Chapter 15: Chapter 15

"Cruizita Andrea," Andrew beamed with pride as he handed her eight-day old daughter to Jacob. "Baby Cruize."

Andrew picked the nickname. He didn't actually like the nsme of their baby because it sounded so old school but since his wife insisted it, pointing out that she will be the one to deliver the baby and be on a labour, he eventually agreed. She even threatened him!

Jacob cradled her into his arms, he used his pinky to touch her littlr hands. The baby looks so much like Andrew, from the chinky eyes, the pouting lips and the shape of her face. "Hello baby Cruize. I'm your uncle Jake.”

"Man, she's like the male version of you." Jacob laughed, Rochelle frowned.

“It's so unfair. I was the one who carried her for nine months and went on a life or death labor only for her to look like her daddy.”

Andrew kissed her forehead, "Don't worry, love. Next time we'll make a baby who looks like you.”

Rochelle went on a five hour labor.  It was her first child so it was expected it is gonna be hard.

“Man, I tell you. It's a different joy to hold your baby in your arms.” Andrew looked dreamily at his child. “I want the best for her.”

For a minute Jacob wondered how it feels to have his own child.

Back then, he wanted to have a lot of kids. He will be a doting parent, a father who lets his children be who they want to be without dictating them. He wanted to have it with Tatiana, but then again, he doesn't think that's possible now.

He looked at Andrew, who would have thought that at twenty seven, magkakapamilya na ito? He avoided marriage like a plague!

Their baby is so beautiful.No doubt Andrew would be an overprotective father when the time comes.

"Bro, I hope my leave was approved.”

Jacob rolled his eyes. "You're the vice president, Drew. Go on spend time with your family.”

"Thanks, bro.”

"I'm happy for both of you." Jacob turned to Rochelle. "She's very lovely."

It made her grin. “You'll be the godfather, alright?”

"Of course." He continued to cradle her into his arms, Cruizita yawned. Earning a chuckle from the parents and  from him. "You like uncle Jacob, huh?"

He was there for more than two hours. He remembered when his nephew was a newborn. He used to sleep in his sister's house just so he could be with James. When Jasper is away, he's the substitute dad, helping his sister look after his nephew.

He loves kids so much.

The next day after his meeting with Bradford Van Heusen of Zeus Airways, he headed straight to the lawfirm where Tatiana works. That woman didn't show her face for a week already. He knew she was avoiding her because of what happened with them in the island.

He tried calling her a few times but it went straight to voice mail. He knew she's been screening his calls.

He sighed. She's so difficult to deal with.

Justice firm is one of the famous law firm here in the Philippines. If he wasn't mistaken, her uncle owns the firm, Albert's brother.

Some eyes landed on him the moment he entered the firm. Women, of course. He wasn't oblivious about it, he's even enjoying it.

His sister used to tell her he was always a ladies' man even as a kid. When he was a baby, his face was even used to endorse a milk brand in the country.

He headed to the reception. "Good morning." He smiled, "is attorney Falcon around?”

"Just a minute, sir" The woman picked up the telephone and dialed.  "Ms. Francine, is Attorney Falcon around? Someone is looking for her."

“Name sir?”

"Jacob Shaw."

It dawned to the lady that he was Jacob Shaw, the Jacob Shaw. Of course she knew him.

"It's Mr. Shaw."

She dropped the call. "NSecond floor, room B103. Her assistant will be there."

He smiled at the woman causing her to blush.

He's been so eager to see her today.

Jacob spotted the small desk outside the room.

"Good morning,"

He watched her eyes widen, it took a while before she can speak again.

“G-good morning sir, are you the expected visitor of Attorney Falcon?”

He nodded.

"Come with me sir,"

He just entered her office but he already saw her glaring toward him.

Nevertheless, what a view.

She looked hot in a white blouse, papers in her hand and a laptop on her desk.

"Mr. Shaw, good morning." Her voice was laced with too much seriousness. He tried to match it playfully.

"Mrs. Shaw, good morning."

Tatiana ignored his remark. "What do you need?"

