Let us go shopping

Uhm. Me? us? why me? kinda random

I have always wanted to go shopping with my son.

That was the reply that Andrew received from Mrs. Lopez. He had to re-visit their whole conversation just to ensure that she hadn't mistakenly texted Andrew. He peaked at the busy bullpen. It was still the middle of the workday, and the team was still bustling. He glanced at the window of Allen's office and saw the man stealing a glance at Andrew, though he suddenly pretended not to. Luiz chuckled behind Allen.

Andrew gave him the middle finger.

want to bring your two other sons? Or u too shy?

Do they like shopping?

Allen was very happy when we went shopping for Secretary Andrew's suits. He has a thing for dark formal wear, dunno maybe it's a fetish.

Andrew didn't receive a reply for a few minutes, but he did receive one at his office email address. From one Mrs. Lopez asking for her son's afternoon schedule.

Dear Secretary Andrew

He couldn't help but stare at the line. Would Mrs. Lopez prefer Secretary Andrew over Alfonso?

Andrew pulled out Allen's daily schedule for the afternoon. Every hour was already blocked, though he already knew this. A heavy sigh escaped his lips. He did what Secretary Andrew did best: kickass. He rescheduled every meeting to another date.

They're both free, Mrs. Lopez.

We are bringing the boys along!

when?

Now.

"Mrs. Lopez?" Sonna's voice echoed throughout the floor. Everybody scrambled to greet her but not Andrew. He jolted from his seat and crouched under his deck. He slotted himself between his pedestals.

"Why am I hiding?" he asked himself as heard snippets of the conversation just outside. The team's valiant effort to buy time was useless as Mrs. Lopez's voice got clearer and clearer. Until finally she was at Andrew's desk.

"Oh," her voice clearer than ever. "Where is Secretary Andrew? He had just replied to me. This is my first time here in my son's office and I had wanted to see this legendary secretary that everyone's been gossiping about."

Andrew was pleased. Extremely pleased.

"Mother? What are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be at home?"

"Luiz, pack up your belongings we're going shopping with Alfonso."

"Shopping? Why? Have you asked for Alfonso's permission? Or is this one of your I've turned a new leaf so I'm being spontaneous type of behavior?"

"We can't just go shopping in the middle of the day," Allen replied, steadily. "We are jampacked with meetings this afternoon. You should have inquired with this Secretary Andrew beforehand. You know how busy it is here. Now, it's best you go home. We can go on the weekend. Toodles."

"As Alfonso would say, take a load of this email conversation."

A pause in their conversation. Andrew's back had started to ache a little.

"Have you been emailing with Secretary Andrew? Also, that is impossible, how is our afternoon clear suddenly?"

"Secretary Andrew," Allen grumbled. "Yeah, he can do that. I don't know how he does it though. I still have not figured it out."

Andrew's hand swiped his phone from atop desk and texted Allen.

She wants to spend time with you.

Allen's phone pinged. After a beat, Allen sighed again.

"Alright, alright, let's get this over with. Let's go. We can meet Alfonso in the mall."

"You know son when Alfonso isn't here. You start to talk like him—" Their voices became smaller and smaller until they had disappeared. A pair of legs on blue heels appeared in front of Andrew. She bent down and smiled.

"They're gone," said Claire. "Just send me what we need to do for this afternoon before you go."

Andrew rubbed the back of his neck. "Thanks, Claire."

"Have fun shopping with your in-laws," she replied with a smirk.

-~-~-

Andrew, dressed in casual but stylish, branded clothes, strode in the mall with confidence. There were sparks and glitz from the chandeliers hanging from high ceilings to the marble floors. Fashion boutiques of well-known brands lined one side while lavish dining outlets lined the other. He popped-in in somewhere some of his acquaintances from college worked at, and inside one of them, were the Lopez family having snacks or whatever rich people call them. Mrs. Lopez waved at him, but in a classier manner where her hand only reached her ear.

Without a word, Luiz vacated his seat and signaled Andrew to sit on it. He begrudgingly followed and sat beside Allen.

"Nice bag," said the pest, glancing at Andrew's messenger bag.

"I didn't have enough time to change bags. Besides, some asshole got it for me," Andrew replied under his breath. He still has a hard time not cringing from the night they spent together in each other's arms in Allen's bed. Andrew can't even stomach the thought of it.

A familiar face in a waiter's uniform showed up and approached their table. He offered a courteous smile to their table, except for Andrew. A huge smile was given to Andrew instead, and he returned the smile. Unaware of the look Allen was shooting their way.

"Oh, Oliver, what are you doing here?" Andrew asked, surprised to see him here.

"I know the owner of the place, she asked me to cover for an employee who got sick today," Oliver replied. He eyed Andrew's unusual choice of wardrobe. "You're dressed down today. Anyway, you'll order anything?"

"I'll have a glass of Rose, please, thank you so much."

Luiz quirked his sharp eyebrow at Andrew. "It is barely past lunch."

Andrew agreed with Luiz's disbelief. "I know right, I can't believe I'm craving for a breakfast wine."

"I believe that was not the point."

"Oh, and a grilled sandwich to go, please. Make it cheesy."

Oliver jotted down his order, and said, "Got it. I'll put it under your boss' tab." And proceeded to glance at Allen. Another courteous smile and he left.

"Boss?" Mrs. Lopez asked Andrew as she stared at Allen.

"I like to call him boss when we're in bed," said Andrew.

