Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Five years later.

"When mommy is away, the baby will sleep, okay?"

Anya touched the face of her child who was innocently staring at her. He was four years old and very smart. Aside from the fact that he got his father's blue eyes, he was undeniably the son of Andrius Monterio.

Andrius Monterio.

Up to this day, Anya was still hurting when she remembered everything that happened five years ago. She could go on with her present life but she couldn't move on from her past. The pain was itched in the depths of his heart until this day,she still carried it.

"Umm," Her son nodded in agreement. He also closed his blue eyes as a sign that he was going to sleep. "Who will take care of the baby?" he asked her more questions.

Anya smiled. Her Atreus wasn't a baby anymore. He was growing so fast that she couldn't stop. As he grow, it became more and more curious about things she was not ready for.

Does she really have to be ready?

Anya shook her head and gently patted the child's back again. Slowly and with caution.

"Of course, Pappila will take care of the baby because mommy will work so that we can buy milk," she replied.

Anya turned to her Pappi who was just quietly watching them. She motioned for him to come and the latter followed.

"Pappi, I'll go now," she informed her father. Pappi nodded and did not answer. Anya stretched slightly to kiss the child on the forehead. "I love you. Mommy will be back later, Love," she whispered to her son. His eyes were already closed and he was breathing deeply. The young boy seemed to be asleep.

Anya carefully left the bed and headed to the door. She glanced at her Pappi for a moment and smiled. She mouthed the words bye before exiting.

She sighed as she finally got out of their small residence. They left the Metro the next day when she declined Andrius' proposal. And even now he has no news of them. She also ended her communication with Arruba Dietrich.

For the past five years, they lived a simple life in Tandag. A small town of Surigao del Sur. An edge of the Pacific Ocean. Its vast ocean was what Anya loved to see everyday. The blue beaches and the peacefulness of the city was what she loved the most.

Anya rode a tricycle to her destination. She was a contractual teacher of the city university. An English teacher to be exact. If then, her Pappi did not want to work for them, it was different now.

She enjoyed her job so much even though sometimes she goes home at night because she still has night shift classes. Meanwhile, in this case, she usually just walked but because she woke up late earlier she had to hurry.

"Manong in SDSSU," Anya informed the tricycle driver. It just nodded at her and ignored her. She just shrugged it off and distracted herself by remembering her necessities for her class.

When Anya finally arrived at the university, she immediately went out of the tricycle. She was about to pay when the tricycle she was riding suddenly pulled away. The girl frowned at what had happened but she just ignored things. Such scenes were not new to her.

As soon as Anya entered the university, the students who were busy with their class immediately approached her. There were others who greet her and there were others who ignored her.

"Miss de Vega, good morning!" her co-teacher Mrs. Moreno greeted her. She met her in the hallway of the College of Education. She was also walking and looking in a hurry.

"Hi, Miss Shiela! Good morning too!" Anya also greeted her with a smile.

"So very beautiful, Miss de Vega. Sir Ryan really likes you. Gwapahe sa kaw lage." she said in Surigaonon dialect.

"Thank you very much, ma'am," Anya replied, embarrassed.

Anya bowed her head at the same time as her cheek blushed. Her co-teacher was teasing him again with her fellow teacher Sir Ryan, a College of Engineering professor. Still young and capable of life. He was the grandson of the Province Governor.

When the path of the two parted, Anya continued walking towards the teacher department. She sat down at her desk and rubbed her leg. It was still morning but her foot was already hurting.

Anya raised her head from bowing when someone struck her on the table. Immediately, a beautiful bouquet of flowers appeared to her. It looked expensive and fragrant. When she looked up, she saw the shy look of her avid suitor. He was passionate. He has been courting her for four or three years.

"That's nice, Sir Ryan! I hope all!" a Student Assistant grabbed their attention.

"Beautiful, because your Ma'am is beautiful too, Jane," Ryan replied to the student. "It's for you, Anya," he said as he handed her the flower.

"Thank you Sir Ryan. You should not have bothered," she replied here while smiling.

