At three in the afternoon, I dropped them off at home. "Lily, listen to mommy at home!"
The little girl nodded, a bit unhappy. "Does this mean I can't call you daddy anymore?"
For a moment, I didn't know how to respond and looked to Kristina.
Kristina looked at me. "Would you be willing to accept Lily as your goddaughter?"
I was momentarily stunned. Accept her as my goddaughter? The idea was sound, indeed. The notion of being called "Dad" at this juncture seemed rather premature.
"Okay," I responded with a nod. Should my relationship with Kristina evolve, the child wouldn't have to alter their address for me.
Upon my acquiescence, Kristina's spirits visibly soared. "Then stay for dinner tonight!" she proposed.
Lily, too, was elated. She clung to me, pleading to be lifted, and without hesitation, she called me "Dad." I found myself unable to resist her innocent request.
After a hearty meal, I bid them adieu and retreated to the sanctuary of my home.
Once ensconced in the familiar surroundings, I found myself reflecting on the recent events. They seemed almost surreal in retrospect.
Suddenly, I remembered my neglected private account. It had been two days since I had last logged in.
Upon signing in, a deluge of messages filled my screen. sex maniac had left dozens, and Melody had sent a handful.
sex maniac: [Darling, are you still busy?]
sex maniac: [Darling, you've been silent all day.]
sex maniac: [It's only been two days, have you grown tired of me? (Crying face)]
Upon seeing Jessica's messages, I hastily typed out a response.
low-key guy: [Sorry, I've been tied up at an event for the past couple of days and barely had a chance to check my phone. It just concluded.]
Having dispatched the message, I turned my attention to Melody's messages.
Melody: [Hi, low-key guy, are you there?]
Melody: [I encountered a minor issue during my workout today, can you help me?]
Attached was a photo of Melody, seated on a yoga mat, clad in ultra-short shorts and a midriff-baring crop top.
There was also a video of her performing planks, her breath slightly labored. "low-key guy, is my form correct?"
Her breath, her form, it stirred something within me.
Noticing that the most recent message was sent a mere two hours ago, I copied the message I had sent to Jessica and forwarded it to Melody.
Within minutes, Melody responded.
Melody: [Oh, I thought you found me bothersome!]
low-key guy: [Far from it. It's an honor to be sought after by a beauty such as yourself!]
Melody responded with a blushing emoji.
Melody: [You certainly have a way with words!]
Just as I was about to reply, another message arrived.
Melody: [low-key guy, can I video call you?]
Without waiting for my response, a video call request popped up.
Well, if she wanted to video call, so be it. However, she didn't ask if I wanted to!
I hesitated briefly. My initial instinct was to decline, but instead, I swiftly removed my shirt, revealing my chiseled abs, and splashed some water on myself to give the impression of a recent workout.
Upon accepting the call, I was greeted by Melody's face on the screen. She seemed to have just completed her workout, her cheeks flushed, a delicate collarbone peeking from beneath her fair neck.
"Ah, low-key guy, why are you shirtless?"
I flashed a mischievous grin, cleared my throat and responded in a deep, resonant voice. "Oh, I was just working out!"
In the video, Melody shielded her eyes. Upon hearing my explanation, she couldn't resist sneaking a peek through her fingers. Evidently, my abs had piqued her interest.
"Why are you covering your eyes? What's wrong with this?"
"I just feel somewhat embarrassed!"
Despite her words, Melody lowered her hand. "low-key guy, why can't I see your face?"
"I'm not prepared to reveal my face just yet."
Women, I'd found, were often more curious than men, and the less I revealed, the more intrigued she would be.
"May I see it?"
"The timing isn't right. When the moment is appropriate, I'll show you."
I gently rebuffed her request.
"Alright then," Melody conceded, a hint of disappointment in her voice. However, she quickly diverted the conversation to fitness-related queries. Having some experience in the field, and armed with the eloquence honed in the marketing department, I engaged her with a blend of humor and wit.
As was my habit, I subtly shifted the conversation towards her personal life. She was surprisingly forthcoming, offering even more detail than before.
"I actually like a more assertive man, someone strong and decisive. Perhaps it's because my life has been meticulously planned by my parents since childhood. I'm not adept at making my own decisions."
Could this be a case of big boobs without brains?
"Be it in life or work, I hope you can guide me. I also relish the dominant sensation of being forcefully kissed."
Blushing, she added, "low-key guy, don't make fun of me. I yearn for love, but my family forbids it. In a family like mine, I'm not permitted to make decisions regarding my own marriage, so I can only dream."