50. Keya

I'm chugging my second coffee of the day, I didn't get much sleep from last night. Probably because the whole night all I was thinking is Tyler, and Sky happened to wake up as early as four!

My morning classes were dragging for forever, and I even felt like I didn't do any justice on the topic I tackled during my lectures. I'm trying to discuss as fast as I could since midterms are next week, so I need to finish making exams and at the same time finalize my dissertation in graduate school so that I'll have my thesis defense right before the finals looms in.

After dismissing my last morning class, I immediately head straight to the faculty lounge to go grab some brunch. I'm totally starving! I wasn't able to eat breakfast, I wasn't even able to take a bath because I was already late. Coming from Tyler's house, I went home to my apartment to change my clothes, grab my things and went here in school.

I even felt like I look like a massive trash as of the moment. I hate it when I don't have a proper sleep, and unable to do my usual morning routines.

If it's not because of the reason that I totally love my son, I won't agree on sleeping at Tyler's house. But Sky wants it too bad, and seeing him enjoying his dad's company melts my heart because I know that he really wants to have a father himself and a complete family although me and Tyler aren't romantically involve. We're just co-parenting at the moment. Speaking of which, I fished my phone out of my bag and threw Tyler a text asking if how is Sky.

The two coffees I consumed is successful in waking me up and giving me a bit of energy as I walk my way heading to the lounge. As I near the said lounge, I stopped on my tracks.

It's Thomas...

This is the first time I saw him in campus after hearing the news that he just got back from who knows where and became the new chairperson of the science department. The last time we saw each other was few weeks right before I leave three years ago, he was one of the people I confessed about me getting knocked up before and he became a good friend right after he knew that.

My heart beats faster the closer I get. I’m trying to decide if I should say hi or just nod in greeting but then he solved the little problem by saying hi to me first.

"Hey Keya!"

I smiled trying to be calm as much as possible. "Thomas! Long time no see!"

He gave me a quick hug chuckling. "I know! How are you? It's really nice to see you back here again."

"I'm good. And likewise! By the way, congratulations with the promotion."

He smiles. "Thank you! I'm really glad to see you. We didn't get the chance to bond that much the last time we saw each other."

I smiled. "I know right... Guess because of the fact that I was a bit fragile that time due to my pregnancy."

"Yeah, speaking of which how's the motherhood life?" He asks.

"A bit stressful during the first few months but I got used to it. Sky is pretty much the sweetest kid on earth."

"That's really good to know." Thomas commented still plastering his cute smile that makes his dimples flash in front of my eyes that I couldn't help but stare.

Thomas is the boyfriend I've never had. Maybe, if I didn't got knocked up we probably have officially became a couple. We went on several dates before but it just didn't happen.

"What about the baby daddy? Are you guys together by no--"

The phone on my hand then suddenly rings which made me flinch. I mentally groaned for the interruption and as I read the caller ID on the screen, it's Tyler calling.

"Excuse me, I have to take it!"

"Hello Tyler, what's up? How's Sky?" I ask him immediately trying to make the conversation fast so that I can continue chatting with Thomas.

"He's at the pool with mom. He's clearly having a blast playing with my dogs too." Tyler says.

"You're letting him play with your dogs?" I ask worried that my son might get hurt or what not.

"Oh don't worry, they're very gentle." Tyler replies and Thomas who's standing in front of me excused himself using only his hands telling me that he'll leave.

I wanted to stop him, or even stop the call but it'll just be weird and seems desperate. So I just nodded at him.

"I'll see you around!" I told him.

"See you!" Thomas says and walks away.

"Who are you talking to? Who was that?" Tyler asks on the phone.

"Oh sorry, it was Thomas." I answered him. "By the way, don't let him stay long in the pool. He might catch a cold."

"Okay, no problem." Tyler answers. "Anyway, how's your friend Thomas doing in there?"

I furrowed my brows totally wondering when the hell did he became interested with Thomas, but then I still answered his question. "He is a faculty member of the university too."

"Cool." Tyler said taking him few seconds right before talking again. "What  time are you done at work?"

"Around four. I'll just ride a cab and pick Sky later."

