Chapter 12

Zip! went the zipper.

"Done," Robbie said as he held her arms and pushed her slightly away. He felt a sudden surge of electricity throughout his body as he watched Alex. Her lips were so inviting that he resisted the urge to just press his lips on hers while his heart raced inside his chest. He felt like a wild hyena ready to lunge at her that he had to step back to regain his control.

Alex opened her eyes suddenly as she felt like a bucket of ice water fell on her head when Robbie had moved away from her.

She straightened herself and cleared her throat. To cover her embarassment, she turned her back on him abruptly and faced the mirror again. The dress actually felt tighter now that it was zipped. She frowned. She just hated how her body had become.

Robbie was standing behind her in the mirror and was skimming through the clothes. His back was on her. She stared at him in the mirror as her eyes lingered on his back. She suddenly remembered how her nails used to dug into it while their bodies collided in bed years ago.

'Oh god!' and she blew a shaky breath to her face.

Is she really trying to check him out?

He then turned and caught her staring at him. He smiled.

"Like what you see?" he teased.

Alex faced him and raised an eyebrow. She crossed her arms.

"As if there's something to see that I haven't seen before," she replied.

"Alright then. It wouldn't be a problem for you if I changed while you're here," and he took his towel off.

"Sht!" and she closed her eyes, turning her back on him. "What the hell are you doing, Robbie?"

Robbie laughed as he opened the drawer where his personal things were.

"We have seen each other naked several times before, Alex, since we were kids," he told her.

"Yes, but it's different now."

"What changed? Don't tell me you still imagine me doing it to you after all these years."

Her mouth was agaped and she opened her eyes. She turned around to face him. She was just relieved that at least he was wearing pants now but his shirt was still untucked and unbuttoned. But she didn't care. She needed to let him know she was not attracted to him at all.

"Just because we had one night together that doesn't mean I'm attracted to you. I would rather sleep with a carrot than with you."

"Really? So am I just imagining things that you actually thought I am about to kiss you?" he asked.

She didn't know what to say and her face turned red. She pursed her lips and just stormed out of the closet. She couldn't stand another second with him in the room.

The dress was so tight that she felt like she was going to faint. It was snugged in her waist. She really got to get to the gym so she could attain the most coveted figure again.

As much as she loved this dress, she had to let it go. Then she remembered. It was the dress she wore that night. The night where she actually lost herself with Robbie. Could it be possibly the reason why he kept it after all these years? Did it really mean so much to him?

But why? She didn't understand it.

To her whatever happened was an accident. Something that both of them could have avoided. A mistake that led to the birth of a beautiful girl that now connected them... and had made them parents.

She sighed. She didn't want to ruin tonight and yet, memories of what happened before kept her feeling irritated with Robbie.

Sasha was supposed to be the center of attention here, not them.

With that, she walked towards the door and went to her daughter's bedroom.

**********

"Happy birthday, baby girl! Sorry I haven't been able to call yesterday. You know how your little cousin, Sonny, is. He always get in to mischief. So how was your birthday? Did you do something special?"

Sasha was in a video call with her Aunt Clarice in New Zealand.

"Yes, Tita. I got the best birthday gift ever!"

"Really? Did you get new shoes?"

"Not only that. I get to meet Dad, too."

Clarice frowned. "How did you meet him?"

"Mom brought us here to Dad's place. We got kicked out of our apartment and Mom lost her job-"

"Wait! You got kicked out of your apartment?"

"Yes.." and her mouth quivered. "Uh-oh! Mom didn't tell you."

"She didn't tell me anything. What is going on, Sasha? Where are you?"

"Tita..." her voice was worried.

Suddenly the door opened and in came Alex.

"Mom?" Sasha was getting so worried now. "I'm sorry."

"What happened?" she asked. "Who are you talking to?"

"Alex! What do you think you're doing?"

Alex snatched the phone from Sasha's hand and faced her now aggravated sister.

"Clarice..." Alex started.

"What is going on there? Where are you? Is it true that you got evicted from your apartment?"

She nodded.

"Why didn't you tell me? I could've sent you money to pay for rent."

"Clarice, you have done so much for us already. I don't want to bother you with just a simple problem."

"SIMPLE PROBLEM! Alex, this is not simple. Where are you staying now? Sasha told me about meeting her dad. Are you in Robbie's house?"

She gave a look to Sasha who was now cowering in one corner of her bed.

"It's okay," she mouthed to her and she smiled faintly.

"Yes, Clarice."

"Alex!"

"I know, I know... But Sasha really wanted to meet her dad so what better gift can I give her but this. Besides, Robbie wanted to spend some time with her, too."

"So how long are you staying there?"

