DANNIE'S POV
I woke up to the sound of someone knocking on my door. Glancing at my clock, I saw that it was only 6 am and my meeting wasn't until later, so I wanted to go back to sleep.
But the knocking persisted.
I groaned and covered my head with my pillow, hoping they would go away.
The knocking continued.
"URGH!" I muttered as I got up and opened the door, annoyed at being woken up so early.
"I SAID, WAKE UP DANNIE!" the person shouted in my ear.
I jumped at the sudden loud noise and saw that it was my grandmother, grinning at me.
"What are you doing here so early in the morning, Grandma?" I asked, still groggy from sleep as I made my way to the kitchen for some coffee."I want a grandchild, Dannie," she said, a serious look on her face.
I nearly choked on my coffee at her statement. "Grandma, I don't have time for that," I told her, exasperated.
"But what about that girl at Hilton's party last month?" she asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
I regretted telling her about that night. "Enough, Grandma. Just drop it," I said softly, not wanting to upset her.
She fell silent and didn't say anything else as I finished my breakfast and got ready for my meeting.
As I arrived at the meeting, I greeted everyone there but kept to myself, still annoyed at my grandmother's earlier visit. I couldn't believe she had come to my house and pressured me to find a wife just so she could have a grandchild. It was infuriating.As I walked into the meeting room, I noticed a woman carrying folders and papers on the ground when she walked. She looked familiar, but I couldn't recall where is see her.
I continued walking until she stumbled and fell. Without thinking, I rushed to her side and helped her up. As I looked at her face up close, I recognized her immediately.
"It's you," She said, surprised.
Before I could say anything else, she passed out in my arms. I didn't even know her name, but I knew I had to help her.
"Take her to the nearest hospital," I told my assistant as I carefully handed the woman over to him.
"Update me," I commanded before he left to make sure she was okay.
The meeting went on without any further incidents, but my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the woman I had just helped. I couldn't shake the feeling that I knew her from somewhere.
Suddenly, my phone rang, interrupting my thoughts.
"Excuse me, if you don't mind?" I said to everyone in the meeting, who nodded in agreement.
I answered the call from my assistant, who informed me that the woman was pregnant.
I was in shock. There was no way she could be pregnant with my child. I had never even thought about being a father.
In my anger, I hung up on my assistant mid-sentence, not caring what anyone thought. I knew I had to go to the hospital and find out what was going on.
As I boarded the way to the hospital, I couldn't help but feel conflicted. Was I happy that I was going to have a child? Or was I annoyed that it was with someone I barely knew and didn't want to have a child with her?
When I arrived at the hospital, I practically ran to the woman's room, my heart pounding in my chest. I was nervous about what I would find.
As I paced back and forth in front of her room door, I saw a nurse come out, followed by my grandmother.
I was surprised to see her there, but then again
Unlike this morning, he smiled widely at me. Why was he here? How did he know? No wonder she's the de facto head of our family businesses.“Dannie, I'm glad you're here,” he said as he approached me and embraced me.
I had been worried about her when I saw her looking out the window, lost in thought.
Grandma had separated from me.
“Anastasia, sweetheart. Dannie has arrived, and he is the father of your child,” she told her.
Your name is still Anastasia.Grandma caught her attention, so she looked at us. Her eyes had no discernible emotion. I couldn't read what she had in mind.
“Grandma, I don't believe this is the appropriate moment for this,” I told her.
I could see in his eyes that he had never had to talk about this before.
“Don't tell me what I should or should not say Dannie,” he snapped.
I just sighed. I looked at Anastasia again, but she continued to look out the window.
I shrugged and sat on the side of her bed my feet were getting tired from standing at the meeting I had just come from.
"I understand that we're both surprised by what's happened, but it doesn't bother me. I've made up my mind. Dannie, let's keep the child and marry Anastasia," she smiled, but she said it in the wrong way.
Ate let my straight hair down. She was busy fixing my eyelids and lightly applying blush on my cheeks."I'll put those earrings on, alright? It'll enhance your beauty," she said.I nodded slowly and didn't complain. I wasn't used to wearing jewelry on my body. I feel uncomfortable with those things. I don't know why.She smiled and then applied pink lipstick to my lips. I parted my mouth and closed my eyes."Finished. Stand up, lady. Let me see the result," she happily said.I grinned and gave her a confident aura. She winked and clapped."You look really beautiful," she exclaimed.I looked at the mirror to see myself. I wore a red sleeveless dress that suited my fair complexion. With a smile, I gently touched my face and couldn't believe what I saw. Only a few things were done by Ate, but why? It seemed like I became more beautiful."Yes, I am beautiful!" I exclaimed and winked.She handed me her black clutch bag."It matches your outfit," she said with a hint of joy.I accepted it.
