I was seated in the park bench where I usually spent my time if I wanted to unwind and clear my mind.
Dr. Calamba told me to stay the night confined in the hospital so I could have my rest but I declined so she gave me two weeks sick leave. She even reprimanded me over stressing myself too much.
I smiled recalling how the 67-year old gynecologist wagged her index finger right infront of me. She made me feel like a teenager caught cheating during a final examination.
I was people watching and sometimes a smile or two broke upon my lips. I spotted a father being chased by two twin toddlers, a mother gave warm kisses to her daughter's neck, a couple lying on a picnic blanket with the man stroking his pregnant wife's belly and a baby in a stroller, just three feet away from me that kept giving me his toothless grin.
For once I sat there, envious and happy of their carefree ways at the same time.
After awhile, the people in the park slowly disappeared. It was after all almost night time.
I phoned Tori and asked her to fetch me and knowing my sister, if she could fly the car she would do that in an instant but unfortunately she was stuck in traffic. My ears would have their poor time once she started lashing at me for being stubborn. She was ecstatic about the baby news but I told her to keep it a secret as of now even from mom and she promised she will.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. The serenity and the kiss of the sunset were welcoming to me. Then I heard a familiar footsteps on the concrete pathway.
"Hi."
I opened my eyes to see Mina standing infront of me. She must have followed me.
"I knew I'll find you here", she sat beside me and offered me a tissue.
I took it from her. I wiped a tear that unknowingly fell on my cheek.
She pointed at my nose with her pursed lips.
I sniffled.
Gosh!
My nose hurts, it was red and runny.
"I thought you'd be home by now."
"I'm waiting for Tori", I said in a quiet voice, both of us stared at the distance.
"This is where it all started", she said cheerfully.
I frowned.
"This is where we first met, remember?", she smiled.
"I remember, I found you crying here, too."
"Yes, I had my first patient that died."
"That was almost four years ago."
"Imagine that, huh? Four years of good old friendship."
I nodded and sat up straight.
"This is where we were sitting, almost a year ago. The day when you first saw him Nic".
I raised my head and saw her studying me.
I slowly nodded and sniffled.
God, my tears just wouldn't stop.
She smiled sadly.
"Women go crazy when they fight among themselves. They are more crazier for fighting with themselves. But it's the gravest crime to be an enemy of your own self", she stared at me solemnly. "It must be very hard for you to love and hate him at the same time."
"I don't hate him, Mina."
"That's comforting coming from you, at least there's hope. He was convinced you hate—"
"What?"
Mina took a deep breath.
"You should tell him you're going to have a baby, Nic. It's his right to know."
I frowned, remembered that was exactly what I told her before when she was hesitant to tell her boyfriend Tim about her pregnancy.
"How will you know when you won't tell him. And besides your baby needs a father. I'm sure Eric will be happy", she grinned and winked at me.
I laughed a little, my friends never failed to make me smile when I was miserable.
Then silence.
After a while Mina took a deep breath again and sighed.
I was becoming such a burden to my friends.
"The thing is, this guy adores you Nic, can't you see that?", she continued. "Haven't you noticed how he makes you happy? How he respects your wishes?."
I stared at her and swallowed the lump on my throat.
"How he looks at you with full of affection in his eyes?"
I shook my head no, slowly.
"Ninny! Don't you get it?"
"G-get what?"
"Eric... he worships you."
"All those things he did just to have you... Well, I can't tell you about it, I promised him I won't but he- he brought you back to life. You're alive because of him. He's the reason you're you again. He made you, he changed you I mean he- he completes you", Mina let out a huge sigh in exasperation for I remained tight lip. "I want to see that smile on your face again. Nicolaa, it breaks my heart to see you like this".
She took both of my hands and squeezed them.
"Go to him, tell him what you really feel. Don't keep it to yourself. He deserves to know everything."
We looked at each other intently.
"If not for you, do it for your baby?"
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
That night I was left alone in the house, drinking warm cocoa. Tori went out with Shawn again for a business party. He insisted upon it as she put it.
Those two were getting closer, more of best friends.
Oh, how I envy them.
It was past nine and one of my favorite rom-com movie Pretty Woman was on television but I wasn't concentrating. I was thinking of my future alone with my baby.
What will happen to us now that Eric and I were separated?
I drained my cup and let the warm liquid washed away my sorrow.
I stood up and was headed to the kitchen to washed my empty cup when suddenly I heard a soft knock on the door.
I frowned, who must this be disturbing me in the middle of the night?
Maybe Tori forgot her keys again.
I was about to open the door when I remembered she brought her purse with her.
Then my eyes widened in revelation.
Oh my God!
Could it be?
There was that soft knock on the door again followed by a call of my name.
"Nicolaa..."
He uttered it in a weak voice that it almost didn't sound like him.
He really did came.
My heart started thudding.
Every beat of it resonated against my ears. I could feel my blood flowing rapidly.
Why is he here?
"Please open the door, I know you're in there", he pleaded.
I took a quivery breath and gathering my courage, I opened the door slowly.
A gaunt-looking Eric stood before me. Dark circles around his eyes, a five-day stubble covering most of his handsome face and casual wrinkled clothing. He looked big and brawny and dangerous.
Gosh! I missed him so much.
He came.
He came for me.
Is he here to take me back?
"Can I come in?", his eyes dark blue hooded. I couldn't vouch for his expression.
I nodded my head awkwardly, speechless.
I bit my lip as he passed by, his smell lingered in my nostrils.
The smell that made my womanly senses turn into a wild, wanton beast.
