It was after school, and the friends had stopped in front of the gate as an impatient Jake requested for Logan’s companion to visit their girlfriends, although Jake was still single and had yet to make a move. He was using Logan as an excuse since Logan’s girlfriend was the best friend of his crush.

Logan didn’t want to go, however, saying that he had priorities. “I’m picking up the brat with Hana.”

Hana stepped in, feeling bad for the begging and single Jake. She nudged Logan. “Go on your date. How many times do I have to say that I can do it myself?”

“See!” whined Jake. “She got him, Logan! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Logan ignored him and turned to Hana. “But it’s cold, and it gets dark early. I know you can protect yourself ‘cause you’re a man-girl, but I need you to protect me.”

“Just go,” insisted Hana, trying to keep her laugh in.

Logan grabbed her hand. “Call me if anything happens.”

Hailey breathed out loud. “Gosh, Logan. It’s not like she’s going alone. We’re with her.”

Logan pouted. “But I feel better knowing if I’m with her.”

“Okay, big baby.” Hana rolled her eyes and shoved him to Jake. She watched him leave with a saddened expression. Then she felt a bit guilty for having forced her friend. Maybe she should have said an excuse or something. No, she did the right thing, she finally decided.

Even as Logan was dragged away by Jake, he never turned away. He continued to look at Hana until he and Jake turned at a corner.

Hana turned around, ready to pick up Lucas with Seth and Hailey.

“You sure you’re not gonna tell him?” asked Hailey.

Seth glanced at Hana. “You think it’s true?”

Hailey shook her head. “No, she doesn’t think so. She said if it’s really true, it’s their business and that Crystal should be the one to tell him, not us.”

“But I don’t think it’s possible.”

“You were there with me when we saw them.”

Hana sensed that her friends would get into another spat, so she quickly interrupted them. “Thanks for looking out for him, but I really think the best choice is for us to let whatever that will happen, happen. Besides, it’s Logan we’re talking about. He won’t get hurt over a girl.”

“You really want this relationship to work, don’t you?” asked Hailey, almost in a whisper. “Is it related to what he had said to you during winter break?”

Hana stopped walking and looked at them. “You…you guys know?”

*

Logan and Jake had arrived at the girls’ middle school and were waiting at the gate. Countless students walked in and out or loitered around the area, so the place was packed. Jake kept himself entertained by counting how many girls had passed by him, and Logan wanted to be home already with Hana and the brat.

What caught Logan’s interest was a young boy he recognized from yesterday.

Ken.

The boys locked eyes for a moment, and Ken and his friends made their way over.

Logan straightened up. He felt challenged.

Jake saw Ken and quietly asked Logan, “They go here too?”

“You guys were with Hana, weren’t you?” asked Ken.

Logan and Jake nodded.

Ken smiled and looked faintly around them. “Is she here?”

“Just us,” answered Jake. “We’re waiting for Crystal and Sylvia.”

Ken’s brow twitched. “You guys close with Hana?”

The girls finally showed themselves, running to Logan and Jake. They gasped out loud when they saw Ken and his friends.

Jake sent the younger boys an awkward smile. “Well, umm, we’ll see you guys next time.”

Logan didn’t move. “Yeah, I know Hana really well. What about it?”

Jake scowled and pushed Logan back. He hissed, “What are you doing? Trying to start something?”

“I’m not.” Logan rolled his eyes, however, clearly showing that he was. “I just wanna answer any question they got for her.”

The side of Ken’s mouth went up. “You shouldn’t do that. Someone might mistake that caring for a friend is the same as cheating on your girl.”

“Cheating?” Jake laughed, trying to lessen the tension between the boys. “Who would think that? And no one’s cheating on anyone here. Besides, Logan and Hana might look and act like a couple, but they’re definitely not a couple.”

“I’m not talkin’ ‘bout Hana. She ain’t one to think like that.” Ken tightened his jaws. “That person already knows who and what I’m talkin’ about.” He stepped back. “See you guys around.” He walked away with his friends.

Logan, Jake, and the girls stood at their place, quiet.

*

Hana had parted ways with Seth and Hailey. She told them she didn’t need them to go with her to pick up her son. She didn’t want to bother them, but more importantly, she wanted to think to herself after what she had found out—they knew about Logan’s declaration to her. She told Seth and Hailey that she and Logan decided to not bring up the matter again, and she would do her best to make sure Logan would get married in the future.