I slowly got uncomfortable with his presence. "What brought you here?" I sheepishly asked. After he called me, I immediately said goodbye to Benjie and Lavly. Though they seemed puzzled, they allowed me to leave. Actually, Benjie even drove me back to Manila. I'm really thankful to them for trusting me, at least to some extent.He just shrugged off my question. I carefully placed my bag down and approached him. "Where's Pa?" I wryly asked. A tray with snacks was already set on the small, fragile table between us."I'm glad you're here! I just need your company tonight," he muttered. I rested my elbow on the armrest of the sofa and messily ran my fingers through my hair."You need me tonight? And then what am I supposed to do there?" I skeptically asked him. He was wearing tokong-shorts and a fitted white polo shirt, resembling a model from famous magazines."Be my date," he casually replied."Why me? I have a lot to do right now. You're insane," I said through gritted teeth.With his
"You're late." I almost swallowed all my saliva when he started speaking.He pretended to sit on the mahogany chair and it was obvious that he had just arrived. He was wearing a black long-sleeve shirt with a necktie and black slacks. His physique was even more pronounced. He looked at me seriously from head to toe.I raised an eyebrow."Have a seat! Why are you late?" he coughed.I avoided looking at him and quietly sat on an empty chair.I glanced at him again and rolled my eyes. He silently read the menu placed on the table."What do you want?" He glanced at me. I stared intensely back at him. A smirk played on his lips."You disappeared for days! Just when I was about to take a break, you show up." I added irritably.He slightly loosened his necktie."I just wanted you to know that I haven't forgotten about you." His response was cold.I sighed."Can we stop? It's not really my fault, right? You're the one who claimed that I did something wrong to you, right?" I answered sharply.
The next morning when I opened my eyes, I immediately felt a headache. I sat on the edge of the bed and massaged my temples.I didn't know what time I fell asleep last night. When I woke up, I already felt the headache.I redirected my attention to something else to ease the pain a bit.Earlier, after we ate, Manang gave me a paracetamol. I took it and immediately drank it.Afterwards, I took a walk by the beach to at least sweat a little and alleviate the burden I was feeling.I found out from Shara that Xahel left early for Manila. She said he had a lot of paperwork to take care of and projects scheduled for this month until the fourth month.I couldn't understand why he left so suddenly. He only stayed for a day. Maybe he lost interest after seeing his ex!I also contemplated teaching him painting every weekend! I'm not really sure about it?But how can I back out now when I promised him that thing? He might get even angrier at me and make things more difficult for me."Zhanea, how
"What's your drama there? Why do you need filters and effects?" I said. The corner of my lips slightly lifted.His mind seemed like a video, so chaotic! The other day, he said he liked a girl who didn't like him back!We're walking along the shore now. He looks frustrated. His hair is messy, and his face is slightly scowling."She's pestering me!" he muttered.It's already eight in the evening, and the moonlight is our only source of illumination on the path we're taking."Huh? She's actually beautiful. As a sign of courtesy, couldn't you just talk to her?" I almost got nervous with what I said. I even emphasized it. It's like damn.He raised an eyebrow and gave me a stern look."What?" he asked, pretending to be innocent."Do you want me to repeat it?" I said.He sarcastically glanced at me."Shut up your mouth," he muttered.I raised an eyebrow and shrugged. When I got into his car, I glanced briefly at the girl. I saw her wiping her cheek.At that moment, I felt like slapping Xahel
I took a deep breath and raised my hand. It's getting a bit numb from the four hours of painting.I'm lying down on the hammock now, feeling the breeze brushing against my skin. Eventually, I lowered my hand from its raised position.I just wanted to enjoy my vacation and paint, but why did that guy have to come here? Hasn't he forgotten what I did to him? Huh? That was last week, for crying out loud. He has quite the memory.I closed my eyes, trying to let go of my worries caused by the cold wind. Well, also the view.I'm just really thinking about what Xahel said! Yeah, what's wrong with us having a meal together? But when we meet, all of that turns into a fight.It's also my problem, being clumsy like this. I don't want to add more problems with him, especially if it's about the woman he's with.It's hard to be jealous! I'm not used to having enemies. I may be talkative, but I don't know how to catfight. That would be embarrassing for me.Especially since I'll be a teacher. What wi