"I understand," she replied matched with a wink. "How are you related to our server earlier?"

"We grew up together in the orphanage."

Allen turned his head to Andrew in a sudden motion. "I didn't know that. I thought he was—ouch."

Andrew released Allen's foot from his stomp. He couldn't say that Oliver was a friend from college since Alfonso didn't go to college. Besides, it was the truth anyway.

Mrs. Lopez giggled. "It seems you have some competition."

Allen rolled his eye and scoffed. "We're not even in the same league."

"Yeah, Oliver's leagues above you," Andrew said behind a fake cough.

But Allen seemed to hear it still. Based on the glare on his face when Oliver brought Andrew's wine. He took a sip, and his worries went away. He was still feeling awkward with Allen though, refusing to acknowledge his existence.

They finished their meal amicably and got up to leave. Luiz and Mrs. Lopez waited by the entrance while Andrew passed by the counter. Oliver took out a take-out container and handed it over. Andrew pushed it back to Oliver.

"Keep it," he said. "I ordered it for you. Share it with the rest of the staff."

"Woah, thanks. Does this mean you'll finally take me to dinner?"

An arm snaked around Andrew's waist and Allen's familiar scent brushed Andrew's nose. His heart jumped inside his chest and the cuss he was about to throw was caught in his throat.

"He does these donations to staff regularly, so you're not special Oliver," Allen hissed at him and pressed Andrew closer to him. "Let's go."

Andrew was practically manhandled into leaving the café with a single retort. But as they left, Mrs. Lopez just as quickly took Andrew from Allen's clutches.

"Stop being so jealous of a childhood friend, son. Also, don't be selfish with Alfonso's time. You still have the rest of your lives to be together," she said with a teasing smirk. "Let me have Alfonso for today. Let's go, dear."

She locked arms with Andrew and dragged him along to several boutiques. Where Mrs. Lopez picked out any item that caught her eye and presented it to them. Allen and Luiz only gave shrugs as their response, fashion-wise they only cared about their suits. So, it was all up to Andrew to muster all his gay energy to make a sensible, fashionable counsel.

Sadly, his poor upbringing had made fashion a little bit low on his priority list. So, he might be forgiven for not knowing the difference between dolphin gray and cement gray. Mrs. Lopez was presenting two different scarfs of said complex colors on both hands for Andrew to choose from.

Allen-that bastard-finally took pity on Andrew by helping him out with a casual comment. "Luiz, have you been to the gardens in the left-wing?"

"This one is better," said Andrew. Choosing the dolphin gray scarf on Mrs. Lopez's left hand. "It suits you."

Mrs. Lopez grinned at him. She returned the other scarf and faced the mirror, trying on her dolphin gray scarf. She wrapped it around her with such sure movements as if she had originally wanted this one right from the beginning. She let out a happy exhale as she admired herself in the mirror.

"Finally, I have a son with good taste."

Andrew's body stilled at her words. His eyes dilated and became distant, an unseen force pulling his gaze towards a memory he had long forgotten.

"What's the matter, Alfonso? You seem...shocked." Mrs. Lopez directed her eyes at Andrew's reflection on the mirror. She turned around. "Did my words offend you somehow?"

Andrew apologized and waved off her question. "It's just— It might sound weird. It's I'm not used to being called like that all. I was just surprised."

Though he never mentioned what word took him off guard. Mrs. Lopez caught on. She chuckled and pinched Andrew's cheeks.

"I understand, Alfonso. I also apologize if I surprised you with the endearment. But that's what I'm going to call you from now, so you adapt soon. Now, why don't we buy something for you? How about our Allen here purchase you a suit?"

"I would love to," Allen replied with a hint of a smile. "Then we can stop by your favorite store on our way out. The liquor store."

Mrs. Lopez brushed some loose lint on Andrew's shoulder as she offered a warm smile. "Let's go?"

Andrew could only nod.

At one small boutique, Andrew stood in front of a mirror in a suit. Allen stood in front of him inspecting the navy-blue fabric.

"Why did you buy me those suits?" Andrew asked.

"I simply wanted to spoil my excellent secretary," Allen replied without taking his eyes off the lapels.

"It wasn't because people were talking about behind my back?"

"A secretary's performance should be judged by his actual performance, and not something as shallow as the clothes he wore." Allen nodded at the sales staff and took his hands off Andrew.

"And I also did not like when people insulted you."

The evening passed. And the pair stood outside of the mall by the entrance, staring at the sky.

"It's drizzling," Andrew commented.

With years of working as a secretary kicking in, he pulled out a foldable umbrella from his bag and opened it.

"Wait right here, Sir Allen. I'll bring the car around."

He took a step forward, but Allen caught him by the wrist. Allen reached out and felt the raindrops on his open palm. Andrew watched as Allen's expression turned from a measuring gaze to a rare, carefree smile. He closed the space between them. He bent down and whispered in Andrew's ear.

"We can go together, Secretary Andrew."

He pulled Andrew by the arm. Under the rain, they dashed towards Allen's car. Allen sported a wide, happy grin at Andrew. Water splashed beneath their unhurried steps. And for the first time today, laughter trumpeted in Andrew's chest. They shared smiles, laughter, and happiness under the pitter-patter of raindrops. Andrew's heart was light like cotton.

They got inside the car soaked, but unworried. Allen took out a handkerchief, leaned across his seat, and patted Andrew's face.

Andrew was happy.

Until the next day when he woke up.