Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Rika

See you soon. Come back soon!

I smiled when I read that text message from Erika. I didn't reply to that and looked at my daughter. She had been busy reading before and I could barely hear her whispers as if uttering every word she saw in that little book. I'm glad that she's smart just like her father.

I was wearing sunglasses when Amari and I left the airport. My chest continued to throb loudly as we crossed the road out until I saw Elena with a wide smile waiting for us. It included Via and Riley who were obviously also excited to see the two of us.

“Ana! Oh my god! I missed you!" Elena screamed and immediately rushed to hug me. Via and Riley also followed taking my daughter’s hand.

“You're so big, baby. I'm your pretty godmother Riley, okay? Oh my god! I missed you!” She said tearfully and finally carried my daughter. I turned my gaze to Via who was just smiling and watching me so I approached her and hugged her.

"You look better than before, huh," she whispered to me so I smiled. When I pulled her away, she looked at me from head to toe so I patted her on the arm. She just laughed and at the same time, we headed to Elena's car.

After that night, I decided to end things between him and me. Instead of me pushing him away from me, I will just walk away again so that he won't be in trouble anymore. After we talked that night, I immediately went home to pack our things. Luckily, I had a little more to save for the two of us and I begged Elena to temporarily stay in her condo first while I still couldn't find a place to move. This is only temporary. No one even knew we were leaving, only Erika, Mother Soledad, and Father Lucio. I didn't say goodbye to him because I might not be able to handle it either and I just gave up. I already know myself when it comes to him. I knew he could take me back even if I was stubborn.

“So, this is real? You're staying here for good again?” Elena immediately asked me when we entered the kitchen area to prepare food.

Via and Riley were so happy with Amari that they immediately got along. Somehow I was happy because I knew someone still loved the two of us. I was still lucky, but that still wasn't enough to completely eliminate the fear I was feeling. I know this place is small for us and I’m sure Hector will find me here right away.

“I don’t know, Elena. I just really need to go and talk to someone important so I decided to come back here right away,” I lied to her. That's what she knew. She didn't even know what had happened last week while the man was at the Hacienda.

I turned my back on her when I saw her meaningful look at me. I pretended to get water from the refrigerator.

“Really? You're not going to tell me the truth then?”

I almost choked on the water I was drinking because of what she said.

“You know you can’t hide anything from me anymore, Ana. I know Apollo has been in Cagayan De Oro for a long time. I'm sure it has something to do with your sudden decision of coming back here,” she said seriously so I nodded and faced her.

She crossed her arms on her chest while staring at me intently. Her eyebrow was still raised so I just frowned. She really knows everything. I don't even know how she knows everything even if I don't tell her anything.

I sighed violently and nodded. "He's engaged and they're going to have a child."

His eyes widened and came even closer to me. “Really? How? Aren't you still married? That means there is… oh my god,” she whispered.

I just laughed at her reaction even though it still hurts, but I could do nothing. As usual, I still couldn't do anything.

“It's okay. I told him that we could have an annulment or a divorce. It's fine for me,” I told her out of my nose and heated the pizza in the microwave. It was a long time before Elena spoke again so I was just stunned there. Later, I felt her touch my shoulder so I looked at her.

"Is that what he wants or are you the only one who wants it?" She asked so I laughed.

“I don't have the decision, Elena. You know that.” I told her blankly and never reopened the matter.

That same night, Via and Riley didn't go home and decided to sleep there. When I found out that they were going to drink, I didn't refuse anymore. After I fed Amari dinner, I put her to sleep immediately because I also felt tired from our trip earlier and I can feel that she was, too.

As I was changing my clothes, my cell phone suddenly rang. The nervousness immediately registered in my chest because I already had a hunch about who it was but it immediately disappeared from my mind when I realized that I had changed the number a long time ago and only those close to me knew it.

Assuming it might be Abraham, I picked it up immediately and read the text. But my heart almost came out of my body when I read the contents of the message.

Unknown Number

What are you doing? Where the fuck are you?

Unknown Number

Did you leave the province? And where do you plan to go, Solei?

Unknown Number

Planning to hide again, huh? Do you think I can't find you? You clearly don't have any idea what I'm capable of, baby.

I was horrified when I read the last thing he said. I can hear even his deep and hard voice. Full of anger. I can see in my mind even his mad expression. I bit my lower lip and continued to read his texts further.

Unknown Number

I told you, you can just tell me and I'll do it. But you didn’t say anything like this. We haven't talked about anything like this. Stop making decisions without telling me! I am still your husband, baby.

Unknown Number

That engagement with Ayanna was just fucking fake. Why don't you try to listen to me first before doing anything just to escape from me?

Unknown Number

I told you, you won't like it when I'm mad. Make sure you hide properly, that I will never find you. Try all your luck, Anastacia Solei. I can move the world upside down just to find you. I promise you that.

I just got a hold of my head after I read that last text by Hector. The fear I felt only intensified because of what he said. I don’t know if that was a threat or what. And what will he do when he finds me again? As if he can still do anything. He's going to have a baby! Why not just focus on that? He's so annoying!

