Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Ingrid's POV

"When did you start to know that you're pregnant?" he asked me.

"That's why you left back then?" he asked. We are here in the gazebo of his house now just to talk. We both can't sleep so there is no choice but to talk.

I just looked at my feet before speaking. Only now did I have the courage to tell a story.

"Partly yes, Raya almost disappeared… Because of stress and anxiety…" I said just playing with my fingers now. When I tried to look at him, I saw how his jaw tightened. He was seriously listening to me right now.

“I was too scared that I’ll lose her so I break up with you. For the two of you, I can do that. I want her to be healthy and I want you to chase after your dream. I'm glad that it actually happens… ” I said. They are both special to me.

"I hope you just said that to me, Ingrid… I wish I was there… I could chase my dream even if I was there next to you… I hope I was there when you needed someone the most…" His voice weakened as he said that. He also seems to be saying the words to himself.

“I was about to tell you but you’re already chasing your dream. I can't be that selfish… maybe at first yes but no… I'll probably regret it if I let you be tied to me without chasing your dream,” I said.

“When you called…” He couldn't even continue what he was going to say but I seemed to know what he wanted to ask.

“I’m sorry if I was selfish that day… that was the time when I realized that I was really pregnant…” I said. I could see how the corners of his eyes turned red. I also heard his weak curse. He was just there silently crying. Regret rushed into his face. I can see how he regretted the decision.

"Fuck… I didn't know… I'm sorry…" he said not knowing how to apologize. I shook my head at him because of it.

“No, Indigo… you are not at fault. There's nothing wrong with choosing what you really like… there's nothing wrong with the decision you make, Indigo. It is not wrong to choose your dream… You know if you choose us over your dream? I'm sure you will have regrets. I don't want you to stay, especially if the dream that you have been waiting for is gradually disappearing just because of me… I don't want it that way… maybe all of the things that happened between us are just fine. My only mistake is not telling you for the past few years… I'm sorry… I really do… ” I said before approaching him for a hug. He returned the hug to me while apologizing.

“I’m still sorry that I wasn’t there when you needed someone the most. I should have been there. I was the only one you can hold to before but I still left you… ” he whispered to me.

"It's fine… I did it… Of course, I can, I'm Ingrid…" I said still imitating his line back then. We laughed a little because of what I said.

"And you're here now…" I whispered softly. He did not speak. He was just looking at me now. He just fixed the hair to my ear.

"I'll court you again…" he said to me.

“We can just da—” Before I could continue, he put his index finger on me.

"I still don't deserve you…" he said, smiling at me. I'm the one who doesn't deserve him.

"I love you… I always do…" he whispered before kissing me on the forehead.

That ended our talk that night. When he took us to Nueva Ecija, he also returned to Manila, which is why his daughter was upset with him. She's already used that her father was always with her every single day.

"Tatay won't still coming home, Nanay?" Raya asked. This is also one of my fears because Raya is so used to her father's presence.

"He texted you a good morning and delivered your palabok," I said, pointing to Sandro who was always Indigo's partner in crime. He always tempts my brother.

"Awwe, but I miss Tatay, he said he'll be back soon?" she asked me.

"Your Tatay is still fixing something in Manila, Nak, he'll come back too," I told her so she just nodded.

When we got to school, as usual, I just drop her at her classroom.

When I met Gracia, she looked at me teasingly again.

"I hope everyone misses someone," she said so I shook my head. The naughtiness of this one. Well, Gracia is really just friends with students. So she's really a favorite teacher of the kids here. Apart from being kind, she's also good at teaching. She just doesn't look intimidating but when she starts to discuss, she's serious about her career. If it's the class time it's class time. That's her motto.

I was busy the whole day because I have a lot of things to do all day long.

"Do you get it?" I asked them.

"Yes, Ma'am," they said together.

"Ma'am, it's time," some said so I sighed before looking at the time.

“There are still 5 minutes, we'll be done for a minute. It's over,” I said so they looked like they wanted to howl.

“Student, don't stop there in front if the door—” Before I could continue, I stopped when I saw Indigo lifting Raya while watching me teach. I almost choked on my own saliva because of that but I still tried to be serious and professional.

It's uncomfortable because I know Indigo and Raya are watching me. I was able to finish my class peacefully.

When I came out, Raya gave me a wide smile before she applauded.

"You're really good, Ma'am," she said, so I couldn't help but laugh. Indigo is just looking at me while smiling. If you look into his eyes as if he's proud of me.

