Chapter 1 Remembering A Childhood Friend

Kristina Lee is a single mother of a bright 7-year-old boy who embraced all the hardship in life alone. She has a beautiful smiling face with a sexy body and is a smart fashionable woman who works as a Branch Manager in a well-known Apparel and Fashion Brand.

She works very hard and doesn't have time to entertain any man for a romance. She is happy and content with what she has at the moment.

One day, while scrolling through her social media, there is a friend request from her former elementary classmate, a childhood friend, Nathaniel Montevista. 

He is their classroom President and first honor student when they were in Grade 1 while Kristina was their second honor and his Vice President in the class. Being known Kristina, she accepted the friend request then.

A message immediately pops up.

"Hi, is this Kristina? Kristina Lee?", messaged Nathaniel.

"Yes I am. ", Kristina replied.

"Wow, you look so gorgeous. I didn't recognize you at first. I even asked Elaine, our classmate also if it is you!

A smile appeared on her face. "Well, I am just an ugly duckling before right, haha, good thing there are lots of beauty products nowadays plus a filter haha!"

"Great! Thankful with social media, I've found you," Nathaniel said.

"I didn't even recognize you as well, you look great. You are not good-looking before haha," Kristina said.

"I just remember you are so skinny before. Cute but petite. You looked so beautiful Tin.", Nathaniel excitedly said. He used to call her Tin when they were young.

"Things changed, time changed, everything changed for good," she said.

___________

Kristina and Nathaniel were classmates during their elementary days. They were seatmates and playmates. Nathaniel was Kristina's protector from their bullying classmates. They were both top students in their class, Nathaniel as top 1 and Kristina as top 2. They even partnered in different school activities. They were very close to each other. 

Nathaniel then used to fetch Kristina from their home and they both went to school together. he also sent her home after school.

Nathaniel remembered he said to Kristina before "When we grow up I will take care of you."

When they were in Grade Five, Kristina transferred to another school and applied for a scholarship. 

Everything changed then. New school, new environment, new classmates...

Their communication ended, there were no cell phones yet, and no social media.

They both became busy with their respective studies and different environment.

_______

They chat and share stories of their childhood until it's already night.

Seems there will be a romance coming up.

Kristina, also known as Tin, started to smile now every time her mobile phone vibrated. Most of the messages being received from Tin are coming from her work and her child's school before. Now someone is making her smile every time a message pops up.

"Time to sleep, thanks Nats," a smile appeared on Kristina's beautiful face. "It's so nice meeting you again on social media haha."

"Good night Tin. Sweet dreams," Nathaniel said.

Kristina then sleeps well after a while.

Nathaniel's POV:

"I will take care of you, Tin," Nathaniel said after putting his mobile phone on his deck. 

"This time, I won't lose you anymore," he said.

After he learned the hardships of Kristina being a single mother, he appreciates her more. He aimed to protect Tin and her child more.

Nathaniel is still a bachelor at the age of 25. No girlfriend so far. He is the only son of his parents. He has his mother only. His father died five years ago. He was on board since he was 23 years old and he had already some investments and properties from his hard work.

He will bridge the gap between childhood to the present.

__________

A loud sound of an alarm awakens Kristina at 4 a.m. She immediately got up and fixed her bed. She proceeds to the kitchen and prepares breakfast for her son Jude, a 7-year-old cutie little boy. Afterward, she wakes up Chad already.

"Chad, hurry you will be late. School time once again son" She hurriedly carries her son on her shoulders and puts him into a bath. 

By 6 o'clock, the mother and child are now leaving their apartment.

Kristina drove her car and sent his son to school.

"Chad, study well son. I'll pick you up this afternoon after I work okay," Kristina kissed them and left his son his school. 

"Okay Mom, I'll wait for you then. I love you. Take care Mom." then the cute little boy runs to his classroom already.

Upon reaching her workplace. She placed her laptop and checked her mobile phone. There are about 25 messages already.

