Twenty-three

‘‘I’m really sorry for the inconvenience, Brylle.’’ Maeluthe could no longer raise her forehead in extreme embarrassment. ‘‘I won’t be a burden, I promise.’’

After all, she’s not the type of woman who has so many friends. She doesn’t even have anyone close to her classmates now, so she decided to just go to her friend, Brylle.

The two have been friends since their childhood. Back then, their house was just next door. But because she could no longer pay for the land on which the house was located, Maeluthe left and forced herself to rent a house in Manila.

It’s just that, since her parents have passed away, she doesn’t know where else to pick herself up.

Brylle laughed for a moment because of what she said. ‘’You’re acting like I’m a different person. It’s still me, the annoying Brylle.’’

The man was wrong there. Maeluthe knew how the man was different, starting with how he dresses as well as his attitude. That’s probably exactly what puberty does. Gone are his crying and a naughty attitude.

He immediately helped Maeluthe organize things. Brylle’s condo is smaller than Isiaah’s.

Isiaah. . . she still couldn’t get the man out of her mind.

Since she left straight away a month ago, she has never lost sight of his ex-boyfriend.

Maeluthe also tried calling her several times, but she also got no other answer.

It was as if, in a flash, their relationship between the two suddenly disappeared.

As if it was only a dream.

With very little money she accumulated at work, she took a small apartment. But then she couldn’t even manage all the expenses at the same time.

During that month, she never went back to school. Apart from having nothing to take from her pocket, she is still very weak from her pregnancy.

She already has a lot of vitamins that she needs to take, so she has to buy and take care of them.

‘‘You’re pregnant.’’

Maeluthe blinked at the man in front of him. For a minute, she forgot her companion. Then she looked down at her stomach. The bulge was not very obvious there, but anyone could already notice her pregnancy due to the sudden swelling of Maeluthe’s body.

She smiled proudly and nodded, ‘‘I am.’’

Brylle was already satisfied with that answer, so Maeluthe just thanked him for not asking any more questions.

She doesn’t know what she could say.

‘‘You, how are you? You look so handsome. Do you have a girlfriend?’’ Maeluthe laughed and teased him.

‘‘I have a scary girlfriend, Mae,’’ he replied.

The woman laughed and then took the few things out of the bag one by one. ‘‘Make sure you informed her about this. I can’t fight because I’m pregnant.’’

The man was like his younger brother. She will never forget that he always wipes away sweat as well as his cold back then.

‘‘Tell me how she will react, okay? Let us talk, as well. If she doesn’t agree, I’ll leave–’’

‘‘Mae, my girlfriend, Ashley, is kind. You don’t have to worry that much. She will definitely understand.’’

The woman looked at him sharply. ‘‘Why are men so insensitive? There is a good chance that your girlfriend will be jealous of me, so I want to talk to her. Even now that you believe this will be okay with her, you should let her know anyway. You shouldn’t do anything that could hurt your girlfriend.’’

She sounded like an old woman. The man immediately laughed.

‘‘I’m tired of anything, so go! Call your girlfriend!’’

* * * * *

‘‘She’s staying with me,’’ Ashley said clearly and honestly. In fact, that’s really her habit. She doesn’t want to mess things up any further.

Earlier, Brylle quickly called his girlfriend and told her the situation. Ashely quickly agreed to meet.

As expected, Maeluthe already knew what the answer would be — she wouldn’t allow it. She definitely understands.

She knew that Ashley would not allow her, so she already looked for someone else to stay with.

‘‘W-What?’’ Maeluthe was the first to speak.

She was more surprised by the woman’s answer than Brylle.

‘‘Love. You don’t have to doubt her. I can guarantee–’’

‘‘You’re the one I doubt, Pagaduan.’’

Maeluthe’s palm automatically landed on her mouth and suppressed a laugh.

Burn, Brylle. Burn.

‘‘Love. . .’’ the man sighed. There is nothing else he could do.

‘‘But I am serious about it, Mae.’’ Ashley then smiled softly at Maeluthe.

They’ve decided to call each other casually. Ashley had no problem there. In fact, what she said was true. She didn’t really doubt the woman.

‘‘I can offer you all the help that you need. You can stay at my place,’’ she said with a smile.

‘‘Why are you so kind to talk to Mae? Why are you like this to me. . .’’ Brylle couldn’t continue what he was saying because of Ashley’s sudden stare at her.

‘‘Serves you right,’’ his girlfriend calmly replied.

Maeluthe couldn’t help but giggle at that sight. It’s fun because they are like high school students quarreling over a small misunderstanding.

‘‘Serves me right?!’’ Brylle suddenly stood up, frowning. ‘‘Ash!’’

Nor did the woman give in to that sigh, ‘‘Yes, yes! Why?’’

Looks like a poor cat, Brylle sat down again. His mouth formed a long snout, looking like a kid being bullied at school.

The two had stopped arguing, so Ashley’s attention returned to Maeluthe. ‘‘I really love babies. We will get along,’’ Ashley exclaimed.

If there was simply no child to take care of, she would not accept that offer. She might be too annoying, too thick-faced for it. But she knows that this is no longer the situation to wave her pride even more.

‘‘You can give me something to work on, Ashley. I will not accept anything when I know I am bothering you too much.’’

Ashley just grinned again, still not noticing the look of her boyfriend, who is about to cry, on the side. ‘’I live alone. You won’t bother me at all. . . but if you insist, I’ll give you one.’’

She went back to packing, repeatedly thinking about what her life would be like in the next few days.

She felt so miserable, she was like a ball being passed around, but no one wanted to accept it.

Although she repeatedly wished that everything was just a dream, she could not regret what had happened to her with the man — Isaiah.

She still could not forget the man she hoped would accept and love her.

‘’Love, I’m sorry. Can you please notice me, oh. . . Can you?’’

‘‘Talk to my hand–’’

‘‘I’ll lick your hands!’’

‘‘What! You really are a pig!’’

Maeluthe just laughed at the continuous quarrel between the two. She remembers her parents very well between them as well as the kind of romance they had.

That might be what happiness is— accepting and loving each other. The kind of love that is free. . . kind of love that is sure to last.