“You really did it. I know that you can and you did,” he told me so I smiled at him too.

“I thought you still had a job? Why are you here?" I casually asked him.

"I took my leave, I have more important work to do," he said so I looked at him in surprise.

“Huh? Are you looking for a place for your shoot?” I ask.

"Nah, I want to take care of you two and I want to court someone," he said looking at me.

“And that someone is Nanay, Tatay?” Raya asked him.

"You're great, huh? How did you know that?" Indigo even laughed while teasing Raya. Raya just pouted at home.

"So when will you get married?" Raya asked so I almost choked on my own saliva. Our daughter is so advanced. Her father is still courting.

"If your Nanay is ready, Nak," Indigo said so I turned to him and widened my eyes.

“Maybe you forgot that you're still courting. I won't answer you,” I said so he immediately scratch his head.

"I shouldn't have rejected your suggestion so that I could have taken you to the altar right away. After all, you will also be mine." His playful voice was there again. As if he didn't cry when we talk.

"Stop, you idiot," I said so we were both surprised.

"You're a teacher, you crazy," he said, so I immediately pouted.

"You said that's bad, Nanay," Raya said so I immediately tapped my mouth. I could no longer control myself.

“Sorry, Nak, that's bad. Don't say that, okay? ” I asked her. I was holding her hand as we walked. We even passed a group of students cleaning their room.

“Ma'am, is it true that you already have a boyfriend? How about my Uncle that I recommend to you?” one of my students asked. He was one of the naughtiest and most noisy students in my class.

When I looked back at Indigo, I immediately saw the frown on his face.

"Stop it, Dela Cruz," I said so he just laughed.

"Ma'am can't take a joke but, Ma'am, he said he was chatting with you, you just didn't reply," he said so I scolded him even more. If he hadn’t been scolded he wouldn’t have stopped.

"So you really have a lot of suitors, huh?" I heard Indigo say. Raya answered that.

“So many, Tatay! Many suitors are texting on her phone. Then another man came up to me just to ask if I was accepting a father," Raya said so my lips parted. Huh? Why don't I know that? She didn't tell me that!

It's as if Raya has someone she can't rant with because Indigo really listens to her every complaint.

"You can't accept suitors," Indigo told me.

"For our daughter's sake and for my sake too." This man really has the guts to say it because he has someone who will nod at her. His daughter was just nodding one after another.

"Okay," I said.

"You can't flirt with me then," I said so he immediately turned to me.

"Except for me of course," he said so Raya giggled.

"You're so thick-skin, I'll basted you," I said, so he just laughed before he held Raya's other hand.

"Hope all, happy family," Gracia laughed when she saw us. I can't help but nudge her because of that.

"I'm your automatic bridesmaid, huh?" she asked me.

"I don't know about you, Ma'am. Stop teasing me. We're going first," I said before saying goodbye to her. She even happily waved at me when we left.

After Indigo went here to Nueva Ecija, rumors about us really spread like wildfire. I'm not famous in the town but it's a different matter when it comes to Indigo because he seems like he's the mayor of Nueva Ecija, he talks to everyone here. He's just too friendly really.

"Good morning, Ma'am," he greeted me when I saw him talking to our neighbors. He lives here with us because Raya requested it. We also couldn't do anything because the boss said so. It's actually fine because it's just a waste of Indigo's money if he's still looking for a place to live even though I know it's just a coin to him.

He was carrying a paper bag with an ensaymada.

“Brought you ensaymada, I went through jelexie,” he said so I couldn't help but smile.

"I'm going now, thanks," I said, walking toward my car.

There's a meeting for parents today so we need to go to school even on Saturdays.

"I'll drop you in school, Miss-is," he said with a smile. I know he's really thick-skin and he always has time to tease me and makes my day very unusual. He always makes my boring day, happy to look forward to.

"Don't. Raya will look for you," I said.

"Nah, she said I was too slow," he said laughing so I furrowed my forehead at him.

I just shake my head because of what kind of nonsense he was teaching Raya.

When I got to school, he even opened the door for me. He looks crazy.

"I'll be going first, be careful when you go home," I said.

"Where's my kiss?" he asked so I stared at him.

"You know a lot," I said, still shaking my head at him.

"Especially when it comes to you," he said, so I turned my back on him but still can't help but smile.

"See you later, Ma'am. Don't forget to eat," he said, winking at me. Those mothers who are watching us even beat each other. I just glared at Indigo and continued walking but still couldn't help my smile anymore. You're going crazy, Ingrid.