Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Catrina’s plane landed around 04:30 AM at Dubai International Airport. She steps out of the plane carrying a sleeping Amara.

While on the way to the immigration, Amara woke up crying. She was hungry, so they had to stop. Catrina feeds her before heading to the immigration.

Amara was lively when they were at the immigration. She was smiling and babbling some words with the immigration officer that made him smile.

At the carousel, Catrina tried recording a video of Amara saying “Daddy, daddy” and walking around. She sends the video to Acwell. She is hoping that in the morning he would be happy to see it and maybe visit her.

There were a lot of travelers, so they spent over 30 minutes at the baggage carousel. And when they reached the apartment, both of them were sleepy.

Acwell woke to find several messages from Catrina. She is back in Dubai together with his daughter.

“Acwell, I am back with Amara. We just landed at the airport. Are you still awake?”

She had sent him two videos, but he did not watch them. He doesn’t want to wake Kamiah and Kai. He just continued reading her messages.

“Amara is so happy. She was smiling and talking to the immigration officer earlier.”

“Can you visit her later? I am still off today and tomorrow. I wanted her to be comfortable first before I leave her with the babysitter.”

“Can you call her? She would be happy to see you at least on a video call.”

Acwell steps out of the room to go to the kitchen and watched the videos of Amara. He smiled at how playful and full of energy Amara is. He was almost in tears watching the video of her saying daddy.

“I’m so sorry, baby girl! If things were just different, it would have been better for you,” he silently said.

Acwell was happy that Amara is here. He could easily see her whenever he had the time. He replied to Catrina’s messages.

“That’s a great baby girl! I will try my best to see you on your birthday. Take care and enjoy being with your mommy.”

He wondered how he can tell Kamiah about it. She will understand it, he knows that. But she had already been through a lot of pain because of him. He knows she would agree with him visiting Amara, but it doesn’t mean that she is not hurting.

Kamiah is hurting silently since she discovered Amara. And he understood it very well. It is difficult to feel pain when the cause of it is a child. No matter how valid your suffering is, you can’t be angry with an innocent child. Knowing that makes him suffer even more. He doesn't like or intend for Kamiah to be in such a painful situation.

As soon as he finished cooking, he heard Kai cry. Kamiah is awake, probably feeding him. He will invite her for breakfast as soon as he finished setting the table.

He peeped in the room while Kamiah was placing sleeping Kai back to his crib.

“Honey, come to have breakfast,” he said silently so he won’t wake his son.

“Okay,” Kamiah replied.

Kamiah smiled when she went to the dining table to find mouthwatering food. There is chicken adobo, fried boneless milkfish, salad, and sliced mango fruit.

“You cooked all of this?” Kamiah asked.

“Yes. I woke up early and I want you to have a proper breakfast before you go to work,” Acwell said.

Kamiah smiled and hugged him. Acwell got touched that he kissed her. Kamiah had always been simple. Even with just this, she is already happy.

They ate while talking about the plans of their mothers for their son’s first birthday. It made them laugh at how the grandmas' excitement that they are busier preparing for it as compared to them.

Acwell was changing clothes when he receives a message from Catrina. It is another video of Amara. She had put in a description that she is awake and eating. But he just read it and will watch the video later.

He was leaving the house when Catrina sends some more messages.

“She is awake now; can you call her before you head to work? He keeps saying daddy, daddy. I think she really wanted to see you.”

“Acwell, you can’t even call her at least? How hard could that be to spend a few minutes for her?”

“Haven’t you seen the video that he keeps saying,, daddy? It doesn’t even touch you that your daughter that has not seen you even once but still eager to see you.”

Catrina has a way of making him feel guilty all the time, so he replied to her.

“Catrina, I am on the way to work when I read this. If I have the time I can call later.”

“You always don’t have a time for her, but when it is a woman, you always have a time.”

“Don’t start ruining my day, Catrina otherwise I won’t feel like calling her because I hate dealing with you when you are like this. It is only you who are hindering for me and Amara to talk or see each other.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? I have been trying since I was pregnant for you to accept her and have a proper relationship.”

“Your ways are annoying, Catrina. Instead of me wanting to build a relationship with my daughter it makes me feel not to.”

“It’s because you don’t put her as your priority. You always think about yourself.”

“You are the one who is selfish enough to only think that everything must go on your way. Stop pushing for me to do more than be a father who tries hard to support his daughter. I cannot be with you.”

“No! You don’t want to be with Amara. You never try.”

Acwell had enough and already pissed when he arrives at work. His phone vibrated again, that he was about to swear. But it was Kamiah.

“My love, what do you want me to cook for dinner?”

Acwell smiled. Kamiah had lessened the anger he was feeling.

“My love, I want to eat buttered chicken and spaghetti later.”

“Alright! Take care, love you!”

“You, too! I love you and miss you!”

“Ah, my husband missing me. Miss you, too!”

That melted his heart. This is the difference between Catrina and Kamiah. You do a simple thing for Kamiah it will mean a lot to her and will reciprocate it with love. Unlike Catrina, everything he does would never be enough that they will always end up arguing.