Chapter 123 - Another Chance

"Can't you give ourselves another chance?" asked Ajie after a long while of crying his eyes out.

Every move of his shoulders as he sobbed, nudged the wounded part of Allie's heart which still longed for their reconcilliation. Being hurt herself and feeling his own pain at the same time, made her cry with him. Yet, too many people were involved already and too many people would be affected should she consider accepting him back. There was Jane and her parents while there was Hayri and his dad. The announcement of both of their coming remarriages was already informally announced and the news spread like a wildfire.

"You made this move first and you just can't easily turn back," she reminded him, placing the full blame on himself.

"I'll explain to Jane and his dad," he insisted.

"Be a man of words, Adrian. You have made yourself a name and it doesn't look good on your reputation to be unsettled in your decisions."

"To hell I care!" he retorted while still sniffing on his tears. Just what sense was there to value his reputation when the life within himself had already died?

"Before you allowed yourself to be carried on with your anger, you should have prepared yourself to face the consequence."

Ajie stooped down in great remorse, staring blankly at his fingers. He suddenly got afraid that the more he would argue with her, would only create a wider rift between them. The intense pain which bore down into his heart was gripping harder over his mind that he couldn't seem to think well.

Allie broke free from his embrace and looked into his eyes. "Jie, we both need to move on. We can still be friends, anyway. Nothing can change the fact that we are still the parents of our child."

"Let us set ourselves free. Who knows you could be happier with her than you were with me," continued Allie as Ajie remained silent.

"Thanks for being a good father to Chloe. I wish you can give me the chance to be a mother to our daughter. No matter how good Jane is in handling children with special needs but I believe no one can replace the real mother who carried her in her womb," explained Allie in her most subtle way as tears were streaming down her face.

"There's only one simple solution to that. Stay with me and let us rebuild our home."

Sighing, Allie stood up and fixed herself before grabbing her purse.

"See you in court, then," she said as she sprinted towards the door.

Allie no longer looked back at him though her heart was filled with worries at what he might do to himself. He was already so lost when she found him, how much more in that moment where she confirmed her stand on their situation.

She sent a message to Jane as soon as she settled herself behind the steering wheel. "Please check on Ajie constantly. "

Just as she was pulling out of the garage, a courier in its motorbike stopped in front of the door. She stopped for a while to see if Ajie would open up. To her surprise, she saw the door opened and the man handed over an envelope. Ajie accepted it. She didn't know why but her heartbeats seemed to accelerate in seeing that small parcel.

When Ajie went out of the door and looked around, perhaps to look for her, she quickly drove out of the gate. She proceeded to Atty. Manloza's office to discuss about the things she needed to do in requesting for the custody of the child.

____

Ajie drove towards the only place where he thought someone was there who could fully relate his depression. The emptiness he felt inside was as deep as the tranquility of the road which lead towards that lonely house in the midst of the giant trees. Yet, the cool, refreshing breeze which ruffled the leaves did nothing to ease out the turbulence inside his heart.

The woman who was on her rocking chair straightened up as she saw him from afar in a forlorn figure. She stopped rocking as he came closer and with tender eyes, she looked at him with a questioning gaze.

"Madamme, I'm sorry I come alone. I did not tell Jane I'd be here. I bring with me the photos you asked. I just received it today," said Ajie while forcing a smile into his lips.

"It's alright, son," she said as she looked into his eyes. "But I am more worried of that load inside your heart."

Ajie was taken aback. He stood pinned on where he was standing, narrowing his eyes as he stared at her, wondering how she was able to read through him.

"Come on, tell mom all about it," she said, stretching her arms wide to welcome him.

With that look of sympathy and endearing words from her, he dropped down on his knees and placed his head on her lap. He then felt her hand brushing the back of his head. He didn't understand why but the warmth of her hands moving to rub his back to comfort him made him feel the presence of his mom who used to lift him up every time he was down. With that simple act of being cared and understood, he suddenly released his hold on his welling emotions and cried.

He didn't know how long he was crying his heart out, all he knew was a mother's touch was urging him to let go of that great weight inside him.

"Forgive me, madamme. I love your daughter but only as a very special friend. Yet, I am hoping that someday, I will learn to empty out my heart to fully welcome her, " said Ajie as his sniffling interval decreased.

"I understand, " answered Mrs. Lopez in a soft voice as her fingers traced the red mark at the center of his nape.

Ajie looked up to her in surprise, wondering why she wasn't angered. He knew it was such a harsh confession that any mother would flare up. He even anticipated that such declaration would create in her a sharp dislike on him. Yet, he couldn't care less, the truth must be told before he would suffer greater blame in the future.

Mrs. Lopez met his eyes with her tender gaze and said, "Now, give me those photos you promised."