Chapter 8

MELISSA QUIZON

I woke up. I had been dreaming—I mean, I had a nightmare. I dreamed about Wright. Again. "Oh, goodness! What time is it? You have school today!"

My son looked up at the top of the wall, where our clock was located. "Hmm...Short hand's at six...long hand—Oh! Oh! Six fifteen."

"Good. But we have to hurry, baby. Your first day at school is today." I pinched the bridge of his nose and hugged him tightly. I felt him hug me too.

I raised Reid well, even without Wright’s support.

I was able to do everything just for my son and raise him without fail. I had to stop studying to have a safe pregnancy and avoid the contempt of my batchmates. Word had spread quickly that Wright and I were separated. It was also reported that he had also left the country with his new girlfriend, Claire. Why is it that when a woman is pregnant in her teenage years, people will talk about how bad she is, but when a man gets a girl pregnant, he is praised for not being impotent, even if other people do not know whether he takes responsibility or not?

After I gave birth to Reid, I worked as a maid just to make a living. Whenever I saw my bosses, I felt jealous. They were a couple. The woman was pregnant, and the man was always by her side. I watched Ma'am Tallia when Sir Zander was away in the morning. They paid me enough because the couple earned a lot, and they also wanted to help me.

When Ma'am Tallia recovered from giving birth, I stopped working and continued my studies as an educator.

I applied for scholarships just to reduce my expenses. After I graduated and passed the board exam, for which I was still paying off debts, I enrolled in a music program, and after I completed it, I was hired. I now taught percussion instruments at school, and the students there mostly belonged to rich families. Most were the children of various politicians and businessmen.

But what saddened me was the death of my grandmother. Reid was only a year old at the time. I felt like my world had collapsed; I had lost an ally. I had lost the only one I could lean on. Gone was the only person who understood me.

Every day, I missed her.

Reid pulled away from me a little. His small hands touched both of my cheeks. "I hope Thunder is still my classmate, Mommy."

He really liked that child, huh? Thunder was the son of Ma'am Tallia and Sir Zander. The two grew up almost at the same time. I was also invited when Thunder was baptized, and I was one of his godmothers. And, since then, the two had always been together. Even though Reid was ten months older than Thunder, they still got along so well.

I smiled. "Thunder is your only friend. Don’t you want to get along with your other classmate? You should be friendly with others as well."

"I'll try, Mommy," he said insincerely. He really didn't want to hang out with other kids. He was so rude that his classmates were afraid of him.

"Because you're naughty." He didn't answer me and looked down. I messed up his hair. "Fine. You'll be late. Take a bath."

He nodded and left our room. I made the bed and went out to cook breakfast for my son. I stopped slicing the white onion when Reid came out of the bathroom. He was draped in a blue towel with the Iron Man symbol on it. He stopped, looked at me, and raised an eyebrow at me.

I smiled and shook my head, then went back to slicing the white onion. My son was complaining again. He was always grumpy after he took a bath. Most people are rude when they just wake up, but my son was not—he was rude after he took a bath.

After dressing Reid in his school uniform, we ate breakfast together.

After I drove Reid to his elementary school, I went home immediately, cleaning our house before I went to the market. It was my day off now, so I had the time to clean up. I stopped sweeping the cement when a familiar voice rang out from the television. I looked at the location of our television. “Yes, I am excited that we’re back. And I hope we’ll get to know our fans in the country.” Was that...Wright?!

'The leader of the popular band, Kiss N 'Tell, Wright Agoncillo, is here in the Philippines!' the caption said.

Did he come back because of his girlfriend, Claire Louise Dela Rosa?! Were they engaged already?

I immediately turned off the television when Wright’s face was shown during an interview at the airport. I despised his face. I didn't know who this was. "My television might explode because of your face. I paid dearly for it. Tsk!" I said to myself.

After I cleaned up, I went to the market to buy groceries and other kitchen utensils.

"Hey, Melissa! Where's your security guard? Looks like you're not with him, huh?" Choeng told me while putting the chicken meat in a plastic bag.

I laughed. "He has class. First day."

"By the way, do you know Wright Alvares?" Wright?

"Agoncillo, mother," her daughter groaned as she took care of other customers' purchases.

"Oh! Yeah, him! What a big fish! Do you know him?" Big fish?! He was an animal.

"I don't know," I whispered and made sure no one heard.

"Didn't you notice that your son looks like Wright Alvar—"

"Agoncillo, Mom," her daughter corrected her once again.

"That's right. Your son seems to bear a resemblance to Wright Agoncillo." My hair stood on end at what Choeng said. What the?

All of Choleng's customers looked at me. I winced. "Oh, Choeng, you're the only one who noticed. How can he look like my son? My son is more handsome. How much is the mussel, Choeng?"

"Seventy-five per kilo."

I grabbed some money from my pocket and quickly gave it to her. "Here it is. Thank you."

I went home and cooked our lunch. Reid would be home in a few hours. He was only a half-day student right now. When I heard the car park in front of my gate, I knew it was Eugene. He had picked up my son again. Reid loved Eugene so much. He spoiled my son too much. It was like they were best friends with the way they treated each other.

I went out of the kitchen, and the moment I opened the door, Reid ran in my direction. He hugged my thighs. "I got twelve stars!" he said while showing me his arms. I knelt so our eyes could line up and then greeted him with a congratulations. I noticed the box he was holding. He picked it up and showed it to me. "And Doc had a gift for me. Another robot for my collection!"

I took a deep breath, then wiped the sweat on his forehead. "Get dressed first, my Superman. You're wet with sweat."

