Chapter 107 - Give Me A Favor

Jane immediately held Ajie close to her to comfort him. She then gently held his hand and guided him back to the couch. She did not say a word, a hug was enough to let him know that she was ready to support him in any decision he would come up with.She neither encouraged him to hand in the child nor did she oppose in the possibility of him reconciling with Allie.

Ajie decided to go home, he lost the energy to do his paper works. He was too lost in his thoughts that he did not object when Jane offered to sit behind the wheels. The trip was wrapped up in complete silence as he was closing his eyes until he felt that Jane pulled to a stop. To his surprise, they weren't in their home in Beautiful Haven. And when he looked at his watch, he realized that their travel was longer than the usual amount of time spent in going home.

"Where are we?" Ajie asked as he gave her a quick sideway glance before he looked around the place.

They were in front of  a secluded, elegant house which stood amidst the tall and gigantic trees surrounding the whole place. The lawn was very wide, covered generously by lush Bermuda grass. There were beautifully - crafted landscapes, all adorned with beautiful, ornamental plants. On top of it, the serenity of the environment enhanced the beauty of the nature around them. It could give any one an impression that the place was never marred by any form of hostility nor human violence.

"Just follow me." She gave him a weak and tender smile as she held on to his arm, leading him afterwards into the living room.

A woman in her fifties was watching them bluntly while sitting on a lounging chair. Jane released her grip on his arm as soon as she saw her. She then walked directly to  the woman and bent down to hug and kissed her on the cheek.

"Mom,  I'm here with Adrian, my fiance. The one I told you before, remember? I would like you to meet him." She then knelt down before her before she continued  excitedly.

"Mom, I'm going to be wed soon with the man I love. Isn't that exciting? But I need your blessings first. " She spoke in a hushed tone but Ajie could hear her well.

"Adrian?" She finally spoke out, gathering her brows together to give him a long stare.

"Yes, mom. He is kuya's namesake."

The woman continued her burning gaze at Ajie and all of a sudden,  he became uncomfortable. He never thought that Jane's mom was still alive. It was something their mouths were sealed off eversince the day he knew them.

"Adrian, let me take a look at you. I want to see if you're really worthy for my daughter." She called out, her gaze never left him.

Ajie walked slowly towards her, mystified by her current status and the real story behind her retreat from the world.  Throughout the long years she wasn't mentioned anymore, the people had already forgotten about her like she didn't exist anymore. He heard hearsays about her though,  such as she and Mr. Lopez were separated. Some even said she had gone overseas to try her luck in foreign countries. But until this moment, even if he was now close to becoming her husband,  Jane still kept her mouth shut. It came to him now as a more difficult riddle to unravel.

A private nurse hurriedly pulled out a chair and placed it across Jane's mom. She then shyly gestured for him to sit down on it.

"You're Adrian, aren't you? My son is also named Adrian but I lost him many years ago. " She said as soon as he was seated and her expression then changed. In the next second,  she was almost on the verge of tears.

"Yes." Ajie managed only a single word since her sad expression surprisingly affected him in a way that he also felt like crying.

"Who are your parents and where are they now?" She asked as she reached out a hand to brush his hair.

"They are in the faraway province, madamme."

She continued to brush his hair and then ran down her fingers to trace his forehead and  down to his temples. Ajie also held his gaze towards her,  as that tender expression in her face softened up a spot in his heart. He may not be sure as to what could than mean,  but he's sure he felt warmth and acceptance.

Ajie then noticed that her eyes lit up when her fingers stopped above his temples. He wondered what was in the mind of this woman. The fact that a nurse was  standing  behind her was an indication that she was not physically well.  That blunt affect she gave the moment she saw them by the door,  also gave him a hint that she was also mentally or emotionally unwell. He remembered that he had a mole in each of the center of his temples and perhaps, she found it amazing. She was like a child, fully entertained by her granted wish in taking a close look at him, his physical flaws not exempted.

She then turned to Jane. "Jane, can you give us time to talk alone?"

Jane nodded and made her exit gracefully towards the kitchen. She didn't mind at all.  She was obviously overjoyed to see that her mother held no resistance against Ajie. It could only mean that their wedding would be a happy one.

"Adrian, can you give me favor? " She said as soon as she saw that they got the  privacy,  her eyes glowed in excitement.

"Sure, madamme, if that's possible, why not?" He answered, not wanting to thwart out her excitement.

"Do you have some pictures when you were yet a little boy? Like when you were yet three years old? Bring them to me, please. "

"I'll ask my parents about that,  madamme. I am sure they are good in keeping memories. "