Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Charlene had tried to start a conversation with him but whenever she brought up a topic he ignored completely as if she was never talking to him. It wasn't like he derived happiness in doing so but he thought it was the best thing to do. Javier thought if he gave her a space it would be better than being close to her and became a disaster in her marriage.

When the time was up Javier went over and submitted his booklet. Charlene saw him heading out of the lecture theatre, she was almost done, she scribbled the last answer, she packed up and walked up to the invigilator who was standing next to the desk. She dropped her answer booklet, the invigilator looked at her and smiled brightly. Charlene shrugged off, she strode to where her backpack was, she carried it and exited the lecture theatre.

She looked round in search for him, she was perturbed as needed to talk to him.

“Hey, Charlene.” Fiona appeared behind her, Charlene pivoted to look at her. She raised an inquiry brow while keeping a somber countenance. “Are you looking for someone?”

“Yes, Javier. I don't know where he is.” She replied honestly, still scanning everywhere for him but he seemed to be nowhere around.

“He always waits for you. You should head out, maybe he's outside waiting for you.” Fiona suggested. Almost every student in their department knew how close they were, two of them were always seen together, Fiona believed Javier might be outside waiting for her.

Charlene didn't bother to explain it to her, whatever that was going on between them should be resolved without involving any third party. “All right. Thank you.” Charlene said calmly, she turned around and headed out. Luckily she found him in the hallway going out. “Hey. Javier, wait up.” She called out for his attention.

Javier stopped walking reluctantly, he didn't turn around to look at her. Charlene wasn't bothered, she walked up to him and stood in front of him. “What's wrong?” He asked calmly.

Charlene stared intently into his eyes. She wanted to utter a word at least but she failed. She treated him badly the other day, it was late for her to regret her action but it was never too late to apologize. She took a deep breath as she mustered courage. “I'm sorry.” She murmured.

Puzzled, he lifted a brow. “For what?” The last time he checked he wasn't angry but he wanted to give her enough space.

“For not calling you, for telling you to leave... I'm sorry for everything, Javier. I shouldn't have done that but I sincerely apologize, I don't even know what I was thinking when I told you to leave. I'm sorry.” She said emotionally.

Javier sighed softly and smiled a little. “To be honest I'm not angry. It seems like your husband doesn't approve our friendship so I think it better we give each other spaces.”

She gasped shockingly. “What! Of course not. We're best friends, it doesn't matter if he approves of my friendship with you or not. Javier, it hurts me when you ignore me.”

Javier didn't know what else to say, he contemplated for a while before speaking. “Charlene, I know your marriage isn't perfect, I don't really want to create another problem in your marriage.”

“What problem? Javier, what are you saying?”

“You know how much I love you right? I don't want this but I really have to do it. People seeing us together believe there's something going on between us. I don't want what happened last time to repeat itself.” He uttered demurely, he spared her a last glance before walking away.

Charlene was totally speechless, she watched him as he left without stopping him. She wondered why she couldn't call him back, why she couldn't stop him from leaving. It was as if her feet were pinned to the floor, she couldn't move or utter any word. She blinked rapidly and gnawed on her lower lip. She moved a hand to her mouth and sighed ruefully.

She didn't bother returning to go see Charles since they both concluded to meet after their exam. She was surprised to meet James at the parking lot, she walked over and opened the car door for herself before he could do it. “I thought you left.”

“I decided to wait.”

“Oh.” She didn't bother to complain since she wasn't in a good mood. They hopped in the car and he drove out of the premises.

He halted the car in the garage, Charlene alighted and carried her backpack. She sauntered in, a maid who saw her when she stepped into the living room rushed over, she assisted her with the backpack and took it to their room. They descended the stairs upstairs, Charlene was about to follow the maid in but she heard Miguel crying, she looked at the door. When she stopped walking the maid also did the same.

“Ma'am?”

“You can take that in.” She said to her before walking toward the door, she opened it and entered. Unexpectedly the new babysitter Richard hired was with him, she was petting him to stop crying but it was futile, instead he shrieked. She motioned to her and looked at Miguel who he was carrying.

“Welcome ma'am.” She greeted her. Charlene didn't respond, all her focus was on Miguel.

“What's the matter?” She asked with concern.

“I don't know.” She answered sincerely.

Charlene scoffed as she looked at her inimically. “Why won't you know what's wrong with him? Let me carry him.” She said sternly. She carried him in her arms, when her skin contacted him she noticed he was running temperature. “His temperature seems high.” Charlene stared at Miguel for a moment. She walked to a chair, she sat down and extended her hand to his forehead, it was hot.

“What's wrong with him?” The babysitter asked with concern.

“I think he having a fever.” Charlene wasn't sure, due to his current temperature she couldn't think of any other thing but fever. The babysitter was surprised, after a while she carried him he already stopped crying. She wondered why he seemed calm and relaxed being in her arms.

“We should take him to the hospital.” She suggested as she shrugged her shoulders.

Charlene would have taken him to the hospital but she feared what Richard would do when he returned. Lately she had been avoiding any kind of trouble from him. “Don't worry about him.”

