HIS MOTHER slapped him the moment he opened the door for her. He has no idea what that was for.
“What—”
“How dare you!” she said through gritted teeth. “I was wrong when I sent Andie here to seek help from you! You took advantage of her, don’t you?”
“I—”
“Don’t try to defend yourself because that wouldn’t change a thing! Alejandro’s already dead and that’s because of you.”
Jonathan froze. Andie’s father was dead. But why was his mother blaming him when all he did was stay at home all day?
“Until when will you make my life miserable?” his mother added.
His fists clenched. Nothing changed through the years. The blame was still on him whether he does anything or not.
“Why do you keep blaming me?” he snapped.
“What? Do you think you’re innocent?” She scoffed. “Did you know why Alejandro died? He was lying on the hospital bed, fighting for his life, and then his daughter came telling him that she loves you and asked for his blessing!”
“It’s not our fault—” His mother slapped him again.
“It’s your fault, Jonathan. Don’t you remember why Alejandro fell ill? It’s because he took care of Andie while she was in coma. And you’re the one who caused the accident that put her in coma.”
Jonathan shut his eyes. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe. It was all coming back to him.
“Andie will never be happy when she’s with you. You will always be a reminder of her father’s death. So, leave her alone. Let Andie have a better life.”
JONATHAN was out of reach for almost two months now. When she went to his apartment, it was closed. Andie tried to look for him at the headquarters, but one of his org mates told her that he went on an out-of-town quest.
But Andie has a hunch that he ghosted her. Because if not, why would he ignore her messages and reject her calls?
She recently learned that her stepmom went to Jonathan and blamed him for her father’s death. It was not right because Jonathan did nothing wrong. No one was at fault for her father’s death. It was just that he could not take her confession at that time that triggered his heart attack. If truth be told, she felt guilty for days and blamed herself for not keeping it a secret. But then, she realized that no one could really control someone’s life and death. And didn’t she ask the grim reaper a favor to make his father’s death easy? Perhaps he really granted her a father.
Andie took a deep breath before she pushed the doorbell to Altea’s house.
She decided to see her and ask about Jonathan and Oreo’s whereabouts. Altea must have known it since he was the latter’s wife now. And Andie hoped that she would help her again this time.
Minutes passed before Altea open the gate for her.
“Yes?” she asked upon seeing her.
It looked like she was not able to recognize her. Well, it was normal because Altea never saw her back then.
“Hi. I’m Andie—”
“Oh, my God!” Altea hugged her. “Finally, we meet.”
“A-ah, yeah. It’s nice meeting you.” She hugged her back.
Altea ushered her inside the house.
“So, what brought you here, Andie?” She beckoned her to sit down. “Wait for a second.”
Altea went out of the living room, and when she returned, she was holding a bottled tea that she handed to her.
“Thanks. Anyway, I came here because I’m hoping that I can talk to Oreo. I haven’t seen Jonathan for more than a month now…”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Altea cupped her hand and gently squeezed it.
“I know you know where I can find him. His org mates said that they were out of town for a quest. But I don’t buy it. It has been almost two months. And he’s not answering my calls, same as Oreo. I have a hunch that he’s hiding from me.”
Andie palmed her tummy. She saw how Altea’s eyes grew wider. Well, it was not just for show. She was indeed pregnant with his child.
“It’s true that Oreo and Jonathan went on an out-of-town quest. But they went back after three days. And from what I heard Jonathan went to the province. I think he’s staying with his grandmother.”
She hugged Altea.
“Thank you so much… I don’t know how to pay you back for this one—”
“Don’t mind it, Andie. Just seeing you happy is enough.” Altea patted her back.
“WHAT’S the matter, Jonathan? Why are you still here? Don’t you have anything to do in the city?”
He turned his gaze to his grandmother, who was sweeping the floor in the living room.
“When I moved to the city to study, you’re begging me to come home. Now that I’m home, you’re pushing me away.” He scanned the TV channel again.
“I’m not pushing you away.” She hit his leg with the broom’s handle. “I’m asking you what’s your problem. I know you. You wouldn’t stay here for this long if nothing’s bothering you.”
Jonathan laid on his back.
“Nothing’s bothering me.”
Of course, it was a lie he had to tell just to keep the conversation short.
“It seems that it’s going to rain. Go and get those bedsheets that I hanged outside.”
Jonathan groaned as he rose from the sofa and lazily marched to the door. He was at the doorstep when he noticed someone leaning on his car parked outside. It was a woman wearing a wide brim hat and a dark-rimmed-glasses that covers almost half of her face. She walked towards her and smiled upon reaching him. His eyes widened when the woman removed her sunglasses and hat.
“A-Andie!”
“Hi, Jonathan. It’s been a while.”
“H-how did you…”
“Ah… my memory must have failed me again. I didn’t realize you could be here… hiding from me.” Andie flipped her hair. “Why are you doing this, Jonathan? Is it thrilling to ignore my calls and messages? Do you find it funny to ghost someone?”
“Listen, I—”
She pushed him. “Well, damn you!”
