Coffee and Bliss novel Chapter 10

'How many times did he wake up in Tristan's room?' Harris asked himself.

He looked around and found no one inside. His head throbbed a little but surely he could now move properly. He fixed the bed before heading out. The whole room was so quiet. He wondered where Mia and Tristan were. He looked at the living room and kitchen but they were not there. The only option, he knocked on Mia’s room.

“Hello, P'Harris! How are you?” Mia 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'Harris? I am really hungry.” Mia made a circular movement on her stomach then he heard sounds on it.

He really looked confused. And it hit him when he glanced at the clock hanging on her wall. It was 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'Harris. So I just waited for you to wake up.”

Guilty struck on his face. “I am sorry, little girl. Come on, let’s eat. Pad Thai or Khao Pad?”

They headed to the kitchen. “I want...” Mia put her forefinger on her head, perhaps thinking what was best. “Pad Thai, P'Harris. I really want to eat that but P' didn’t know how to cook it.” She then smiled sheepishly.

He chuckled when Mia watched him with amusement and made sounds when he stirred or flipped the food. And as forks and spoons were placed on the cabinet about Mia’s reach, she offered to arrange them on the table.

He was glad because Mia already knew simple chores like that or wiping the table, sweeping her room’s floor, fixing her bed, or even dressing herself up.

“Thank you, P'Harris! 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 Mia. She would look at him and she used plate back and forth. 

“Hm, you want to say something?” Mia 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 was getting nervous too. What if Mia 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 kind of felt uncomfortable with the word mommy.