The Moon Knows How to Play

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Six months passed, and here I am, staring at Elunar's baby bump. This has become my greatest source of inspiration, the reason I get up every single day. I can't stop smiling whenever I remember the moment she told me she was pregnant again. That day remains etched in my memory—the trembling of her voice, the way her eyes filled with tears, and the relief I felt when I realized life had given us another chance.

It felt like I was the happiest man alive. Since then, I've been overprotective—maybe too much. I nearly take her drinks before she does, sniffing, inspecting, tasting, as though I could shield her from every harm in the world. She laughs at me sometimes, teasing that even if someone poisoned her drink, it wouldn't affect me because, as she says, "You're not the one carrying the baby." Maybe she's right, but I don't care. I'd rather look foolish than take risks.

At last, I have my own coffee plantation inside my family's ranch. I poured my own savings into it, determined to build something that is truly mine. I have my own family now. I can't keep depending on Mama and Papa forever—it would be shameful.

Maybe our wedding felt rushed to some, but I was ready the moment I slipped the ring onto her finger. And now, looking at what we have, I know I made the right choice. My business is still young, but it's thriving. For a start, it's doing well—better than I dared hope—and I will make sure it stays that way.

"How's our baby, Lunar Moon?" I asked as Elunar stirred awake beside me. She smiled, soft and radiant, and let me place my hand gently against the swell of her belly. My heart always surges when I touch that curve—hope, joy, wonder—all new every day, as if I'm feeling it for the first time.

In just three more months, I will finally see our baby girl. I'll hold her in my arms. I'll feel her tiny weight against my chest. I'll watch her grow, teach her, love her with every piece of myself. The thought made me grin like a fool. Couldn't Elunar give birth now? I was that impatient, that excited.

"She's fine," Elunar answered, pulling me back to the present. I stretched, shaking off the dreamy haze, because today would be another long day at the ranch.

"Don't overwork yourself, alright? And let Manang Iris do her job. Don't take her chores away from her. She'll be here this morning to cook your lunch, and then she'll head back home. If anything happens while I'm away, just call me. I'll come as fast as I can. I'm sorry to leave you alone again, baby. If I had it my way, I'd be by your side every moment. But I have responsibilities. It doesn't help that you won't let us hire a housemaid to stay here. That way, someone could look after you when I can't."

"I can manage myself," she said with a mischievous grin.

"Yes, you can. But you're not just managing yourself anymore—you're carrying our baby. That makes everything different." I helped her sit up, then dropped to my knees, pressing my ear against her belly. "Be a good girl to Mommy, okay?" I whispered to the little life inside her.

Then I kissed Elunar on the forehead. "See you tonight."

She pouted playfully. "Actually, I'm craving freshly picked papaya today."

I chuckled. "Alright. I'll check if any are ripe at the ranch." I got dressed quickly.

I left the bedroom, walked to the garage, and slid into the driver's seat of my car. The drive to Villanueva was familiar by now, but today my thoughts kept circling back to the papaya Elunar wanted.

At the ranch, I went straight to the coffee plantation. Workers were already moving among the rows, harvesting beans, sweeping the soil. When they spotted me, they smiled and nodded. I nodded back and picked up one of the handmade holders we use to collect beans.

Aside from the harvesting, I managed the crushing of beans, checked the orders, and supervised everything else. The hours slipped past unnoticed until one of the workers bade me goodbye, reminding me with his departure that the sun was already sinking.

Suddenly, a pang struck me. Did Elunar eat well today? Was she stubborn again, skipping meals because she thought she wasn't hungry? I couldn't help but smile at the thought. Then I remembered—the papaya.

Mama had planted ten papaya trees at the edge of the ranch years ago, when she was restless and wanted something to do. Thankfully, she had. I walked there, picked up a harvesting pole, and carefully twisted a ripe fruit free, catching it before it could hit the ground.

Carrying it, I headed to the old mansion for a plastic bag.

"Son!" Mama's voice rang out from the veranda as she spotted me. "You've gotten darker!"

I smiled and nodded. I was proud of my skin-it showed the sun, the labor, the devotion. Proof of my work.

"How's the old mansion, Ma?" I asked.

She pouted dramatically. "Not the same without you. Why don't you just live here instead? Your coffee plantation is here anyway. It would save you travel time, and we could help keep an eye on Elunar. She's pregnant again, in case you forgot! Think, hijo! Dios mío, how foolish can you be?"

"Did you just call me foolish, Ma?" I stared at her in disbelief.

She raised her brows and nodded without shame. I shook my head with a helpless smile and stepped inside. She followed me. I opened the cabinet where we kept plastics, grabbed one, and slipped the papaya inside.

"Ma, the sun is setting. I don't have time to chat. I need to go home."

She sighed, a little sad. "Fine. I'll tell Hernandes you came here just for a plastic bag."

I almost laughed but instead hugged her tightly and said goodbye. Already, I was itching to see Elunar again, even though it had only been a day apart.

I stepped outside. Mama trailed me to the driveway, watching as I climbed into the car. I placed the papaya carefully on the passenger seat.

I had just started driving out when my phone buzzed. My heart leapt, thinking it was Elunar. I unlocked it quickly.

But the sender was an unregistered number. My smile vanished. I read the message once. My heart slammed against my ribs. I blinked, read it again, and felt a cold fear and a scorching rage rise together in my chest.

Fr: Unregistered Number
Come home, your wife and your baby are in danger. Their lives are in my hands. My patience is thin. I'm giving you twenty minutes to be here. If not, expect your wife to lose a finger or two. Depends on my mood.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles whitened. My breath came sharp, uneven. Adrenaline flooded my veins, but behind it was the shadow of terror.

Maybe it was a prank. Maybe it wasn't.

But in my mind, only one face flashed—the one person capable of this.

And I should have listened to Elunar all along.