"I'll just come and pick you up myself." He offered and I immediately noticed a shift on his tone, a bit commanding.

"Oh no, it's fine you don't have to."

"I insist." He says. "I'll just call you. See you later!"

"Right, see you!"

And then I ended the call and continue to go walk to the lounge felt a bit weirded out about Tyler. Oh well! Maybe it's his usual personality coming out.

Hoping he'll hide that attitude away from my son, or else I will totally kick his ass.

--

After my last period class, Tyler texted saying that he is already on the campus parking lot waiting for me. He's a bit early if I must say, I expected him to be here at least not in a few minutes.

As I walk out of the office heading to the parking lot, Thomas also went out of his office across from ours coincidentally.

"Oh hi stranger! Going home already?" He says walking with me heading to the parking lot.

"Yeah, do you have a ride? I can drive you home." He offered.

"Well, maybe next time." I said because I don't want to decline, but instead, I wanted him to give a message that he can drive me some time soon but as of now, I happen to have one.

"Keya!"

I swallow a groan at the cheerful interruption from—who else—Tyler. A slight frown appeared on Thomas' lips as Tyler walks up to us, but then he smiles and nods at the intruder.

"How's your day?" Tyler asks and surprisingly planted a quick kiss on my cheeks that I didn't see coming.

I don’t miss the strange look Thomas shoots in our direction, or the flicker of displeasure in his eyes, but I still managed to give Tyler a quick awkward smile.

Tyler nods at Thomas. "Thomas, right? I'm Tyler." He says introducing himself and offered his hands for a handshake.

Thomas nodded accepting his hands and shook it. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Tyler nodded and turned his attention to me. "Ready to go?"

I only nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow Thomas!"

Thomas only smiled at me nodding as Tyler and I walk towards his car. I couldn't help but feel uneasy, Tyler's gesture was a bit surprising. Was he threatened? Or what its just me?

When I hop inside the car, I can't help but stare at him completely wondering what's going on inside his mind right now. When he catches me looking at him, he raised his eyebrows.

"What?" He innocently asks.

"You're weird today." I commented without playing on the bush.

He chuckled as he starts the engine. "What do you mean by that?"

"I  don't know." I said shrugging and just decided to just change the topic to ignore Tyler's weirdness at the moment. "By the way, where's Sky?"

"I dropped him off at your apartment right before I came here. He's quite exhausted and have been sleeping since two p.m.." He answers.

I nodded. "Well it's nice to know that you guys are bonding. Well, you should enjoy the next few days of being together right before Sky goes back to Edinburgh."

After saying that Tyler stepped on the breaks right away.

"No." Tyler announces.

"What?"

"You can't let him go back." Tyler says.

"Why can't I?" I answered. "My family is flying back to Edinburgh next week. They'll bring Sky with them since I can't take care of him because I am working."

"No. He'll stay here." Tyler says. "Aren't you missing him?"

"Of course I do."

"Then let him stay here. I'll take care of him while you're at work."

"But you have a job too." I rebutted. "Don't tell me you'll cancel practice, meeting or whatever for Sky."

Tyler nodded. "Of course I'll do it!"

I sighed. "I'll think about it."

"No. You don't have to think about it because I want him to stay here with me, with us!" Tyler firmly says. "Edinburgh is way too far Keya, I can't live with that! I'll promise to take care of him while you're working. I'm currently on the break anyway."

"Fine." I agreed. "I'll tell mom."

Edinburgh is indeed very far to be away with my son, and I hate the feeling of missing him all the time. Tyler's offer is very convenient for me, very convenient. How can I say no? I surely can't say no because it is beneficial for the both of us.

"Thank you!" Tyler says and starts the car again. "Any plans on living again with me?"

"Absolutely not." I immediately replied. "Sky and I are totally good staying in my apartment."

"But its actually much better if you'll just stay there s--"

"No Seguin, we're good. Seriously." I firmly said.

I don't want to live on a same roof with him, it'll just be weird. Even if he made a room and a garden for me, made a room for Sky... it won't still convince me to come stay with him again.

I don't like the idea of living together as a family when the truth is we are most certainly not. We are just co-parenting, that's just it!