"I am Chris Logan. I am your father."
What the heck?!
Whose father are you?
Her father?
Kira was speechless. Her mother had never told her about her father.
Well, she didn't ask.
Although, she wanted to doubt the man, her resemblance with him was too glaring and too obvious. Still in thoughts, the man's name suddenly rang a bell.
Chris Logan?!
The famous lawyer who had never failed a case? That was her role model! He was her father? No! She refuse to a stranger's word.
The man noticed the expression on her face and frowned. Why didn't Hua'er tell their daughter about him? Will his daughter like him for been absent in her life? Actually, he was not absent. He was watching and caring for her in the shadows. They had too many enemies and he wanted to protect them. Finally, their enemies were all convicted and dead and he decided to bring the mother and daughter duo so they can live together as a family once again.
"Kira, when you get home, ask your mom about me", he broke the silence.
"You are not my father", Kira remarked. She paid no attention to the man's earlier comment.
Chris smiled as he packed the car by the side of the road. If one looked closely, they would notice the pain behind the smile.
"We are at your house"
Kira looked and indeed they were at her house. How did he know her house?
"Thanks. May we not meet again", was all she said as she walked into the house.
Looking at her departing figure, Chris' eyes were filled with pain.
When her mother had returned and they had dinner, Kira called for her mother's attention.
"Mom, please who is my father?"
Chu Hua was genuinely shocked. She had waited for years yet had never heard that question. What happened today?
"Kira, why are you asking?"
"Mom, are you hiding something from me?", Kira answered her mother's question with a question of hers.
Chu Hua ignored her daughter as she stared blankly at a portrait. It was a portrait of her and Kira.
Yes! She was hiding something. She didn't want her only child to be heart broken.
"Kira dear, you will meet your father one day."
-----
Hours turned into days and days turned into weeks. Kira had realised her mother's weird behaviour since she asked about her father. Every day, her mother came back with smiles and gifts items and was always close to her phone, waiting for a particular call.
One blessed day, Kira stared absentmindedly at her mother. Chu Hua was surprised. She had noticed her daughter's abnormal behaviour since she returned from school.
"Kira, what is the matter?"
Silence.
"Kira?!"
Another silence.
"Kira?!''
The final call startled Kira back to conciousness.
"Mom. You startled me''.
"Really?!"
Kira was silent. Hearing her mother's tone, she knew she had been deep in thought.
"What's the problem, baby? Tell your sweetheart''.
Kira looked at her mother with a pout. For the past two weeks, her mother's countenance changed. She looked like a woman in love.
Don't ask her how she knew!
''Mommy, will you abandon me?"
It was Chu Hua's turn to be startled. What nonsense was her daughter thinking? Why in the world will she abandon her baby?
"Why are you asking such senseless question?''
Kira refused to answer. She just folded her arms and looked through the window.
"Kira, why not tell me the reason you have such silly thought", Chu Hua said, as she got up to get a glass of water.
"Mom, you have a lover", Kira stated plainly.
Puh!
Chu Hua spat out the water in her mouth onto the tiled floor.
"Kira!"
"Mom", Kira's voice sounded.
Chu Hua bursted into laughter as she pulled her daughter gently into her embrace.
"Baby, I have been in love for twenty-two years".