After the long discussion I had with Barack yesterday, he finally convinced me to talk with Celestine as he wants us to reconcile and invite them to our planned wedding. I did a self debate and weighed the situation but Elaine and Barack's idea prevailed. I missed Celestine so much. I miss them, I miss my family. Perhaps and hopefully, it's the right time to catch up with them.
I flipped my hair before plopping myself on the soft chair then placed my sunglasses down on the table. Celestine was late, I wonder why. I've been waiting for a long minutes now, ordered food, went to the comfort room and all but she still wasn't showing up. We scheduled a meeting today and I know her, she doesn't wanted to be late on her meetings.
Worried, I fished my phone in my satchel bag and dialled her phone number. It tooks a few rings but she didn't answer the call which puzzled me more.
"What a surprise! You came here earlier than I expected." I turned my head on the right to get the full view of the person talking right beside me. She was plastering a smile on her face, holding her baby bump.
I squinted my eyes and scanned the fresh looking Celestine. "Why are you late?" I interrogate with raised eyebrows.
She shrugged her shoulders and carefully placed herself across me. "I adjusted the time because I thought you're going to be late again. You know, the usual Amber Louise Yzabelle Ferrer I knew," she deadpanned and grabbed a slice of pizza on my plate. "Being the one who came early during our meeting is new. You're excited to see me, huh?" she teased then took a big bite on the pizza she stole from me.
"I came early because I thought you're going to be early too. And… maybe Barack molds me to become a time conscious one," I replied.
Her eyebrow scrunched in confusion. "Barack?" I nodded and showed her a short smile. "My fiancé," I replied.
Celestine gaped in shock along with her widened eyes then eventually placed her hand on her mouth. "W-wait, are you being real?" she stammered in disbelief.
I laughed then raised my left hand in the air to show her the diamond engagement ring Barack had given me. She shook her head in amusement. "No, that's impossible. How about Blake? And… Your baby is alive right? You are a family now, Amber!" she insisted.
"It's Barack's, not Blake's now. He accepted my son wholeheartedly and he loves Ethan."
"But you can't change the fact that it was still from Blake. Amber, are you out of your mind?" Her voice was slowly getting higher and the people sitting nearby were watching us.
I heaved a loud sigh before meeting her gaze. "Blake is dead, Celestine. I love my life now. He can't ruin it because in the first place he doesn't even care for me, on us!" she was about to open her mouth but I preceded her. "I don't want to talk about him," I said to drop the topic.
She made a facepalm then gently massaged her temples. "He would still know about it, sooner or later. Amb—" I cut her off.
"He won't, if you won't tell him." I spat. "Please, I want to live peacefully and happily. I saw him yesterday and he seems happy in his life too." The way he smiles, the way he looks, everything about him seems so alive and happy. I think that's good already.
"But…" I shook my head and reached her hand on the table. "Please, I don't want this to become the reason of our fight. Let the universe decide, okay?"
She sighed in surrender and remained silent for a while. Ethan was happy with us already and it would make him confused if he would meet Blake. After seeing my parents and making up with them, I surely would ask Barack to return back to Italy as soon as possible.
"So, what's your plan now?" Celestine broke the silence.
"I want to see our parents. How are they?"
Guilt was eating me. My heart was squeezed inside as I reminisced about the hurtful past. It has been a long time without any communication with them. They live and I live. But, whatever the consequence is, if they can't forgive me this early, I could accept it. I will repeatedly ask for forgiveness until they give it to me. I won't get tired, I will pay the damage that I have cost as I know that time heals all wounds.
I brushed Ethan's hair who was innocently sleeping on his bed. His angelic face seems to be my strength and vitamins that tooks all the weaknesses and fear inside me. After catching up with Celestine earlier, we decided to meet my parents tomorrow. I am nervous of what may happen because they were totally upset with me. However, I still forced Celestine to schedule our family meeting for me to plan the next thing to do. And start the new chapter of my life with them… again.
The little Ethan groaned and rubbed his beautiful blue eyes which he inherited from his dad. He slowly opened one of his fascinating orbs and plastered a smile on his face. "Good morning, Mom," he greeted gently.
I smiled and gave him a quick smack on his cheek. "It's still afternoon, Darling," I chortled. "You slept in the afternoon, very good!" Ethan was the kind of child who rarely sleeps in the afternoon and chose to play basketball, toys or whatever he wanted to do and tended to tire himself out. These little acts that he did makes me happy and proud because at least he was learning to rest himself.
"Dada Barack told me to sleep," he replied. My eyes widened both in surprise and gladness. Barack made him sleep. I really made the right choice of choosing him as he loves and is concerned to my son so much too.
"Really? I'm glad that you obeyed your Dada! And because of that… I have a surprise for you!"
He snuggled up to me excitedly. "Where? What is it?" I smiled and caged him in my arms. He lifted a view at me with a pout pushing me to laugh at his cute figure then patted his head.
"We're going to your grandparents' home tomorrow."
