After Her 18th (Ongoing)

Sixth💎

I stood outside the cafe, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might leap out of my chest. Parang ang bigat ng bawat hakbang ko papunta sa pintuan, as if the weight of the past ten years were dragging behind me.

Archibald was already inside, seated by the window, his silhouette familiar yet distant. When he looked up and our eyes met, everything else seemed to fade away. The world, the noise, the people—everything paused, as if we were both caught in the web of memories we had woven together.

"Little island," He said softly, standing as I approached. Hearing that old nickname made my chest tighten with emotions I wasn't ready to face—fear, sadness, relief, and something else I couldn't quite name.

"Arch," I replied, barely keeping my voice steady. I sat down, my fingers trembling slightly as they wrapped around the edge of the table. "We need to talk."

He nodded, his gaze never leaving my face. "I know. And I'm ready."

For a few seconds, we just stared at each other, the silence heavy with all the questions and pain that had haunted me for years. I had rehearsed this moment a thousand times, pero ngayon na nandito na ako, parang hindi ko alam kung paano magsisimula.

Sa wakas, nagkaroon ako ng lakas ng loob na magsalita, "Kyro, the kid you saw with me during Jamie's party." I began, searching his face for any reaction. "He's your son, Arch."

A small, sad smile touched his lips, the silence before his statement didn't help when he said, "I know, Isla. I've always known."

I blinked, struggling to process his words. "What do you mean you've always known? We never saw each other again, Arch. For ten years, I've carried this alone. How could you have known?"

Arch leaned forward, his expression serious. "I didn't come back because I had to make sure you were safe. Kayong dalawa ni Kyro."

"Safe?" My confusion turned to frustration, my voice rising. "Arch, the only reason why I never told you was because I didn't want to be a burden to you. I was young and you had a life to get back to. I was second-guessing myself during that time, thinking that you might hate me for being pregnant, that you might think I did that to keep you on a leash. And now you tell me you've always known, yet you didn't even bother to show face? Baka tama nga ang hinala ko noon? Tama lang na hindi ko sinabi kasi baka ayaw mo lang talaga?" Tears started to form in my eyes.

Lagi kong sinasabi sa sarili ko noon na desisyon ko lang na hindi sabihin sa kaniya. I let myself keep believing that if I did things differently, that if I told him, he would come back. Kasi sa maikling panahon na nagkasama kami, nakilala ko siya kung sino siya bilang isang tao, at alam kong hindi siya ang klaseng tao na iiwan lang ang kaniyang responsibilidad. Kaso ayaw kong maging responsibilidad niya lang, at ang bata ko pa noon, ano bang alam ko sa buhay? I kept the burden of my pregnancy because it was by my own volition and I was naïve.

He winced at my words, a flicker of pain crossing his face. "I never stopped caring, Isla. The moment I knew, I wanted to be with you. Ginusto kong bumalik, kahit na napagkasunduan natin na hindi na tayo magkikita ulit, I would've been there. And I would never think of you that way, little island."

Yumuko siya at mahinang napailimg, "But I had to stay away. My work... I work for Interpol—" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "And it was dangerous. The kind of danger you couldn't even imagine. I didn't want that anywhere near you or our son. I couldn't risk it."

Staring at him, I felt disbelief and anger swirl inside me. "So, you chose to leave us? You thought abandoning us was the solution?"

Archibald's jaw tightened. "It wasn't a choice I made lightly, Isla. But I was hunting dangerous people, criminals who wouldn't think twice about using you or Kyro against me. Kung nalaman nilang may pamilya ako, you would have been targets."