She had picked up Lucas and as she exited the daycare, her phone rang. She saw it was Ken. “Ken?”

“Hey, Hana. Got time for something?”

*

“Okay, let’s eat next!” suggested Jake. “After that, we’ll take you girls home.”

Logan pulled Jake close and whispered, “Hana and Lucas are home now.”

“Hana gave us permission to stay out. Why rush to head home when you’ve got a girlfriend here?”

Logan didn’t know what to say. All he knew was he wanted to go home. He wanted to eat his friend’s cooking, to play with the brat—from far away, of course—to mess up with setting the table, to get into bickering fights with her, and most important of all, he wanted to sit at the same table, eating dinner with her.

Like the virtual Hart family they were supposed to be.

“There’s this place down this block,” said Crystal. “How about there?”

Jake shrugged off Logan and walked to the girls. “Sure. Anywhere’s fine.”

The three of them walked first, leaving Logan to hesitate between ditching them or continuing the double date.

*

Hana, with Lucas in her arms, arrived at the place she was to meet up with Ken. She saw that Ken was there first. They smiled and waved to each other.

Ken saw the little boy. “What’s his name?”

“Lucas.”

He looked up at his friend. “He’s yours, isn’t he?”

Hana blinked, a bit confused at his question.

“Your sister came—for the first time—and told the staff about you, and they told me ‘cause, well, they knew what kind of relationship we have. Your sister’s pretty, but it’s weird seeing her picking up your kids instead of you.”

Hana giggled. “Now it’s weird? When we first met, you thought I was the mom and was surprised.”

“Hey, you were my age when you watched those brats, and usually parents pick up their kids, so it made sense that I’d think you were a mom.”

“I guess. So, what’s up?”

“Well, to make up for bringing you down about Bruce, I’m gonna treat you.”

She wasn’t expecting this kind of answer, so she blinked multiple times.

Ken shifted his attention and spoke lower. “Actually, he called yesterday. I told him about you, and he told me to cheer you up with this.”

“Thanks.”

He broke into a soft smile. “I booked the place already. Let’s go. Want me to hold your kid?”

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“Where’s his dad? Thought I’d be seeing him with you.”

She looked away. “He doesn’t have a father.”

Shocked, Ken turned back to look at her. “What? Did he leave you?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Who’s the jerk? Gimme a name and a face, and—”

“Thanks, Ken.” Hana softly said those words, telling him that she didn’t want to continue the conversation.

*

Logan, Jake, and the girls had been in line for almost half an hour. It was during rush hour, so there were a lot of people.

“Maybe we should go to another place instead?” proposed Crystal.

Jake sighed. “Yeah, we could—Hana?”

Logan immediately perked up and looked around him. Within seconds, he saw someone with the same figure, height, and look as Hana coming their way.

“What she doing here?”

“She’s with Ken.” He also heard Crystal repeat Ken’s name in a whisper. When he looked at his girlfriend, he saw her look at Ken and Hana.

They watched Hana with Lucas and Ken make their way to the front of the line. They saw Ken making sure Hana was beside him and not lost in the crowd. Ken and Hana were too busy going through the crowd that when they were beside the couples, they didn’t realize until Jake pulled on Hana’s arm.

“Why are you cutting?” asked a disappointed Jake.

Hana gasped in surprise. “Jake!”

Ken excused himself to tell the waiter about his reservation and would come back for Hana.

Jake let go of her arm.

“I’m here with Ken,” said Hana, “and he had reserved us a table already, so we’re not cutting.”

“A table?” A wicked smile appeared across his face, and Hana knew what he was going to say next. He knew that Hana knew, so he quickly said, “Let’s sit together!”

Hana sighed. “It’s Ken who booked the place, not me.”

Ken came back for Hana.

Jake pulled Hana behind him, and she bumped into Logan. He said to the younger boy in the nicest way possible, “Hey, mind if we join you guys?”

Hana exhaled. “Jake, you guys—” She stopped speaking because Logan moved in front and faced his back to her. She had a feeling it was on purpose, to interrupt her from saying what she wanted to say.

Ken smiled. “Sure.” He tried to eye Hana but got the eyes of Logan because Hana was behind Logan. He walked to them and put out a hand for Hana. He smiled at Logan as he said, “I got her. Let’s go, Hana.”

