CHAPTER 40

AMETHYST'S POV

I was his and I'm sure it was really him.

I know my eyes didn't just fooled me. I am really pretty sure.


I did not expect that he have a plan to start a family?

Well, I guess people do change.

Even me.

"Hey, bal. Are you okay?" Bella said to me. She even pinched my shoulder.

If she hadn't spoken, maybe my mind Is still travelling right now and there is also a chance that I might fall asleep.

Because I can't get out of my mind what I saw four days ago.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm just fine. Why?" I even shook my head to wake up.

"Even when it was baby Terenz's birthday, you seem like you're not in yourself. You're like floating. Physically present but mentally absent. What are you thinking?" she asked curiously while she's putting some of her clothes in her travel bag.

We are getting ready because tomorrow we will be leaving and we will hike at the Mt. Apo.

Bella and Trev are here at our house so we can leave early tomorrow morning.

Adam is in his unit, he said he will just come here early.

Bella is really the only one with me in my room right now because Trev isn't there.

He left because he said he was going to buy our snacks for later.

"Nothing. This is nothing. Maybe I'm just tired," I just answered Bella and even massaged my temple.

"Just imagine what we all did on our vacation? It seems like we're even more got tired now that we're on vacation," I added while laughing.
She just nodded slowly.

"Well, you have a point. What? Is this will be the last thing we're going to do outside Manila? Let's not go to Vigan anymore?" she just asked me.

"Let's see if they will agree," I replied before zipping up my bag.

"But you're willing?" she still asked me.

I slowly nodded before answering, "Yes."

I think we should slow down a bit on spending. We'll just get back next time.

"Alright, I'll take care of Trev,"

"Hey, you crazy lady. If they still want to go in Vigan, then we will go." I hit her lightly on her arm causing her to startle.

"How about Sir. Adam?" she just asked me as she held her arm.

"I'll ask him too. I'll tell him that we will just do it next time if it's okay with him." She laughed at my answer so I looked at her I just also laughed.

"Where's Trev?" I just asked here after a few moments.

"There might be a lot of buyers. I'll text him, wait. I'm also already hungry." Bella even took her phone and then type in it.

I just looked at baby Terenz who was sleeping soundly in my bed.

If only my daughter were here. Then maybe they are a playmate just in case.

-------

I sat in the passenger seat and Adam was with mom and Crystal behind me.

We changed the van we rented. We rented a much more bigger van.

And in the back seats are my family and Bella's parents. Bella and I's parents are close, so that is why they were busy chatting with each other at the back.

We used three vehicles. Trev and Bella have some cousins ​​with them.

I didn't bring any cousins ​​because we don't have relatives among our neighbors.

We will do trekking because we will reach the peak of the Mt. Apo.

Ever since I was a child, it was my dream to actually climb to the top of a mountain. Any mountain will do as long as its peak is climbable.That's why I'm so excited right now! One of my bucket list will finally happen!

When everyone who was supposed to ride in the van got in, uncle Arnaldo started the engine.

I didn't wear my seat belt anymore and just adjusted my seat.

"Mt. Apo, here we come!" I exclaimed excitedly when Tito Arnaldo started the van because the car we were going to follow had also started.

------

Even though we are still at the foot of the mountain, we are already tired from the long journey flight.

Even when we will just come here. Well, I guess it's true that everything that you will do much is not always good for you.

Also, in our way here.
Because what we were passed through is beautiful.

We rested for about three hours including the orientation and preparation for climbing.

It was worth our nearly two days of climbing just to get to the top of it.

It was exquisite and unforgettable! Superb!

My eyes see are seeing so much things!

Other mountains, rivers, forests and so much more!

I can almost reach the clouds because they seem to be low here.

My first time experience staying overnight in a mountain was okay.

We also had a bonfire when the night came.

I remembered that while we were going up here, we spotted a Philippine eagle flying in the air.

On the way down, we only spent about a day to be back on the camp site.

After returning to Manila, we rested for a day.

The next day, Bella and I talked to Trev and Adam and they agreed that we should not go to Vigan.

Even if I still want to go, it seems like my body is giving up, so we will just come there next time.

Vigan is one of the seven wonders of the world so I will definitely go there. Just soon.

Yet, we are also lacking in days so we can't go anymore.
In just four days we will return to France.
We still have to prepare our things and some papers, too.

------

Our faces were filled with amazement as we roamed around at the National Museum of The Philippines here in Manila.

Trev and Bella's cousins ​​are no longer with us.

Our families are the only ones with us here now.

All our things and papers are also now settled, in fact we are leaving tomorrow to go back to France.

After a long time here at the museum, we just parted ways for we don't know how that happened, maybe because we have differences when it comes to taste in art and history?

But, after a moment, Adam was already next to me.

"Amethyst?" he called my name.

"Hmm?" I asked here while not looking at him from my side because my eyes were busy with the things here in the museum.

"I have something to ask you," he said in a serious voice so I turned to him.

"Sure, what is it?" I asked with a smile here.

"Just promise me you won't get mad," he said in a shy voice.
I just giggled because of this.

"Yes I won't. Now, tell me." I put my hands behind my back.

"C-can I court you?"
My mouth just fell open at his question.


--------

"Always be careful, huh?" mom said as she hugged me.

"Yes, mom. You guys here too," I said to her.

After we broke the hug, she wiped away her tears.

"Mom, it will be only three years and then I'll be totally back here. We'll be able to make our plans." Mom took my hands and just nodded.
Then she faced Adam.

"Can you look after my daughter?" she asked here, so I moved my mother and I's hands that holding each other.

"Mama!" I jokingly scolded her but she just didn't react.

