After making a call, she returned to their bedroom to see if Ajie was already awake. Seeing that he was still sound asleep, she bent down and gave him a smack on the lips. Ajie moaned groggily, grabbed her nape downward and returned her smack with a deep kiss. Then he curled up and slept back.
Watching him like that, she felt thousands of needle pricks all throughout the surface of her heart. How many more nights left for them to enjoy the comfort of sleeping together? How many more mornings left for her to wake up seeing his face, while his hands were wrapping her in a warm embrace? How many more days left before the sense of security of being with him ends?
Thinking all about these, she lied down again in his arms facing him. She traced down the contours of his face with a heavy heart.
"I will always love you, Adrian. " She murmured softly as tears suddenly stung her eyes.
"I will love you forever, Mrs. Adrian. " He startled her with a reply and a big grin, causing Allie to withdraw her fingers from his face as if she touched a scalding surface.
He pulled back her hands and let it cup his face. "I don't want to go to Japan anymore. "
She suddenly felt a log resting against her throbbing heart, thinking about the luxury of having him in her whole lifetime and also about the threat which was pressing her recently. In order to live for him and for her daughter, she had to die temporarily, wishing that it wouldn't be too late when finally she would be able to live again.
Nearly after a month, she found herself at the airport sending off Ajie in his flight to Japan. He was talking to Chloe childishly and the child would giggle loudly even before he could open his mouth to speak. He was laughing, his heart was filled with both joy and sadness.
"My love, by the time daddy will come back, you will already be able to walk. And I'll be taking you to the children's park, to your music school, to your ballet class and many else. Do you like that? " He tickled her at the area right below her ears and Chloe wiggled her legs and tossed her little body as she laughed.
Reluctantly and tearfully, Ajie handed back her daughter to Allie.
" Be sure to call me everyday and update me in all your activities. " He said after he kissed and hugged her tightly.
"I will. " She replied after she reluctantly released herself from his embrace. Her reluctance was due to her fear that this could be their last embrace.
As he walked towards the entrance of the check - in lounge, a woman's voice from behind them called out Ajie's name. Allie and Ajie turned simultaneously towards her. It was Dr. Jane, giving them both a wide grin.
"Ajie, Allie.."
"You're also going out of the country? " Ajie asked, surprised to see her pulling out her luggage.
Dr. Jane raised her brows in surprise as she hugged Allie.
"Hasn't daddy told you that he also sent me to accompany you? "
"No. "Ajie replied in a relatively surprised manner as he gave Allie a quick and a puzzled look.
" Perhaps so that you won't be too uncomfortable in a new place. It would take you a while before you will learn to adapt in your new environment. "
Ajie nodded in agreement. Mr. Lopez's kindness was already too overwhelming and he felt he didn't deserve it anymore.
"Please thank your dad in my
behalf. " He said as he tried to hold back the tears which were threatening to come out.
"He even asked me to let me take my degree in medicine there. "
"Really? You're already a PhD graduate, right? "
"Exactly but I also want to be a developmental pediatrician so that I can help the children more."
A developmental - behavioral pediatrician evaluates, counsels and provides treatment for children, adolescents and their families with a wide range of developmental and behavioral difficulties including learning disorders, intellectual incapacities, learning and behavioral disorders, delays in speech and many others.
Ajie became more spellbounded and overhelmed. "I can't believe your dad. "
"Just as he couldn't believe how you were so willing to exhaust your educational fund for a stranger. "
------
Soon, Ajie and Dr.Jane's names were paged for the last call to check - in. So, they both had to leave a thunderstruck Allie, who instead of being sad for his departure, would also be torn with doubts and jealousy.
Questions were then raised into her mind. What really was the purpose of Mr. Lopez in sending him to Japan? Why did he have to send her daughter with him? Was he really carrying out his plan to create an opportunity for Ajie and Dr. Jane to be in a relationship? Recalling his interview about his rescue, he said that if he were to decide, he would do everything to get them married.
Pain and sorrow crept into Allie's heart as she carried Chloe in her arms. She didn't care if tears were streaming down her face as she made her way to the parking lot. One of the good things that Ajie did during his stay was teaching her how to drive. And because of her strong desire to learn, she mastered it quickly.
Ajie also converted his savings into a joint account so that she could have an access into it anytime especially that she was planning to open up a business. The three doors of the apartment were now occupied so their daily expenses would be covered by the monthly rental.
Just as Allie was about to go out into the exit, she come across with someone she expected the least. It was Andrew. Thinking about what Ajie said, she was reluctant to talk to him but she was also curious to know about Andrew's side of the story.
"Lyz, what a small world! Why are you here? " Andrew excitedly approached her.
Allie smiled widely at him, to make him think that Ajie did not tell anything about himself.
"I'm sending off Ajie. " She answered briefly.
"I see. With Dr. Jane to Japan. " He smiled and there were malicious glints in his eyes.
To satisfy her curiousity why she knew about it, she thought of something.
"Andrew, it's been a long while since we last met. How about a catch up over coffee? "
"Sure. When? " He asked excitedly.