In the weeks that followed, Henry came by. I had now completely shaken off the act of caring about anything that concerned him.
I resumed learning crocheting from Grandma, as the sessions had stopped ever since the day of Henry's assault.
"I was surprised when Mr. Henry told me not to come for these classes for the time being. Turns out you were pregnant," Grandma happily exclaimed.
I had decided to let people assume what they wanted to; after all, telling anyone about my situation wouldn't change a thing but would burden those who knew.
"It's good to give birth when you are this young! Listen, I will give you some advice about childbirth..." Grandma then continued to give me a lecture about childbirth practices, etc.
I thanked her for the input as we continued to crochet and sew. "You really have a natural talent for this!" Grandma sighed as she said.
Eight months quickly passed by; my delivery time was a stone's throw away. I had stopped hearing from Tanti two months before my delivery. I asked my sister if she could reach her, but she told me not to worry about Tanti as she was safe. She added that Tanti had gone abroad and would be back soon.
My heart wasn't settled, but I chose to trust Sima's words; she had never lied to me.
My time came, and I was led to the hospital. Henry came, and Lilly was tagging behind him. I don't know why, but Lilly reminded me of those annoying ads on my phone. However, I still appreciated her. Henry hadn't spent too much time with me in these past months, hence less assault on my part.
Giving birth was hell on earth. I was dying of tremendous pain. When Henry had previously dislocated my jaw, it didn't come close to the pain I was feeling now.
Loud cries of a child were heard. I saw Henry running in with a hospital gown to see the child. I also somehow breathed in relief until I had another sharp pain in my belly.A nearby doctor immediately noticed and approached me.
"They are twins! Quickly push," the doctor shouted. I was startled—twins? Wasn't it just one child? I repeated the previous actions as I pushed hard; sweat was dripping down my face. I really thought I was going to die. It was so painful that I couldn't put it into words.
Another crying voice was heard. "Sir, this is a blessing; they are two..." I heard the doctor elaborate to Henry before I passed out.
When I woke up, I saw two small bundles in a nearby small bed. Henry, Lilly, Mr. and Mrs. Charpil were seated opposite that bed.
"Shiba, how are you feeling?" I heard a voice ask.
I turned towards the voice and found Ady, my brother, and Sima worriedly looking at me. My mother and father were also present.
"Okay," I hoarsely replied.
"That's good. Let's choose names for these two," Henry said as he approached the bed where the children were sleeping.
"Let's call the boy Harry Klain Charpil. Shiba, you name the girl," Henry suggested.
I suddenly thought about Tanti. Why was she still not here? She had promised to be present; she most likely would be excited to name the child.
"Let's wait for Tanti to name her; she is their godmother, after all," I softly said.
Suddenly, there was silence all over the place. I inquiringly looked at their faces.
"Shiba, Tanti," Sima weakly said.
"What? You don't want her to be the godmother? I promise you will be the godmother of the next child," I said.
"Your friend passed away two months ago," Henry said.
"What are you talking about?" I angrily glared at him.
"Shiba, I am sorry. I lied. You were pregnant. I thought that information would be a danger to you and the children," Sima said.
"What are you guys on about?" I suddenly screamed. "What do you mean Tanti is gone? I spoke to her on the phone two months prior."
I immediately stood up and removed the cannula from my arm.
"What are you doing? Lay back down," Henry sighed as he tried to make me lie down.
"Let me go," I said in deep anger that I didn't know I could feel.
"Get your hands off me right now," I added.
"It's okay, let her go. I will escort her anywhere she wants to go," my brother said.
Henry smiled at me as he released my shoulders. "Okay, please be sure to return her in time; the children need to be fed after all," he said.
I saw my brother nod before escorting me out.
"I am sorry, Shiba; I also couldn't tell you the truth," Ady said with shame.
"Take me to her grave," I said as we reached the hospital exit.
My brother covered me with his sweater and attempted to call a taxi, but I saw Henry's car park in front of us as the driver opened the car door for us to enter.
"Sir told me to take you in your direction," the driver said.
We sat in the car, and Ady reported the address to the driver. "How did she die?" I suddenly asked.