*

The atmosphere at their table was somewhat intense and awkward. No one knew where to look or what to say. It was quiet too because they were eating in an enclosed room.

The only exception was Jake. He was having light and quick conversations with Sylvia.

Crystal inhaled and glanced a look at Hana, who sat diagonally across from her. “Your baby brother?”

“He’s…” She stole a glance at Logan. “He’s my son.”

Jake and Sylvia stopped talking, and Jake almost choked on his own breath.

“Is it…” continued Crystal, “Ken’s?”

Hana, Logan, and Jake reacted to Crystal’s question with confusion.

“It’s not Ken’s,” clarified Hana. “We’re good friends. Lucas…” Hana stopped for a moment. She had to think. She couldn’t tell Crystal that her boyfriend was the father—even if it was only on paper and a virtual relationship. She snuck another look at Logan and saw his firm expression telling her to lay it all for everyone to know.

Hana shifted in her seat. “There is no father.”

It was quiet again.

Until Logan got up, gathered his things, and left the room.

Hana knew her words were the reason, so she started packing up. “Sorry, Ken. I’ll treat you next time, okay?” As she picked up Lucas, she said to Jake, “Make sure you get the girls home safely.”

Jake waved to Hana and then forced a smile. “Do-do you guys wanna leave too?”

“I’m fine with you thinking he’s mine,” said a monotonous Ken, but he wasn’t looking at anyone, “but to have you imply that she was that kind of girl with me?”

Jake stopped moving. He didn’t know whom Ken was speaking to.

Ken continued. “How many times do I have to tell you that we don’t have anything together?”

Crystal scoffed at the side. “Then why did you take her to a place like this?” She sounded pissed. “Isn’t it a date?”

Ken slammed a hand on the table and stood up. “If you didn’t understand my relationship with her when we were dating, you wouldn’t understand our relationship now.” He walked to the door. “I’ll pay. Just leave.”

Jake slowly breathed out. He looked back and forth between the opened door and Crystal. “You and…Ken…”

“Sorry,” said Crystal, standing up. “Sylvia and I can go home just fine.” She left, however, without Sylvia.

Sylvia hastily gathered her stuff and ran out to follow her friend.

Jake was left alone in the room, too confused at what had happened.

*

“Logan!” Hana shouted as she paced her walk. She couldn’t run, not with Lucas with her. She also didn’t know where to look for her friend. She could see her breath in the air, and it was getting darker. She shivered, but she wasn’t going to give up. “Logan!”

She called him by phone but as expected, he would not answer. Behind her, she heard footsteps. Hoping it would be his friend, she turned around.

It was Ken. “Hana!”

“Ken! I’m sorry today ended like this.” She looked behind him. “Have you seen Logan?”

“Are you okay? Why are you going after him? Why did he storm off?”

“It-it’s something I did, but don’t worry. I’ll work things out with him. You go on home. I’ll be fine. Please, Ken.”

He hesitated but obeyed.

She continued her hunt for Logan. She had walked down four blocks already, and he was nowhere to be found. Her arms were getting tired from carrying Lucas without a stroller, and her legs were exhausted from the strenuous pacing. Her breathing was hard and fast too. She felt as if she’d pass out at any moment.

Then, something warm was put over her.

She looked behind her and felt relief.

It was Logan.

“Wear it,” he said, blankly. He didn’t look at her. “See you at home.”

She stopped him by holding onto his arm. “I’m sorry. I know you’re hurt. I know what I said was wrong. I know I should’ve told—”

“It’s not you, Hana. It’s me. I’m angry at myself.”

“Why?”

“I know why you said what you said. You didn’t want to ruin my relationship, and you didn’t want me to be involved. Even though I knew that, I’m angry because I still got hurt about it when you only meant good.” He kicked the air and clicked his tongue. “I’m sorry for acting like a jerk back there.”

Hana no longer felt worried nor scare. Instead, a fuzzy feeling overcame her. She slid her hand down his arm and interlaced her fingers with his. She gave him a side hug. “It’s okay. I think it’s natural.”

“Natural?”

She nodded. “You’re Lucas’s father. It’s only natural to feel hurt about it.” She looked up at him and gave him a cheeky smile. “Let’s go home, Lucas’s Daddy.”

He was smitten and embarrassed. He wrapped his arms tightly around her. “You’re so mean, Hana.”