The Royalties

In the morning, Dei replied to Dwayne's viber message: "With all honesty Dwayne, I could not understand what's there to talk about. But for old-time sake, I accept the invitation."

After a few minutes Dwayne replied: "Thank you, I'll check on the place where we used to have coffee then. I will message you later once confirmed."

Dei replied, "There's a coffee shop in front of our building. There is nothing to hide anyway so why go too far. Besides, Richard will be picking me up by 7 pm."

Dwayne's viber reply: "Got it, so I'll drop by to your room at 6 pm?"

"I'll just see you at the coffee shop at around 6 pm, no need to drop by at my office." Dei's reply

At exactly 6 pm, she left the office and proceeds to the coffee shop in front of their office. There she saw Dwayne at the corner table. "Hi!" she greeted. "Hello!" Dwayne greeted back. "I took the liberty of ordering for you, Espresso Macchiato, your favorite." he said. "Oh, alright thanks." she said.

"You don't seem to like it, should I order another one?" Dwayne hesitantly asked.

"Oh no, this is fine. Well honestly, café mocha or café latte are my usual order here, depends on which daughter I am with." She explained and tried so hard to smile.

"I see, so what would you prefer now mocha or latte?" Dwayne asked.

"No this is alright, don't bother anymore. I am fine with this." She said.

"Are you sure?" Dwayne asked.

"I am sure, Dwayne." She replied.

Nobody dares to speak after. Dwayne just stared at Dei while she enjoys her coffee. After a while, Dei finally speaks,"You said you wanted to talk about something. What is it?" She asked.

"How are you Nicomaine?" Dwayne asked.

"I'm good, and I am getting married in December." She replied.

Dwayne smiled and said, "You've changed … a lot."

"I think maturity is the correct term. Yeah, perhaps I mature a little." Dei said in between sipping her coffee.

"You are more elegant and classy too, if I may add." Dwayne said.

"Thank you." Dei replied.

"Have you forgiven me?" He asked. "What is there to forgive? Have you done something wrong." She asked in return.

"I left." Dwayne replied.

"You say your goodbye when you left, therefore, you don't have to apologize." Dei answered.

"I did not get in touch." Dwayne said.

"You sent me emails … thrice." Dei again replied.

"And I stop communicating after that." Dwayne said.

"You stop communication because you learned about Richard and I got married. You have your reason to get mad." Dei coldly replied.

"I have so many dreams for both of us and yet you marry someone else three weeks after I left. You broke my heart Nicomaine. I was so broken when I learned about it." Dwayne said.

"You deactivated your email. I explained everything to you but my email bounced back. I have to do that. I had no choice." Dei replied.

"You had no choice? Why? Was it because you were pregnant?" Dwayne said and he saw how surprise Dei is "You look so surprise Nicomaine, maybe you forgot how resourceful I am especially to those that interest me a lot. You very well know I have access to HRD, I can ask for the 201 files of the employees under my group." Dwayne explained.

"I reviewed your profile and if my calculation is correct, Charmaine, your eldest daughter, was conceived months before you and Richard got married. Months, when we were still together." Dei remained dumbfounded at Dwayne's revelation. She never saw this coming, and she admitted to herself that she underestimated Dwayne.

"Charmaine is mine, unless you and Richard cheated on me." He declared.

"I never cheated on you." Dei finally speaks.

"So you are confirming Charmaine is my daughter." Dwayne confidently asked.

Dei had taken a deep breath before she gave her confirmation "Yes, Charmaine is your daughter."

"Why did you not tell me before I leave?" Dwayne asked.

Dei looks straight at Dwayne's eyes before she said, "I did not tell you because I don't want to hinder your dreams. You had so many dreams and plans when you learned about your migration to US. I never saw you building your dreams before. I don't want to be selfish. Therefore, I let you leave without knowing my condition. That was the least I can do. I don't want to confuse you in deciding between leaving and staying just because I was pregnant. I keep telling myself, I will tell you everything once you were settled in California, at least you were already there and you could start living your dreams while I wait for you here."

"That was so selfless, but why did you marry Richard? Can't you not really wait more than three weeks?" Dwayne asked.

"I was so busy thinking of being selfless for you, yet I forgot that I had a family who will be disappointed. Richard and I should get married to save me from the wrath of my father and spare my Mom with disappointment which may trigger an attack. You know very well my mother is sick. Richard stood by me on those times." Dei explained.

"Stood by you? I see it as taking advantage. I know he was so in love with you then." Dwayne revealed.

"He never took advantage. He waited for his time. Why do you think we prefer to get married in Korea? So we can file a divorce when you get back." Dei declared. "I waited for you to communicate with me, Dwayne. I send you an email, asking you to call me because I have something to tell you. I never get tired of sending emails to you until it bounces back. You deactivated your email account and never keep in touch to me ever again."

"During those hardships, Dwayne, it was Richard who was beside me." Dei honestly said. "I'm sorry you learned about Charmaine this way. Believe me I don't have any intentions of hiding it to you. I was unable to get a chance."

"I am already back. You can call off the wedding. Let's get married instead." Dwayne confidently said.

"You were gone for almost seventeen years and now you will command me to call off the wedding as if it is that simple. I can't believe you are saying that." Dei exclaimed.

"I'm just being honest Nicomaine. I never stop loving you, believe me. Why do you think I'm still single? It is because of you. I am back, so please, I want us to continue whatever we left seventeen years ago. You are my end game believe me." Dwayne said

"I should have trusted my instinct. Had I known that you will easily disrespect Richard. I could have declined your invitation." Dei reacted.

"I can't forget you Nicomaine." Dwayne confesses.

"I have already moved-on Dwayne. You need to do the same, please. Richard is my world now. You have to find yours as well. Again, I am sorry you had to learn about Charmaine this way. Please, let us not make things difficult for all of us. I am happy now, at least be happy for me for old-time sake." Dei said and stood up.

"I am still in-love with you Dei." Dwayne said.

"This talk is over. I should go now. Richard is waiting for me at the parking lot. Thank you for the coffee." she added and left Dwayne mum at what she just uttered.