He nodded. Now, Eugene and I were alone in the living room. I faced him as Reid closed the door of his room. "Eugene..."

He shook his head and then smiled. "Yep?"

"Don't spoil my son too much." I sat on the sofa, and so did he. I grabbed his hand, which was resting on his thigh, and squeezed it. "When—"

"'When you’re tired of being in love with me, I won't be able to give what you can give to Reid.'" He spoke before me and copied the way I spoke. He looked into my eyes. "I've heard it so many times already, Melissa. You already know the answer."

I looked down. "'You won't get tired even if you wait for hundred years.'"

"Good." He grabbed my chin and lifted it so our eyes would meet. "So, the asshole's back. What's your plan?"

He knew everything about Wright. Eugene was the only one I could vent my resentment on. I felt secure when I was with him. I shrugged. "Hide my son."

"That's cliché. Why don't you slap him with your son's birth certificate? And say, 'Hey, asshole. Welcome back.'" There was a streak of anger in every word Eugene uttered.

"I won't do that," I snapped. I didn't even want to see Wright's face on television, and he wanted me to meet Wright in person? No way! "Eugene, you know how influential his last name is. When he finds out about Reid, he might take him from me."

"Melissa, he wanted you to abort Reid. Wake up! He doesn't want the child. So how can he take Reid from you? Do you think he'll look for Reid? Fucking no! " He covered his face with his hands and then removed them. His voice was tinged with irritation and panic. "Geez. Did I lash out again? Oh, shucks! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring back your pain."

"It's fine. I'm strong."

"Melissa..." He hugged me tightly. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah... I know." I caressed his back and even pressed my head against his chest. "I've forgotten how much I was hurt then. It doesn't bother me anymore."

I still remembered how Eugene and I first met. He was the person God sent to help me at that time. I was very grateful to him.

I was at a shop in Divisoria for my son's things. I had heard that it was really cheap there because the price had dropped. I immediately went and shopped early so that it wouldn't be too crowded. But I had to have made a mistake because when I came out of the store I was shopping at, there was a giant crowd.

"Excuse me, please," I said politely while keeping my belly protected. I was about to leave that hellish place when someone accidentally pushed me. "Aw! Ouch!" I moaned as I felt a pang of pain in my lower back. I felt something coming out of my nether regions. I froze when I saw the blood on my hand. "My baby! Help! Ha..."

An older woman immediately approached me. "You're bleeding! Let's help the young lady! You're bleeding! Everyone, clear the way!"

A man approached me. There was concern on his face. I could not see him clearly because my eyes were blurred with tears. "I'm a doctor! I can help you. We called an ambulance."

I held onto his clothes, and my other hand pressed against the blood. "H-help me... Please. S-save my baby."

"Yes. I will—No! No! No! Don't close your eyes! Stay with me."

That man's voice was the last thing I heard before my vision darkened.

When I opened my eyes, I was in a white room. I remembered what had happened, so I immediately stroked my belly. Upon feeling that my son was still there made, I closed my eyes. "My child..." I said tearfully.

"She's safe, Miss." The man from before stood up and approached my bed. "You just need a little rest and to eat nutritious food."

"Who are you?” I asked.

"Call me, Eugene," he said. "I brought you here. Do you have a husband—?"

“I don’t. I’m…I’m all by myself.” He didn’t utter a word, so I continued. "Thank you. I don't know how to thank you for helping."

"Let me know your name. That's enough."

"M-Melissa… Melissa Quizon." I hesitated at first, but when I saw the sincerity in his eyes, I decided to tell him my name. I noticed the white coat he was wearing. "Are you a doctor?"

"Yes. I'm an OB."

"But you're a man."

"Is it forbidden for a man to be an OB? Why is it a big deal for an OB to be a man? This is a free country. Society is the only one who stereotypes this profession." He stopped for a moment, then covered his eyes with a hand. "Oh, jeez! I'm sorry. Sometimes, I really can't help but lash out. I'm sorry."

"You're cute—wait! What ?!" I was stunned at what just came out of my mouth. Eugene smiled. "That was a joke!"

"I'll take it as a compliment." He grinned. I looked at the door when it opened, and a nurse came inside, carrying a tray. "By the way, I prepared food for you so you can regain your strength."

"I'll just be going home." I was about to stand up when he stopped me.

"Get your strength back first, Melissa. Eat. Come on." He gave me a spoonful of rice and bacon.

"I can eat by myself."

"Fine." He released the spoon, then pulled a chair closer to my bed. "Some men choose to throw out gems and pick useless stones. Why?"

I swallowed a few times to hold back my tears, but it was too late.

"Because some men are assholes," he answered his own question.

I smiled at his answer. I had never felt this comfortable with a man I barely know before. I wiped away my tears and then stared at him. "Right."

"You like slices of bacon?" he asked.

"I love slices of bacon."

Eugene and I became friends. He took care of me throughout my pregnancy until I gave birth. He was with me when I gave birth to Reid—not Wright. He was the first one to hold on to Reid—not Wright. He was the one I always had with me during my son’s check-ups—not Wright.

Eugene became Reid's father when the man I loved left us.

"Mommy!" I stopped thinking when someone touched me.

I looked at my son. "Yes, baby?"

He frowned. "You're not listening."

I took a deep breath and smiled at him. I caressed his cheeks. "I'm listening. You have a piano recital on Monday."

"Yes! And I'm so excited, Mommy!" he said happily, and then all he talked about was his recital while Eugene and I just continued to listen.