Chapter 167: An effort

•Azalea

I ate some toast while I sat in the kitchen of my apartment.

I should really get something healthier to eat, like food with some quantity, not just toasts and cereals and granola bars.

I ate so much when I was pregnant but I'm glad I lost all the weight fast.

I wonder how Athena is doing?

Ella told me she was fine but maybe I should visit someday. Although Ella keeps telling me I should focus on work, I miss her so much. Why can't I meet my own daughter?

My cute little angel.

I finished eating and looked at the time. It was going to be 4 pm soon and my shift started at 5 so it was about time I left since I prefered walking unless I was running late.

I stood up and walked to the front door, took my bag which was hanging near the door and walked out.

What awaited me outside was something I never would have guessed.

As soon as I closed the door behind me and turned around I jumped.

"A-arius!!?" He was in the corridor, sitting on his knees and hands resting on his thighs. I calmed myself down a bit for a few moments and asked, "Why are you here?"

There was no meaning in asking how he found me, after all, he's a mafian leader.

"I came to apologize."

My eyes opened a bit wider, "Apologize?"

He nodded, "Yes and I have something to say. Can you spare me some time?"

I looked at my watch..

"No," I started walking, "My shift starts soon, so I'm leaving."

"Wait!" He stood up, "I really need to talk." He walked a few steps towards me but I didn't stop.

***

At midnight I walked the streets while being lost in thoughts.

He really came to me huh? Even after saying that he'd have asked me to abort the baby.

To apologize?

I scratched my cheek with my index finger, "Apologize huh…"

He came faster than I thought he would.

On that note.

Where the hell is Nora? She left a few days ago, saying she was going to get a job but I only got a few texts from her asking how I was doing.

Maybe I should call her.

I reached my apartment, the streets were almost empty and it was a quiet summer night, every now and then you'd hear a car honk but I liked the silence.

I ascended the stairs of the apartment complex. My humble abode was on the third floor.

The apartments were built so that each house's entrance faced outward.

I stopped when I reached the end of the stairs and sighed.

The man I refused to listen to was still there, sitting against the railing while trying to use a leaf as flute to make music.

Needless to say he was failing miserably at that.

"Uncle you suck." The kid living in the apartment next to my mine told him while crouching right outside his door.

"Oh Yea? Like you can do any better." Arius replied.

I couldn't help but snicker.

He's as petty as ever.

He looked at me, "You're back? Do you have time now?"

I smiled.

In my mind.

This is exactly what I wanted him to do.

I wanted him to wait for me and make an earnest attempt to apologize.

"I do." I walked towards him, "Did you stay here the entire time?"

"I did." He grinned, "Because I dumped all the work on Lee, Ben and Caesar."

"Hungry?" I asked while I turned to unlock the door.

"No." I looked back at him.

"No?"

"Nah," He picked up a paper bag from his side, "I ordered KFC." I can't believe I thought he wouldn't have eaten. I clenched my fist in order to calm myself "Waiting made me feel hungrier than usual." He said as he stood up, "Oh!" He showed me another paper bag, "I ordered some for you too."

"Oh…"

All my anger vanished in an instant.

I guess food really can solve a lot of stuff.

"Come in." I opened the door for both of us.

***

He waited until I was done eating but GOD! It had been a while since I ate any fast food and I have to say! I missed it!

After I was finished I folded my arms and asked, "So? What do you have to say?"

He was a bit hesitant. I could tell he was having a bit trouble putting his ego aside, after all he was a boss.

He cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry." He said softly, "I know my mistakes. I said I didn't want a child no matter what," He looked into my eyes, "It wasn't because I didn't want a family with you. Deep down the idea had always appealed to me."

Oh…

His golden eyes were wavering, but with honesty, "But I was terrified of things that could happen- that happened to me and my mother and…" He licked his dry lips, "That could have happened to Canaria."

It did not happen to her but it happened to Liliana.

I've always understood his fears, unlike the rest of us, he was older and remembers the details vividly.

"I just-" He paused for a moment, "I just didn't want anything like that to happen to my family but it just seemed impossible… I just kept feeling like something would happen and in the end I thought that to avoid such tragedy again it was best not have a family. The fear that what happened to me might happen to my family kept my desire of actually having one at bay."

My body eased at his words but I didn't say anything.

"I won't deny that maybe if you had told me you were pregnant then, I might have asked you to abort the baby, but then again I might not have. It didn't happen, so I wouldn't know."

…

"What makes you so sure you wouldn't have asked me when you said you surely would have Macy if you had known."

"Because it was you." He stated, "Because you're the woman I fell in love with." His words made my heart skip a beat, "Because if it was you, I might have considered it…" It made me feel guilty, "But it's just a possibility…"

I looked away and rubbed my arm.

"In the end, I want to say I'm sorry I thought that way. Living without you just doesn't seem like living anymore. I just want you back in my life and I don't want to lose you ever again. You, or Athena."

His words made something click in my mind.

I looked at him, "Athena is with you, isn't she?"

He nodded, "She's my daughter after all, she should be living with me."

"I see." I wondered, "Athena was the one who made you come look for me huh?" What if Athena was never there, then what?

"No." He denied it, "Athena was the confirmation that you were somewhere close." I looked at him, "I had been looking for you since the day you left and I searched for you for a whole year." His eyes were firm and strong but on the last line he lost his voice, "Where were you all this time?" His voice was a whisper but in the silence of the night, I could hear his soft words clearly.

He kept looking for me that long huh...

"I left the country." I gave him a sad smile.

His eyes went wide, "What?" He whispered, "But why?!" He spoke louder and stood up in confusion.

"Because I knew you'd find me here and I had no intention of losing the blessing I had just received." I placed both my hands on my stomach, "After all, I had begun to love her as soon as I learned of her existence." I looked him in the eyes, "I'm a mother after all."

He stared at me for a few seconds, then sighed and sat down.

"Will you come back to me?"