Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Aviena's POV

"Where's my niece, Aviena?" Ocean asked me excitedly when she entered the house. I couldn’t avoid shaking my head before turning it to her niece who almost broke her classmate's head earlier.

“She’s grounded. You are not allowed to go shopping,” I said so Ocean's eyes widened at me. She seems even more offended because of that.

“Why, Aviena? What she has done again?” Ocean asked while laughing. I can't avoid shaking my head because she's definitely on her side again.

"Ask your good niece about that," I sarcastically said. Camillia, on the other hand, seemed to be listening to our conversation.

“I didn’t mean to do that, Mom! He is the reason why I do that!” As well as his dad’s thing when he's frustrated, she also got it. That's saying Tagalog words.

“Aba, Hija, when you have a fault, I told you that you don’t have to blame others. Is it right for you to punch your friend just because you are annoyed?” I asked, giving her another bad look. She immediately sit up straight before she nodded. She seems like she regrets what she has done now.

Ocean laughed before sitting down next to her. I couldn’t help but look at them both.

4 years ago when I left the Philippines. Only Marieta knew I was pregnant except for Big Sister Rose who I don't know where now. I told Marieta that she have to keep it a secret. No one will be able to find out about my pregnancy. It's easy to trust Marieta because that one isn't really talkative. That is why until now my family still does not know that I have a child.

Before I left the Philippines, I was surprised when we were together on Ocean's flight. It really shouldn't come as a surprise because River answered my plane ticket. I was about to ignore her that time but she followed me because of my expectations. She already experienced it with Tashi so she knew I was carrying something.

Well, I don't lose anything there either. She became my spy from the Philippines. River sometimes goes to Amsterdam, which is why Camillia is always with Ocean. Big Sister has been around for the past few years. But this year, she really can't be found anymore, so it's only now that I'm complacent. I was still scared to tell it River. It's not just because I'm afraid of Big Sister. I was scared of River's angry face. I'm sure I can really hear a word from that one. I don’t even know how I’m going to deal with him now. He's going to be mad. I'm sure about that.

“We’ll go to Hawaii if you want. Let's run away from your Mama,” Ocean said to Camillia with a laugh so I immediately joined them while my eyes narrowed.

“What Hawaii? You are grounded until next week, Camillia,” I said so Ocean laughed.

"All right, Vena, give her a break, she's the best in math," Ocean said so I couldn't stop from glaring. Both of them are giving me puppy eyes. Do you think that the bitchy Ocean, has a hidden side like this? I just laughed and shook my head at them.

"If she hadn't punched her classmate, we're spending our time in the Maldives today?" I smiled at them so Camillia immediately turned to me as her eyes widened. I even laughed a little when she pressed her palm together as she looked at me now.

“Mama, that won’t happen again. Let's go to the Maldives, please… ” she said with puppy eyes. I couldn’t help but laugh before pinching her cheek. This girl really likes nature. She even knows how to surf now. She even won the gold medal in a swimming competition here in Amsterdam. She doesn't have a fear of heights and is not really scared of places like amusement parks. I'm glad about that and I would like it to remain that way. Maybe that's one of the reasons why I'm afraid to bring her back to the Philippines.

I'm scared that she'll be starting to fear something. I do not want that to happen. I want it this way. I always want to see that bright smile of hers.

“Fine, we will go today but say sorry to John once the class started again. You didn't even look at him to say you're genuinely sorry for what you have done,” I said.

"I will…" she said, still pouting. Her father was just like that. Easily gets irritated.

We really took our flight together in the Maldives, Ocean was with us. That one is really rich. She already owns her own Airline. She used to mock me saying I'm a gold digger but she can even give an airplane to her boyfriend. She always gets mad at me when I tease her about that. Savellano is really different when they are in love. They just keep on wasting money.

When we arrived at the place, the two immediately took pictures. I couldn’t stop shaking my head while watching them. It's good that Ocean is able to not post their photos. It's just that she often teases me to go home and introduce her niece to River so that she can post her proudly.

I also used to enjoy taking pictures but that's not really what I want anymore. I'm still a model here in Amsterdam but not as serious as before. I already have full-time work being an animator. I was enjoying my job right now. Or should I say I'm really enjoying life? I like it this way but of course, there are still what-ifs to me.

