Chapter 78: Not Easily Swayed

Chapter 78: Not Easily Swayed Sandro stood at the entrance of the school, which Athena’s children attended, looking hither and thither, for the twins and their friend, because the security personnel wouldn’t let him in. According to the personnel, his name wasn’t among those slotted in the school’s system to pick up the twins. So, Sandro had no choice but to hope that the children would see him, recognize him, and beckon him. He was lucky. Just as he stretched his neck here and there, he caught sight of Kathleen, who furrowed her eyebrow first in confusion when she spotted him. The little one thinking her mother had sent the male, dispelled the confusion from her face however, and waved at him with a smiley face. Sandro watched with his heart in his mouth, as she beckoned on Nathaniel and Kendra. He saw them talking, knew that they were talking about him, and wondered what exactly they were talking about about him. One of the security personnel, who had seen the exchange, beckoned on the children. "Should I let him in?" Nathaniel nodded. "He’s a friend of my mother. His name is Mr Sandro..." This answer allayed the personnel’s fears. He quickly opened the gate, apologized to Sandro for keeping him waiting outside, and let him in. Immediately Sandro came inside the school environment, the children walked up to him, making sure to keep a reasonable distance between them and him. Sandro noted this but said nothing, relegating it to the fact that they weren’t used to his presence yet. After exchanging pleasantries, he followed them to a particular shade, and watched as they sat down on a bench, quite far from the next one. He had no option but to take the next one. But if the children kept maintaining these spaces, how would he get their hairs for DNA samples? "Who sent you? My mother or Mr. Ewan?" It took Sandro a few seconds to get his bearing right, for he hadn’t expected the question. Why would the children think that Ewan had sent him? A feeling of restlessness bloomed within him. "Both. I just came to see how you guys were doing, and coping with the recent matter. While on it, your mother has been moved to a better hospital..." "Really?" Kathleen asked, exhibiting the first outburst of emotion Sandro had seen on either of the twins since he stepped into the school grounds. Sandro nodded. "Is it the Whitman’s?" He nodded again, this time to Nathaniel’s question. The twins smiled, obviously pleased with the turn of events. The third child, however, seemed to be at loss. Sandro understood that was how a six year old should react. Athena’s twins acted way over their age. He had seen that firsthand during the visit to Athena’s house, when he had watched them operate the system like it was nothing. He wasn’t sure what they had been doing, since Gianna sat in between them, but it sure looked serious. When Gianna had mentioned the coordinates of the local hospital, he had thought her a good tracker, but didn’t understand why the twins were with her. Learning? How could they learn hacking with their brains which were still developing? Were they geniuses? Their striking blue eyes reminded him of Ewan so much, that he almost forwent his quest for their hair strands. These were his friend’s children, no doubt. Speaking of hair strands, how would he get them? "So, Mr. Sandro... What exactly is your job?" Nathaniel inquired, folding his arms across his chest. "I work as Ewan’s assistant." "Like a P.A?" Kathleen piped in. Sandro paused. His work entailed more than being a P.A, but he nodded all the same. "How’s it like working for him? Is he a bad boss?" Sandro shook his head to Nathaniel’s question, while wondering about the twins’ interest in Ewan. Did they suspect too that he was their father? His palms became sweaty as he thought of Athena’s role in this. If these were really Ewan’s children, then he might have a need to begrudge her. No matter their past, she shouldn’t keep a man from his children. That was cruel. They could live their separate lives, but they should work out an arrangement for the betterment of the twins. However, even as he thought of this, he negated himself, remembering that Ewan was the one that had banished Athena first. If Athena had been pregnant then, she wouldn’t have come to Ewan for help; she would have chosen to suffer alone. Sandro shook his head. This was too messed up. "Kathleen, I got you something. Kendra, yuu too.." He opened the fancy shopping bag he had come with, and brought out a beautiful doll. Surely, six years would love this. "And guess what, they sing!" He pressed a spot on the doll, and it introduced itself. ’My name is Charlotte. What’s yours?’ Kendra giggled, and walked up to Sandro to receive the doll. Sandro was so engaged in laughing with the little Kendra that he didn’t notice Nathaniel sneering at Kendra, before glaring at his sister who stared longingly at the doll. When Kathleen felt her brother’s sharp gaze however, she righted herself and put on a blank facade. "Kathleen, won’t you come for yours?" Kathleen shook her head. "I don’t like dolls." Sandro piqued his eyebrow, more at the cold quality of the voice. He reached into the box and brought out an expensive lego set, the one Ewan had told him to get for Nathaniel. "Will you be okay with this then?" Nathaniel’s interest was aroused. Seeing it, he was sure that his father had risen up to the challenge, yet his mother came first. "Not interested. I have a lot at home." Just then, Gianna walked into the shade, startling Sandro. "What are you doing here, Sandro?" She asked, suspicion ringing in her voice as she darted glances between the children and the male. "I just came to see how they were doing." Gianna managed a nod. She knew why Sandro was here. "Thanks for your concern. But we’ll be off now. Send my regards to Ewan."