Chapter 120 - The News

The bitter sound of Ajie's cries echoed through the dark and lonely hills, intensifying the melancholy of the moment. Dino, who was silently watching him in his agony and his bitter cries, stood at the side, debating within himself on what was the best way to console him.

Back then, Dino was a witness of how their young love had sprung up until he heard that he left in anger. He got so hooked up with his operations and the next thing he knew was that Allie got pregnant. He was then informed later about their coming marriage, only to hear afterwards that Allie ran away.

It was his deep regret that he did not communicated much with Allie. He allowed her to get drowned helplessly in her fears. He left her alone in finding solutions in saving herself and her family from the revenge of Louise, only to be shocked more with the news later that she would be revealing herself that night. He was haunted with guilt and pity for his bestfriend but got frightened and enraged for a while for what he concluded as astupidity on her part. Thankfully, it ended well for her to his surprise, but to Ajie, it was a pronouncement of doom.

Seeing Ajie getting calmer this time, he placed an arm around him as he sat down on the grass beside him. Ajie gave him a quick glance and a weak smile though he remained silent for a long while.

Finally, Dino decided to break down the silence or else he would fell off asleep while waiting for him to open up. "What's your plan now?"

"Perhaps, go ahead with the engagement with Jane," answered Ajie whose glints in his eyes implied that the decision was a rather foolish one.

"Does that decision makes you happy?"Dino asked, allowing Ajie to consider the consequence of this step.

"Jane has always been a good friend and a confidante. I'm comfortable with her around."

Dino expelled out a long sigh. This man had never learned his lesson, he thought. It was this foolish presumption of his that caused his emotional chaos now.

"Don't make a hasty decision. If possible, try to talk it out with Allie."

Ajie smiled sardonically. "Would she still talk to me?"

"Why not? Your child is still in your care."

With this, Ajie's eyes glowed in relief as if he was able to gather up ideas for what little he held in his hand. Thinking that Dino would also be dragged out in his drama, instead of utilizing his time to a more productive activity or perhaps, his family or personal time, he stood up and gestured for him to do the same.

"Are we going now?" asked Dino who was still doubting whether or not he was already feeling better.

Ajie smiled weakly and hugged him afterwards, thanking him for giving him his shoulder to cry on. There were no events or incidents in the past which could link and build up their friendship but in respect for him as Allie's husband, he reached out to him as a bestfriend.

"Let's go," Ajie finally said after some emotional moments with him.

Heaving out a sigh of relief, Dino smiled and wrapped his arm around his shoulders again as they walked towards their parked car, not too far from where they were. Yet, just as Dino turned on the engine, Ajie's phone rang.

"Adrian, where are you?" Jane's worried voice floated from the other line.

"With Dino." His tone was cold and.obviously uninterested.

Taking the hint from his brief answer, Jane was silent for a while, perhaps, hesitant to push herself. She knew that Ajie didn't want her company at the moment but she longed to give him comfort and sympathy. She and her dad were one of those special guests watching Hayri's declaration of love and forgiveness. And she understood well that it hit Ajie like an arrow of death.

"Still down there?" she meant somewhere near the slope.

Ajie was a bit surprised but then he remembered that his dad was Mr. Dioko's bestfriend. Important events like tonight, should always be graced by their presence.

"About to go home."

"May I go home with you?"

"Stay with your dad and enjoy."

"But I'll be a thorn in her eyes..." Jane was right, Allie's humiliation would indeed be deepened in seeing her there.

The travel towards home ended with the three of them in Dino's car. Ajie was silent all throughout the trip while Jane and Dino beat the awkward silence with different irrelevant topics. However, their conversation swerved later on to topics related to latest ship and yacht designs.

"I've heard that the second most largest ship in the world is on its way home and the designer is a Filipina."

Jane chuckled out softly at the thought that Allie's name hadn't sunk in completely yet in Dino's mind.

"Yes, it's Zheena Kiamko," answered Jane in an amused tone while looking at him through the rear view

mirror.

"The name seems familiar," said Dino while his brows were drawn together.

"Of course, she's your bestfriend Allyza."

Dino slammed on the brake, too startled with the news. "What?"

His eyes narrowed as he stared at him in disbelief, spanking his forehead later for his stupidity in piecing up the events together.

Dino stole a side glance at Ajie who remained silent despite them bringing up Allie's name. He didn't know if it was right to congratulate him or not for having an equally brilliant ex-wife. He didn't need to be reminded that it was one of Ajie's greatest wounds because the pride would obviously go to Hayri.

"Say whatever is in your mind, Dino. Of course, I am happy that Allie lives up to the dream we had shared before."

Dino gave him up a quick stare, wondering if it was really alright for him to talk about it. "You know about it?"

"I know about the designs she planned to give to the company in return but this Omnia Vincit de Amor also came out as a surprise to her during their graduation," explained Ajie to the surprised bestfriend beside him.

"You also know about that?" These sudden flow of awkward news seemed to blow Dino's mind away. He couldn't openly jump for joy in this success his bestfriend had achieved since he was also conscious of what Ajie may be feeling.

"We met three months ago prior to their graduation..." Ajie then told Dino about the investment offered to him, only to be surprised that the owner was Allie herself.

Dino couldn't almost contain the impact of all the information he gathered that night since he needed to be careful in his reactions. He wanted to ask why he pursued on the annulment when he already knew the truth ahead, but Jane was listening.

____

Meanwhile at the party, Allie rushed to hug her parents right after she saw them arrived. She dragged them both to a place where they couldn't be heard. She knew that the outburst of their emotions would then be too hard to restrain.

While in the next moments they were all sobbing loudly while hugging each other, Hayri and his dad came over. Still stiffling on her sobs, Allie looked up to Mr. Dioko and smiled. "Sir, please meet my parents, Mary and Samuel."

Mr. Dioko smiled warmly as well, hugging both of her parents in acknowledgment. All of a sudden, to everyone's surprise, he paused as he seemed to remember something in the past. He stared at Allie's mother for a long while before he spoke up again.

"Mary Ramos?"