Stuck in you

Lea, Eric and Mendes were happily gathered inside Rachel's house, playing like they were one big happy family.

The TV displayed an intense drag racing competition. Eric was so excited that he couldn't keep himself off the edge of the seat.

Mendes sat on the floor next to them and he would cheer from time to time.

When Lucas arrived, he never imagined that he'd see all of them having fun like this. It was unusual for these people to get along so well without arguing and making a scene.

While Lea and Eric were fiercely preoccupied with their match, someone started watching behind them. "Is it really that fun? You guys look intense," said the voice.

Lea was too focused on the screen to turn around. "Shut up, Mendes! I'm trying to focus here." She crouched closer to the screen to focus. "You're going down Eric!"

Mendes' voice was drowned by the two players' shouting. "But that wasn't me," he said.

Although she was too distracted by the game, Lea managed to slightly turn her head to the side. The moment she turned her head, the other player succeeded in overtaking her.

After a few seconds, Eric managed to finish in first place. He jumped from seat and kept yelling "I win!" over and over.

Lea gnashed her teeth and threw her controller on the floor. "If I didn't get distracted, I would've won!" She made a mess of her hair in her annoyance.

Eric laughed at her dismay. "So who's to blame for your loss if not you?"

Who could have distracted her? If it wasn't Mendes, then who was it?

When Lea looked behind her, she was stunned when she realized who it was. She almost had a nervous meltdown as she blurted out his name. "Lucas!"

"Hi, Lea. It's been a long time since we've seen each other," said Lucas.

He was the last person she'd expect to appear right now, but that didn't mean she wasn't glad to see him. She stood up and burst into laughter. "What are you doing here, Lucas?"

Lea had completely forgotten what Rachel told her a few hours ago. Rachel had told her that Lucas would come to pick up the kid.

Lucas turned his head to Mendes. "I came here to pick up this little boy," he answered.

Lea turned her attention to Mendes and then back at Lucas. Rachel had not explained Lucas' connection to Mendes.

Lea suddenly realized something. Her jaw dropped and she pointed at Mendes and Lucas back and forth. She was almost shaking. "Is he your son?" she shouted.

Rachel noticed that Lea had not responded to her message yet. She wondered what could have kept her busy. She started to worry if there was something wrong with the last message that she sent, so she called Lea right away.

However, unbeknownst to Rachel, Lea's phone had been buried under the pillows and buzzing without her knowledge.

Lucas sat down on the floor next to Mendes. "So, where's Rachel?" he said.

Eric scratched the back of his head. "She hasn't come back yet."

"Not yet?" asked Lucas. He glanced at his watch. Hours had already passed since she got off work. What could've kept her at a time like this?

"She had something important to do. She said she'll be home late, so she asked us to look after Mendes," Lea intervened.

still not answering her phone. Rachel's

was restless. He tried to focus on driving, but he couldn't stand to see her like this. "Is something bothering you?" he

Rachel would answer him. For a moment, he thought

care of Mendes. But she didn't pick up my phone call. I am a little

tightened a little, and his eyes softened. "Everything's going to be

to check her phone one

things that Rachel had packed and asked Lucas

one by one. If he was being honest, it didn't really matter if there was something

put the bag aside and zipped it up. "Did Rachel tell you when she'll

checked her pockets if her phone was on her. "Wait

took care of another person's child, but now he knew

why she was so willing to take care of Mendes. Eric rolled his eyes and realized that something

her

the window of her room, Rachel let out a

that something might

with the remote

car, Jack stood still for

standing there after

complete silence, he felt

rang and she answered

waiting for you too. Let's all have dinner

had just heard. She felt her knees go weak. She wanted to tell Jack that he should go and come

Rachel really didn't want them to see Jack here. She was afraid that

said Lea. She probably thought that Rachel had

I'll be there soon,"

someone beside her. "She

Lucas. Rachel thought she just had to go through with it.

Jack. "My friends are upstairs, I'll

little surprised. He didn't expect Rachel to say

huh?' he thought to himself. He had

but Jack knew nothing

that he thought about it, he barely knew anything

they went upstairs, a tall and

"You're back," said Lea.

let her in. She noticed that there was a tall and handsome man behind

right words to say. "Rachel, isn't he...?" Lea was clearly about to lose it. Rachel noticed that Lea's eyes

her away from Jack. "Let's talk about

check on them. "What's going on?" he

sour. His expression turned grim. "What in the world are

I not allowed to be here?" Jack asked, wearing a sardonic

front of the door. "Let's all go inside first.

in the living room

Lea sat on one side, with Eric and Mendes sitting on the other side.