Chapter 19: Chapter 19

The following week, Acwell went to revisit Amara, then comes home drank again. He gave the same excuse to Kamiah.

The second and the third week were the same. Kamiah now welcomed Acwell with anger and disappointment.

“Hi, love!” Acwell said with a smile.

“So, this is what you intend to do. To get drank every week?” Kamiah said.

“Sorry, love! I just can’t say no to Ace.”

“So, you can say no to me and ignore the way I feel but not to Ace?”

“Love, I am trying to change, but this is just me. It is not easy to get over bad habits.”

“You did change to someone better, and I don’t know what brought you back.”

“Can we just stop this and let me sleep. I have enough.”

“And I have enough of your drinking.”

Kamiah steps out of the room to cry in the living room. Acwell heard her sob, but he tried to sleep with the hope that tomorrow it will be okay.

Acwell did not find Kamiah on the bed when he wakes up to prepare for work. Kai was also not on the crib. They left early.

He did not expect to be like this. He wanted to see and spend time with his daughter, but it always ends with him and Catrina fighting. Acwell drinks because he is torn between making a decision whether to see his daughter or not. And the problem is getting worse as now it affects his relationship with his wife.

Acwell sends Kamiah a message just to check on her and to apologize.

“Love, where are you? Did you went to work early?”

But Kamiah did not reply. He thought that she might be busy at work, so he will try again later during his break.

While he was heading to the cafeteria, his phone vibrated. He was excited to check who sent the message, only to find that it was Catrina.

“Acwell, when are you going to see Amara? I am off after three days. Can you come?”

“I don’t know when is my off. I will just let you know.”

“Well, if you are doing a morning shift on that day, can you just come at night? Spend the night here with us.”

“No!!”

“Why not? It would be nice for Amara for you to spend a longer time with her rather than 1-2 hours.”

“I prefer to come there whenever I want, and I don’t have to explain.”

“There we are again. If you are done working, what is there for you to do? Nothing right? Then, better yet, see her.”

“As I told you, I would visit here whenever I would be able to. If you keep on insisting, then I might not visit Amara.”

“My God, Acwell! How selfish and childish are you!”

“Tell that to yourself because it’s you who can’t understand.”

“Acwell, it is you who is being irresponsible, and now you are calling me selfish and childish?”

Acwell did not reply, but another message came. He was about to blow, but it was Kamiah.

“Yes. Why?”

“I just wanted to make sure that you are. Love sorry about last night. I know drinking is not really good, but I am trying to change.”

“I hope, Acwell! You are already a father; you should start being mindful of what you do. You don’t just come home to eat and sleep. We don't exist in your life just to watch you do that.”

“I know, love. Sorry!”

Kamiah did not reply again. But Catrina started calling that he got irritated and switch off his phone. He switches it on when he was nearly done with his shift, and Catrina’s message flooded his inbox. But Kamiah, still, did not reply.

Acwell knows when Kamiah is fed up, she doesn’t want to talk at all. She will not reply to messages nor see him. This is how he knows that if he makes the biggest mistake, he will definitely lose her.

Kamiah had put up with all the wrongs that he had done. But once her patience runs out, she won’t be scared of walking away. She is firm about being independent that Acwell knows she can raise Kai by herself without his help. Unlike Catrina that keeps following him around no matter how he pushes her away.

Acwell had decided that he will tell Catrina that he is already married regardless of whether she breaks down and cry. It might be the solution for them to stop fighting and co-parent their daughter like mature people. And maybe her demands would lessen when she knows he has another family to support.

He wanted to take his family out tonight. For three weeks now, he had not spent time with them except to eat and sleep. Tonight, it might just be dinner, but he hopes that Kamiah’s anger would lessen because of it.

Acwell sends Kamiah a message and prays she would reply.

"Love, are you done with your shift?”

Kamiah did not reply even until when he finishes his shift. Acwell decided to see if Kamiah will reply to his message so he waited at her locker for a few minutes to see if Kamiah will reply. And thankfully, she did.

“Yes, why?”

“Let’s go have dinner outside. Would you like that?”

“Okay.”

“Yes!”

Acwell sighed with relief. At least one thing good happens today.

He arrived at their apartment earlier than Kamiah. Acwell changed his clothes fast so that when Kamiah comes, he is already ready to go and will not have the chance to change her mind.

Kamiah and Kai arrive to find Acwell sitting on the sofa waiting for them.

“Hello, love!” Acwell said with a smile. Then, he continued and said, “I am already ready. Give me Kai so you can change. I will change his clothes so we can go.”

“Okay,” Kamiah said and handed Kai to Acwell.

They went to one of Kamiah’s favorite restaurants in Dubai. It served both Chinese and Filipino dishes.

“It’s been a long time since I have been here. I even have forgotten what does this restaurant served,” Kamiah said.

“I know that is why I took you here,” Acwell said.

Catrina had sent Acwell a video of Amara hoping that it will affect his conscience. But, it did not. Acwell ignored it. He just wanted to have a nice dinner date with his family and peace of mind even just for today.