"Hi Tin, are you busy? Good morning," message from Nathaniel.

A smile suddenly appeared on her beautiful face. "Just arrived at the office now. I'll be busy with my work, regards," she replied happily.

Nathaniel's POV:

Upon seeing Kristina's reply, Nathaniel smiles. He is happy now working onboard. His boredom suddenly lifts ups. He felt so amazingly great having a chat with his childhood sweetheart.

He even put Kristina's selfie photo on his mobile's wallpaper. He grabbed it from her F******k photo gallery. He loves seeing her beautiful face.

"Good morning my Dear Tin," he said on his mobile phone's screen.

Kristina's POV:

"Why is it I have this feeling of excitement every time I got a message from Nathaniel? Haast," she asked herself.

She is now romantically excited every time her mobile phone vibrates.

__________

After her work, she fetches her child from school.

"Mommy!" Chad approached her immediately after she stepped in front of him.

"How's my baby?" Kristina kissed her son on his chubby cheeks. Chad kissed her Mommy's cheek as well.

"I'm good Mom, I behaved so well." He hugged his mother so tight.

They walked together to the parking lot of the school.

Chad's POV :

At a very young age, Chad is fully aware already of their Mother and Son's setup. He is also aware that he has a father but left them too early. He is praying for his Mommy to have someone who will take good care of her too. He wants his mother to be happy and be with someone who will be called her husband and his Daddy. Chad is quite envious of his classmates with complete families every time there is a school activity. He cannot demand it from his Mother since he already knew their situation. But then there are times that he is longing for a father. How he wishes he has a father who would accompany him and his mother.

Back to reality:

"Mommy?" Chad asks her mother since her Mom seems to be thinking while driving.

"Yes son.," Kristina said to her son. " Are you hungry? We can have a drive-thru at Mc Donalds if you want.

Chat shouts excitedly. "Yes Mommy I Want Chicken Nuggets, Spaghetti, and French Fries,".

"Alright.!" 

Kristina drove at Mc Donalds and brought Chad's requests. 

Upon arrival at their apartment, her messenger pops up and she saw Nathaniel's message. "Hi Tin, I hope you are doing well. Keep safe and go home early. Regards to Chad." a smile appears on Kristina's face. "Sometimes it's quite so nice reading sweet messages. "Kristina said to herself.

"Just got home, thank you, Nats," she smiles while replying to him. 

Then a picture of Nathaniel at the deck has been sent to Kristina's mobile," Hey, it's our view deck here in Morocco," there's a caption below the picture.  Nathaniel looks so different when we were young. He is so handsome.

"You look so handsome, Nats. Doing great," Kristina said. "Thank you. You are amazingly beautiful Tin," said Nathaniel.

"Haha I know right," Kristina laughing replied.  "Seems we are connecting our elementary days now. We've lost our high school and college days. I've missed your teenage years Tin," Nathaniel said.

"If only I'd met you then, I'll court you," Nathaniel seriously said.

"Haha. You have a sweet tongue, Nats," Kristina said. "Anyways it's nice chatting with you, I have so many things to do right now. Ciao!"  Kristina felt her heart trembling. 

Kristina goes to the kitchen to prepare their take-out and have their dinner already.

"Mommy, I love you," Chad said to her Mom. " I love you too son".

"Mommy I'll pray. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for all the food on our table. Thank you for giving me a wonderful Mommy. I am asking for a wonderful Daddy dear Lord, Amen.." Chad smiles at her.

"Chad, why are you asking for a Daddy? We are fine, are we?" Kristina touched her son's head and kissed him on his forehead. But she is now thinking about his son. "I think he is longing for a father's love and affection," there's a pinch in her heart when it comes to Chad's emotions, Kristina is becoming too sensitive.

She is not becoming emotionally affected by Chad's actions, but she doesn't want to see his son feeling empty and longing for fatherly love. Her eyes became misty...

She went too deep thinking now ............