A harsh buzzing vibration rudely interrupted the profound tranquility of Moe's deep sleep, prompting a groaning protest as he fumbled for the phone resting on the nightstand. Squinting sleepily, he dismissed the call and settled back down, his eyelids gently drooping beside Miny, snugly wrapped in a swaddling cocoon. However, the persistent disturbance that threatened to disrupt his peace buzzed once more. Moe, barely suppressing an irritated growl, reluctantly picked up the phone with the intention of silencing it. Yet, he froze as a wave of anxiety surged through his chest, mercilessly constricting his heart and lungs- it was Daniel on the line.

Moe inched his way to the corner of the bed, bordered to prevent Miny from falling, hastily took his robe from the chair, dressing in a hurry as he moved. He tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the living room, swallowing nervously. Daniel wouldn't have called unless it was something serious, especially given the awareness of the time difference. The Filipino maid was already in the connected kitchen, and Moe greeted him with a brief nod.

"Good morning, sir!"

"Good morning... Datu." The name proved difficult to recall, and Moe, gesturing with the phone in hand to signal he could not talk, dialed Daniel. "Hey, is something wrong?"

“Hello, Moe,” Daniel sighed wearily. “You happened, Moe.”

“It's six o'clock in the morning, Daniel, so let's not be mysterious,” Moe said grimly, slumping back in his chair. "Miny could wake up any minute, and if you're just chatting, it's not a good time, you know.”

“I'll keep it short,” Daniel was in a bad mood, too, judging by the dry tone. "You managed to beat up Einar Simmons in front of everyone yesterday, and apparently you didn't want a private beating, as your soul demanded publicity. What's more, you made the criminal underbelly of your backstory public by accusing him. In the digital age, Moe, in front of witnesses, fuck! Where were your brains?!"

“And-and what?” Moe squirmed fearfully, waking up finally. The associative chain caused by what he'd said had flashed through his brain, and Moe had understood everything before Daniel even spoke.

“This scene was filmed by a gawker, who posted your fiery speech on Youtube - it's not every day you see such a thing at the maternity ward, you can understand him. The video went viral, and got a lot of attention, including that of people who recognized Simmons, the famous billionaire, as the one being beaten up. Now, my fiery Moe, your phenomenally impressive performance has been picked up by the media, just as your intriguing relationship has come to the surface. The media is buzzing with excitement, speculating as much as possible about how and under what circumstances Simmons sentenced you to death.

“Shit,” Moe bit his lip, pulling his hair with his free hand. “What should I do?”

“Now you need to negotiate protection with Simmons since you're already out of our system, and we can't protect you without proven danger,” Daniel swore floridly, and Moe squeezed his head into his shoulders guiltily, simultaneously horrified at the prospect. “Getting on the media radar has brought you to the attention of the same people behind your kidnapping, Moe! So, it's only a matter of days, maybe hours, before they get to you and Miny. Do you realize the consequences of your intemperance now?!”

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"I understand," Moe shut his eyes with a sense of impending doom, cold sweat forming on his face as he unsteadily stood up from his chair. "This is really unfortunate, Daniel. He deliberately provoked me! I hate that asshole!"

"That asshole is now responsible for keeping you and your son safe," Daniel remarked sarcastically. "So, you need to tread lightly. Don't kill him accidentally.”

"Very funny," Moe kicked the fitness ball, sending it rolling silently down the hallway. "Are you absolutely sure you can't intervene?"

"If you re-enter the witness protection program," Daniel became alert instantly. "You'll provide testimony about your kidnapping and, ahem, self-defense, which resulted in..."

"No," Moe dismissed the idea without a second thought. "Miny should never discover that his father's—" Moe glanced at Datu, who was fidgeting nearby, and concluded, "Had to take care of a certain problem. That’s not something kids are proud of, Daniel."

"It’s up to you," Daniel sighed disappointedly. "In that case, I'd opt for Einar Simmons with his apology and his squad of bodyguards if I were you."

"What a great option," Moe groaned. "Why do I always get into trouble?"

"I warned you that trouble seems to follow you," Daniel chuckled momentarily, lightening the mood. "So, here's the proposition- accept Simmons' assistance, return here, and I'll explore ways to ensure your safety without the witness protection program."

"Are there really no other alternatives?" Moe strained to hear the sounds from the bedroom and hurriedly entered. Miny had started his distressed cries, unable to find any comforting presence nearby.

"None."

"Alright," Moe burst into the bedroom, shedding his robe and exclaimed, "My baby, Daddy's here already, no need to cry."

"Take care of yourself and your son, Moe," Daniel said, disconnecting without waiting for a response.

Moe tossed the phone onto the bed and crawled swiftly to the sobbing Miny, his face flushed a deep shade of red. He lay down beside him, lifted his quivering head, offered the comfort of his nipple to Miny's toothless mouth, and relaxed as Miny clutched the milk source with his gums, wiping away lingering tears and sniffles from his reddened nose. A soothing tranquility washed over Moe, subduing his anxiety. Wiping his wet cheeks, Moe whispered affectionately, "It's okay, my love, we'll figure things out. We'll go back home, what else can we do? I'm sorry, I've messed things up, left us with no choice. But we'll surely return."

He pondered deeply as Miny sucked eagerly, momentarily forgetting his sorrow. Moe then grunted unhappily while washing him over the sink, changing his diaper, and dressing him. As he prepared for a walk in the condo yard and ate, he considered various alternatives to getting closer to Einar. Each option was discarded, as flaws became apparent - Einar's adversaries likely had significant influence, making any attempt to escape to an unknown destination easily detectable. Yet, the idea of allowing Einar back into his life, especially near the vulnerable, tiny Miny, seemed too heartless. Moe found himself back at the crossroads, contemplating a compromise that would enable him to lead a relatively unrestricted life without the need for perpetual hiding while ensuring safety.

Completing a few laps around the yard, which was ominously warming up, Moe concluded both his walk and his negotiations with fate. He observed with a touch of nostalgia that he had already traversed the third stage of acceptance, skipping the anticipated second one. Surveying the beautifully landscaped surroundings of the carefully selected condominium, he couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow. This could have been a place where he and Miny might have found blissful happiness, if not for the unwelcome presence of the damned Einar, who had thrust them, insignificant elements of the universe’s vast expanse, into the spotlight of the world. Resigned to the inevitable, Moe returned home.

Back at home, he reluctantly informed Datu that he had to return to his home country. However, to compensate for the inconvenience, he offered to cover three months of his contract, allowing him time to secure another job. His spirits sank even further when he witnessed the once-smiling face of the Filipino darken with the unpleasant news. Putting the panting Miny in a ring sling, Moe set off to pack his belongings, his mood somber as he anticipated Einar's imminent arrival within a few hours.