CHAPTER 16

I woke up with a gentle caress on my face. I opened my eyes slowly and saw Achetbir’s worried face. 

“Did someone hurt you?” he asked.

I looked at him with astonishment as my heart beat faster at the closeness of his presence, including the fact that his eyes showed a lot of concern.

“Did your stomach hurt? Why didn't you call me? ” he next asked.

I got up carefully with the help of his support for me.

"What kind of questions are those?"

His brows furrowed. “Why are your eyes puffy?” he asked.

I stilled in my place and averted my eyes. I feigned my laugh and gulped. “Yeah, it hurt a bit earlier,” I lied.

“And you just endured it? What if something bad happened to you and your baby?” he added.

I couldn’t help but pout. I felt like a child being scolded by a mother for the mistakes he’d made.

I heard him sighed and then stood up. “I am sorry for raising my voice. I forgot pregnant women are sensitive,” he said calmly.

I smiled and nodded slightly. “It’s okay,” I responded.

He stared at me for a second, then brushed his hair using his fingers. “Let’s go. The food is ready. You should eat on time,” he murmured and then exited the room first.

I smiled bitterly as I watched his back walking away. “Seems like you really read a lot for your future wife and child,” I said in the air.

I tried to remove the imaginary chisel that was hurting me. I took a deep breath and forced myself to smile.

“Come on, Jandie. Food is what the baby needs and not drama,” I preached to myself and stood to follow him into the kitchen.

Achetbir and I ate our lunch quietly. I constantly avoided looking at him, but I still felt the fierceness of his stare.

"I'll do the washing," I said hesitantly and softly when we finished eating together.

“No, I’ll do it. You take a rest in the room,” he insisted.

“How long will you stay here?” I asked and lowered my gaze.

“Why? Are you not comfortable with me?” he asked back.

My mouth parted in shock. My tongue twitched, and something seemed to suddenly block my throat as I stared into his cold eyes.

“T-that’s not what I mean. I just don't want to bother you too much. I know you’re busy with your company and for your upcoming...” I stopped speaking and averted my eyes. “...wedding.”

He didn't speak for a second. I didn’t try to lift my eyes to him any longer as I was slowly being consumed by nervousness.

“Where’s the formality, Miss Mendoza?” he asked instead of answering my statement.

I bit my lower lip and bowed my head slightly. “I am sorry, Sir,” I apologized.

“As I told you, I am doing this for myself, not for you. I am just cleaning my conscience because I felt responsible for your pain. I hold the time and control over my company, so you don't have to think about that,” he stated.

I nodded lightly as a sign of my understanding. There was also something inside me that was waiting for a follow-up to what he said, but that didn't happen.

“Now, get back to your—”

His speech was interrupted when his phone rang. He looked at me, then searched for his phone. I stood up and was about to gather the plates to wash when he glared at me. He clenched his jaw and pointed to the bedroom’s door with his eyes, giving me a go-or-else-you’ll-be-dead look.

I was frustrated and could do nothing but follow him. Achetbir slid his phone’s screen as I turned my back on him. I was about to take a step when I heard him speak to the person on the phone.

“Patriza,” he said.

I secretly held my breath and slowly resumed my steps.

“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute. Tell mom that I’ll come,” he said on the line.

I smiled bitterly when I reached my bedroom door. “Yeah, he’s just doing this for his conscience, Jandie,” I murmured. 

I twisted the doorknob and entered the room, leaving Achetbir at the dining table talking with his fiancée.

I sighed and gently stroked my stomach. "I'm sorry, baby. Mommy always gave you stress," I said to the child in my womb.

I was in that situation when my phone rang from the bedside table. I immediately walked over there and looked at the name appearing on the screen.

Blair?

I quickly slid it and put it to my ear. "You called?" I asked my sister, astonished

I stiffened my stance and became nervous when I heard her sob on the other line.

“S-Sis, mom was hospitalized,” she said.

I clung to the table for support and took a deep breath. "What happened?" I rasped.

"She had a heart attack from high blood pressure," Blair replied between her sobs.

I felt like I was spinning around in confusion and nervousness because of what I heard from my sister. I was in the middle of that state when the door suddenly opened.

“I’m going no—what happened to you?” Achetbir quickly approached me and immediately wrapped his arm around my waist in support.

There was fear and apprehension in his eyes as he looked at me. He also checked my butt and legs for something.

I gulped hard and ripped my phone tightly. I tearfully stared into his eyes, hoping I would gain strength from there. "I-I have to go home to the province," I said.

His forehead furrowed, and he looked at my cellphone. Finally, he sighed and brought me to the bed. "Give me the phone," he ordered when I was finally seated properly.

I absentmindedly gave it to him.

“Hello,” he spoke on the line. “I am Jandie’s boss. May I know what the problem is?” he formally asked.

I could no longer understand what they were talking about due to being I was lost in thought about my mother’s situation. I felt weak and flimsy as I thought of the hardship she was now going through.

“Hey...”

My senses came back when Achetbir gently called my attention. He bent his knees to meet my eyes.

“Everything will be okay. Don’t think too much,” he said.

I shook slowly and allowed my tears to flow. "I have to go to Mom," I said. My voice was wobbly.

He stood up and buried my head below his chest. “Shh, don’t cry. You just get out of the hospital, so it will be bad for you and the child. Let me talk to your doctor first for approval to travel. We need to assure the baby’s safety first,” he stated.

I still couldn't answer him though I understood what he said. Even so, my desire to visit my mother was not reduced.

“Rest first, okay? I'll wake you up when the doctor gives us a go signal,” he said and helped me to lie down.

I no longer objected to all his orders. I felt like I didn’t have the strength to think and object to everything he said.

“All right, go to sleep. I'll just call the doctor,” he said calmly while staring at me.

“Don’t you have an appointment?” I asked hoarsely when I remembered his phone call earlier.

He stared at me. “Rest, Mendoza,” he said instead of answering my question.

I could do nothing but close my eyes because I also felt concerned about our son’s condition. I felt Achetbir stand up and step away from the bed. I even heard him turn the doorknob of the door as he spoke.

“Hello, Patriza. I can’t go right now. Something urgent happened. I’ll explain it when I see you.”

I felt a little happy the moment I heard that from Achetbir, but I immediately changed my mind when I remembered that he was just doing all of this to clear his conscience.

Why couldn't the knot of destiny between the two of us break?