"I just came here to show you the terms Mr. Van Heusen presented. Are you free?"

“Actually I’m not. I’m studying a case today. But you can leave these here and I’ll check it later. Then we can discuss this at Strike.”

"Why not now?" He asked.

"Because," she sighed. "I’m busy, Shaw."

"In the evening, then. We can talk this over dinner."

No! Her mind immediately screamed. Never again, Tatiana.

"I can’t."

"Why? Is this about your boyfriend? " Umigting ang kanyang panga.

"It does not concern you anymore, Jacob--"

"Does your boyfriend know what happened between us in Palawan?" He taunted, He looks mad, jeaous even.

"Why are you making it such a big deal, huh? It was just plain sex!" Thank god the office was sound proof. She was yelling, she was so pissed off.Lately she’s been so cranky.

"Plain sex? You didn't moan all night if it was just plain sex, Tatiana."

"Don't get me wrong here, Jacob. It was good, really good. But it was nothing meaningful for me. Like how it's been meaningless for you for the past years that you've bed different women. My god, you really are full of yourself!"

Jacob looked at her as if he wasn't able to believe that the one who's talking is indeed, her.

"What is wrong with you?" His eyes were something she couldn't figure our now.  "You turned into a very cold hearted woman. I don't even recognize you anymore..." he said. Now disappointment washed away his everything.

"You were never like this, Tatiana. You were so different in the island, I thought we were okay. I was so wrong."

She kept her straight face, keeping her tears at bay. She couldn’t cry until he leaves.

"Jacob just… go."

"Is this your way of pushing me away? Huh, Tatiana? It won't work. Trust me baby, it will never work. You can give me cold shoulder and that foxy attitude but I will take you back. You belong with me, baby."

"You'll never have me back again, Jacob." She said in a low voice.

He left the folder in her desk, "Call my secretary for my vacant schedules. I’m leaving."

Her monthly period was late for four days already.

She was starting to get nervous about it. She had an unprotected sex with Jacob. She can’t get pregnant by the same man who left her. How could she ever explain this to her family? To her son? That she got knocked up again.

And to Jerome. God, He'd call her a whore.

No, Jerome wouldn't do that. But he’d leave her for sure. She'd never wanna loose him. She cannot.

Just thinking about being pregnant again already makes her cry.

She made such wrong decisions. She should’ve avoided him the moment she saw him. She should have quit the moment she found out that She'll be working for Strike, for Jacob.

She was already at peace, content and had moved on.

But have she really moved on?

Jacob can still affect her like how he does years ago. Nothing changed much. He can still put her under a spell.

She can be pregnant. She can be carrying their second child.

Oh god, no.

Of course she wants another child,but not with him.

Her mind was running out of gutter. She was thinking too much and getting paranoid. Her mind was too clouded with what ifs.

What if she's really pregnant?

She would have to run away again, Jerome would break up with her, and she would have another child that knows no father.

That would be a hell of a price to pay.

"Does it still hurt?" He asked after their wedding night. She knew first time often hurt, but she didn’t know it would hurt like that.

"I’m sorry.” he stroked her hair. “I’ll try to be more gentle next time.”

"I’m happy, you know. I lost my virginity to my husband, I guess it's a precious thing."

He chuckled, loving the feeling of their oneness, her warmth, sweat and smell. "I love you, Tati. You would be the only one.." He kissed the tip of her nose. That small, sweet gesture made her giddy.

"I love you too."

She watched him do the laundry, he was still whistling as he did that. She felt so embarrassed, she couldn’t even do their laundry. She wanted to help him but Jacob doesn’t want her to. Her hands react to detergents, so he said he’ll just do it himself.

He works now as a porter, pushing crates and sometimes he’d carry boxes on his shoulders.

They have a hard life, they have bills to pay. They have to earn the food they set on their table and since he doesn’t let her work, she could see how hard it was for him. He’d go home late and tired.

"Aren’t you tired?" she asked him once.

He immediately shook his head. "No, because I’m doing this for us. For our education. If we get lucky, let’s go to cebu and we'll go in a community college. Is that okay with you?"