This Adam just also even smiled big.

"Of course, auntie. I will!"
And just like that, mama giggled as if she was a teenager.

I just shook my head because of this.

Mom looked at me again and then smiled. I also responded with a smile.

"Always be careful there, sis!" Crystal said as she was next to mom.
I then looked at her.


"You here, too!" She hugged me and I hugged her, too.

When we let go of the hug, I am laughing a little while wiping the tears that formed in my eyes.

"Come on, let's be shy a bit here!" I laughingly said at them.
"There is someone, oh!" I even pointed at Adam who was smiling while shaking his head.

I just grabbed my suitcase and then faced mom again.

"Bye!" mama and Crystal said at the same time.

"Ba-bye!" I said to them and Adam and I started walking.

"Bye, Adam! Please, take care of my daughter!" mama said.

"Brother Adam, I trust you!" Crystal followed up immediately.

"I will! Thank you and bye!" Adam said this and we finally entered the departure.

It will only be three years.
Then I will continue my search for my daughter.

-------

"I'm just going to the rest room," Trev said.

"Okay, okay," Bella said while I just nodded here.

Trev smiled and nodded once before he stand up from his seat and leaved us first.

I looked back at the newlyweds in front of us.

They were sitting on the small stage while listening to the messages of their important guests.

"I thought he was serious," Bella said suddenly, so I looked at her.

"Who?" I just furrowed my forehead at her question.

"Him." She just pointed the groom using her pout.

"I don't understand you," I just said while laughing here.

"Two years ago, you silly crazy. You know? when we went on a vacation." My forehead only furrowed more when she said this.

She just rolled her eyes when she saw that my expression did not changed after a few moments.

"At the museum," she just said like nothing and my eyes just widened.

"You heard that?" I asked as I'm laughing a little.

"Yes, I was behind you that time. I should approach you because I'm going to invite you to look at the painting I saw. But then, I heard he was saying something to you so I just listened first,"

"You're annoying!" I even hit her on her shoulder jokingly while laughing.

"I thought he was really going to court you." She took a sip of her drink first.

"But?" I stifled my laughter at my question.

"Not until I heard you both laugh and then you hit him." Bella's muzzle got even longer causing me to laugh.

It was just a weak laugh because if I laugh out loud, I'll just be ashamed.

We were at the reception and there were a lot of people.

Yes, Adam or mr. Leroy is now married.
It's his wedding day and we're invited of course.

He married his girlfriend of one year and a half month.

This is the one he was courting with before and he was asking for my help. It's Ms. Angelica.

Well, I'm so happy for them.

Then, what about me? When will I be happy in my love life?

Why is that? I can't force my heart to love again?

When I came back here two years ago, I met some people and try to flirt with me, but they were really not my type.

I do not know.

Maybe I think more about my daughter?
I want to find her because I know she is still alive. I feel that.


-------

I sat down properly on top of my bed while I was opening my laptop.

Bella was not here because she slept last night at Trev's apartment and until now she is still not here, because it was also our day off today that is why she can do that, too.

After opening my laptop, I immediately called Crystal.

"Hello, mom! Crystal!" I happily greeted them after they answered the call.

"Hello, sister!"

"Hello, honey!" they almost said at the same time.

"How are you, guys, there?" I asked them.

"We are just okay. How about you?" mom answered and asked.

"Here, I'm excited because it's only four months and I'll be able to go home!" I giggled at them.

"That will be just fast, sister!" Crystal was even clapped her hands while mom was with big smiles.

We talked, greeted more and planned things to do, but during our conversation I could hear mom coughing often.

Unpleasant coughing.

I know that's the actual sound because my laptop's speaker is fine.

"Mom, what's going on with you? Are you okay? Do you feel something bad? Is there something wrong?" I asked worriedly but mom just signaled me that it was nothing.

"Maybe it's just too much drinking cold water, hon. You know that I prefer warm water but because of the heat of the weather now, I'm drinking cold," mama explained for a long time before coughing again.

"Are you sure, huh? The tone of your coughing sounds like you need to get check up." Mom just laughed at what I said.

"You're worrying too much, honey. My throat just hurts, promise," said mom while laughing.


------

It will be just three months and I will be going home to the Philippines.

I can finally continue my search for my daughter and we can start again as a family.

Our grocery store is now done. I have opened it but the items we sell are not yet totally complete but at least mom has started operating it.

I happily arranged to sit on top of my bed with my laptop in hand.

It's just past five in the afternoon here and eleven at night in the Philippines, but since it's Friday, I know Crystal will stay up.

As soon as I opened my laptop, I saw so many missed calls and messages from Crystal.

I hurriedly called her and she answered immediately.

"Hello, Crystal. What happened?" But she doesn't answer and her camera is also turned off.

"Why do you have so many messages and missed calls? What's wrong?" I asked this nervously.

After a while I could hear her sobbing.

"S-sis," her voice rasped making my heart beat faster.

"W-what?"

"I-it's about mama," her voice broke.

"W-what happened to mom?" My chest was pounding because of nervousness.

"I-it was mama, sis," she said with difficulty because of crying.

"Crystal, what's going on!" I screamed because of so much worry.

After a few moments, she tried to calm herself down.

"We had her check up earlier because she s-suddenly f-fell down. B-but before he fell s-she vomited that looked like blood." My jaw just dropped at what Crystal said.

"O-oh, then? W-what did the doctor said?"

"Sister, it's mama. She has bone marrow cancer, sister. It is said to be stage two." Crystal started crying again while I couldn't believe it and I didn't want to believe it either.
It seemed like this bad news don't want to sink into my brain.

But after a while I couldn't stop my tears from flowing, too.



/W.W/