Chapter 15

For the second time around, I woke up with the familiar surroundings of the hospital. The white walls greeted me just like before. I roamed my eyes and saw Achetbir sitting on the side of my hospital bed, staring at me without any emotion in his eyes.

“H-how’s my baby?” I asked worriedly.

“The baby’s fine,” he answered.

I felt a sudden relief after hearing those words.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked coldly.

His question made me feel nervous, and I wasn’t ready for it. “What do you mean?” I asked.

“That you’re pregnant.”

I bit my lower lip. Damn! I thought he was asking about him being the father.

“I was just waiting for the right time,” I said as I looked at the window to avoid his gaze.

“Why?” he asked suddenly out of nowhere.

Slowly I turned my head and frowned. He laughed sarcastically as pain was evident in his eyes.

“Why did you choose him over me? Fuck! You told me you were only after my money, right? I am richer than that guy, so why didn’t you choose me?” he asked, frustrated.

I froze because of his sudden outburst. I didn’t expect his words, or the fact that he would lower himself so that I would choose him. It was as if he were telling me that he didn’t care if I was after his fortune as long as I was with him.

What good deed did I do to have your heart, Achetbir?

“Is that why you didn’t want me to get you pregnant—because you wanted him to be the father instead?” he asked bitterly.

My tongue left me, and all I could do was avoid his eyes and bear the pain. As much as I wanted to make him feel at ease over what was happening, I chose to stay quiet and let him believe what he thought.

I felt him stand up from his seat when I didn’t answer his question. I wanted to look at him badly, but I couldn’t handle seeing him in pain.

“I am giving you one week to rest,” he said coldly and took his steps out of the room.

I only had the courage to look his way once the door closed. The tears I was holding fell all of a sudden.

“I’m sorry...” I whispered and sobbed silently.

The door then opened, and I saw Caster coming in. He gave me a worried look the moment our eyes met.

“Hey, I just got a call from your boss,” he spoke while walking toward me.

“Yeah, because he thought you’re the father of my child,” I said bitterly in between my sobs.

He sat in Achetbir’s seat and caressed my head. “Shh, stop crying now. That’s bad for your baby,” he reminded.

“I hurt him again, Caster,” I complained.

He sighed and wiped my tears. “And you are hurting too,” he uttered.

I closed my eyes in hopes that the pain would go away and let my tears stop. I wanted to stop crying because I was afraid to cause more stress for my baby, but I couldn’t help it—the pain was too much to handle. It took me a while to finally calm down.

“You should drink,” Caster said softly as he handed me the water beside him.

He carefully guided me to lean on the headboard before giving me the glass.

“Thank you,” I said and smiled.

“So, you still stand by your decision to kept his child from him?” Caster asked.

I took a deep breath and forced a smile. “This is the only way I know to make peace with everything,” I bitterly responded.

“But you’re not giving him the chance to be a father to your child,” he pointed out.

I knew what I was doing, and I was guilty, but I had to be brave and stick with my decision, especially now that the wedding between Achetbir and Patriza was happening.

“Guess like life is really complicated,” I said and fake laughed.

Caster sighed and shook his head with disbelief. “Indeed,” he murmured.

It had been a day when I finally got discharged from the hospital. 

“Are you sure you’ll be fine alone? I can stay here if you want. Besides, I’m not going to rape you or something,” Caster said, standing outside my condo unit.

I jokingly patted his shoulder. “You dumbass!” I said, laughing. “I promise I can handle myself. Thank you for sending me home, by the way,” I said sincerely.

He smiled at me before he messed with my hair. “Anything for you,” he mumbled and put his hand on his pocket. “Call me when you need something. I’ll be here,” he said.

I smiled and nodded.

He stared at me for a second and gave out a deep breath. “Go on; take a rest,” he said warmly.

“Hmm, thank you,” I told him and watched him turn away.

I stood there for a few seconds before deciding to close the door.

I was about to walk into my room when I heard the door click.

I was frowning when a man turned to look at me as he went out at the door. I was suddenly nervous, but to my disbelief, it was Achetbir.

“S-sir,” I uttered, shocked.

I saw no emotions in his eyes. He went straight inside the unit while he was holding plastic bags in his hands.

“I am here to clean my conscience,” he said coldly and went past by me.

I followed him, stunned. He then left the plastic bags on top of the kitchen table and one by one removed the items inside them.

I wanted to speak or say anything at that moment, but I couldn’t.

“Where’s your partner?” he asked while putting the raw food in the fridge. I swallowed and breathed deeply.

“He’s not here,” I answered, then walked beside him to open the other plastic bag to help him unpack.

“He left you alone?” he asked, irritated.

I pouted and avoided his eyes. “He’s working,” I reasoned out.

I could almost hear him smirk, but neither of us spoke anymore.

I was rooted in my place when I opened the plastic bag. Milk for pregnant women and vitamins were there. A lump lodged in my throat, and I wanted to cry when I saw everything he bought.

I cleared my throat and took out the goods with my trembling hands.

“What happened to you?” he asked coldly, but the worry in his voice didn’t escape me.

“N-nothing,” I said and tried to smile.

He stared at me and sighed. “Just go to your room and rest. I'll cook you lunch,” he commanded.

I bit my lower lip and met his gaze. “You don’t need to do this, Sir,” I said with my low-pitched voice.

His jaw clenched, and he continued arranging the stocks. “I am doing this for myself, not for you, Miss Mendoza. Now, go to your room and sleep. I've read from an article that pregnant women should sleep well in their first trimester,” he said frankly, which shocked me.

He looked at me like he didn’t expect what just went out of his mouth.

“Y-you’re reading an article about pregnant women?” I asked, astounded by what I just heard.

He averted his gaze and cleared his throat, then continued what he was doing. “For future purposes, in case Patriza wants to have a baby,” he responded with no emotions.

A knife was stabbed instantly in my chest. I made a fake and awkward laugh and shifted my attention to the other direction, hoping to prevent him from seeing my eyes watering.

“Advance congratulations to your soon-to-be family. It seems like you are going to be a good father to your child,” I said as I tried to sound cheerful and slowly walked away. “I will just take a nap,” I added and walked into the room without glancing at him.

I held my tummy the moment I closed the door between us.

“You don’t have to feel envious, baby. Mommy is here…”

A bolt of silence crept within me, and I cried quietly as my situation finally sank in.

Achetbir was now seeing himself with another woman, picturing himself with another girl to be the mother of his child.

I was now...out of his life.