CHAPTER 14

“WHY CAN’T YOU DO YOUR JOB PROPERLY?” Achetbir shouted when he saw the papers at his table wilting and all wet from the spilled coffee. I bowed and bit my lips to stop the tears from falling. Shame went all over me, and I couldn’t look at him.

“Sorry, Sir,” I murmured.

I was full of guilt because I accidentally spilled the coffee on the side of his table when I suddenly felt nauseous. He had become more distant and colder after Caster bought me the mangoes I asked for. The work I had to do was also piled higher day by day, so a sudden headache didn’t shock me. I knew it wasn’t just because I was pregnant because I was also feeling tired.

“You fucking ruined everything!” he yelled.

I pressed my fingers as I stood, still head down.

“Get out!”

I slowly turned away. Patriza’s mocking smirk as she confidently sat didn’t slip away from me.

I left the office with a heavy heart. This was the first time he shouted at me for real. I felt my heart clenching as I remembered his disappointment.

“Are you okay?” Serah asked, worried.

I tried to smile, but before I knew it, my tears were already falling on their own. They both stood when they saw it and came to me.

“I-I don’t know who I should blame,” I said in between my sobs.

Freya caressed my back as Serah wiped my tears.

“What happened? Did he scold you?” Freya asked calmly.

I nodded in response. “I accidentally spilled his coffee due to my dizziness,” I continued.

“Your dizziness has been happening too much lately. Something might happen to you and your baby,” Stella said all worried.

I caressed my tummy, shaking with the fear that crept within me.

“You should file for a leave for a few days. You need to take a rest before working,” Freya suggested.

I only nodded. I understand their point since I was also worried for my child.

“You haven’t been checked up on again. You need to prioritize yourself and your baby before even thinking about coming back to work,” Serah said.

For the nth time, I answered them with a nod. I was too occupied to answer as I thought of my baby inside my tummy. The pain I felt a while ago was replaced by anxiety and uneasiness.

“You should sit and take a rest,” said Freya as she guided me.

I took a deep breath and composed myself. I couldn’t let my emotions get the best of me; they might end up harming my baby.

“Take a nap. We’ll take care of these." Serah pointed at the unfinished paperwork.

“Thank you,” I sincerely said.

They all smiled and tapped me on my back.

“We got you,” Freya said as she jokingly tapped her chest.

Serah’s face went all sour with what she did, and she patted Freya on her neck.

“This is what you get from browsing social media too much. Get back to work!” she shouted.

I chuckled and wiped my remaining tears.

“Chee! You can pay me with Fafa Fueroci,” Freya said, giggling like a little girl as she winked at me.

“You wish. He’s too all over the heels for Jandie,” Serah said in ridicule.

Freya looked at her fiercely and rolled her eyes, “He will end up with me, you’ll see—and when that happens, I won’t know you,” she said.

“What? Who are you?” Serah asked innocently, which made me laugh for a brief moment.

Freya rolled her eyes and sat on her seat. “KJ,” she hissed.

Serah then laughed quietly and focused on what she was doing.

I was about to bend myself to my desk when Achetbir’s door opened. Patriza went out and directly looked in my direction. She swayed and acted out walking toward me. I stood up and bowed a little.

“Make me some coffee.”

“Okay, Miss,” I responded and was about to pass by her when she suddenly grabbed my arm.

I looked at her. “Do you need anything else?” I asked respectfully.

“I changed my mind. I want Circlebucks coffee. Pronto,” she commanded and crossed her arms.

I saw Sarah and Freya’s eyes filled with discomfort. I bit my lower lip and nodded slowly at Patriza. 

“Noted, Miss.”

As much as I wanted to decline her, I couldn’t ask the two for another favor while she was in front of us.

“Faster,” she uttered when I still didn't move from my place.

I held my tummy as I hurriedly walked outside.

“Hold on, baby. Don’t worry; I’ll ask your Daddy for some rest days when I get back,” I softly assured.

After arriving at the coffee place, I took a brief rest from walking under the heat of the sun. It took me fifteen minutes before I got back to our department. I saw Patriza sitting in my chair as if telling me she was waiting for me.

I carefully put the paper bag on the table. “Here you go, Miss,” I uttered and prevented myself from showing the pain I was feeling.

She slowly stood up and smirked. “Why don’t you just resign, Jandie? Why do you keep on pushing yourself onto Achetbir after you cheated? You have some nerve,” she mocked.

I clenched my hands at my back to stop myself.

I forced a smile, “I’m sorry, ma’am. I don’t have any place to go to if I leave here,” I answered.

Her left eyebrow raised at me. “Can’t you find a job at your other man’s company? For sure, he’d accept someone like you,” she said cockily.

You do it then, if you’re so clever.

“I’ll try,” was what I could only say in response to put an end to the conversation.

My short answer was also due to the fact that I was already feeling something wrong with myself. I didn’t have the energy for any more nonsense bickering.

She smirked and walked near me. “I want you gone after Achetbir and I get married,” she mumbled.

As if on cue, I heard Achetbir’s door open. 

“Patriza, let’s go. The wedding planner is waiting for us,” I heard him say in a cold manner.

Patriza gave me a mocking smile. “Heard that? He’s my man,” she declared.

“Take care of him, then,” I whispered and smiled bitterly as I felt thousands of needles pricking in my body.

She smirked as she rolled her eyes and bumped into me as she walked past me. Maybe it was because I was too tired and weak that I suddenly fell to the ground.

“Jandie!” Freya yelled as she quickly walked beside me.

Serah then rushed to me and held me to stand up.

“Thank y—”

I was suddenly cut off when I heard their screams.

“You’re bleeding!” Freya shouted in horror as she looked at my back.

My surroundings suddenly went on mute when I looked. Blood rushed through my ears when I saw red all over me.

No, my child…

Serah and Freya kept yelling, but I couldn’t hear any of it. At that moment, I only feared for my child. I only went back to my senses when someone was carrying me. I looked at him in disbelief.

“Achetbir...” I weakly whispered as I felt my tears.

His jaw clenched as his cold eyes bore into mine. “Hold on, I’ll bring you to the hospital,” he murmured as I felt him walk quickly while carrying me.

I swallowed hard and closed my eyes because of the sudden dizziness I felt.

Our child, Achetbir, I said to myself before losing consciousness.