His world suddenly crumbled down.
"Ton, I'm sorry I accepted her request. I just could not refuse when I knew she would not have one."
Feeling guilty, she could only hope that Anthon would understand.
"But if you feel bad that I accepted, and if you feel I betrayed you, then I will tell her and retract "
"Go ahead, I understand."
He logged out after that.
Jay was worried. The only consolation she had was that sooner or later, he would know and would still go through the process of pain.
Anthon went into his car and drove aimlessly. But then he thought of going somewhere.
As he pulled up in the parking lot, his heart became heavier. Here, in this place, he held Jia in her shoulders as he led her to the beach.
As he went through the alleys under the giant trees, he remembered her. The graceful way that she walked and the lovely expression in her face as she got lost in her thoughts.
When he finally reached the cottage where they stayed until midnight, he remembered her when she cried. He remembered also himself when he burst out of control. He remembered himself blaming Jia for allowing his own son to be raised up by another man. He remembered blaming her for why she just ran away with his baby inside. He remembered blaming her why did she not tell him.
Even if he had consented to the marriage his dying brother asked him of, if Jia had not run away, he would have married her instead.
He realized that both of them were always late!
He was too late to know that before that intimacy happened in Blue Whale Mountain Resort, Jia had learned about his wedding plans with her best friend.
Jia was, also, too late to know that the child her best friend was carrying was not his but his brother's. And that she was just too late to know about the whole truth!
He was too late in telling her that all through the years ever since during their high school years, there was only her inside his heart.
Jia was, also, too late in coming back to tell him they had a son. Too late because she already loved another man.
And he was too late again in winning her back, she's about to get married soon!
If only he was firm enough in holding them back, perhaps she had stayed. If only he had stopped her, perhaps, she would not decide to marry him.
But his steps were all behind. His moves were all too late!
What more could he do than hide and cry? What more could he do than just learn to accept that she's forever gone?
Coming from an average family who owned land properties in the city where he lived, he did not grow up with abundant life. The lots they owned were occupied by urban squatters who defied every case filed against them. All their efforts to negotiate with them about relocation plans in ally with the government were all in vain. Thus, they were not able to hold any advantage of owning a property.
He graduated from his elementary and secondary years in a public school.
He was able to get a scholarship program in college and graduated as a bachelor of science in civil engineering.
Few months after passing his licensure exam, he was hired by a famous shipping company. He got promoted and, later on, he established his own construction firm and accepted projects from different shipping lines.
He registered his construction firm as Jian Construction, in memory of Jia. Who would have known later on that his son was actually named Jian, a combination of the first syllables of Jia's and his name?
He now owned his dream house which he personally built, bought his dream sports cars, and purchased some properties.
He had no vices and was not extravagant. He may have dated several women but never got involved with one. No woman had ever stepped into his house and his bed was never stained nor defiled.
When he brought Jian there to sleep with him, he dreamed that this house would only be for the three of them and for their coming children. He already imagined that two more beautiful creatures to jump around this beautiful house would be more fun. He already imagined himself touching Jia's protruding abdomen. He already imagined himself listening to his baby's heartbeats and laughing at his tiny kicks!
Lately, he was signing into a real estate contract. It was about a partnership with a new real estate venture where he would be the builder of the homes and the developer of the whole property.
He was lucky enough to get the big project! He got interested in it since it so happened that the estate was also named Jian's Garden!
Sad to say, that the woman he was dedicating all these successes was about to be married to someone else!
Anthon stayed until the horizon cracked into a crimson and yellow-orange lining. He did not want to see the daylight. For there was total darkness within his soul.
He went home and locked himself inside his room for who knew how long. All lights were turned off, his phone on silent mode.
When he felt a little lightened up, he stood up and freshened himself. He checked his phone and got forty missed calls. Ten from Jay, five from Giselle, and five from Atty. Guevarra, the general manager of Jian's Garden.