Twenty-seven

Isaiah was no longer satisfied with what he learned even though he was full of repentance.

What did he do? What hurtful words did he say to the woman. . . Is she telling the truth all along?

He never broke his gaze into that computer, watching the CCTV over and over again.

How did it all happen, and he doesn't even have any memories to remember? What happened will bother him for the rest of his life!

‘‘Here, Isiaah, January 14. This is around 11:26 pm,’’ MJ began. He was even wondering what the two of them were doing, but he preferred not to ask. Only now did he see Isaiah as terrified as he is as if something unexpected had happened.

Isiaah is his role model. So he became confident in promoting this business because of Isiaah's advice and words of encouragement.

He's always fearless, always motivated. That is why even he is disturbed by the man's actions now.

Isiaah never spoke again. His eyesight was closed when the lashes felt like they played completely.

They waited a long time before a woman, and a man appeared on camera. The woman was wearing a simple blouse and pants with a large bag. Meanwhile, the man who is already dependent on her can hardly stand and walk.

What MJ said was true. In the video, it can be seen that part of the blouse is wet, so Isiaah assumes that it is vomit.

Really? What the fuck is wrong with me?

‘‘This is what you took right at the counter–

‘‘M-Maeluthe. . .’’

Now, he can no longer be fooled by his eyes. He was sure of what he saw. Even though that video was ambiguous, he could clearly see the woman.

Everything about her is very familiar with him as well as her action. . . her, fixing her hair. How careful she was holding him.

He could no longer contain the painful heartache.

Maeluthe is really telling me the truth all along.

I am definitely the father of. . . that child.

It is true that I am the father of what she brings.

He thanked MJ well and then didn't want to go up to the room he took.

He felt lime floating into his own abyss. Everything that he discovered was hardly entering his system. It still seemed very difficult to accept.

The woman he didn't even know the name taunted him when he entered the room.

She immediately approached and reached for Isiaah lips for a warm kiss.

But Isaiah's restraint was firm. He shouldn't be doing this. He still couldn't swallow it all, but he clearly shouldn't be doing it.

‘‘Isiaah—’’

‘‘I’ll take you home. . .’’

The woman sighed in front of him, but he couldn't even see. Even though his eyes are wide open, he sees a different situation. . . still other people—he only sees Maeluthe, all this time.

‘‘What are you talking about?’’

He looked at the woman affectionately and then kissed her on the cheek. ‘‘I want to go home. I don't feel well.’’

The woman struggled a few more times with his hold as they leave but he no longer paid attention to that. He'll be driving her home, and after, he'll drown himself in thought.

The car drive was smooth and quiet. Because of the amount the woman had drunk, she immediately fell asleep.

Isiaah immediately lost the effect of alcohol, so it was easy for him to beg his mind to come up with what to do next—a plan.

Fuck.

The companions in the house of the woman who he had been with came in and thanked him when they arrived.

It's too early. Some of the people are just starting the night, but Isiaah's night is already over.

He knew he needed someone to talk to because it would only take minutes before he exploded.

Their house was still noisy when he arrived. He was like a zombie who just casually walked towards the sofa and then dropped himself there.

What will he do? His heart. . . he had tried to drown in alcohol just to forget her, but Maeluthe's name was just so strong.

He's going to be a father.

‘‘Isiaah, you dumb fuck.’’

He is the enemy of himself. Even if he were to nod his head somewhere, he'd still continue on becoming this insane.

‘‘If I hadn't found out that Cyra had returned here to the Philippines, I would have thought that you really hold on to her.’’

Josiah caught up with the brother in that uncomfortable seat on the sofa.

He would have wanted his night after work to be peaceful, just a light conversation while slowly consuming the beer they are holding.

He waved to his brother. Ever since, even though he could not recognize the man due to amnesia, he knew Isiaah would not speak up about l his problems.

It wasn’t Cyra’s.

His brother has been happy and lively these past few weeks and days because of another woman.

He would have just waited for him to tell this story by contradicting him, mentioning the name Cyra and correcting him.

‘‘It will never be your fault alone. You are not the only one who's at fault, Isai. Don't beat yourself up that much,’’ Josiah said seriously.

Josiah doesn't know exactly what happened, but he seems to have an idea. The woman left Isiaah's place and went to a man's house — that's what the investigator told him. After that he stopped as well.

Well, he had no other plans at all. He just wanted to make sure that his brother was really okay.

Crazy friends surround Isiaah, but he knows that his brother is in control of everything.

He knows what to do. He's very organized. Isaiah is not the type of man who will just let it all fall apart.

‘‘I told her to leave.’’

Josiah adjusted his seat because his brother suddenly started talking. He smiled.

‘‘She's pregnant, Kuya. And it was impossible to be mine. Apart from being careful because she's been studying, it was beyond the time we have been together. I got so angry, and I kicked her out of the house. I didn't think about whether she would have a place to stay or how she would study. I am really selfish when I am hurt,’’ Isiaah said seriously. He was lying on the sofa and did not even face the brother he was talking to.

‘‘But I was wrong all along. . .’’ The man closes his eyes, constantly blaming himself. ‘‘It's true that we met before–" He didn't continue what he was saying. His irritation took precedence.

‘‘We did it. I am. . .’’ There is still confusion in his words. ‘‘I am the father of that child.’’

Josiah’s grin was focused on what the brother said.

He felt somehow proud.

‘‘I should be congratulating you, dickhead.’’

Isiaah immediately threw a pillow on his brother. "I am indeed happy about that! But what do I do next? I pushed her away, and I can't, I. . . I don't even know where she–"

‘‘And that was your fault!’’

We are not brothers for nothing, Josiah thought. He wanted to tell the man that, so he just thought about the consequences then, especially now that the brother still doesn't remember anything about his past.

Like him, Isiaah also thought that his girlfriend was pregnant by someone else, so it was easy for him to let her go. But after ten years, they only found out that Ali was indeed his son.

Josiah was in a hurry that day driving to Tanya when he was involved in a car accident that almost took his life.

‘‘Now, fix it. It won't be easy, but you need to endure everything! You are no longer just a boyfriend. You will be a dad, so you better fix your life as well.’’

His older brother is right.

A month of throwing away life is enough.

He needs to think better because he will not be able to live on his own from now on.

Maeluthe and their future child–he has them.