His Second Chance

Alone

“Am breaking up with you.”

Kane already took out his ensembles and shoved them in his bag. He didn't want to look at her and Madeline could only stand so close to him. He was so close but she already felt he was drifting apart from her ever since he learnt about her pregnancy. She couldn't help but wonder if Kane was so scared of being a father that he would treat her this way. He had never misbehaved verbally with her before.

“You have no idea what I've being through in these two weeks Kane. And, now you come back after two weeks to end things with me? How can you be this cruel Kane? I...I thought you loved me.” Madeline felt her voice breaking and low at the end. She was starting to doubt that he actually loved her.

“Don't make it look like am responsible for what's lead to this Madeline.” He looked at her. “You had a choice. I won't sit by to take care of a baby. You chose to keep it but I hoped you would see reason. But no. You didn't bother to understand my point.” He zipped his bag. “Now deal with your immature and brash decision.” He strapped his duffle bag by his shoulder before walking out of the bedroom.

“Kane! Don't do this. I need you...ah!” Madeline's foot had hit the couch in the living room but couldn't see it because of the darkness. She literally saw her life going more downhill and Kane choosing to leave her all alone was tearing her apart. “This is also your baby. We made it together. Y-you can't do this with me right now. I...I lost my internship.” She blurted out by the time they were already outside the apartment and in the lobby.

“Are you surprised? Nobody is gonna keep a pregnant young woman in such a prestigious company like PVH Corp. Don't be dumb Madeline. I thought you knew better...”

“And, I thought I knew you better.” She countered him.

Three years and it finally took this moment for Madeline to see Kane in another limelight. It was hard for her to see the man whom she loved and given all of herself to. It was painful to watch him leave her all alone especially now when she was most vulnerable. Beatrice's words knocked on her head right now. She thought she could reason with Kane because he loved her. Now she was only looking at a stranger walking out of her life.

Kane continued to walk ahead towards the elevator and Madeline wanted to stop him. She wanted to grab a hold of his arm and stop him from leaving her all alone. She was all alone with a pregnancy to deal with. Kane was never this cruel until today. He always was so understanding towards her. They both understood each other and were just fine. What changed all of a sudden? Was it just her pregnancy or was there something else?

Madeline couldn't help but recall Beatrice stating the facts of seeing Kane in SoHo. And, in the arms of another woman. Madeline knew Kane was mostly allergic to girls because he only saw them as distractions. She found it hard to believe before but now it didn't seem difficult anymore.

She watched him reach the elevator and was punching on the keypad of the elevator. He looked at her again and it made her feet breathe as she picked up her pace towards him. The elevator doors opened and he stepped one foot inside. Madeline was running towards him. She didn't want him to leave her as well. Everyone had abandoned her. Her mother warned her never to call their home ever again nor return until she got rid of her pregnancy. By the time she reached the elevator, Kane was already inside and the doors slowly sliding shut.

She was met with a closed elevator and she couldn't hold it in any longer. Her eyes were now glassy and slowly leaking out tears. She collapsed close to the elevator still sobbing. She didn't care about the passerbys on that floor who were eyeing her with weird looks and some who saw what had happened could only have pitiful eyes.

Couple of days passed and Madeline wasn't yet over the fact that Kane had broken up with her. The pain was like a fresh wound and it would take time to heal. Madeline got calls from Jane and Karen but she didn't return their calls. She got emails from the dean and Madeline already knew her decision. She couldn't cope with school while carrying a pregnancy. She could have opt for an online bachelor's degree but that costs a fortune. She was just lucky to be offered scholarship into Columbia university and now she had none.

As would every day she went out into the busy streets of New York in hopes of finding a job. Her savings were already in the red zone and she still hadn't found a job that could support her and her baby. She only got worried each day and her health was affecting the baby. Beatrice sent her messages and texts but Madeline didn't reply. She didn't want to accept help from Beatrice and automatically get used to a life she didn't provide for. She even received some money from Beatrice but she returned it. She still believed she would one day get a job soon.

But things got from bad to worse. No matter how much she tried, no jobs smiled back at her. It was even worse when she would say she's pregnant and at some point she stopped telling the owners about her pregnancy but some weren't stupid and were able to fish out her lie. Her rent was close to expiring and she knew she couldn't afford the rent of her apartment again at this point. She didn't have much to pull through anymore and decided to take on the full payment which Beatrice had made to her for her checkups. She couldn't risk her baby's life because of her stubbornness.

She visited Esperza and he was glad to book all of her appointments. She even asked Esperza for a job at his hospital but he refused to let her work under her condition. Madeline was checking her savings and she didn't even have enough to last her a week. She now didn't take the buses but mostly the subways back home after a tiring day of hunting for jobs.

She couldn't recognize herself anymore when she looked in front of the mirror. She had lost her glow long ago and still deep down her heart believed Kane would walk out through that door and hug tightly. One day she was out again and heading towards the subway after her checkup with Esperza. She was already far ahead in her pregnancy. She had quit her studies and now she couldn't hide her baby bump anymore from people. So it was even more tough to get a job. She smiled a little at her dinner which she was holding. The hospital where Esperza worked had organized a small fundraiser towards the less privileged. They offered breakfast and dinner outside the hospital and Madeline had joined the line of waiting people to receive their food. It wasn't appealing but this was what she was faced with for deciding to take on the responsibility of caring for her baby alone. Now she didn't need to worry about food but soon she was to vacate from the apartment.

She was heading back home and was standing by the road to cross over to the other side of the lane when she spotted Kane from a distance. His face was different but it was still him. She could recognize him from a mile away. He was wearing a fancy business suit and a briefcase in his hand. He resembled a businessman with his hair gelled back and with black shades to cover his eyes. She watched him step out from an Uber and was in front of a tall lavish glass walled building named VM.

It had been two months since he left and she didn't know what to feel upon seeing him again. Kane was walking into the building when Madeline saw a woman rushing out of the building. Madeline could tell the woman was around the same age as her. She had long black hair and her body was just like a model. The unknown woman rushed towards Kane and hugged him tightly but Kane seemed robotic. And, the next thing Madeline saw was the woman raising her head to plant a kiss on his lips.