“Andie—”
“You made me feel sad! I was so scared I might not see you again! You’ve hurt my feelings. After all that we’ve been through, you chose to leave me when I needed you the most!”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be with you anymore.” His fists clenched. He had to do that for her own sake. “You need to get a life, Andie… a life without me—”
“Because your mother told you that’s what the best for both of us?”
“How did you know?”
“She confronted me after dad’s funeral. Your mother was blaming you for everything. She said if not for you the accident wouldn’t happen, I wouldn’t fall into coma, and dad wouldn’t fall ill.” Andie heaved a sigh. “Mom’s wrong, Jonathan. If it’s not you, then it could be someone else, right? Because putting things into place is the law of the universe. What is meant to happen will happen regardless of the circumstances.”
She crossed their little distance.
“You were wrong when you believed in your mother. How can she be so sure that my life would be better without you? You wanna know the truth, Jonathan? You ruined my life the moment you rejected my calls.” Andie grabbed his shirt. “How dare you leave me when death can’t even do us part?”
“Andie…” He looked away. “You shouldn’t have looked for—”
“No matter where you go, I will find you.”
Jonathan held her wrists and looked at her straight in the eyes. He could see her determination in them. And Andie was not the type of person to give up that easily.
“If you choose to let go of me now, you’re not just losing one but two.”
His brows furrowed. What did Andie mean by two? And then, the realization hit him.
“Y-you’re…”
“Yes, Jonathan. I’m with child.”
Tears welled from his eyes.
“You’re not kidding me, right? You’re not saying this just to get me back?”
“How dare you accuse me of lying.” Andie punched his chest.
“Oh, God…” Jonathan hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry, Andie… I’m so sorry.”
She hugged her back and patted his back.
“Hush… You don’t have to cry. I’m not mad at you, though.”
He distanced himself a bit so that he could see her face.
“I’m crying because I was such a fool to live you like that.”
“You were under the impression that this story of us will never have a happy ending.” Andie cupped his face. “At first, I also thought about it. That’s what pushed me to write our story because I want this story to end happily. Ah, no… this one shouldn’t end. I want our love to last a lifetime…”
She pulled him for a kiss.
Jonathan could not ask for more now that his dream had finally come true. He can now spend the remaining days of his life happy and contented.
“Thank you, Andie. Thank you for bringing back the happiness that I’ve lost years ago. Thank you for filling that gap in my lonely heart. You’re my puzzles missing piece.” He caressed her cheek. “I promise not to leave you again. I will take care of you and the family that we’re about to build…”
Andie pressed their foreheads together, and once again, they kissed to seal his promise. And if only it didn’t start to rain, they would kiss each other longer.
“Jonathan! I told you to gather the clothes and bring them inside the house! It’s raining now, you dimwit!” his grandmother yelled.
They looked at each other and laughed.
THE END
 
EPILOGUE
JONATHAN groaned when he saw the dirty floor of the living room when he arrived home.
“Momo!” he called.
“Daddy!” said the little cheerful voice of a little girl who emerged from the kitchen.
He carried her to his arms and kissed her fluffy cheeks.
She was his pride and joy in life, his daughter, Monina.
“Why is the living room dirty, my baby girl?”
“It’s the dog’s fault, Daddy,” his daughter replied with pouted lips.
“Dog?” Jonathan’s brows furrowed. “But we don’t have a pet dog, sweetie.”
Momo pointed outside the house. His eyes grew wider when he saw a huge black dog sitting in the garden. He held his daughter tightly.
Jonathan knew his daughter could be in danger.
“No…” he whispered.
He carried his daughter upstairs.
“Andie!” he shouted as he ran to the master’s bedroom.
Momo placed her forefinger on his lips. “Mommy’s sleeping, Daddy…”
Sleeping. His wife was sleeping when their daughter just had an interaction with the grim reaper. Yeah, that dog was a grim reaper. It often disguised itself into cute little animals whenever it approached a kid.
Jonathan opened the door to the master’s bedroom and found Andie sound asleep on the bed.
“Daddy,” Momo whispered. “You should kiss Mommy to wake her up. That’s what the prince did to wake Sleeping Beaty.” His daughter giggled.
He looked at Momo and sighed. His daughter was too young and innocent. No wonder she got fond of that dog.
His gaze reverted to the bed when he heard Andie moaned. She was stretching her arms up.
“You’re here,” she said, yawning.
“Andie…” He put his daughter down. “We promised each other not to keep secrets.”
“Hm…” his wife nodded.
“Then care to explain why the grim reaper disguised himself as a dog and played with our daughter?” His voice raised a little.
“Grimmy has my consent. I asked him to be Momo’s godfather.”
His mouth dropped open.
“Wait. That?”
“That’s the only way I know to protect her.”
His daughter climbed up on the bed and crawled towards her mother.
“If there’s someone who could protect her, that’s me! I’m her father and it’s my duty, Andie.” Jonathan shook his head. “Wait. You said our daughter isn’t special.”
“That’s what I thought…”