Anya doesn't want to be rude. She had been rejecting him for a long time but his motto in life seemed to be "Never Surrender" so he just let him go.

Anya admitted Ryan Pimentel was a good looking man. But Anya's heart wasn't hers anymore. He had given it to someone for a long time. To the man she knew, hated her.

She smiled bitterly. So much for the memories, she became very emotional again. She shrugged the thoughts off and continued her paperworks. She also ignored Ryan who was just staring at her. Moments later, he left.

"Ma'am, I really like Sir Ryan. The intensity of the fighting spirit. You'd think that, he would have lasted three years. Eh, he was a playboy. If you haven't been here in our place ma'am, I don't think he would be serious, " laughing Jane said to her. She was still shaking while wiping the shelves in her office.

"Jane, it's bad to be talkative. It's bad to talk to others life, okay? Finish what you're doing. You still have class," Anya replied here.

Anya got up to enter English 101 for her first class for first year college students. She was assigned to the College of Teacher Education so she only took a few steps to get to her first class.

"Good morning, Miss de Vega!" simultaneous greetings of her students.

Anya smiled. First year students were lowkey and polite.

"Good morning. Now give me some preview of our lesson fundamental principles of writing," she opened them immediately. She raised an eyebrow at the sight of them being silent.

Anya walked around the whole classroom and only the sound of her heels could be heard all over the place. She looked like a strict teacher in her appearance and walk. She was also carrying a stick in her hand as she walked around.

Anya shook her head. No one seemed to dare to answer her question. She just breathed a sigh of relief, as a moment later when a very beautiful girl raised her hand. It was also wearing thick glasses and it looked like a doll in her eyes.

"Yes, miss--" she said here. She did not know but the girl looked familiar to her.

"Athena," replied.

"Okay, miss Athena. Can you tell the whole class about my question a while ago?" Anya said. She rolled her eyes and raised an eyebrow at them. "Class, listen! I don't want to repeat things, okay?" she added.

When the young student finished she admired her. It was smart and seemed to know a lot. Anys smiled at the young girl and thanked her. She was impressed.

Anya's one hour session ended quickly. Everyone left and she was left inside the room. She waited for another set of students and taught them another lesson.

This was how Anya lived every day.

Boring for those accustomed to city life. But for her, this was what she wanted. Peaceful and quiet. Simple yet she was happy. At least sometimes she thinks something was missing. It was inevitable but she could always set it aside.

"Miss Anya, did you hear ma'am? We had new investor in the Engineering Department building. Someone will also donate a library building for the Teachers Department. Great!" Jane informed her. She even sat in the chair in front of her desk and stared at her intently. "Your eyes are very sad," she added.

Anya caught off guard. She blinked many times to hide a tear that wanted to escape from her eyes. She took the wet wipes from her bag and wiped her face.

"I'm sorry, what are you saying? I didn't hear you," Anya said.

Anya was kind to the young student because she tried to study even though she worked as a Student Assistant. Its dedication to graduate was impressive.

"Because you are preoccupied, ma'am. The depth seemed to be tight." Jane replied while still eyeing on her. "We have a new investor. Who are also kind enough to provide a new building."

"Ah, is that so? That's good, Jane. More opportunities for students learning," she promised. Anya looked at her watch and when he saw that her night shift class was about to start she stacked her belongings again. "I'm leaving. Please close the office, okay? Go home too. It's late," she said goodbye to her before heading to the door to get out.

Post lights were the only means of light inside the campus pathways. Even if there were lights in the Colleges building, it was not within reach. It was eight in the evening. Although the girl was having a hard time, she continued walking.

When Anya's cell phone rang, she hurriedly took it inside her shoulder bag. She also did not notice the man in front that she encountered. She almost stumbled when their shoulders hit but it stopped.

Anya's heart beat faster when she looked at the man that was holding her so tight on her waist. The girl immediately noticed his eyes. It was blue eyes, and was looking at her intently.

Andrius!

The heart could tell what the eyes couldn't see. Her heart was telling her it was him.

Andrius Monterio.