I lowered my head as I slowly close the door. Uncertain what to say.
"I just arrived at the airport, we were stranded for five days. If I could have fly here immediately, I would be here in an instant", he explained, answering my silent questions.
I turned around and looked at him.
He was lazily standing there, both of his hands inside his pants pocket. Assessing me.
His eyes busily ran over my features, studying me. He traced every part of my body with his hungry stare.
I wish I wore something else other than my old house clothes but glad that I wasn't wearing his shirt for that would be embarassing because he would know I was longing for him.
My eyes met his. I wanted to run into his arms and never let go.
"How's Paris?", my voice sounded calm even when my nerves were running raw.
God! Give me strength. Help me resist him.
"You left", was his short reply. He said those two words in a deep voice that sounded painful to my ears and he ignored my question.
I swallowed convulsively. Afraid to show him how he affected me so.
"I had to", I said in a whisper.
"Why?"
"You know why."
"No. I didn't and I still don't. You didn't give me a chance to explain", he said thru gritted teeth. Anguished and angry at the same time.
"You didn't give me a choice", I said, my voice rising in octaves.
"What choice is there to give?", he exclaimed, trying to control his maddening temper.
I took a shaky breath.
"Please Eric I don't want to fight with you, Tori is sleeping," I lied.
"Since when did you start to learn from lying to me?"
"What?!"
"She's not here", Eric replied in a low tone.
I stared at him hard, guilty for I was caught lying.
"We both know that right now she's with Shawn. I told her I'm coming to get you", he continued. "Don't be mad at her, she only wants to protect you", he run his hand thru his mused hair, "They're upset you left me Nicolaa."
"You told mom?!", me, getting upset by the minute.
"No, I meant Shawn and Tori. Our parents don't have to know of this ridiculous scheme you're doing for I won't let you."
Scheme?! He thought I was playing games with him?!
What does he mean by that?!
"I want a divorce", me.
"I love you", Eric.
We both said it at the same time.
I gasped. My hands instantly covered my mouth.
His eyes grew in surprised.
Silence.
Then I saw his face changed, as if something caused him pain.
"Do you really want a divorce?"
"I-I don't know", I started crying. "M-maybe...", my tears fell rapidly.
He came towards me and grabbed my arms hard, almost shook me but he controlled himself.
"No! That will never happen! I love you, Nicolaa", he said in a thunderous voice.
I cried, full of anguished.
"No, please don't say that now!"
"I love you.. I love you.. I love you..."
Every word uttered in vehemence.
"Stop it! I don't want this. Please Eric."
"I'm telling you the truth, Nicolaa!"
I wanted to believe him but what of Portia?
My wits addled. My pride ruled me that the next words I said were like poison in my mouth.
"I don't want to be with you anymore!"
Shock registered upon his face.
I tried to control my sobs but they escaped forcefully.
He remained quiet while his hands slowly let me go.
"You said you love me", he said in a calm voice, that made me uneasy.
"I-I didn't", I refused to admit it.
"Don't lie to me!"
"No! Oh, please go away! Leave me!", I felt so vulnerable that I hugged myself. My face awashed with tears.
"I can't, you're carrying my child", he said in a deadly tone.
It was my turn to be shock.
How did he find out?
Did Mina and Jodel? Tori?
"No one needs to tell me", he answered me, his face rich in anger. His eyes turned into black dark orbs. I've never seen him this angry before. Angry for I didn't tell him about my pregnancy and angry for I wanted to keep it a secret from him.
Very angry, so furious that I took a step backward, afraid he would hurt me.
"Did you think I wouldn't noticed how your body gently changes right infront of me?", he started walking towards me in a predatory stance.
Stalking me like the lion he was.
"Did you think I wouldn't notice how your breasts grew bigger and tender these past few months we've been together?"
I gasped aloud, started backing away, looking for a way of escape from him but I was trapped. His eyes mesmerized and scared me at the same time.
I was breathless.
"Did you think I wouldn't noticed how your tummy started rounding up?", his face crimson red, he stood just a foot away from me, glared at me while my back was plastered against the door. I tried to push him away but his strong body wouldn't budge.
"You think I didn't noticed, huh? Well, think again Mrs. Morrison for this husband of yours noticed every changes in you. He noticed everything because your heart, body and soul belongs to him. You belong to him!"
Then suddenly he wrapped my tear-streaked face between his hands, his eyes became solemn. His face slowly descended towards me, his body leaning and gently pressing unto mine.
"He even notices how mean you're becoming towards him but he just let them pass knowing that you're having his baby, because that's how fucking so much he cares about you! That's how fucking so much he loves you!', he whispered intently. His lips so close to mine I could almost taste him.
"And if you think that he will grant you the fucking divorce you so fucking wanted so bad?! Think again Mrs. Morrison for he won't give you one! Over his fucking dead body!"
Then he sealed his vow with a torrid kiss.
━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━
Toni Grace's Note:
Grins. :D
I hope I didn't disappoint anyone there and that no one will plan to kill Nicolaa due to her stubborness hehehe...
This story was quite hard for me to finish for I didn't know how to end it but thank you for your comments guys, they helped me a lot. You gave me ideas.
I'm about to end this in a chapter or two as to concentrate with my other stories and I'm very thankful for all your support.
I hope to read more of your comments in my other stories. I just love reading what's on your mind lol.
Thank you so much because another successful love story from my imagination came to life. [Teary-eyed]
And thank you again for ignoring my grammar and typo errors.
Till the next journey.
Lots of Love,
TGM