Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Last night, Catrina saw Acwell for the first after almost three years. This happened when she went to a nearby grocery store that is beside a restaurant. She was stepping out of the cab when he saw him going inside the cab in front. She froze as she watches the cab, drove away, and whispered, “Acwell.” Then, her heart aches with longing as she had some flashbacks.

When she got inside the grocery store, that is when she saw his reply to her messages.

“That’s good. Take care of her.”

Reading that and seeing him earlier made her lose focus that she did her groceries fast. Her mind won’t stop forming questions. It bothered her until she reached home. She asked herself, “Acwell, why you did not answer? I called several times, but not once did you pick up when you are just having dinner. What is more important than checking on your daughter who was just discharged from the hospital? Were you with someone? Your reply is not satisfactory to me.”

She was angry and sad that she sunk into the sofa. She knows that they have broken up even before Amara was born, but for her sake, why did he do that? She understands it has been years since they have seen each other, but she has not given up all hopes on him. She thought that maybe because they have a daughter he might decide to come back to her. Especially once Amara arrives, and he can see her. Amara looks like him. It is one reason she has trouble letting go of him.

She lies down on the sofa and remembered the day they met. She was fairly new to the company. She just started two weeks ago and paired with him on the shift. She liked him immediately because he is mixed-race like her, very good at work and so handsome. He smiles a lot, and it was fun being at work with him. They are most of the time same shift at work that made them grew fond of each other. This leads them to meet in Catrina's room to talk and eat together.

It did not take a long time for her to fall for him. But she was too shy to admit it. She had been showing it to him indirectly most of the time through jokes whenever they are talking or chatting on WhatsApp. Then, one day, he just said, let’s try it. The first two days were great. She was over the moon. For the succeeding days, she can’t control herself by being angry and insecure. It's because Acwell was still checking her ex-Kamiah’s social media. She is still calling and texting him. She asked him to block her, but he just got upset and won’t do it. She just couldn't understand why he can’t seem to let her go.

On the fifth day, they argued in the morning regarding the same person and some other things. But at night, he came home, drank, and knocked on her door. She vividly remembers that night. His words touched her.

“I am sorry! I did not want to argue with you. I just have a lot on my mind. You see, I even ended up drank because of our fight,” Acwell said.

“You got drank because we fight?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Catrina blushed. It was perfect timing that Catrina’s roommate is not around, so she could invite him in.

“Did you miss me?” she asked.

“Seems like,” he answered.

Her shyness disappeared that he hugged him and kissed him. In her mind, this would be the night, regardless if it's her ovulation day. She loves him so much and will do anything to keep them together. Acwell was so drunk that he gave in to the temptation. She made it happen, and the kiss moved into something more.

The next day, Acwell woke up confused and said he has a painful headache. He went to his room, and they did not talk for the entire day. She felt odd about it but blames it on him having a bad hungover. She tried calling him to check how he is but he won’t answer. She sends him a message, and he replied saying his fine just needs rest. So she let him be, even if she wanted to be with him.

The next day was one of the worst days of her life. They agreed in the morning that they will have dinner that night. Acwell was late, and it pissed her off. He knows she hates waiting, and he had never been late for over 30 minutes.

“What you have been doing? Why were you late?” she asked.

“I was just on a phone call,” he said.

“Who you were talking to?”

“I don’t need to tell you each person who I talk to.”

“Why are you this grumpy? Can I see your phone?” she said and grab the phone that was on the table. She discovered he made an international call to Kamiah. Her heart breaks and her temper rises.

“Why the fuck are you talking to her again?”

“It’s her birthday. I just want to send my greetings.”

“And so what? This is the reason she kept bothering you, I mean us.”

“Enough Catrina! I don’t want to argue.”

“This will only be over if you end contact with her. Tell her about us otherwise, I will.”

“You know what, I am tired of this argument that is happening every day. I’m done. Let’s end this.”

“But Acwell, we just sleep together in this room. What about it?”

“So what? That is not the first time that it happened to you.”

“Yes, it’s not my first, but I love you. You said we will try.”

“We did, and it’s not working. We are only arguing. Let us remain friends and colleagues at work. If you feel uncomfortable working with me, I will request that we have different shifts starting tomorrow. Goodnight, Catrina!”

“Acwell, you can’t just leave it like that.”

But Acwell left without looking back. He requested for us not to be on the same shift, so we no longer see each other. He won’t answer her calls or messages. She was feeling depressed and heartbroken. But, two weeks after, something happened that felt like a miracle. Her period was delayed, so she tested herself using the pregnancy test. And straight away, the result was a very clear POSITIVE. She jumped with joy because she feels like that would pave the way for them to get back together.

She went to Acwell’s room full of excitement. But when she told him about the good news, his face turned pale, sad, and even angry. Instead of what she expected of him to kiss her and hug her, he sends her away and doubting the pregnancy test. He wants her to do it again and come back to her after two weeks. She was disappointed but did what he wants. The result was the same. She went back to him and showed the result. He forced a smile.

Then, they planned on getting married. He bought the diamond ring she likes. And decided that they will buy the wedding rings, the wedding dress and suit later when the date is near. It was going well, but they argued again. She found out that Kamiah is in Dubai and he went to meet her. She sends Kamiah a message on Facebook messenger that leads all three to fight. But she was happy that they resolved it the next day, and Acwell chooses her over Kamiah. It made her feel that finally, Acwell had fallen in love with her.

However, three months after, they fought again about Kamiah. It's because Acwell is still following Kamiah on her Instagram account and liking every post. Because she is pregnant, she can't help herself but feel insecure.

"Catrina, just for that, you want to have this argument?" he said.

"Why can't you understand how I feel? Why can't you let her go?" she said.

"Oh, Catrina!"

"Can you just blocked her?"

"You want to know the truth? Yes, I am not over her. If you were not only pregnant, then I would go back to her. But I am trying to choose you for the sake of the child. I am trying to love you,” he said.

That was the most painful thing she ever heard him say. She told him she wanted to cancel everything and will abort the child. He was so furious that he agreed and walked out. That was the last time she saw him. After that, he never wanted to see her. It forced her to resign and go home. But she kept the baby. She was still hoping that he will come back if he discovered she kept the baby. And now, it's been almost three years and they are still not together.

She lately heard from a former colleague at the hotel where she previously worked with Acwell that he got married and now has a son. And there were rumors that the wife got pregnant which is why they immediately got married. She doesn’t know how true it is because she lost contact with all the employees except Acwell. She did not bother to ask Acwell because she trusts him that he would tell her. But almost every time she is wondering if it’s true.