Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"Come on, Chaos. Answer the phone," I whispered as I occasionally bit my nail.

It's late at night but I am still here on the veranda of my condo because I was trying to call Chaos. This was the second time I tried to call him for almost an hour, but the other line just kept on ringing and no one was answering.

I couldn't help but wonder and worry about his condition. He is not like this. I am used to him always greeting Erom even though he sees him every day. That is why Erom is really missing him now.

Did something bad happen to him?

I badly want to call his parents to check him out, but I knew it's not a good thing. Aside from the fact that his parents don’t like me and Erom, that would be rude for him, especially when Chaos was at a family gathering.

I need your help, Chaos. He has already seen Erom, fortunately, he acknowledges  you as his only father. Please, call me when you are available.

I texted. I stared at the phone for a couple of seconds, hoping that his message would suddenly appear but two minutes later, there was no single notification coming out.

I shut my eyes tight and held on the railings. I tried to calm my breath and thought again about what Valjerome and I had said earlier.

I am mad at him, really. Whoever might be put in the same situation as mine will not be glad to see him ever again. I will admit that in recent years I have tried to forgive him but there are things that are not possible by just forgiving. The pain is too deep. During the first four months of my pregnancy I kept having nightmares that he was chasing me to kill what was in my womb. What he did, traumatize me a lot.

That's why I decided to keep Erom's identity hidden. Aside from being angry with him, I was also afraid of what he might do to my son. He may hurt me even a few times, but not Erom, not just my son.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked on my phone again. I dialled a contact of someone who is also very dear to me¾ my former manager, Azy.

"Miracle, you called Jazzie," he immediately said when he answered the call in the fifth ring.

"Azy, please do me a favor," I desperately uttered.

He was silent for a moment on the other line.

"What happened?" he asked.

I took a deep sigh and stared at the night sky. "Valjerome saw Erom today," I murmured.

I heard him dramatically gasped on the other line. "Does that mean he already know Erom is his son?"

"No. You know that Erom is registered to Chaos, don't you? And he is the recognized father of my son," I said softly.

"Then, what's the problem?" he inquired.

I played with my fingers and turned my back against the railings. "I'm afraid he'll find out the truth, Azy. So I'd like to...hide first."

"And you want to stay here with me? Where's Chaos? I mean, he has more connections."

I bit my lower lip. "He is not answering his phone. Busy, I guess," I whispered back.

Azy remained silent.

"Jazzie," he talked after a while.

"Yes."

"Do you ... still love him?"

I was caught off guard by Azy's question. Ever since I saw Valjerome again, I haven’t asked myself that question. Aside from the fact that I didn't need to know, I knew that it wouldn't change my anger and fear.

“I don’t love him anymore,” I replied, based on the days I’ve been with him.

Azy sighed deeply after hearing my answer. "When do you plan to start hiding, so that I can prepare my house in Cavite?"

I brushed my hair using my fingers and bit my lower lip. "One week from now. He might notice if we suddenly disappear."

"WHY don't you bring your child with you?" Valjerome asked as I was encoding a file in his laptop.

As what I have planned, I continued to work despite what happened. I still leave Erom in our lounge even though Valjerome already knows about his existence.

I don’t know how many times he has said that in the past few days. Just like today, my heart almost raced in fear.

"My child doesn't need to be here, Sir," what I always respond to his question.

I turned my attention back to typing because I was used to him being quiet after I answer his questions.

"Are you happy with him?"

My finger stuck in the air and I slowly looked at him. He's staring at me as he was sitting on the opposite side of the couch. Something he always does whenever I’m here.

"Why should I not?" I answered, thinking about my son.

'I would be even happier if I was with him during this moment and not you.' I mentally added.

Like those times, his eyes became soft for a second then turned emotionless again afterwards. He nodded and lowered his gaze to my hands.

"Does he have a plan to marry you?"

I blinked a few times and avoided my lip to open in awe when I realized it is Chaos he was referring to.

I cleared my throat and focused on his laptop again. "Yes," I simply answered.

"So you are with him all this time," he said.

I was getting annoyed with how he talked to me. It seemed like what happened ages ago was nothing to him so he can talk to me like this now.

His face is as thick as a rough plank!

Instead of speaking, I chose to remain silent to let him know that I had no interest in him, talking to me.

"Your child ..." he spoke again.

There I sat up straight and tried to calm my beating heart.

"What kind of child is he?" he inquired gently.

I avoided looking back at him and continued to type, acting unaffected with his curiosity.

"I came here for work, Sir," I reminded.

"I...just wanted to know," I heard him whispered.

I could no longer restrain myself from slapping his laptop keyboard hard and looked at him sharply.

I saw his shoulders lift and alarm at the gesture I made.

"You don't need to know anything about my child, Mr. Montevardo. He's not yours, in case you forgot," I said coldly and stood up. "I am done with my work, I'm leaving."

I didn't wait for him to answer and quickly turned my back on him. I came out of his suite angrily and annoyed at his curiosity.

"Hey Jazzie! I heard you filed for a leave?" said Ken when I met him walking.

I smiled sparingly then nodded in confirmation.

"All of a sudden? When are you leaving?" he asked.

I faked a laugh and tried to scratch my neck. "I'm just going on vacation, later after duty. I'll just pick up some things at the condo."

"That's good. All right, I still have rooms to clean. Be careful and your son," he said then patted my shoulder before finally passing me by.

I just sighed and picked up my phone while walking. I typed a message for Azy, reminding him my departure later with my son. He immediately replied okay and also told the driver to pick us up. Next, I texted Chaos, I told him about my plan so he knows where Erom and I are going when he returns.

"MOM, are we going somewhere?" Erom innocently asked as he looked at the suitcases I had arranged days ago.

Like what I told Ken, Erom and I went home to the condo after my work hours to pick up the things I had prepared.

I smiled sparingly and caressed his small face. "We’re going on a vacation, son," I lied.

"Will Dad come?"

I couldn't answer and just hugged him. "I'm sorry, son. Dad is busy right now," I said.

"It is okay, Mom. I understand," he murmured and hugged me back.

We were in that situation when I heard the condo doorbell. I slowly pulled myself away from my son and smiled.

"Our driver’s here. Let's go?" I invited.

"Can I pee first, Mom?" he asked shyly.

I couldn’t help but laugh and messed up his hair. "Go on, I'll just take our things outside first."

Erom nodded at me and immediately went to the bathroom. I stood up and pulled the two suitcases I had prepared towards the door.

I opened the door when I heard the doorbell ring again. "Just wait for—" I stopped talking and my eyes widened when I saw the unexpected person outside my house.

"V-Valjerome, w-what are you doing here?"

I gripped the handle of the suitcase tightly when I noticed his staff scattered in the hallway.

"Where do you plan to hide OUR SON, Ms. Zamora?"