"Jacob, isn’t it unfair? You work, you clean the house and do our laundry---"

"Tati," He stood up and wrapped his arms around her. "I promised to treat you like a queen. That's what I'll do."

"But Jake, I feel useless. I can’t even do anything to help you."

Jacob squeezed her hand, "We'll get through this.I got accepted in a tattoo shop, I’ll probably earn more..."

They did really have a better life after he got accepted in a tattoo shop. When he earned enough, they decided to go to cebu. He already got a place where they could stay. Then they’ll both enroll in a community college there.

She noticed how he was so silent while they were waiting for their ship. He’s been like this since yesterday, it’s as if he was on a deep thought.

"Are you okay?" she palmed his cheek.

He nodded. “Y-yeah. I’m okay.”

They sat on a bench for two hours while waiting for their sail. It was better they came early so they don’t have to be in so much crowd. It’s a huge ship that can accommodate thousands of people.

She unconsciously touched her belly, she just learned she was pregnant last night and she plans on telling him when they get to their new house. She’ll cook for him and break out the good news.

Wow. Motherhood.

Jacon and her are gonna be parents.

She ate the juice and the bread he brought with them while waiting. She has to eat more now that she’s eating for the baby too. "Babe, do you want some?"

He shook his head.

Seriously, what is his problem?

Jacob stood up. "I’ll just go to the men’s room. Stay here, okay? I’ll be right back."

"I’m not coming?"

"No, just stay here. I’ll be here in a minute." he kissed her forehead.

Tatiana started to worry when their ship came and he wasn’t there yet.

“Where is he, damn it.”

But she waited for more minutes, until the passengers started to load the ship.

She was starting to get nervous. He said he’ll be quick, but he’s been gone for an hour.

Tatiana stood uup and went to the guard. “Sir, can you please look out for our bags? I’ll just look for my husband, he’s been gone for more than an hour but he said he’ll be quick.”

"Why, where did your husband go, ma’am?"

"He said he’ll just go to the men’s room, but until now he hasn’t come back yet."

Tatiana went to the restroom to check but it was empty, he wasn’t there.

She’s worried something might have happened to her husband. She looked everywhere but she didn’t find him.

Until the ship left.

She reported to the police about her missing husband. She came back the next day, maybe something had happened. Maybe he’s back now.

She came back the next day and there was no sign of Jacob, until the next day.

Until the next.

“Are you sure he is missing, ma’am?” The guard asked her. She’s been at he port everyday waiting for him, In the exact same spot where he left her.

She even sent out flyers with his picture.

“Because until now no one reported an accident, or any bodies found. What if he left you here, ma’am? You guys are too young to get married.”

She remembered how awfully silent he was that day. He was so troubled he didn’t speak much.

No. Jacob isn’t like that. He’d never leave her, he promised.

One month.

She’s been at the port for a month now, she came everyday to hand out flyers, sitting at the same bench he left her, waiting for him to come back but he didn’t show.

She placed her palm on her belly. Lately she’s been feeling nauseous since she’s on the first trimester of her pregnancy, she knows it’s not healthy to be out here everyday especially that she’s not getting enough sleep at night thinking and worrying about him.

She wished she could stay there longer, but then she has to think about her baby now.

After that month, she realized he really left her. He didn’t go missing, no one was reported dead or harmed. He really left. Maybe he got tired of the life they have, maybe he got tired of the responsibilities he owned up to when he married her.

Isn’t that the reason why he was disowned, because he didn’t want anything to do with the responsibilities.

"Christian," she cried when she heard her brother’s voice on the line. “’Please get me out of here, I can’t do this anymore."

TATIANA WOKE UP panting and sweating, she was catching her breath as her tears continued to fall.

She couldn’t understand why she had to dream about that memory again. For her it was nightmare, she developed trauma because of what happened to her nine years ago.

She was standing up to get some water when she felt her groin hurt. When she rose, she saw blood stains all over her shorts.

She felt the weight of the world be lifted out of her shoulders.

Her monthly period came.