Chapter 16: I Felt Terrible

Megan's POV

"I told you so. I knew it; Gael is in love with you." Alice said as her eyes got so big when I told her about Gael's confession.

"Yeah, you were right. I can feel it too, Alice, but I tried to ignore all the signs since I couldn't love him back. I don't have the heart to hurt him because I know how much he took good care of us from the very start." I responded.

"Oh, poor Gael, can you at least give him a chance, Megan?" Alice asked, and I could feel the pain in my heart as I shook my head.

"I don't feel anything romantic towards him, Al; all I have for Gael is Philia love. I only love him as a friend." I replied, and she nodded her head.

"Of course, I understand. I felt so worried about you." She said, and I raised my head as I put down my pen on my table.

"And why is that?" I asked, and she weakly smiled at me.

"Nothing, I hope you will open up your heart again. Eight years was long enough, Meg; maybe if you will open up your heart, you can give Gael a chance." She said, and I looked at my best friend for a long time.

"Alice, I care about Gael so much; that is why I don't want to lead him on, and of course, I know it is easy to love him, but I don't want to lose him in the end, Alice. What if it will not work out, and we will only end up hurting each other. He is very important on Axel's life, and I can't afford to hurt Gael." I replied.

"Don't worry, starting next month, I will try to date someone," I added casually, and she smiled as she shook her head and Alice returned to her table.

The days passed quickly, and I couldn't believe it was already Thursday. I am so busy because we got so many orders worldwide, and I never expected my perfume would be number one in the country, and that is why I tried venturing abroad, and I felt glad some countries embraced our products as well, and I could say we are doing well.

"Did you buy Axel's ball?" She asked, and I darted a glance at Alice on her table, and I shook my head, and I hated myself for forgetting the one thing he ever wanted for his birthday.

"Are you going to buy it or not?" She inquired.

"Of course, I will. It is just a ball." I replied.

"Yeah, just a simple ball, but it feels like you are buying a house and lot that it took you a long time to buy it, if you are not going to buy the football ball, I will go to the mall after office. I don't want my godchild to be sad on his birthday." Alice said, and I smiled at her.

"Thank you, Alice, but you don't need to," I replied.

"Did you invite your parents?" She asked, and I nodded my head. I promised myself that on Axel's seventh birthday, I would invite my parents. I send them money every month, but I never talk with them, only to Ava and Dexter. I wanted my siblings to come and live with us, but Dexter had already started his own business. Of course, I help my brother from the earnings of my music to invest in auto parts, and his shop is doing well; and I help Ava finish her college degree, and she is now working on one of the famous companies located at Astikoz City. I don't want Axel to grow up without knowing his grandparents.

"I sent them invitations card with plane tickets, and I felt so glad Ava and Dexter cleared their schedule this Saturday, and they will be here tomorrow night, and I am so excited to see them after a long time. I haven't heard from mom and dad, though." I said as I leaned my back on the backrest of my swivel chair.

"Well, I think your father is still ashamed of what he had done to you. And he felt guilty that instead of embracing everything that happened to you, he threatened you to give your child to the social welfare." Alice said, and I can still remember the pain I felt that day. If I didn't find the courage to leave home, I wouldn't be a successful businesswoman, and I couldn't have Axel in my life, and I couldn't imagine losing my son, and the thought of giving Axel away always send shivers on my body.

I don't know what my life would be like, but I am sure I will be dealing with guilt for the rest of my life. I am not proud that I hurt my parents by getting pregnant at eighteen and running away from them, but I am so proud that I raised my child well as a single mom, and I became what I am today because of Axel. He became my strength, and I endured everything to have him. My pregnancy had complications. After all, I was working even if my tummy was too big to walk because I had twins, and I think I was overworked. That is why I lost my sweet Abigail, but I blame it on my sadness. That is why she had a weak heart.

"Do you think they will come, Al?" I asked, and she shrugged her shoulders.

"Maybe your mom, but not your father." She responded.

"I know you don't hate your dad anymore, Meg, and he was a good father to you before you got pregnant, and if he told you to give up the child after you give birth, I don't think he meant it, maybe it was because of his anger that is why your father uttered those words, and I think if he won't come you should find time to visit him," Alice said.

"Life is too short, Megan, your dad is not getting any younger, he supported you when you've got a boyfriend, I have never seen him get angry with you, well, you are a good daughter, so I guess there is no reason for him to get angry with you," Al added.

"All I remembered about your father is he was a good dad to you, Megan; you always bragged that he took you to your favorite pancake house." She said, and I felt my tears tickled down on my face as I realized how much I missed my father.

"I miss him so much, Al," I said as I cried.

"You can always call them, Meg. If you want them to come to Axel's birthday, you should give them a call and invite them personally. They are your parents after all, and now that you have a child, you understand what love of a parent means." Alice responded, and I almost laughed when I saw her handing me my phone.

"What if they will not answer me?" I asked.

"You can call them again tomorrow." She replied.

"Okay, I will call them, but I think I should do it later at home. I don't want to drive to Megalopre with a heavy heart." I said, and she beamed at me.

"At least you have a plan now. I am proud of you, Meg. And I don't want you to go to the mall alone so that I will come with you." She said, and I was smiling from ear to ear.

We left the office earlier than usual, and Alice will be sleeping in my house starting today since she will help me prepare everything for my son's birthday party. I hired a caterer, but I still wanted Alice to be there for the decorations, and even if she has her place, she mostly sleeps in my house than on her unit.

The ride to the mall was exhausting, and I felt so glad she offered to drive my car. We never expected the traffic would be so heavy, which is why I don't want to go to the mall after office hours.

"I am hungry," I said.

"Me too." She said, and we laughed.

"We will have dinner at Megalopre no matter how hungry we are because Axel will be waiting for us." I declared.

"Of course, I know all about that, Ms. Corteza." She replied.

I felt glad that finally, we arrived at the mall's parking lot. We ran as we got inside the mall, and both of us had no idea where to buy the ball, so I searched on the internet for the nearest store that sells football equipment and gear. We used the elevator to go up to reach the store right away. As I got inside the store and looked at the equipment, I couldn't stop myself from feeling so sick, and I tried to control myself as I held onto the shelves and inhale-exhale as I tried to catch my breath.

"Are you okay, Ma'am?" The attendant asked, and I tried my best to smile at him.

"Yes, I am fine. I only need a football ball and helmet for my son; he will be seven this Saturday." I said as I tried to smile at him.

"You can wait in the cashier if you want, Ma'am." He said, and I smiled at him.

"That would be great," I said, and I walked fast in going to the cashiers' area. Because I tried to get out from the aisle quickly, I didn't notice I bumped into someone since I was looking on the floor the entire time. He helped me, so I wouldn't stumble on the floor by holding my waist with his hands.. When I raised my head, I felt my entire body turn into jelly, and I felt the world stand still as I realized I was looking at Ashton's Pritzgold handsome face, and his compelling eyes were looking at me with the same intensity eight years ago.