she was all alone in the room, thinking.
I would force her to come out this time. He thought within himself.
However, he has barely gotten close to her room door when he began to hear a soft whimper coming from the room.
Fear gripped his chest as he quickly moved forward in fast strides and unlocked the door, beholding his precious daughter on the bare ceramic floor; squirming and holding her belly in pain.
Like a flash, Liam was already squatting next to her, struggling to bring her to a sitting position.
"What happened, Ella? Why are you holding your tummy?" he asked with sheer fear and panic.
Daniella groaned, shutting her eyes and clutching her stomach tighter. "It's the five days monster, Dad,"