Chapter 42: Chapter 42

"Auntie? Is Atasha already there?"

In the times that Atasha and I were together, I felt fear again. Her father just finished his first hearing. I left first and stopped at the corner where Atasha could pass to the province; I didn't go with Eunice to the mansion. It's still a mystery to me why Atasha's anger is so strong toward her parents, but I can't focus on that anymore. It makes me even more crazy to think that she might not come home with me anymore.

"Oh, hijo. No one has come yet. Is there a problem? Are you guys had a fight again?" Aunt Victoria said.

I just bit my bottom lip and tiredly bent over the steering wheel of my car. "No, Auntie. We're okay; I'll just call her," I said goodbye.

Atasha was still not answering my calls, which is why I decided to look for her. I chose the route going to the mansion because I immediately had her parents in mind. After a little while, my eyes widened as I drove when I noticed Atasha sobbing in the pouring rain. I parked my car quickly and got out. I tried to calm her down, but we ended up arguing.

"You fvcking cheated on me, and you expect to be happy?" she spat.

My jaw tightened. "I never cheated on you, Atasha. You're the one who cheated with another man."

Maybe Eunice and I had a relationship, but that happened after she left me.

"You fvcked my sister. You fooled me. You fvcking killed my child, and now you're telling me that I'm the one who cheated? How long will you make me look bad? How long will you heap all the blame on me? Until when are you going to play with me?"

I'm so lost. I felt like I was out of breath from what I was hearing. My eyes were burning for some inexplicable reason. I did nothing about all her accusations. I didn't cheat. I never slept with her sister. I didn't even know she was pregnant back then. Why? Why is she blaming me?

"You . . . left me two years ago . . . for another man, right?"

I was hoping that was the truth because if Atasha was right . . . I felt like I was going to lose my mind.

***

SHE'S pregnant. I am sure of it. Her mood swings and cravings are genuine.

I didn't tell Atasha what I noticed. Apart from the fact that her pregnancy looks delicate, I am also afraid that she might suddenly leave me. I can't handle that.

I know she still doesn't believe my explanations. I don't know what she's holding on to, and that's how sure she was that I did everything she accused me of. Even so, I just focused my attention on making her feel my love. I hope that it will be able to soothe the anger in her chest and give me a chance to prove my innocence. But am I really not to blame?

I couldn't protect her. I wasn't by her side when I knew she needed me. I failed her.

Do I even need to clear my name? What for? I have really sinned.

I sighed and took the grocery bags out of the car. I only spent about fifteen minutes at the grocery store because I like to go home as soon as possible. If I could just not leave Atasha's side, I would have done it. I love her so much that I feel like I can't breathe when I don't see her.

I just shook my head and closed the back compartment of the car. I was about to walk when I was stopped by the appearance of Eunice in front of me. I looked at her coldly. I have no idea what Atasha is accusing me of, but I'm sure it all happened because of her sister.

"What are you doing here?" I asked without emotion.

According to the records I got months ago, Eunice is suffering from a narcissistic personality disorder but also displays the symptoms of an antisocial personality disorder. At first, I wondered if all of that was true. Yes, I noticed her self-centeredness, but not to the point where she could be diagnosed with it. But when I heard Atasha's words in the middle of the rain, all my doubts disappeared.

"Answer me, Zachary. Do you still have plans to get back to me?" she asked.

My jaw tightened, and I burst out laughing afterwards. "Can you hear yourself, Eunice? Knowing that you intentionally ruined my relationship with Atasha back then, do you think I'll come back to you?" I shook my head. "Oh, let me clear something up. No one is coming back because, first of all, you are just part of my plans to bring your sister back."

I could clearly see the darkening of her eyes. The small veins on her neck were also very exposed. Her palms clenched firmly, then a mischievous grin curled her lips.

"You give me no choice, Zachary. If I can't get you, then I'll make sure you two don't get back together no matter what," she said.

I glared at her. "What are you planning to do, Eunice?"

She didn't answer me right away. My mouth dropped open, and I blinked a few times as a man slowly walked up to her. I got goosebumps on my body because I couldn't imagine that Eunice would reach this situation.

"How the hell?" not in my own words.