"She accidentally fell, causing her head to hit the table," Ady said.
"How?" I asked again.
"She tried forcefully to get Zire's phone; that's how," Ady slowly answered.
"So Zire killed her," I quietly said as I looked outside the window. Even when one followed their heart and found love, it didn't matter after all.
"Shiba, Aunt also couldn't accept the results of the autopsy, so she filed a case against Zire. The court still stood by the findings. They said Zire didn't have any intention to kill her; the cameras were also presented. It was just unfortunate," Ady sighed as he said.
I slowly chuckled. Courts? What a bunch of bullshit; all those worked for the rich! Just like Mat, Henry's friend, once said, why waste your time when the outcome has already been decided?
"How is aunty now?" I asked.
"She is still down," Ady said.
We suddenly reached our destination. Tanti was buried in their family graveyard. In our community, each family had their own graveyards.
Ady slowly and gently held my hand as I climbed in that direction. I hadn't healed, but surprisingly, I seemed not to feel the pain.
"Let me talk to Tanti alone," I said to my brother.
"Okay, I will be waiting," my brother said as he headed back towards the car.
I silently watched Tanti's picture on the tombstone. "Why did you lie? I, however, can't blame you; I also lied to you, Tanti. I am miserable with Henry; I hate my marriage, but I can't leave. I would have told you, but you hurried to leave. Remember those women people despised for not getting married? I now envy them so much."I chuckled as I sat down beside Tanti's grave, slightly resting my head on the tombstone,a tear slid down my face,falling on Tanti's grave.
I suddenly remembered the way Tanti smiled at me the last day we met in person. Her smile was brighter than the stars, but what could have been behind it?
'Tanti, why did you leave me? I have given birth to twins. I took care of your godchildren; they are now here, but you aren't. Tanti, Tanti...' I helplessly cried as I called.
"Shiba? Child, why are you here? You just gave birth; it's not good for your health," I heard a woman say. When I turned around, I saw that it was Aunt, Tanti's mother.
"Aunt, I was talking to Tanti. She promised to be the godmother of my child; she..." I explained.
"Alright, I am sorry on her behalf. I will become their godmother if it can earn your forgiveness," Aunt said with a sigh as she placed flowers on Tanti's grave."
"Why?" I choked as I listlessly asked.
"Go back and take care of the children. I told them not to tell you about Tanti's passing because you were pregnant. I am the one to blame. Tanti told you to take care of those children, right?" Aunty asked, and I nodded in agreement.
"When you are poor, you have to always be humble. You rarely get visitors, and people shun you. Some people thought that I wanted money from Tanti's husband because I couldn't believe their conclusions," Aunty said.
I was suddenly infiltrated. How come I hadn't known that Muni had such people? The more the people showed their faces, the more I hated this city.
"I don't blame them, and neither should you. I only blame myself for not being capable enough. After trying all I could, I finally dedicated my life to looking after Tanti's grave; after all, I will soon follow her," Aunty said as she sadly smiled.
"Aunty! You are still strong. As long as we are still alive, we shall uncover the truth one day," I said in between tears as I hugged her.
"Alright, go ahead. The children can't be left without their mother for so long," Aunty said as she patted my back. Ady then led me away on Aunty's orders.
The car dropped Ady off at the hospital, where my family was waiting, and then directly went home.
"Mr. Henry and the rest went home; he told me to drive you there," the driver explained. I simply nodded in understanding.
When we reached home, I directly headed to the bedroom. I wanted to change, see the children, and reminisce about Tanti. Unfortunately, luck wasn't on my side, as Henry was in the room.
"Finally back?" Henry rhetorically asked as he placed the child in his hands back in the children's crib.
"Your friend's accident was really a tragedy. Zire has been sad for the past months; I haven't seen him like that before," Henry said.
"He is a murderer who should be in jail," I assertively said.
"Oh? How is that going to happen?" Henry chuckled as he asked in a confused manner.
"When you commit many misdeeds, you are bound to leave traces one way or another. Eventually, the truth shall come to light," I slowly said as I entered the bathroom.