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

Chapter 23

Regrets & Longing

"When did you find out about her? Do you have plans to tell me all along?"

Arik's voice was filled with pain and resentment. Pinagmamasdan lang niya si Ariah na tulog na tulog. Ni hindi man lang sumulyap sa akin kahit saglit. Na para bang agad na matutunaw ang kanyang galit sa oras na tingnan niya ako.

I can understand if he's angry. He has every right to be.

"I was 6 weeks pregnant with her when I found out, Arik," I confessed to him.

Naupo ako sa gilid ng kama at inayos ang kumot ni Ariah sa kanya. She was sleeping so soundly, a slight smile on her lips as if she was happy to have met her father even in her dreams.

Masayang-masaya rin ako.

Tiningnan ko si Arik na nanatiling tahimik pa rin. Nahuli kong nakatingin siya sa akin ngunit agad ding nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Why won't you look at me? Galit ka ba?" May pag-iingat na tanong ko sa kanya.

He crossed his arms and continued staring at his daughter. I could see so much sorrow in his eyes, filled with regret and longing. I noticed how much they resembled each other, especially their eyes.

Ariah looks more like me, but she has her father's eyes and personality. Siguro ay nagkaroon na siya ng ideya nang makita niya ito nang pangalawang beses sa conference room.

I let out a frustrated sigh. "I planned to tell you that night, Arik."

That's when I got his attention.

"When?" His sharp eyes softened.

"When I saw you and Isabella outside your restaurant. Kaya ako pumayag na makipagkita sayo dahil plano ko nang sabihin sayo ang lahat. It was also that day when I found out I was pregnant."

Terror and regret clouded Arik's face. Tila ba bigla niyang pinagsisihan ang inaasta niya ngayon sa akin.

He grabbed a chair and sat in front of me. His expression softened, and his eyes looked even more teary.

"I'm sorry, Celeste." He mumbled.

"I was a jerk. I didn't know. I'm so sorry. I know I shouldn't be acting like this because I'm the one at fault. I just can't..." He broke down.

He covered his entire face and let out a few curses. I held his back and gently stroked it.

"I was so surprised to see her. I had no idea she was my daughter when we first met," he said, quickly turning back to me.

His eyes were bloodshot, and tears were welling up again.

"Does she know? Nakilala niya ba ako noong una kaming magkita sa opisina mo?"

Sadly, I nodded. "Yes, Arik. Kilala ka na niya dahil pinakilala kita sa kanya. Ayokong magtanim siya ng galit sayo dahil lang wala ka sa tabi niya nang mahabang panahon. I didn't want her to think that you were the reason we had to leave and stay away before."

"So she knew I was her father when we first met in your office?"

Again, I nodded, and it seemed like that was the final straw for him to completely break down. His shoulders slumped, and if I hadn't held onto his arm, he might have collapsed on the side.

The regret in his eyes became even more evident, and in an instant, he covered his face again and quietly wept.

"Arik..." I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress my emotions and not let them overpower me. "I'm not mad, if that's what you're worried about. Ariah, too, is not mad. Kahit kailan ay hindi siya nagalit sayo. She's too mature for her age. She easily understands everything. Alam kong nasasaktan ka. Alam kong nagsisisi ka dahil matagal kang wala sa tabi niya pero nandito na siya ngayon."