She didn't want to let Sasha know about her plans, so she lied.

"A long time."

"What do you mean by a long time?"

She sighed. She didn't want to tell her sister because she knew she would never agree. But she was in a very tight position now and she knew sooner or later the truth will be known.

"We're getting married," she blurted out.

"WHAT?!!!"

The strong voice of her sister rang in her ears even if it was only on the phone. The phone almost flew out of her hand as she felt like she was standing right next to her, yelling in her ear.

"Alex! What were you thinking?!"

"Clarice... can we talk about this later? I'll call you."

"Oh, don't you dare hang up on me!"

"I really cannot talk to you about it right now. We are going out for Sasha's birthday and we have to get ready."

"I can't believe you!" Clarice sighed in frustration. "Fine. But better call me or I'll get on the next flight just to pull your hair out of there."

She chuckled. "Okay. Bye, Clarice."

"Baby girl," Clarice called to Sasha, who crawled over beside her mom. "I'm sorry for yelling. Don't worry, you're good. I'm not mad at you, okay? Talk to you soon."

"Okay, Tita," Sasha spoke softly.

"Alex.." Clarice turned to her. She glared at her.

"Yes. I'll call."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Take care. You know I love you, right?"

"Yes, Ate(Big Sis), and I love you too. See you. Bye," and she hang up.

"Mommy," and she gave Alex a hug. "I'm sorry. I thought you told Tita. I just got so excited to tell her about Dad that I didn't know you didn't tell her anything yet."

"Hey, honey! It's okay. It's not your fault. Don't worry about it. I will talk to her tomorrow. For now, let's get you ready for a special night."

Sasha smiled. "Okay."

"Let's get you in the shower first. We don't want to be stinking like a skunk, do we?"

She rolled her eyes. "I always smell good, Mom."

"Not today. So get your butt in the shower or do you want me to give you a bath instead?" and an endearing but teasing smile came up to her face.

Sasha made a face. "I'm big enough to do it myself, Mom. I need my privacy."

Alex laughed. "Okay then. Hurry up. We don't want your fans to be waiting."

Sasha's eyes lit up as an idea formed in her mind.

"Oh yeah! I got to get this on video later and upload it on Youtube," then she screamed. "Gosh! I'm so excited. Do you think Dad will buy me a big cake?"

"I don't know... I'll check with him later. But for now, please get in the shower, okay?"

"Okay, Mom," and she went to the adjacent bathroom.

She shook her head, smiling.

Suddenly, a knock can be heard from the door.

Alex stood up to open the door as Robbie stood in front of her. Though she had seen him in a suit before, this particular moment had made her heart stopped as she gazed at him.

He was exceptionally handsome tonight and somehow, she caught herself staring at his brown eyes. Those eyes that just drew her in whenever she looked at them and his simple smile that could melt anyone every time, showing some dimples.

She found herself dreaming of him wide awake and she pulled her gaze away from him, trying not to let him read further what was going through her mind.

"Divine is in my room with the dresses. You can choose what you like to wear tonight. The rest will be hung in my closet. It's yours to wear anytime," he told her.

"You bought me some clothes? I have my own. Where did you put my clothes?"

He smirked. "Donated them."

"What? You donated them without even asking me?"

"Why? How valuable can they be? Some of them were so outdated even an old spinster would never want to wear them."

Alex narrowed her eyes at him.

"How dare you?! It might not be signature clothes but I bought it with my own hard-earned money."

"Maybe, but why would you wear something that doesn't even fit you right? Take this dress for example. It's too small for you and yet, you still look stunning with it."

Stunning?! Did he just say stunning?

Alex had never heard him say that before. He often criticize her whenever she went on a date with Miguel in highschool.

"Too short.... too skimpy..." those were his words back then. She never heard him say beautiful or stunning once until now.

"I will bring that dress tomorrow to get it altered so it could fit you again. For now, go and get ready. We don't want to let Aunt Bernie be left sitting there waiting for a long time."

"I'll let this pass this time for Sasha. But tonight, when we get home, we really need to talk," she said and get past him towards his bedroom again.

He shook his head as he followed her with his eyes towards the bedroom. Alex would look great in any dress as long as it hugged her body. She might not have the same slim body that she had before but she did had some curves which made her more alluring than before. He heaved a deep breath as he tried to shove away thoughts of her naked in his mind.

He placed his mind back on the real pupose why he had come to Sasha's room. He took out the small gift box from his pocket and walked inside the room. He placed it on top of the bed and smiled.

Tonight was the most important thing for his one and only princess, and he hoped that the gift he gave her would make her the happiest girl tonight.

Just like she had made him the happiest father one could ever be.