I don't know who the man in front of me is, but he looks exactly like me. They say there is no such thing as perfect retouching, but I see something different. Every corner of his face and curve of his body is exactly like mine. No difference.

"My plan is simple, Zachary. That is to send Atasha back to America and make sure she never comes back," she said and smiled.

"Do you think I will let you do that? Do you honestly believe that I will let her go? If you are called crazy, so am I, Eunice." I shut her up. "I will do everything; just don't lose Atasha from my life."

"Well, you can't do anything right now, Zachary. You'll just wake up with Atasha no longer in your life."

Before I could speak again, my impostor quickly approached me, and electricity suddenly ran through my body. He used a Taser gun. My vision immediately went dark, and I lost my balance. I felt him forcing me to walk. My eyes are spinning; even if I want to fight, I'm too weak to do that.

They locked me in a condo unit. Instead of being annoyed, I'm just thankful for that. Although it will be difficult for me to escape, it is in my favor that Atasha and I are in the same building. I can easily reach her.

Atasha. .  .  Hold on, baby. Please don't leave me again.

I was consumed by fear and worry, but I had to calm myself down. I need to be able to think straight. They had been gone for almost two minutes. They left me alone; maybe they were going to Atasha.

I don't know what to hope for: for Atasha to know that the man she is seeing is an impostor or for her not to know so that nothing bad happens. I tried to loosen the tie on my wrist. Although it's painful to break free from it, I ignored it.

I don't know how many minutes passed before I finally freed myself from the chair. I immediately tried to open the door of the condo, but I was disappointed when I realized that they had locked it from the outside. It seems that Eunice has really prepared for all of this.

I took a deep breath and tried to think of another way. I looked around the unit. My eyes stopped at the balcony of the living area, and an idea came to mind after that. I know it's dangerous, but I have no other choice right now.

I quickly went straight to the room in the unit and removed the bedsheet from the bed. I also looked for a blanket to serve as an addition to my improvised rope plan. Without hesitation, I tied them together and attached them to the balcony railing. I made sure that each end was tightly knotted.

When I was satisfied with what I had done, I started positioning myself. I knew I could die once I fell, but I just put it out of my mind to act properly. With the help of the handmade rope, I carefully lowered myself. I aimed to get to the balcony below the condo unit I was locked in so that I could get out freely.

My gratitude almost reached the sky when I finally reached my target place. I wasted no time and ran out, even though my arms were numb from hanging on the blanket for a few minutes. I didn't realize it. I only worry about Atasha and our baby.

I was immediately greeted with shouting in the room when I arrived at my condo unit. I moved quietly and quickly. I took the gun hidden behind my TV and immediately went straight there. Conscience? I didn't care about that anymore when I saw that Atasha was in danger. I pulled the trigger of the gun I was holding several times and made sure that the person hit by the bullet could no longer breathe.

My vision is getting dark. I wanted to lose myself and hurt more and more, but I quickly came to my senses when I heard Atasha calling me. My knees were shaking from weakening with each of her groans, but I tried to steady myself.

Lord, please save them.

I carefully picked her up. I also did the same with Angel as I found her bleeding on the floor. I took Atasha to the hospital while my friend Thelmo ran Angel to the nearby vet. Even if I don't want to entrust the kitten to someone else, I can't do anything. I can't divide my body.

"I'm sorry; we really tried to save them both, but they didn't make it."

I cursed. I felt like I was deaf at that time. Gone. They were taken from us again. I ended up holding on somewhere while the doctor explained what happened.

"Please don't tell her what happened. She couldn't handle this," I whispered weakly and tearfully looked at Atasha, who was lying on the hospital bed. "Let me tell her everything when she's ready."

The doctor respected my decision. Apart from that, it is really good for the patient because Atasha has a history of self-harm. It is also not good for her to be stressed immediately after losing her child. She needs complete bedrest.

I took care of Atasha while I was also secretly mourning. I kept blaming myself. I don't know what sin I have committed, and I am being punished like this. I'm weak, and I want to give up, but I can't. Atasha needs me. I have to be strong for her; at least that way I can make up for all my shortcomings.

It was painful for me to keep a secret from her. I have no intention of hiding what happened to our child and her kitten, but I know she can't handle it right now. She was currently dangling on a thread, just like I am. I don't want to be too hasty because I know that her life is also at risk.

