Chances

Chapter Five

David was tired when he stood up on his toes. He didn't know his body will ache that much. But he could feel the heavy pain at his back as if he had carried something heavy. His arms were hurting and it were as equal to how it felt like when he had to carry a drunk friend back home. He wasn't feeling sleepy yet and that was the problem.

Working had been his secret way out when there was something bothering him but what he didn't like, was when there were no more works to do. The pain that settled in his body was something he didn't like. And as at that moment he was feeling worse and his emotions weren't helping at all.

His hotel hosted a show they had been expecting for a week since he last saw the mother of his son and he decided to cook for his guests; hoping she'd be one of the guests since her song was to be played that day. He loved to cook and with his mother around, he'd do anything to have her cook with him in the kitchen.

It reminded him of when he was little. He'd play around the kitchen as his mother cooked and warned him about burning his fingers. He stayed beside his mother and learnt little by little, how foods were prepared.

He'd cook for everyone and they'd eat and ask for more. Some asked him what his secret weapon or ingredient was. But he'd tell them it was his mother's love, patience and attention.

It wasn't easy when he started. He'd burn the utensils and the food itself. Especially when he was with Dean. They would leave the kitchen unattended to after the mess they created in there. His mother would call after them to come and clean the kitchen only to tell her, it was her job.

His mother always smiled and shook her head while she cleaned their mess. She wondered when he'd learn to cook and clean the place as well.

But now, he could say his mother was proud of him as a chef. Not only as a chef, but as a son who was successful and determined to keep her happy until her last breath.

David dropped the napkin on the counter before leaving the kitchen. His other cooks and chefs liked it when he came to the kitchen. There was proper management when he was around. He'd mostly check the kitchen, the restaurant and the rest of the hotel to see if everything was going right.

But this time around, he was with them till the end. They'd smile at him once a while when their eyes met. He wouldn't say he was the strict boss. As long as they did their jobs well, he wouldn't call them to his office to lecture them.

He hardly interrupted what his employees did. He cared less as long as it didn't retire the productivity of his hotel and restaurant. On Fridays, he'd treat his employees and they'd have fun. He'd cook with them and eat with them. He was friendly with them and because of that, they loved him and wouldn't mind telling him when something was wrong with themselves or the workplace itself.

David walked into his lodge which was a little bit away from the resturant and the hotel but still on the same land. He slowly passed through the hall and meeting his mother, he drowned himself into the chair and asked for a drink. Which his mother didn't hesitate to bring him one.

His mother offered to massage him but he told her he'd take that after his bathe. He looked tired and the lines on his forehead drew deeper than it faintly did when he wasn't stressed out.

His friend; Dean emerged from the kitchen with sliced apples on a plate. He wasn't as calm as David was. He'd mostly come home with a beaten face only because he winked at a married woman. He was jovial and always pulling David's legs.

At some point, David complained about him being so different and foolish almost all the time. But as his mother had grown to love them both, she'd tell him it was OK to always have that friend who was like that.

Dean liked to cook too. He'd come up with ideas for new recipes. He didn't care whether it would upset their stomachs or whether it would be nice. All he cared was 'hey, I've come up with a new recipe!’

He had never stayed in his office. He'd rather jump from there to here to check up on things or hit on girls. Dean was known to be the best chef in there. Some hardly knew he was also the owner as David was.

David wouldn't say it was a problem sometimes but other times, he'd go crazy and when he complained, Dean would tell him to keep looking for his one afternoon stand; who was keeping and hiding his son instead.

“Hey brother. You really work your bones out. How is Marisca doing? Have you seen her after you met her last week?" Dean asked while picking another slice into his mouth.

David shook his head negatively as he sighed and looked at his mother who was starting to look angry. She had never liked Marisca from day one. It was not as if she could help it: the woman was keeping her from seeing her grandson.

“Then what are you going to do about that? Let your son go? You always let things go, but remember this is not a thing we are talking about. We are talking about a person born from your own hard work,” Dean laughed as he continued, "You don't need to look twice at that young boy to tell you he's yours. He's the little champion you used to be like. And you...”

“Yeah I get it. I get it," David interrupted him before he could say more. He didn't want his mother to hate Marisca more than she hated her.

He had already lied to her Marisca was a long time girlfriend he had dated years back.

His mother was so sure she was as bad as she imagined; considering he never brought her home for her to meet.

“I don't get it. I want to meet this lady," his mother finally barked. She was now anxious to see her. If the mountains wouldn't move to the sea, the sea would rather move to the mountain.

“As if that's easy. She's a celebrity and you would need their green card to see them. It's as complicated as their lives. Sorry buddy, I wouldn't wish to be in your shoes regardless how pretty she is and how nice her form is, I'd never wish for a celebrity for the mother of my child or children," Dean concluded. As playful as he was, he meant what he said.

“Exactly. And I don't even know when I'm going to meet her again. I don't know how I'll see and talk to her again. Leah isn't going to talk to me again. She warned me I should make everything clear when I see her at the awards night," David explained to them.

He threw his hands in the air to show his frustration. He didn't know what to do. He had tried to meet up with her again but it was to no avail. Leah had been avoiding him every time she saw him near her training court.

“Publish an article. The little boy has your eyes. He has that small lips of yours. His nose is exactly like yours, buddy even though yours has become a little bigger than it was when you were little. I'm sure he'll have the birthmark you have behind your back. It will take just me to take a video of you with my phone and straight, it will get everywhere. She'll have no choice than to double up the game which will lead to you both...”

Dean didn't need to finish before David smacked his head. He wouldn't do that to her. Threatening her is actually different from doing what you were threatening her with.

“I wouldn't do that to her. She'll hate me forever," he admitted. His voice was low and his mother was sure she could hear what her son felt for the young singer in his voice.

