Thirty-four

The waves were strong that night. The cold breeze was biting Maeluthe’s skin even though she was wearing a very thick jacket.

She just tries to stop it, continuing to walk on the beach while Isiaah is on her right.

The man was silent. They had already agreed to talk, but a few minutes later but he was still unable to open his mouth even though he knew they had a lot to talk about and clarify with each other.

“Isaiah–”

“Maeluthe.”

They were a little shocked at the same time, but Isiaah was more courageous.

He stopped walking and faced the woman. He gently held her both shoulders before speaking, “We. . . We really need to be honest about what we feel. That’s what I learned the past few days, and I started to regret what I did. I’m sorry because I didn’t say how I really felt. I never wanted you to leave. I shouldn’t say things that I don’t mean. I shouldn’t have said that. I should have been more honest with myself, especially with you. I asked you to leave, but it means you must stay and explain everything to me. And it was so stupid of me to think that I didn’t hurt you with that thing. I wish I had been more honest.”

The man’s hands dropped, and he stayed by his side, feeling embarrassed, pondering what to say. He doesn’t want to make mistakes again. For him, the mistakes he has made are enough.

In addition, it will not be good for their child and Maeluthe if the situation continues.

“I’m sorry, Mae. I really wanted to visit you at the hospital. I want to take care of you, stay by your side during those times. I. . . I just didn’t know, but I am not going to make that as an excuse. Sorry if I didn’t listen, huh? I should have listened to you more, and I should have believed in you more.

“But after I found out from the doctor himself, I immediately thought that maybe you meant not to say that because it’s not really mine. That I wasn’t really mine, to begin with. I got scared. I was too scared, Mae. God knows how happy I am to be with you, so I’m just so afraid of losing you right away. But you know, I can’t keep you. . . I still can’t accept that you’ll start living with someone who–

The man stopped when he felt Maeluthe’s weak caress on his face.

“I was a jerk for making you leave. I’m sorry for everything, but I finally realized. I tried to find you, but that still wasn’t enough to find you. . .” Isiaah looked at Mae as well as at her stomach, restless and wanting to confirm something.

“I should’ve at least prepared something before I say this, but I really want to say it. . . there are no worries or hesitations this time,” Isiaah blurted one by one as she parted the hair that was already covering Maeluthe’s face. “I love you.”

Holding back a smile, Maeluthe’s chest felt very throbbing. It was clear, and she knew what to answer to that confession, but the words were already tangled in the back of his mind.

Meanwhile, Isaiah decided not to wait for the woman to say anything. He wasn’t in a hurry, and the small bulge in Mae’s stomach really caught his attention.

It was as if someone was caressing the man’s heart. He lightly leveled his face at the woman’s stomach and carefully touched it.

“A-Am I really the. . .” Nor was he able to pronounce the word ‘father’. He didn’t really expect it. Things became out of his hand, especially since the man happened to be drunk that night.

I’ll never regret that day, he said to himself. I’m going to be a dad!

“Actually, I didn’t expect we would meet again, Isiaah. I am willing to take good care of our child–”

“Our child. . .”

“It’s yours,” the woman finally said, who brought tears to Isiaah. In the next second, he couldn’t control his feelings, and he burst into tears.

Isiaah is a soft guy. Anyone can prove it, but Maeluthe didn’t expect his reaction to be right in front of her. It wasn’t an unexpected revelation, but here he is now, and anyone could think he might win the lottery.

“I was just planning to pick up my friend at the bar when I bumped into you. I tried to find those with you, but I could do nothing with so many people there. Your body has already collapsed, so I just thought of taking you to the nearest hotel, and that’s what happened–”

“That’s right. . . you will be mine. You’ll be my virgin,” Isiaah said with a smile, imitating the words he said that night that Maeluthe would never forget.

The woman did nothing but laugh. “Do you remember?”

“I remember it late. . .” Isiaah then touched his lips to the woman. “I’m sorry, Mae.”

Maeluthe became so speechless. Also, because of the great joy and excitement of her life now with Isiaah.

The man leveled his face to Maeluthe’s stomach.

“Hi there. . .” He said with a wide smile.

Even he, to this day, still can’t believe it.

When she saw the man one night, she without hesitation helped him, dressed him and took care of him because he was so drunk. She did not expect that man to be the father of her child. . . the man overjoyed in front of it now because of their child.

“I am your father. . .” he continued, from time to time holding back the tears. “I’m sorry because daddy is late, okay? You should promise me that you’ll remain healthy, and I also promise you that daddy will take care of mommy, you two. I’ll protect you both from everything. Can you hear Daddy?”

Maeluthe was known to wipe away the tears that were constantly running down her cheeks. She doesn’t seem to mind other people who have been taking pictures before, are thrilled and jealous of the two.

“Why are you crying?” Isiaah smiled as he stood up straight. “Are you touched?”

“Never!”

Eventually, they fell silent at once and spent the next few seconds staring at the round moon there.

“I like the half-moon better,” Isiaah said as a reason to get Mae’s attention. He moved a little closer to the woman and put his arm around her. The two let their feet meet the waves.

“Why?”

“The other half is not visible, but that does not mean he is not there. You are the other half, the one who is always seen, the one who is bright and looked up to by everyone. . . and I am the other half, sometimes I am there, sometimes I am invisible. And I may be sometimes in the dark, but that doesn’t mean I’m not beside you. That doesn’t mean I can’t see you or I can’t help you. I. . . I will always be right by your side, seen or not, and I will not leave your side.

“When we broke up, it became half. You don’t see me, but I am glad you went on with your life, you remained glowing. . . I knew all that because I was there. You are not there, but I keep looking for you.”

Maeluthe just tightened her grip on the man’s hands, smiling. “I love you, Mae. I want to make things clear for you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, not because I feel responsible for the child, and I want the baby to have a complete family. It is because I love you. . . a love that can’t be shattered. Love that cannot be stopped love that didn’t leave and will never leave again.”

Maeluthe quickly confronted Isiaah and kissed him on the lips three times. “You know what that means,” Maeluthe said lamely.

Isiaah started thinking, so the woman took the initiative to say, “I love you.”

“Let’s have sex–” Isiaah immediately covered his mouth, causing Maeluthe to burst out laughing.

She soon pulled him away from the sea.

“Where are we going?” Isaiah immediately asked.

Mae just confronted him and then kissed him. “To do the latter.”