AVA:
The diner buzzed with the usual lunch rush — clinking plates, murmured conversations, and the occasional shout from the kitchen which always seemed to irritate me a lot.
I carried a tray loaded with food to a corner booth where a group of teens barely glanced up from their phones as I set down their orders.
"Enjoy your meal," I said with the best polite smile I could offer before retreating to the counter.
My shift had barely begun but exhaustion was already creeping in. Between juggling two jobs and caring for Alex, rest was a luxury I couldn't afford. I mean, literally everything was a luxury to me.
"Mommy, can I have another cookie?" The tiny voice of my son, Alex, pulled me away from my thoughts. He was sitting at a small table close to the counter, his hands rampaging through the collection of crayons in front of him.
I had to bring him down with me today when I couldn't afford the daycare system I usually got him. Thankfully, my boss let me bring him.
"How about some juice instead? You've had enough cookies already," I said gently.
He pouted but nodded so I went to him and poured him a small cup of juice which I set on his table before heading to the back to grab an order.
When I returned, a sight stopped me cold. Seven heavens, it was Damian was standing by the door.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe properly. He looked just the same since the last time I saw him. And yeah, it was giving me bad memories already.
Recognition flickered across his face when he saw me. To be honest, I wasn't prepared for this encounter. At least, not today.
"Ava," he called my name as soon as he got closer to me.
I tightened my grip on the tray in my hands, my heart pounding. "What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I could ask you the same thing," he replied while scanning the diner.
"I work here. Isn't that obvious?"
"Mommy... I broke my crayon."
Oh not now, Alex. You shouldn't have called me that in front of him.
I watched as Damian's eyes landed on Alex. Immediately, his expression shifted.
"Is that your son?" Damian asked in a sharp tone.
Instinctively, I stood in front of Alex. "It's none of your business," I responded.
He noticed my overprotective attitude and had to ask the one question I didn't want to hear. "Is he my son?"
"No, he's not. Why would you think he is?"
"You're just so good at lying. He looks just like me. Even a blind man can see that."
"I don't care what a blind man can see or cannot. He is not your son and he will never be!"
"How old is he?"
I was beginning to get angry but I had an order to drop so I went to do that. When I went back to meet Damian, I said, "It's none of your concern, Damian. Now you either order for something or you walk out of here this instant!"
"Just tell me the truth. Is the boy my son?"
"You don't get to demand answers from me after what you did!"
"What do you mean? For heaven's sake, you cheated on me."
"I never cheated on you!" I declared, my voice a little high and that brought glances from those close to us. "You let another woman come in between us and manipulate you into thinking I cheated on you. Who's the cheat there between you and me?"
"Don't try to turn this on me. I remained loyal to you always."
"Oh please. Loyal enough to care about another woman's opinion. Listen, I don't owe you any explanation so just leave."
He stared at me for a long while. His gaze was hard but conflicted. Finally, he glanced at Alex again.
"If he's mine, I won't let you keep him away from me. I'll find out, Ava. I will," he said quietly and didn't wait for me to respond before turning and walking out of the diner.
I stood there trembling, as the noise of the diner returned to normal. Alex tugged at my apron, his innocent face looking up at me.
"Mommy, are you okay?" his tiny voice asked me.
Kneeling in front of him, I smiled and said, "Mommy is fine, okay? Don't worry about me."
But I wasn't fine. And neither do I have a clue how I was going to protect him from Damian.
My mind was racing faster than a bullet as the overwhelming pressure began to get to me. I am not okay.
