No one's POV

It's been a week since Aireen and Ervin talked and made an agreement. They've decided to be civil with each other if they happen to meet inside school or outside. Aireen's been busy with the preparation of the school's foundation / family activities. As well as meeting up with the investors together with her boss. He'd always reasoned out that the stakeholders just love agreeing with the school building plans if she's with him because of her sunny and bubbly personality ( which is just an excuse, because she knew he just want some encouragement from her presence). She also had to attend her son's PTC or else she'd never hear the last of his complaints about her not loving him anymore. Sometimes she got to thinking where her son got this idea from. Guess she'd need to talk to Mariane about not allowing him to watch too much Kdrama. 😂😂😂

Ervin is also busy finishing up with the plans for the school and his putting up of new business. He hasn't seen nor heard of the man in Aireen's life. But the curiosity is slowly killing him. He often see her on the phone talking lively, smiling or laughing out loud to whatever the joke that bloke is telling her. She also seems to talk to the guy like as if it's a kid that needs constant reminder or encouragement. What a childish guy.

I wonder what this guy looks like. Ervin thought to himself, following the clothed sway of hips of the person whose been constantly in his mind ever since. He will not give up. He will keep on holding on to that slim chance of hope that somehow Aireen will forgive and accept him again...

***

" Auntie Mariane, who is the man in the picture with my mom? Why is he hugging and kissing her on the cheek?" Jhayvee asked while holding a photograph unknowingly of his father and mother which he found beneath his mom's old clothes inside the cabinet where he hid himself as they play hide and seek.

It's an old photo of Ervin and Aireen riding the ferries wheel at Enchanted Kingdom. The only photo they have together during their dates. Each of them have their own copy. Aireen decided to hide away hers to avoid questions her son.

Mariane flinched a little, turning around and pasting a smile, taking the picture from her godson's chubby hands. " Well, ahm...maybe it's better that you ask your mom about him," as she avoided the curious look of the child before her. Silently sending a prayer for Aireen to come home early. " Why don't we go inside the bedroom and watch 100 days My Prince. You did say you like the leading man and woman right? " she urged the little boy towards the room.

***

During the drive home, Ervin instructed his driver to go directly home. He's just too tired with all the meetings he attended today. Taking out his wallet from his coat, he took out an old faded photograph. He's been carrying this photo for six years, looking at it every single day that it has turned yellow and fading especially during those days that he feels like he's going insane trying to find her. When he finally realised how much he loves her, it was already too late. She's already gone from his life.

***

As Aireen opened the door of their condo, she was bombarded with nonstop questions from her son while Mariane act innocent.
" Please mommy, tell me who he is. Is he your boyfriend? Is he my daddy? You said my daddy is already dead. Is that him??? Please mommy, please." Jhayvee insisted, holding his mom's hand and swaying it left and right. He showed the old photo to his mom and pointed out the man beside her. They are all smiles and shows the love in their eyes.

Instead of answering, she hugged her son and avoided it by sending him off to bed, promising him that they'll go watch a movie tomorrow if he goes to bed early since it's Saturday.

Once her son is settled and asleep in their bedroom she went back to the living room after changing to her favourite sleepwear, an oversized old t- shirt, ( his old t-shirt to be exact, the one he lend to her after their first night together, the night she gave up her virginity to the person she thought would love and protect her...Ervin). She went straight to the kitchen to get something to eat.

" You need to tell him the truth Aireen. It's about time. He's not going to continue letting you evade his questions about his father. And Ervin also have the right to know about his son. No matter what happened in the past. No matter how hurt  you were, you need to face it soon enough and tell them both. " Mariane concluded, trying to reassure her friend seeing how distress she is.

" I'm scared Yang, what if he took my son away from me once he found out. What if Jhayvee hated me when he found out I've kept his father's existence from him. What if...." Aireen agitatedly explained. Her tears running down her face without her knowing. The fear showing in her eyes as well.

" But you'll never know the answers to your what ifs unless you face it head on. Don't worry. I'll be here for you always. Okay?" Mariane insisted vehemently. Hugging her best friend tight.

In bed, as she looked at her son's sleeping form, touching his face gently and placing back his hair up to his head to uncover his closed eyes, she can see how much her son very much looked like his father. From his thick brows, high bridged nose, his dimples. Even his eye color are the same with his dad. To onlookers, once they saw her son and Ervin at the same time, they would easily know that they're father and son. But how will she broach the topic without opening up a few more wounds? Can she keep the hurt and pain hidden away?

***

"Next patient please." the nurse called out. Aireen slowly waddled inside her obstetrician's clinic. She can see all the couple's  pitying look at her. She's the only one alone visiting her doctor. She's already in her 3rd trimester. Any day now she'll be giving birth to her son. She already had a name for him.

After her visit to the doctor she tried calling her mother again.

" Hello? Who's this? " the stern voice from the other end can't be mistaken. Her mother's authoritative voice can be that scary. And fearful.

" Ma, it's me" Aireen nervously fiddled with her phone. " Ahm, I'm about to give birth any day now. I just want to let you and dad know. Maybe...you can come visit me." she asked pleading.

" Hah! You dare call us again, you good for nothing whore of a daughter. Who cares about your  bastard. It's your choice to spread that slutty cunt of yours to any men available. So don't you dare drag us down with you. And don't call your sister again. If I ever hear you're calling her again I'll come right out there and tell your landlord how immoral you are! " The harsh words echoing in Aireen's ears as her mother end the call.

She cried all night that day. Mariane hugging her and calming her down. Her self pity unbearable. She almost want to end her life right there and then.
Her best friend never leaving her.

It's thanks to Mariane that Aireen was able to cope with the suffering. They've known each other since high school up to college. When they both graduated, Mariane went to Manila to find a better job not wanting to teach though she's an Education graduate. Aireen stayed in their province. Lucena City may be a city but it's still under the Quezon Province jurisdiction.

They kept in touch through the years, and it was her who gave Aireen shelter after her mom kicked her out of their house that night. She was devastated to see her best friend soaked with rain and shivering with cold. Good thing she decided to come for a visit that day and was about to call her when she came knocking on their door. Her mother called out her brother to get a bath towel and told her dad to heat up the soup. Mariane's family welcomed Aireen without so much question.

The next day, they left for Manila. Mariane's grandmother told them to stay in her house until Aireen gave birth and made plans on what she will do. During that time none of her family even cared to look for her. Her dad asked Mariane's parents if they knew where she is and even after telling him, he didn't even visited her. Aireen almost tried to reach out to Ervin for help but fear of rejection stopped her from doing so.

****

Aireen cried that night, trying hard not to make a sound so she won't wake her son. Holding the only memory left of the man she loved.

Somewhere around the other side of the city, Ervin sat outside the balcony of his condo playing with a glass of wine in his left hand while holding the only memory he had of the woman he loves so much in his right hand. His tears run down his face unheeded.

"God, I miss her so much. Please help me get her back."

****

Author's note

Hello guys. Sorry for the late update. It turned out longer than I thought. I had a minor setback a few days ago but I'm okay now. Hope you enjoy this chapter and please please 🙏🙏🙏🙏...do vote and leave a comment if I need to make some improvements.

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