Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 21

I don't want him

The next day, we headed back to the city early in the morning. As much as I wanted Arik to stay by my side because I was scared, I couldn't do that because I needed Ariah more now. The fear in my heart wasn't for myself but for Ariah.

Sa isang iglap, tila ba hindi na kami ligtas sa lugar na ito. Sana pala ay hindi na lang kami bumalik dito.

Pero paano si Arik kung hindi kami bumalik?

"Are you okay, Mommy?" Ariah suddenly asked as we walked down the hallway towards my office.

May pasok sana siya ngayon ngunit pina-absent ko muna siya dahil pakiramdam ko ay sobra ko siyang namiss. I didn't want her out of my sight even for a few seconds. Kung pumunta man si Arik ngayon dito at magkita ulit silang dalawa, bahala na.

"How was your work out of town?" She asked again, her attention on her unicorn teddy bear.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya habang ang isa niyang kamay ay nakahawak sa legs ng unicorn niya.

"Are you tired? You should rest first, like me, I won't be going to class for a while."

"I'm fine, dear. Mommy just has something on her mind."

Right after I said that, she suddenly stopped walking, so I stopped too.

"Mommy, is he the reason why you had to leave and hide back then?" Ariah asked in an accusing tone, with a hint of anger.

She was looking at someone in front of us, so I followed her gaze.

Natigilan ako nang makita ko kung sino ang tinatanaw niya roon. It was him talking to Paula, and it was clear that he was searching for me. What is he doing here?

"Is he Mr. Yuchengco? He looks grumpy and strict... and a liar. I don't want him to be my grandpa," she said, hugging my thigh.

"Mommy, I don't want him to be my grandpa. He's dangerous for you, so he's dangerous for me too. Is he here because you want to introduce me to him?"

"No, Ariah, of course not," I quickly responded to her words.

I swiftly pulled her into the conference room to avoid being seen by Armando Yuchengco. I made her sit on my swivel chair and tried to calm her down. Nang makita ko ang nagbabadyang luha sa mga mata niya ay mas lalo kong napatunayan na takot siya sa matandang iyon.

"Ariah dear, he's not here because I want to introduce you to him. Mommy won't do that, okay? If there are people you dislike, I won't force you to like them, hmm?" I reassured her.

She sniffled but stopped crying. Her eyes were still red as she hugged her unicorn.

"Really? You won't introduce me to him? That means you won't go back to him either?"

"No, baby. That won't happen. I promise you. What did Mommy say when making a promise?"

"That... it's okay to break bad people's faces, but not promises..."

I smiled and ruffled her hair. "That's right."

"Mommy, what about Mr. Rioflorida? Don't you like him?"

Hindi ko inaasahan ang tanong niyang yon kaya hindi kaagad ako nakasagot. Lumuhod ako sa harapan niya at pinunasan ang mga luha niya.

"Why did you say that I don't like him?"

"Because you haven't introduced me to him yet. You said before that as long as you hate him, we can't meet..."

It seemed that Ariah was perceptive and had picked up on my feelings towards Arik. I felt a mix of emotions, not wanting to lie to her but also not ready to explain everything just yet. I held her hand gently.

"It's not that I hate him, dear. It's just... complicated. Mommy will explain everything to you when the time is right, okay? But I promise I won't keep you away from someone if he's good and kind to you. I just want to make sure it's the right time for both of us to meet him."

A pang of pain hit my heart when she said that. It's true that I told her that before. I haven't even told her yet that Arik and I are okay now. I think...

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko nang maalala ko na naman ang mga nangyari sa amin ni Arik sa Aomori. Is this the right time to tell him about Ariah?

"Do you want to meet each other?" I asked her.

Her eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "I think he's a nice person, Mommy. I liked him the first time I saw him."

My heart warmed at her words. "He really is a nice person, dear. Don't worry, I'll call him to come over—"

"Celeste—"

Pareho kaming nagkagulatan ni Arik nang bigla na lang siyang sumulpot sa conference room kung nasaan kami. Nakahawak pa ang kamay niya sa door knob habang nakatitig sa akin. Hanggang sa bumaling ang tingin niya kay Ariah na hawak-hawak ko pa rin ang kamay.

He furrowed his brow and finally stepped inside.

"Hey, kid... Did you get lost again?" He asked Ariah and, like me, knelt in front of her.

Ariah giggled and glanced at me. My heart skipped a beat.

"Mommy, he's cute when he's clueless..." Ariah teased her father.

I couldn't help but smile at that. I looked at Arik, waiting to see how he would react.

"Mommy?" Arik muttered, his brows creasing as he looked at me. "Why did she call you mommy..."

He couldn't finish what he was going to say, seemingly realizing something.