"Is that really what happened to Nicky, brother?" Julie asked quietly.
Chris had just finished telling her what Jonathan shared about Nicole's past. He simply nodded.
His little sister sighed. Chris understood Jonathan now—the way he had to stay strong for his family after losing their father.
The sad thing is… they were still children, he thought.And suddenly, another fear crept in.
What if Mom fell in love again? Would we even stop her? Would we let it happen?He sighed.
"Julie," he began, "it's just a what-if question… but if someday a man came along who truly made Mom happy, what would you do?"
Julie's eyes widened. She scratched her head, thinking hard.
"I've thought about that too, brother. If someone made her happy again… could we accept it? Or would we go against her? It's such a hard question," she admitted.
"Yeah. But what if it really happens?" Chris pressed gently. "If Mom introduces someone new one day… what then?"
"I don't know," Julie said honestly. "I'm not looking for a new dad. We only have one. But… if Mom is truly happy, then maybe we should accept it. After everything she sacrificed for us when Dad passed, she deserves happiness too."
Chris nodded.
"Yeah, but it'll still be hard. So many things to worry about—will she be safe? Will she be secure? Can we trust the man? I just don't want to see Mom hurt."
"That scares me too," Julie murmured.
Just then, their mother called them from downstairs.
"Let's go?" Chris asked.
Julie nodded.
They went down and found their mom setting the dinner table. She'd just arrived home from work. With no helpers around, it was always just the three of them.
"Smells good," Julie said, inhaling deeply.
Their mother laughed as they all sat down. Dinner was quiet for a moment.
"My," Chris called softly.
She looked at him. "What is it, dear?"
"How was work today?" he asked with a smile.
She narrowed her eyes. "Is that really what you wanted to ask me, Chris? Or is there something else?"
Sharp as always, Chris thought.
"My… is someone courting you at work?" he asked.
"I knew it! You already asked me that during the camping trip," she scolded lightly.
"I just want to know—so we can prepare ourselves if someone is making you happy," he said.
"There's none. And if there was, I turned him down."
"You don't want to give him a chance?" Julie asked.
"No," their mother replied, scratching her head. "I don't feel anything for him, no matter how persistent he is."
"So someone is courting you?" Chris teased with a grin.
"You two are so nosy! Yes, someone is—but I'm not interested. I always end up comparing them to your father. You know how madly in love I was with him. No one can ever take that place."
So blunt… just like Julie, Chris thought, smiling.
"I'll always be your father's wife," she said firmly. "He's the only one I was ever weak for. That's why you two exist." She raised an eyebrow at them.
Chris laughed.
"If only your dad hadn't gotten sick… maybe Julie would've had a younger sibling by now," she teased.
"That would've been fine with me," Julie muttered.
"So, why bring this up again?" their mom asked.
"It's just a what-if," Chris explained. "What if someday you wanted to find love again? It's difficult for us to accept. We're selfish… but we also worry about your happiness and safety."
Julie added, "Yeah. But if you did decide to be with someone, please tell us right away—so we can see for ourselves. We don't want to be the villains in our own mom's love story."
Their mother chuckled softly.
"You'll never be villains. Your father is enough man for me. And besides, why look for someone else? You two are the greatest gifts he left me. I'm happy with my life now. Yes, I miss him, but that's life—I still have children to raise."
"You really loved Daddy so much, Mom," Julie said.
"Of course. Would I marry him if I didn't? Would I carry you both if I didn't love him? No way. I was weak only for him."
They laughed as their mother began telling—yet again—the love story she and their father always proudly shared.
It really was a cute love story. She never hid the fact that she fell in love at first sight. Chris smiled at the thought.
It was thanks to her best friend—Cielo's mother—that she met their father. Her best friend had been dating Cielo's dad and introduced her to her classmate—Chris and Julie's dad.
"You must be grateful to your best friend, Mom. Because of her, you met Dad," Chris said, laughing.
"Yes," she agreed. "I thought no man would ever like me. I even envied her relationship. But then I met your dad."
"You fell for him right away, didn't you?"
"I still played hard-to-get. But when he started courting me, I eventually said yes."
"That was fast," Julie teased.
"Well, we both knew where we were headed. That's why I fell so hard."
"Mom's a one-man woman," Julie said proudly.
"Of course. No third-party issues. Your dad was trustworthy."
"Alright, Mommy. Lucky in love, talaga," Chris said.
"So don't rush into it, Julie," he added teasingly.
"Why am I dragged into this?"
"Because you were weak-hearted too, back then."
Julie glared—and stayed quiet.
"Well, if nothing else," their mother said suddenly, "I might just agree with my best friend's idea."
Chris frowned. "And what idea is that, Mom?"
"If Julie doesn't find a man by the time she's twenty, she'll marry Cielo."
Julie choked on her food, coughing as she grabbed water.
"You agree with that?" Chris asked, stunned.
"Yes. Twenty is old enough. If she finds no one, Cielo will be her husband."
"Mom! Does he even know about this?! Why am I only hearing this now?" Julie cried.
"He knows. Oh—right, I forgot to tell you. Time is precious, dear. You really are destined to marry your childhood friend."
"Unbelievable! What if he likes someone else?"
"Then you'll stay single," her mother replied calmly.
"Mom! What if Julie is the one in love with him?" Chris teased.
"Well, that's fine too. Wait—are you saying Julie is in love with Ciel?" their mother asked, curious.
"Maybe. Maybe not. But they get along really well," Chris said.
"Brother! Can't we just be friends first?" Julie snapped.
"He's your childhood friend. And I can already tell—you're starting to like him," Chris said, smirking.
Julie's cheeks turned crimson.
Their mother raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"I'll wash the dishes!" Julie blurted, standing abruptly.
Her brother and mother burst into laughter as she stomped away.
I knew it, Chris thought. She's slowly developing feelings for Cielo.
He helped his mother clean up afterward, quietly smiling.
Our lives are an open book. We don't hide things in this family. Mom and Dad raised us to speak about our feelings—big or small. That's why it's easy for us to notice when something's wrong.
He exhaled softly.
I'm glad Mom has no plans of remarrying.