I tried several times to tell her the truth, but I couldn't. I'm afraid. I am so scared that she will suddenly leave me, even though I know that I deserve it just in case. It's just. .  .  I can't bear to lose her right now. I need her.

She keeps me sane. She reminds me that I need to breathe. She is the reason I stop myself from giving up. If Atasha disappears from my life, I can't handle it. I'm going crazy.

***

"How dare you frame me up!" Atasha's father shouted when I visited him.

I just looked at him with no emotion, and then one of my eyebrows slowly raised. "Frame you from what?" I asked, pretending to know nothing. "As far as I know, you're a murderer." I shrugged.

His face was red with intense anger. I laughed lightly and shook my head.

"Mr. Rodriguez, if I were you, I'd plead guilty right away. Don't waste any more time fighting because you'll just get tired. I'll never let you get out of jail," I said.

His jaw clenched. The look he gave me became sharper. If we weren't here at the precinct right now, he might have beaten and punched me earlier.

"It's all your fault. If it wasn't for you, my daughters wouldn't be in trouble!" he spat angrily.

I secretly clenched my palms and took a deep breath. I calmed my mind first before looking at him seriously. I let out a smile in front of him.

"You might have ruined me with that word if Atasha doesn't now help me rebuild myself. Sorry, not sorry, Mr. Rodriguez; everything that happened was brought on by your collective selfishness and self-interest. Even Atasha and my innocent lives were shattered because of you," I stated and stood up from my seat. "Don't worry. You'll serve your karma well with your so-called family." I smirked and finally left the facility.

I must admit, I also feel tired sometimes, but all that disappears when I see Atasha. We are both saving ourselves as we both try to heal from our past. It's hard, but we can handle it because we have each other to lean on.

"I won't stop you from doing what you want to do, but promise me that if you ever feel like giving up and need my strength, you'll run to me. I don't want you to lose yourself in this battle, Zach. I need you the way you need me too."

I don't know, but that's one of the best things I've heard in my life. Warmth spread through my heart, and it calmed my system. I felt it in an instant. .  .  I'm fine.

***

The weeks and months went by quickly. It must be true what they say: After the storm, comes the calm. To this day, I still can't believe that one of our babies survived. It was like I was in a dream, and I wished I would never wake up again.

"Dy . . ."

I was taken aback when I felt Atasha's gentle caress on my chest. I let out a grunt in response, then hugged her around her waist. I stuck my head between her neck and shoulder and smelled her skin there.

Damn, just the smell of her made me hard.

How many months have I been calibrated?

"Zach, I think my water bag just broke."

I rose up as soon as possible. My eyes widen as I look at her whole body and our now-wet bed. She's right; she's now in labor.

I'm a doctor. I am a professional; I don't need to panic.

I calmed myself down before getting out of bed. I first made sure that Atasha's position was comfortable while I prepared the things we would bring to the hospital. Everything was not difficult because we had prepared it for a long time. I changed her clothes first, then carried her up. I didn't let her walk anymore because it looked like her contractions were only a few minutes apart.

"Are you okay?" I asked when I got her into the car.

I saw her wince; maybe her stomach was in pain again. "I can still handle it," she answered.

I planted a kiss on her forehead before turning around in the driver's seat. I also called Atasha's OB so that everything would be ready when we arrived at the hospital. Sweat began to form on my senses as I heard her purr one after another. She was also wincing in her seat. Instead of panicking, I cautiously accelerated the car's operation.

"Hold on, baby. We're almost there," I said.

A few minutes later, we finally arrived at the hospital. The nurses immediately picked up Atasha with a stretcher and quickly brought her to the facility where she would be nursed. I didn't really follow what happened next; I just found myself inside the birthing room, holding Atasha's hand as she pushed one after another.

"Doc, are you okay? You look pale," an assisting nurse commented to me.

I smiled at her. "I'm fine. It's just a little warm."

She nodded at me, then turned her attention back to Atasha.

"Push more, Mommy. Baby is crowning." I heard the doctor say that and I could barely breathe.

Atasha followed her, and a few moments later, my vision went completely dark.

Our baby, Saviari Rodriguez Villarreal, let out his first cry.

"Dr. Villarreal!" I heard them calling me before I fully lost my consciousness.

-END-