I stared at Hector's texts for a few more minutes. I approached my daughter who was sound asleep and gently kissed her on the head then left. I went straight to the terrace of Elena's room. I found the three of them there as if they had been waiting for me. I just smiled when I saw the view in front of us. They are right to be here instead of in the living room.

“So, how are you, Ana? I heard that you and Apollo have met again.” Riley starts so I looked at the three of them. They just smiled at me so I was stunned. I already know this.

“Here. It's been a long time since we've had a drink together. I can still remember that night,” Elena said meaningfully so I felt even more deprived. She handed me a bottle of beer that was already open.

“Stop, please. I don't want to talk about it anymore,” I begged them because I felt so embarrassed. I just heard them laughing.

“Tell us, Ana. What's happening? Does he already know about your daughter?” It was Via who spoke. I felt the sudden seriousness of the atmosphere in the four of us.

For a moment, I looked at the beer I was holding and drank it. I winced when I tasted its bitterness and then looked at the emptiness.

“He doesn't need to know anymore. We didn't become—”

"But something has happened between you two for how many times," Riley interrupted me so I almost curse her, even more, when Elena's laughter followed.

“So, you don’t have any plan to tell him about Amari? What if Amari started asking you about her father? What will you say?" Continuation of Via. I bit my lower lip.

"Tell her he's dead," Elena said jokingly so I slapped her on the thigh.

I averted my gaze from the three of them and drank beer again. Even before I could answer Via's questions, my cell phone suddenly rang so we looked at the table where it was sitting. My heart immediately pounded when I saw the number registered there.

"Oh, that's probably the answer." I even heard Elena say that and I just realized that she had already pressed the answer button and then pointed at me.

"There it is," Riley whispered. The irritation drew to my head and I quickly picked up my cell phone and then looked at them sharply. Via just smiled.

Shit! They won't really stop until I'm overwhelmed.

I stared at my cell phone before finally standing up and walking away from the three of them slightly. I applied it to my ear. I could hear nothing but his heavy breathing. I didn't know if I would speak or not.

"Hey..."

The second time, my whole being shuddered when I heard his hoarse voice on the other line. I bit my lower lip and looked at the city lights. I don't even know what to say. Shit!

“Where are you? I'm already in Manila,” he said and sighed violently. My mouth dropped open when I realized what he had said.

"H-ha?"

“Let’s meet. I want to see you. Where are you, Solei? Please…” His voice was full of pleading so I couldn't answer right away.

The heat brought on by the alcohol we were drinking immediately enveloped my entire body as I could hear the loud thump of my chest.

“Even just for a moment. Wherever it is, I'm going to see you right now…” He stopped and I heard his violent sigh again as if he was having a hard time with something. “Please, don't do this. I don't want us to stop. Let's talk, baby, please.”

My knees became softer because of what I was hearing. I don’t know what to say. I can already taste the blood on my lips because of my repeated bites there.

I closed my eyes tightly and tiredly sighed. I feel the heavy and painful blockage in my throat again. “L-let me go first, Hector. I don't want to… see you. This is wrong,” I said and quickly turned off the call.

I was stunned for a few more minutes by his number before finally returning to my seat. The three were quiet while drinking so I was also quiet and sipped the beer again. It was only then that I realized the series of tears streaming down my eyes — the reason why they were silent since I came back to my seat. I didn’t even notice that.

"Are you okay?" Via asked. None of my own shook and opened another beer.

"Ana, slow down," said Elena. I just shook my head at her and at the same time, my cell phone rang again because of the text. Two entered.

Unknown Number

Take a good rest. I'll wait for you tomorrow. I want you to know I'm not giving up. Never, baby.

Again, I ignored that and next read the text from Abraham. Only now did he reply after I told him that I was already in Manila.

Abraham Narvaza

Bring all your papers tomorrow. Let's meet in my office. I'll send you the address.

I immediately typed a reply for him.

To Abraham Narvaza

see you

-

I looked up at the name of the building in front of me. My eyes narrowed as I looked at what was written there.

Narvaza's Law Firm

It is written in gold color. I stared at it for a few more words before deciding to go inside. I woke up early just for this. Fortunately, the three are out of work now and they are the first to be left with Amari. The three of them were also surprised when I told them about it as was my reaction when Abraham and I first talked.

When I got to the lobby, I looked at the reception area there. I saw a woman bent over so I poked her. I winced as she looked up at me. Its forehead is still furrowed.

“Uhm, miss, I'm looking for Atty. Abraham Narvaza— ”

"Anastacia."

Before I could continue what I was about to say, I heard someone calling me. When I looked back, a handsome, clean, and professional man in his coat and tie was exposed to me. He was still wearing an aviator which he immediately removed and stared at me deeply. I felt disgusted when he looked at me from head to toe.

“It’s so nice to see you again after so many years. You're still glowing as I expected,” he greeted me and then approached me. I blinked quickly when he suddenly hugged me.

“I missed you…” He whispered and hugged me even tighter.

Huh?