The sun was already shining so bright outside which made my son so excited. He slept very early last night so that he would wake up early also. I am now dressing up my black jeans and white fitted long sleeve shirt which I paired with my gladiator sandals. I nervously smiled in front of the full length mirror then swiftly tied my hair in a messy bun when someone knocked on the door.I raced my foot on the doorway, twisted the steel knob and pulled the door open. Celestine's new figure with her floral dress welcomed me."Good morning, come in." I invited her.She stepped her foot in while scanning our place. "Where's your fiancé?" she asked as soon as I pushed the door close."He was out. Business meeting," I replied while picking up the toys which Ethan scattered on the floor earlier."I thought I'm going to meet him now," she mumbled disappoi
There was a deafening silence that covered the corners of the house. Mom and Dad were still both speechless while watching Ethan on their front. I don't know what exactly they are feeling right now as I can't see any trace of emotion on their faces other than their widened eyes and parted lips."Ma'am the—"The seemingly frozen time suddenly took back on its track when Charie spoke and stopped awkwardly when she realised the situation. I shot Charie a face and she replied a sorry smile. When I looked back, all eyes are already directed to me."Hey?!" I greeted in a hoarse tone, fidgeting my hands in nervousness. My parents who still hadn't recovered under shock were surprised by my presence."Mom, are we lost? Seems like they don't recognise us," Ethan innocently said with a pout.I extended my arm to invite my son who immediately hopped from my mom'
After our heart to heart talks, we ate our lunch together as a family with our little Ethan. Mom and Dad were having fun talking and playing with my bubbly son that they wanted him to stay at home for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, I can't agree with them since I'm not used of having Ethan nowhere to be seen before I close my eyes at night. While my parents attention are all directed to Ethan, Celestine and I had a story telling of what happened between her and Thunder which was so hilarious. To be fair on her side, I told her about how we met Barack, how I worked and eventually become his fiancée.It was a light feeling that finally the burden inside my heart was now set free. I was so delighted that my mission has been unlocked already. But, as much as I wanted to stay for long, I can't. Barack called me earlier and invited for a family dinner date which I can't say no. Besides, I am also so excited to tell him the good news.&
"Oh, c'mon Barack, I'm sorry. Please forgive me now." I leaned my head on his shoulder and lifted a view at him with a pout.It's already almost an hour but still we haven't settled this little argument of keeping him wait and rejected him on our date. After the incident on the park, we headed straight back in the hotel and talked to my son about what he had done that might lead him to danger. However, he defensed that the man who helped him was good and gave him a toy as a remembrance.Barack meet my eyes sternly. "Why haven't you called me at least?" he asked again and again. The only thing I hated about him was that he can't understand and consider my explanations most of the time and got mad when his offer or meetings were declined without prior notice."I waited there with my business partner. You don't know how much time we wasted to him," he continued, nagging.I stood
The familiar manly scent that travels to my nostrils which drugged my entire system. The way he talks. His baritone voice. His endearment to me. His stand. His acts. His everything. Surely, the living ghost of my past. Our world stopped on the corner of this hall. Loud drums and music adopts our silence. It was only him and me along with our racing heartbeats. Until his glittering fascinating blue eyes which used to be my favorite spot, locked to mine."I'm not, Amber. I'm not. I'm alive and breathing here across you. I survived for you. I fought life and death for you. I gambled everything… All for you." His voice cracked and in an instant my tears streamed down to my face.The hate and fear that lurked in me for a long time suddenly vanished away, exchanged by longing and sorrow. I missed him so much. Time and distance separated us but my traitor heart still recognised him. Still wants him and still adoring him.
After escaping on that bloody bar, I immediately head straight to our hotel room and hastily locked the door. Elaine was confused about my look and moves especially when she noticed that Barack was not with me going back there. I explained everything to her which made her gawk. I am starting to get paranoid again.
"So what are you doing here?" My eyebrows scrunch in confusion when Celestine croaked out."Uh— because… It's still my house and my room?" I replied. Thunder on her side chuckled while she rolled her eyes for the nth time."Whatever. I am starting to think and feel that you want to sort things out with Blake.""Wait, what?!" I screeched."Isn't it?" she asked with a playful grin."Hell, no!" I immediately replied, defensively.She fixed her seat then crossed her arms over her swollen abdomen. "Oh, so why are you here?" she repeated the question once again.I groaned in irritation. "Because it's my house!" I said before I shot them a cold stare and continued with exasperation. "Wait, do you want me to leave now? Did I disturb the both of you here in MY room?"
Bucket of extremely cold water splashed on my face causing me to be rooted on my seat while meeting his pair of blue eyes. My heartbeat raced along with my heavy breathing. I'm hyperventilating! I am feeling of fainting very soon."Yzabelle, meet Engineer Hernandez," Barack suddenly croaked out, disturbing my thoughts."Huh? Ah, oh, yes. Hello," I replied, stammering. Then, I looked away to avoid their gazes."Good afternoon, beautiful lady. I'm Blake and you are?"I lifted a view with my scrunched eyebrow. The jerk was grinning at me, extending an arm. We remained on that picture for a while until I realised that Barack and Ezekiel were also standing, looking at me, confused. I stood up and pulled some courage before I accepted his soft warm hand. "Yzabelle, Mr. Santiolle's fiancée. Nice meeting you, Mr," I replied."Your hand is cold and sha