"Allie..." Andrew called out just as she walked past the guard's booth.
She turned back as she heard her name.
"Andrew. " She raised a brow as she looked back at her.
"Nothing. Just wanna thank you for the night. "
Allie chuckled inwardly after she realized she had expected something more.
"Good night, Andrew. "
As she was about to turn back, her eyes caught the figure of a man lurking in the dim area behind the post. She creased her brows as she looked further. The figure was familiar. Thinking of that same figure she saw just when she left hours ago, her heartbeats started to race. It must be him! Why was he here? She was sure none of his family members knew about her daughter.
Thinking about her humiliation for leaving her defenseless against her family, for retreating easily, for not fighting for their love, she walked fast. She no longer wanted to see him! Ajie did not deserve to know the truth!
Just as she was about to open the door, a big hand stopped her own which was holding the door knob. Soon, she felt the rushing of her blood flow towards her face, sending erratic pulses to her heart.
"Allie... " He spoke just behind her ear and his warm breath sent a painful thrust into her heart. She knew she missed him and even longed for him. But she just could not take his negligence for granted. He was not as responsible as she thought him to be!
"Allie, let's talk, please. "
She turned to him and looked into his eyes squarely.
"There's nothing to talk about. Now, you may leave. "
"Allie, please don't do this. " Ajie began to beg.
"The day you left was the day I ended our relationship. So, there is definitely nothing to talk about. "
"You promised to wait... " He started to argue.
"Who would be fool enough to wait for someone who do not even care to send a single message for a long, whole year? " She glowered at him while her knees were shaking.
"What do you mean? " Ajie was then beginning to feel afraid of that possibility he dreaded the most.
"I'm sorry I'm not a saint to wait for your empty promises. Where were you to assure me in those times I tried to defend you against my parents? Where were you when I tried to prove them that you were different from all of them? Where were you when I assured my family that you loved me sincerely? You're nowhere! And I was so fool then to let them believe over something I, myself, was no longer sure about. "
Ajie suddenly realized she was right. He felt so sorry for himself but looking at her enraged demeanor right now, he did not know anymore if he could still undo his mistake.
He tried to pull her towards him to let her feel how sorry he was but she pushed him away!
"Don't ever dare to touch me again!
Even a slight touch would worsen my hatred towards you. "
Ajie was not prepared in this confrontation that he did not know how to shield himself against her rage.
"Who is that man who gave you that flowers? Throw it away! " He demanded as his face flushed in jealousy.
"Who are you to tell me what to do? "
She was already shaking in anger and in humiliation.
"I have already loved again, Ajie. Don't bother me anymore. "
Ajie froze at her confirmation. He just stood there watching her as she opened and locked the door behind her. Realizing what just took over, he knocked at the door but she did not open it anymore. He knocked twice and up to ten times but still, there was no response.
As he glanced at his watch, it was already almost midnight. He must leave right now so that he would be able to catch the first bus. He decided to settle his and Allie's differences when he would be back.
She needed to cool down and think things over. But what if she was owned by someone else already?
He arrived at Molave before lunchtime. His parents were so overjoyed to see him again.
"How's your studies, son? " Issa asked excitedly.
"I'm doing fine, nay. Someday, I will build the biggest and the most beautiful ship in the country. And both of you will be sailing with me in her maiden voyage!" His eyes sparked in his determination.
Observing him, Leo wondered if he got this determination from his real father. Yet, if he was indeed a business tycoon, the great wealth he accumulated must also be because of his strong determination to succeed. And this was where his son got this attribute!
"Son, how's your finances? Do we have to sell another property? "
Ajie's guilt overwhelmed him when he heard this. How could he tell them what happened? How could he explain to them that it was his conscience which dictated him to do such thing? "
"No, Tay. I still have much. "
After a long chat with them, Issa felt something was wrong. His eyes were sad and he looked bothered.
"Son, what is it that makes you sad?"
Ajie smiled weakly at her mother. How did she know about it? Were mothers really that sensitive to know the pain he was hiding inside? He
so tempted to cry at her shoulders. All year long, he was keeping the pain of humiliation and anger at how they were treated by Allie's family.Only to realize that by doing so, he had lost Allie to someone else and they even had a daughter.
"It's Allie, nay..." He then narrated everything to her.
"When women are hurt, they tend to lie. And she has all the reasons to get angry. Just be patient, son. Do everything to win her back."
"Has she really forgotten me? "
"Definitely, not. Because she is still angry?"
"Could it be true that she already has someone else? " He asked but, somehow, she wished her answer would be no.
"Perhaps...but the fact that her family name wasn't changed yet, it means, she is still single. But son, I want to see my grandchild. Bring her to us. "
"Do you also feel, nay, that the child is mine? " His eyes lit up at the thought of it.
"Based on your story, I believe she is our granddaughter. We have this thing called, "lukso ng dugo" or parent's instinct, son. You can feel it. "
Ajie couldn't understand his feelings in that moment hat he wanted to fly back to the hospital. He wouldn't be emotionally - drawn to leave a great amount if he did not feel that "lukso ng dugo".
Thinking about this many times, he got confused. Why was he also drawn to that unidentified man he had rescued?
___
Meanwhile, at the hospital...
"Lyz, someone came over to buy the blood. He said his name is Adrian.
And here's an envelope the biller sent for you. It's from him again. "
Anne's eyes flickered in excitement.
Allie did not say any word. How did he know about them? She hurriedly opened the envelope and her eyes widened in seeing it.
"P200, 000 from him? How did he know about their daughter? "