80: Was it because of me?

Was it because of me?

2"Where are we going?"1

Heaven smiled as she glanced at Sebastian beside her. Fortunately, Dominic was quick to hire a driver for her. She didn't know about it until she asked around if someone could drive her and Sebastian somewhere. Thus, they didn't have any problem in pushing through their date. 

"A few days ago, I went to the mall and found this good bakeshop," she explained, unable to hide her excitement. "I brought home a few, but you weren't there. So I thought it would be a good place to have some snacks since it will be a long day."

"Oh…" Sebastian rocked his head in understanding.

"Moreover, I'm craving some of their tarts." Heaven's smile stretched into a grin. "Do you like tarts? Or any bread in particular?"

"I don't hate them." 

"That's good enough then."

Sebastian kept his eyes on his mother and the smile on her face. Seeing that smile that was glued on her face since they agreed to go out together, he didn't realize the subtle smile that turned up on his face.

A day with his mother…

Sebastian set his eyes on the window on his side, smiling subtly. His usual poker face — which everyone thought he inherited from his father — was softer than usual. Even though their destination didn't enter the category of his standard of fun, he was looking forward to it. 

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"This…" Sebastian admitted he was looking forward to what impressed his mother for her to think of this place as their first destination. However, he didn't expect such a scenario. "... are you planning to take home the rest?"

"Huh?"

"Can you eat everything?" he asked before his eyes fell on the variety of bread on the table. 

Their table was full! There were only two of them. Who would eat all of this? For sure, Sebastian couldn't eat everything. His max would be two or three cupcakes; more than that, he would have a tummy ache. 

"No, not everything." Heaven chuckled. "I didn't know which one you like, so I got everything. We can eat as much as we can, then take home the rest. So don't worry. We're not wasting food."

That wasn't his concern, but Sebastian kept his thoughts to himself. 

"So?" Her eyes twinkled in anticipation, clasping her hands together. "Which one do you like?"

"Uhm…" Sebastian's eyes glossed over the pieces of bread on the table. Just the sight of them overwhelmed him. He felt full just looking at them.

"I don't know." He shrugged, raising his eyes back to her. "What do you recommend?"

His question put her in a good mood as if she sincerely liked his question.

"This egg pie is really good." Heaven pointed at the slice of the pie, grinning. "I had two of those the first time. They aren't too sweet or bland. Just enough sweetness you'll not get tired of."

"Oh." Sebastian rocked his head, but before he could reach for it, Heaven hurriedly put it in front of him. 

"Try it!" Her teeth shone a little, making her countenance even brighter. "Tell me if you like it."

If he didn't know better, he would think she owned the establishment. Sebastian took the fork, sliced a small portion of the pie, and shoved it into his mouth. As he chewed, he peeked at Heaven, only to see the latter waiting for a reaction with bated breaths. 

What was she so excited about?

"So?" Her brows rose. "Did you like it?"

"Mhm." A short hum answered her. "It's good."

"How about this one?" Heaven pointed at the cupcake next to the egg pie. "This one is good too."

"Okay." This time, Sebastian simply had to move his fork to the cupcake, since it was near. He only ate a small portion, nodding in satisfaction as if he was some sort of judge or something. 

Heaven continuously recommended other desserts, and Sebastian abided until the fifth one. 

"This one is good too!" Heaven slid another small cake to him, nodding encouragingly. 

"If I taste everything, then we can no longer take them home." Sebastian blinked, a little concerned. "It'll be embarrassing to give away foods that were already eaten."

"I will eat them!" she immediately returned. "Don't worry about it. I told you. This will be a long day. We might even finish all of them before the day ends."

"..." His small lips parted, but then he decided to shut them again. Was she serious? There was no way they could finish all of this, even if they have two days! He didn't argue, though. 

"I'll just eat this one." Sebastian pointed at the egg pie; the first one he ate. "I don't think I will appreciate the taste of other desserts because of the different taste I already had."

"Oh, alright. No problem!" Heaven didn't argue. "Anyway, which one you don't think you'll eat?"

"Hmm?"

"You haven't tasted the rest, so I'll eat those you don't like."

"Why? Do you like them?"

"I like desserts!" Like a kid excited for a dessert galore, her excitement almost exploded in the establishment. Not that it was a bad thing. If anything, it was contagious.

"This one. I don't like it that much." Sebastian pointed at the cupcake, and in a blink of an eye, it disappeared from its spot. He only saw it a second later, and it was already sitting in front of his mother. "You really like desserts, huh?"

"I used to think that when I have free time, I will learn to bake." Her high energy slowly went down as she calmed down a bit. "Sadly, I didn't have time."

"Was it because of me?"

"Hmm?"

"You said you didn't have time back then. Was it because you got pregnant? That is why you didn't have time to learn to bake?"

For a moment, Heaven was speechless by such a direct question. 

"No, of course not!" Heaven shook her head, looking at him straight in the eye. "Sebastian, that is not the reason I didn't learn to bake. It was because I got sick, so my hands were full because of the treatments."

"I see." Sebastian didn't react too much as he continued with his food. 

"Basti," she called, waiting for him to raise his head again. 

When Sebastian locked eyes with her, all he saw was her gentle smile. Her eyes were soft as if she only needed a little push for her to jump over the table and embrace him. 

"Did I mention that I was sick back then?" she inquired, and he nodded in answer. "That's not a lie, Basti. I was very, very sick back then. Why Mommy was like that in the past and everything that had happened up until now… it was never Basti's fault."

Heaven lowered her head, arms crossed against the edge of the table. "None of them was your fault, okay?"

"If that is what you say." He shrugged, trying his best to act neutral. 

Whether he admitted it or ignore it, her constant reassurance, gentleness, and sincerity were growing on him. He just hadn't noticed yet, nor did she, but Sebastian was perfectly aware of his growing attachment. 

"Anyway, shall we eat?" Heaven proposed, and he nodded.

With that being said, the two of them ate in peace. Heaven didn't allow silence to take charge between them, talking nonstop. It didn't take long before Sebastian found her inkling towards baking interesting. Without knowing it, he grew more at ease with her, talking more freely than he ever did to anyone. 

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