The Agony Path

"But Mama. It's different… Uncle George was only my uncle… You should find my new Papa!" 

She choked from her spit when her son requested for a father since it was beyond imagination to find a lover in her state. 

After James was born, her focus was giving him a good life without a love relationship involved. And she hadn't even thought of finding a new lover. 

Her friends strived to halt their laugh and avoided her gaze. She glared at them for giving warning yet they didn't budge. 

It was no use…

Jaymianne put him beside her and leaned towards her to level his height. She cupped his cheeks and gently caressed it. 

"Sweetie, about finding your papa…" 

She strived to ask for their help but they shrugged and looked away. She heaved a deep sigh and gazed back at her son. 

"You see, sweetie… Mama is old enough to search for your new papa. I mean— I don't know if someone wants to be my husband, sweetie. You have me and Geo—" 

Her words cut off when George abruptly said that really shocked her, "we assure you that we will find a perfect papa for you and especially for your mama." 

Her eyes twitched whilst glaring at George but she couldn't hit him or show any violence to her son.

"Really Uncle?! Yay! I'll be having a new Papa!" James excitedly said while jumping on the couch. 

She shook her head and stopped her son from jumping on the couch. "I'm having a new papa! I'm so excited to meet my new papa!" 

He giggled whilst dancing on the couch. She just sighed and clasped his tiny hand, pulling him to sit down. 

"Don't think too much, James. Ahm… Do you want to get some groceries? We need food for your snacks." 

His eyes sparkled when he heard groceries so he smiled and responded with a nod. He went out of the couch and grabbed his bag before he snatched her wrist and pulled her away from the couch. 

"Mama let's go!" Her son excitedly said while jumping around.

"Easy there, tiger." Jaymianne uttered while smiling at his son. 

She knew how to lure her son by bringing him into the groceries. It's his happiness, he could buy his favorite chips. Then, Jaymianne glanced at her friends and passed the paper to Cheslea. 

"Frame it for me, please." She mumbled.

Chelsea, on the other hand, rolled her eyes playfully knowing that even though she always denied that she didn't have feelings for that man, Chelsea and George perceived that she loved him very much even though he did something bad to her. 

"Ignoramus." George said and squeezed her cheeks.

Jaymianne rolled her eyes and pushed his hands away from her cheeks. "I'm not. I just want to frame my son's drawing. Nothing more, nothing else."

Chelsea laughed at her being defensive. "Don't be so defensive. We are just teasing you. Also, we will be setting you up for a date this Saturday night for new Papa."  

"I hate you two!" 

"You don't,'' they said in unison. 

"MAMA! LET'S GO!" Her son screamed impatiently. 

"Coming! Chelsea, take care of Drake and also the meeting with Mr. Suarez tomorrow afternoon." 

Chelsea responded with a nod and signed them to leave the office. Jaymianne just smiled and held her son's right tiny hand. 

Then, she said, "You are being impatient and you didn't even say goodbye to your Uncle George and Aunt Cheslea."

"Mama, they know me so I'll say goodbye tomorrow," her son replied with a mischievous smile. 

Jaymianne shook her hand when his son was witty like his father. Most of the time she could compare his son to his father's manner and they are much alike unlike his mother. Although they are much alike, it didn't stop her from loving his son. 

And as they walked out of the company building, they strolled towards her car as she opened it for her son at the backseat before she stepped inside her car. 

"Buckle up, sweetie."

"Yes Mama!"

As the time went by, the entire journey was tedious since her son was sleeping in the backseat so she opened the car's radio to listen to some music and took a chance to open the window. 

All the fresh air hits on her face. Ever since they moved in here, it opened her heart to love this place and luckily, her friends agreed to stay with her side. 

And all of a sudden, their favorite song was aired on the radio and it feels like she got back to her past with him. 

FLASHBACK

He glanced at her with his eyes glistened when seeing her beautiful face. For him, she was a hidden gem that he wanted to keep forever. 

Slowly, their lips locked to each other with their eyes closed, feeling the beautiful hymn of their favorite songs under the pale of moonlight. 

And as their lips separated, he smiled at her, sweetly and mumbled, 

"I love you."

END OF THE FLASHBACK   

She pulled her car on the side of the road and stopped the radio. She leaned on the backrest and gazed outside. She bit her lips and tried to stop her tears but she couldn't control her feelings. 

It killed her when she needed to leave him behind without any trace even though she didn't intend to leave him behind those memories they shared.

But what she didn't perceive, their path crossed when his car passed by hers.