Dome's POV
How many times did he wake up in Pavel's room? He looked around and found no one inside. His head throbbed a little but surely he can now move properly. He fixed the bed before heading out. The whole dorm was so quiet. He wondered where Chen and Pavel. He looked at the living room and kitchen but they were not there. Only option, he knocked on Chen's room.
"Hello, P'Dome! How are you?" Chen asked when she opened the door. She gestured to him to get inside.
"I'm okay now. Where's your Phi?"
"Outside. I bet you didn't see his note, aren't you?" She said that made him confused. "He said he left you a note. Anyway, can we eat now, P'Dome? I am really hungry na." Chen made a circular movement on her stomach then he heard a growl on it.
He really looked confused. And it hit him when he glanced at the clock hanging on her wall. It's already 1 p.m. "Your P' didn't heat the food or cook for you?"
She pouted. "I told him that it's okay to leave me here because I want to help you. He said I need to wake you up at 12 to eat. You sleep like a log, P'Dome. So I just waited for you to wake up."
Guilty flowed on his face. "I am sorry, little girl. Come on, let's eat. Pad Thai or Khao Pad?"
We headed to the kitchen. "I want..." Chen put her forefinger on his head, maybe thinking what's best. "Pad Thai, P'Dome. I really want to eat that but P' didn't know how to cook it." She then smiled sheepishly..
He chuckles when Chen watches him with amusement and makes sounds when he stir or flip the food. Because forks and spoons were placed on the cabinet about Chen's height, she offered to arrange them on the table.
He's glad because Chen already knows simple chores like this or wiping the table, sweeping her room's floor, fixing her bed or even dressing herself up.
"Thank you, P'Dome! You're really amazing." She exclaimed when he put the food on the table. She brushed her two hands.
"You're welcome, little girl."
They ate in silence. After eating, he noticed uneasiness towards Chen. She will look at him and to his used plate back and forth.
"Hm, you want to say something?" Chen tensed up.
"Amh, Phi?"
"Hm?"
"Don't get mad okay? I—" She paused and smiled shyly. "I know this is too much but..."
"What is it, little girl?" He's getting nervous too. What if Chen was getting scared of being alone with him? Or she didn't like him after all?
"Can I call you mommy?" She blurted out fast.
He coughed continuously. 'What this kid was thinking?'
"W-Why would you want to call me...mommy?" He was sure, he kinda felt uncomfortable with the word mommy.
Chen smiled, innocently. "P'Aki treated me as her own daughter but P'Dome, the first time I met you I already got attached to you. I feel you as my mommy. I want a mommy P'Dome. But I can't say that to Phi, he will get sad. He might think that I don't need him anymore or he's not enough."
Sadness was written on her face. Pain striked on his chest. 'How this kid can say that, she's only five year old. But she thinks like an adult already.' He thought.
"Why did you say that, little girl? Your P' will understand you."
"I—I tried once. I asked Phi if I can have a mommy and he asked me back if he's not enough for me. He became sad after that. I don't want my Phi to be sad, he's all I have and I love him. I know it's hard for him to raise me without someone." Chen lowered her eyes to hide her tears.
Dome bit his lips. She's too young to think too much like this. He didn't know their story but he can feel that they have a big story behind it. He stood up and sat beside her. He cupped her chin and made her look up at him. He wiped her tears and hummed.
"Stop crying. It's natural for your P' to feel sad but for sure he really understands you. You can talk to him again if you're ready. Every child needs a mommy and it's not wrong for you to look for your mom's presence."
Chen pressed her lips thinly. She then smiled and nodded. "Thank you, P'."
He hugged her and received a hug too. "But P'Dome, my question earlier?"
He scratched his back head and thought wisely what to say. He doesn't want this little girl to be hurt. 'How can I answer that, right?'
He cleared his throat. "Little girl, you see me as a woman?"
Chen shook her head. "No, Phi! It's just that I can feel you as my mommy. Sorry for asking P'Dome. I won't ask that again." Chen honestly said. But her eyes say different. She looked sad.
He thinks hard before answering. "You can call me mommy. Don't cry na, na, na?" He then kissed her on her hair.
Shocked and happiness mixed on her face. She freed herself on his embrace and jumped with joy.
Her eyes were twinkling like stars. "Thank you, P'Dome! No. Thank you, mommy!" Dome was taken aback when Chen lifted her arms and snaked it on his neck then kissed both of his cheeks.
'Fuck! I think I'm more happy than her.' He cannot explain his feelings when he heard the word mommy. He knew that it sounds weird being called mommy because he's definitely a straight man but can't help feeling happy at the same time.
***
Dome was watching T.V with Chen. He scratched his head when Chen chose Barbie to watch. He used to watch action and thriller.
"Little girl, do you usually watch this with your Phi?"
"Yes mommy. But sometimes we watch horror movies."
Chen stood up only to sit on his lap. He stiffened, Chen was getting more comfortable on him. He laid his back on the coach, Chen laid her head on his chest.
"Mommy, thank you for coming to our life. You're the best gift I'd ever received."
Chen's sudden words made him melt. "And you too."
[Dallas: ขอบคุณมาก! ปลอดภัย. อยู่บ้านให้มากที่สุดเพราะไวรัส]