He was confused yet he wanted her. It wasn't going to be easy but she would do her best to make sure her son saw his son. Even though it was going to be difficult, she'd do it even if it took Dean's plan to make it work.

“Hah man! You are still thinking about the welfare of that selfish woman? Woah! You always have a kind heart. Wait, or you still feel something for her. Man, thank God you aren't like me. Such thing turns me off," what Dean said was to lighten the mood but it didn't work as well as he hoped for it to.

David's mother; Kourtney wasn't the type to have patience when it came to the distraction of her son. And she didn't like the way he was looking at the moment.

****

Later that night: Dean and David sat outside and feeling the cold breeze on their skin, they watched the stars quietly. Dean really wished he could do something for his friend.

To him, David had always been the guy who only thought of other people. He never for once thought about himself. And in that situation, it was clear he wanted his son. He wished he would wake up to know his son was close by.

He'd carry him everywhere and show people how much his champion was growing. He'd take him places during his holidays. He would teach him how to cook and how to manage on his own as he grew older.

Dean teared up when he imagined the little boy calling him uncle and telling him how badly he had missed him when he was in school.

He'd teach him how to woo girls and let them fall on their knees as he passed by. He would teach him how to call a girl without her saying no to his pretty face.

“Damn, it would've been nice if we had little kids running after each other while we sat here watching the stars," Dean commented as he wrapped his left arm around his friend's shoulders.

“As if I don't know what you are trying to do Dean," David whispered between his teeth.

They swang their legs front and back. Dean remembered when they'd play hide and seek around those areas. He knew his friend would be successful. His father left him a big land with a small house and a restaurant. But he grew up to turn that land into a hotel and renovated the house into a bigger one.

Of course he wouldn't have done that without his help. He'd bring up ideas which would work and never failed. He would work his muscles out to make sure both David and him had a share of hard work. They've been staying together and sharing the same mother ever since his dad died with Dean's parents in a severe car accident.

It was a chapter, Kourtney would never like to experience again. She had to stay back and take care of the little boys that day since there was no one to do so while they were gone. So she waited for them while she sang a lullaby to put the boys to sleep.

That night, they weren't drunk even though they drank a little too much but Dean's father didn't drink at all. He knew he was to drive and so he just took soft drinks.

Then their breaks couldn't work when they got to the traffic and they were meant to stop. It couldn't stop and there was no where to branch which only made them hit the car in front.

At that moment, they were OK: they looked OK. Except Dean's father, who was unconscious because his head had hit so hard on the wheel. Unfortunately, his airbag didn't burst open.

When those around gathered, the traffic was already green. And his unconscious body turned the wheel again after some few minutes and the car went ahead again with David's father screaming his name. He was at the back seat and he knew he would've done something if he were sitting beside him. And Dean's mother who was desperate beside her unconscious husband, tried to stop the car. She didn't know what to do and David's father confused her the more. She tried controlling the car but she didn't know how to drive. She was just turning the wheel which seemed impossible because her husband's head was on it and before they realized, they had hit another truck which had been packed for weeks.

Their car wind in circles so many times and at the time, the gas was already leaking. And with the last images of their sons playing together, both David's dad and Dean's mother prayed for the well-being of their only sons because they knew they were going to die.

But then at least Dean's father woke up. Holding his bleeding forehead, he smelt the gas leaking and he regretted changing the petrol for gas.

Dean's mother smiled at him and before he could say sorry, the car exploded and it tore their skins into pieces.

When David's mother was called to identify their bodies, she couldn't. Their bodies were smashed and burnt. But even with their dismantled bodies, she knew the bodies belonged to her husband and best friends.

She was sad. She cried until she couldn't cry anymore. She didn't know what to do. Everyone thought she was going mad. She'd laugh at times and suddenly cry all of a sudden.

She didn't realize she was hurting the boys who were constantly asking about the whereabout of their dads and mother.

Everyone thought she was lucky. She stayed at home taking care of the boys since they couldn't sleep. She volunteered to stay over and watch them sleep.

She wished she died with her husband. She wasn't thinking about the young boys who cried whenever they saw everyone else crying.

But then one night, she tried taking her own life when Dean told her sorry after suddenly emerging from her back. He was apologizing because he heard one of the well wishers telling a group of people it was his father who was behind the wheel.

Dean told her sorry and the pills she held in her palms fell. She didn't understand why the young boy said sorry to her. She was shocked as he constantly said that word.

He continued by telling her he knew she wouldn't like him again because his dad sent David's father and his own mother and his father himself to heaven without saying goodbye.

That was when Kourtney's mind came back home. She embraced him and told him she didn't hate him. She assured him she loved him as much as she loved her own son.

She cried and she promised them on the time of their burial she'd take care of the two boys and they'd never lack anything. And she was proud they turned out to be handsome and useful men in the society.

****

David and Dean smiled at each other as Dean opened his mouth to say something. David knew what Dean would say would probably be nonsense.

“Or should I seduce that lady, what's her name? Linda?" He questioned his own lips. He had forgotten her name already.

“She's called Leah and I'm sure she'll be kicking your ass straight to the kitchen. She's strong and the face she makes all the time, sends me back to hide by mother's side," David seriously joked.

“Such a baby. You wait until I have her underneath me, she'll never leave and will start begging for more," Dean bragged to his friend.

“All the best buddy. Don't say I didn't warn you. I'm off to bed. See you when I wake up. And thanks for this chat, it helped calm me down. Thanks a lot," he showed his gratitude which was starting to annoy Dean.

“Heish! Go and sleep. You are talking nonsense," he also told as he got down and started walking towards the door.

With their last look at each other, they both went to their separate rooms and closed the door behind them. They knew it was going to be another day tomorrow.