What if I didn't leave? Can we have Camillia now? Are we living well together? I'm not sure either.

I just looked at Camillia, Camillia was my greatest treasure right now. She is the reason why my life is so happy so I can't stand it when something bad happens to her.

“Mom! Come here!” Camillia smilingly said while she waves at me. I just smiled and approached her. She soaked in the sea all day. In the evening, she immediately fell on the bed. I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked at her. I was just stroking her hair when Ocean approached who was already applying her skincare product on her face.

“When will you come home, Aviena?” Ocean asked, still folding her arms as she looked at me. She used to hate me but also because of her frequent visits to my son, we also got along.

“How long will you keep Camillia from Brother? You know that he can protect the two of you, right?” she asked me. I just looked at her for a moment. She knows how crazy I am when it comes to my daughter. Ocean was there during the times I was pregnant with Camillia and I always look anxious that someone will come and threaten our life. I don't even know how I ended that year safely. That’s also why Ocean hasn’t been forcing me to take Camillia home these past few years because she witnessed me during times I was almost crazy about how I would take care of my child.

"We'll go back to the Philippines next month," I said, so Ocean immediately looked at me. It's Marieta at Ruby's graduation. I can't afford to see them. I don't want Marieta to think that her 4 years of study were ignored. It's a great achievement for the two of them so I want their day to be special too.

“Wow? Finally?” she asked, looking at me in disbelief.

“Omg! Mommy and Grandpa will really say something to you this time." She laughed as she looked down at me. I can't help but frown at her. She's really scaring me.

"But of course, Brother will give you hell first," she laughed while saying that to me. I couldn’t help but wince as I looked at her. I don't know if she's scaring me or what. But of course, it's effective. I can’t help but be nervous there. I don't even know how I'll tell River that we have a daughter. How is that?

'Hi, we have a child.'

"Ready yourself," she said, laughing at me. I just kept staring at the emptiness there.

I was more focused on our daughter right now but I can't deny that until now I still remember River. I still often think about him. I know that we're still married to each other but sometimes I think he might have found someone else especially since we didn't promise each other to remain faithful. Although we promised that on the altar but when we parted the path, we didn't promise anything.

Sometimes I can't help but ask Ocean so this one just keeps on teasing me. I don't even know how we tolerate each other now.

The next day, I woke up early to prepare food for Camillia but that one was already at sea. Ocean was also there now. Ocean doesn't like to be exposed to the sun but after meeting her fisherman, no matter how hot it is, she will definitely go.

I smiled when I saw the call from Marieta. I answered that immediately.

"Hey, how are you?" I smiled broadly when I greeted her.

“We're preparing for graduation now, Big Sister! Look, they already made us a tarpaulin, even though it's really next month,” she laughed before showing me the tarpaulin she and Ruby had. I can’t help but laugh there.

“Congratulations to the two of you. Both of you deserve all of that,” I said, smiling at her. She let out a wide smile at me.

“Thank you, Big Sister! You also deserve to be congratulated. All of these are possible because of you,” she said but I just shook my head. If they didn't study so hard, this won't happen. I'm really glad that they work so hard to graduate.

“We’ll go home. I will also introduce Camillia to everyone.” Her eyes immediately widened so I couldn’t help but laugh there.

Ruby and she are the only ones who know about Camillia. We just really want the safety of Camillia. I can't afford to tell them where I am too. They didn't know what had happened to Big Sister and me. I also have no intention of ruining Big Sister's name with them.

“Really, Big Sister? Finally, I can see the ugly little one in person!” she said so I just laughed. They often tease Camillia. Marieta used to teach Camillia Tagalog when she was still learning to talk. She would often tease her using Tagalog words. I was excited to let my child meet my family. I'm also excited for Camillia to meet her father's family although I'm a little scared because we're not close to them.

Right after Marieta and I talked, I was also done preparing my daughter's meal.

I went out as well. I smiled broadly as I carried some of the child's food and things. I was on my way to the beach when I stopped because of a collision. The smile of my lips gradually disappeared when I saw who was in front of me now.

“Aviena…” There was also a look of shock on her face as she looked at me now.