She left the room with Miguel and took him to her room. She laid him down on the bed, as she stood upright he began to cry again. “Hush, hush dear. Don't cry, I'm here.” She caressed his forehead tenderly while smiling at him. She turned at the maid, she unbuttoned her white shirt, she took it off and handed it to the maid, she was left in her underwear and silk skirt. She removed the bandana on her hair and handed it to the maid.

“Should I prepare the bathtub for your bath ma'am?” The maid asked if she wanted something else, Charlene shook her head and dismissed her with her hand. She removed her heels and placed them aside beside the slippers. She carried him when his cry was getting louder.

“Don't cry.” Charlene took her phone she had dropped on the bed, she scrolled down her call log then she found him. She called Richard, it took him a while before he picked up and when he did, she informed him about Miguel and he told her the doctor would be coming to the mansion.

Miguel kept crying nonstop, Charlene did everything to pet him but he didn't stop. She sighed uncontrollably, she sat down on the bed before moving her legs on it, gently she laid his chest on her chest as his head was laying on her breast as she wrapped her hands around him. “Hush, hush, don't make a sound. I'm here with you.” She caressed his face as she petted him. Eventually Miguel stopped crying, before she knew it he dozed off on her chest.

A maid spoke through the intercom that the doctor had arrived. Charlene had to take him downstairs or invite the doctor into their room. She ordered the maid to walk the doctor to their room.

It was the sound of the footsteps that made her look up. She believed the doctor was already in the room but quite far from the bedroom, she moved to the edge and Miguel winced softly. She put her feet on the floor, she stood up and stalked to where the doctor was.

“Mrs Sullivan,” He addressed her politely.

Charlene found no reason to smile, what mattered to her at the moment was Miguel. The doctor sat down on the couch and Charlene extended Miguel to him. Charlene stood back and watched as the doctor did all the necessary checkup on Miguel. The doctor asked Charlene a few questions about Miguel, Charlene couldn't answer all his questions so she invited his babysitter in. The babysitter told the doctor everything. Just like what Charlene said, the doctor informed her it was a fever. The doctor gestured to the nurse that was with him, she opened the first aid and brought out an injection, he gave Miguel the injection then he left medicine prescription for him before leaving.

Charlene sat down for a while, she kept smiling at him as she petted him not to cry. “Ma'am, let me take him to his room.”

“You should leave.” Charlene said to the babysitter without looking at her. She wanted to protest but Charlene's stern countenance made her choke back her words. She grumbled silently, she turned around and left the room.

Charlene returned to the bed, she supported her back on the pillows, she extended her hand to the iPad she put on the nightstand, she had to prepare herself for the examination. She knew it wouldn't be easy reading while Miguel was still laying on her chest, however she still had to do it. She turned on the screen and read from the PDF while doing some research with her phone.

“Mhmm-mm.” Whenever Miguel groaned or wiggled she would drop her phone beside her and use the hand to pat his back tenderly. Miguel's eyes were wide open, he couldn't sleep and his temperature had also become normal.

Richard stepped into the room, he didn't bother to check Miguel's room he believed Charlene might have carried him. He was right after all but he was somehow surprised by the position he met her and Miguel. Charlene focused her gaze on the iPad while reading, she hadn't noticed his presence until he spoke. “Miguel,”

Charlene glanced at his face. “His temperature is normal now.” Charlene divulged.

Richard nodded once, he extended his hand to Miguel, he crouched down a little and smiled brightly at him. “What did the doctor say?”

“Nothing much. He drops medicine prescriptions.” She nodded her head at the paper on the nightstand. Richard picked the paper and read the medicine's names the doctor scribbled in the paper.

“Okay.” He purred. He extended his hands to carry Miguel but he whined and changed his head position as he swung to the other side. Charlene glimpsed at Miguel surprisingly, she couldn't believe Miguel ignored Richard. He giggled, again he tried to carry him and when he did Miguel burst into a loud cry. Richard was literally shocked and perplexed. ”Miguel, it's dad.” He reminded him but he never stopped crying. Miguel wanted Richard to return him to Charlene, all this while he was looking at her as he extended his hands.

Charlene gazed intently into Richard's eyes, she didn't know what to do. She already concluded that Richard wouldn't allow her to carry him. Nevertheless Miguel wanted her to carry him, he wanted to be in her arms. “Maybe he wants something.” Charlene said nervously as she blinked slowly.

Richard sighed softly. “No. He wants you to carry him.” He corrected her. His face was expressionless and his voice was also toneless. Charlene extended her hands to him with reluctance, to her greatest surprise Richard allowed her to carry him. Miguel stopped crying, he put his hand on her breast as he opened her mouth to it. Charlene looked at Richard who chuckled, for the first time he smiled at her.

A light smile craved Miguel's lips, he made a bubble with his saliva, when it burst he smiled and wiggled.

Richard stood on the same spot while watching Miguel, he wondered why Miguel didn't want him to carry him whereas he was happy being with Charlene. He began to think she was stealing his son from him little by little. He turned around and headed to the bathroom.