Thorne III
He walks to his own room with a heavy heart.
He cannot bring back the time he has lost. How is he going to make up now? He sits on the edge of his bed rubbing his head. He failed to be a partner for Ayinah. They may not be together, but imagine that. He did nothing for her. He has read the article. And all those things are done by the other man, not him. His own child doesn't recognize him.
After a while he stands up and finds the suitcase he left eight months ago. He leaves it because he knows that he will come back. He found his clothes hanging neatly in the closet. Maybe Nanay Sol took them out of his suitcase.
After he finishes changing into board shorts and a sleeveless shirt, he gets out from his room. He went to the kitchen to find something to eat; he is starving. It's already half past one, and he hasn't taken anything from the airplane all throughout his flight. He lost his appetite because the guilt consumed him.
"Thirdy! I didn't know you arrived," said Nanay Sol.
She is busy making something in the kitchen. It's some kind of a dessert, he thought, because it's purple in color.
"Yes, Nanay Sol, I should have come months ago, but there are so many things that I needed to do... I messed up. I promised to come back, but I've been so busy. How is she?" He asked the kind woman.
"She is doing good. She keeps herself busy. Too many things occupied her time. She volunteered in the Montessori school from Monday to Friday. She teaches there from 8 to 11. And every Saturday she is at church. Her day off is here at the villa cultivating plants and flowers. If you could see out there, she has many collections of flowers there. Andreas has been a good friend for her too. When her stomach is not too big, they had some boat ride," Nanay Sol told him.
"That's good that she found a friend," he said.
He admitted to himself that deep down inside he is jealous. Other men have enjoyed being with her and his unborn child. He bet that his child knows Andreas better than him. There is nothing to blame. It is his choice. He is stupid for making his business his priority rather than his own blood.
"I'll get some food for you; I'm sure you haven't had your lunch," Nanay Sol said, standing up from what she's doing and setting up a table for him.
"She cooks this food also," she said, smiling.
"She tried to learn everything. She never made herself idle. Soon when she wakes up, she will go down to the women at church. They have a livelihood project, and she's learning it too. If Andreas is here, he will be with her. But the man went back to Italy for his photo exhibit," Nanay Sol said, putting the foods on the table.
"Thanks!" He said.
"You're welcome." She replied, sitting back down to her work.
He spoons the food and puts it in his mouth.
"So what do you think? It's Filipino food; the women in church taught her how to cook," Nanay Sol said.
"It's good. She can cook well," he replied.
Yes, she's a good cook, he thought. He finished the dishes in front of him, all good stuff. After he finished eating, he went out to see her collection of plants and flowers, as Nanay Sol told him.
"Wow!" he exclaimed.
It's like a paradise; well, he doesn't know what paradise looks like, but based on the stories he heard, it's a place surrounded by beautiful flowers and animals. This place isn't like his villa. She turned this place so beautifully. Even the trail down the beach, he could see that it has beautiful vines creeping in the handrail. After a few more minutes enjoying the beautiful view of flowers and new plants. He decided to come back inside the villa.
He noticed that the villa is tidier than the last time he was here.
"She made all that stuff." Nanay Sol speaks behind him.
The cushion cover was all personalized. The flower vase is totally handmade; even the flowers are made from the dried seashells. The hanging lights on the side were unique. She is very good at craftsmanship.
"That means all her stay here she is working?" He asked Nanay Sol.
"Yes, I told you she is not idle. Her hands always have something to work on," she replied.
She stayed in the villa for only eight months now, and she has done so many things worthy.
"I will finish the dessert I am cooking," Nanay Sol said, leaving him in the living room.
He sits down on the sofa and takes a cushion. He examined it. It's all her work.
He heard footsteps coming up the stairs. He looks outside; he saw a man coming up.
"Nanay Sol, Ayinah!" The man is calling the names of two women.
He heard steps walking to the door. It's Ayinah. She looks beautiful even with her big stomach. Nanay Sol also came out from the kitchen.
"Andreas!" Ayinah exclaimed. She went out the door to see the man.
"That's Andreas," Nanay Sol told him.
"Yeah, I heard it. Why didn't she invite him in?" He asked when they didn't see them.
"No, Ayinah said this is not her house, and she has no right to entertain a visitor here. They will go down to the beach for sure. That's their favorite place," Nanay Sol said.
"I see," he just said.
He is jealous of that man. Even her voice is happy seeing Andreas. But not with him. What should he expect? He was never a part of her. He chooses his business, right? So why does he expect a warm welcome from her? He followed Nanay Sol to the kitchen.
"What time do they usually come back?" he asked.
"Sometimes they go directly to her activities at church. If Ayinah has changed her clothesânot the clothes she wore this morningâthen they will go to the church later. It's Saturday, right?" she said.
"Yes," he replied.
"That means they will go to church after their walk at the beach," Nanay Sol said.
"Do Andreas and Ayinah have a relationship?" he asked curiously.
"No. They are very close because Andreas is the first person she trusted here. They met at the beach on her first exploration. From then on they became inseparable. People thought that they were lovers, but they just laughed at it. There's not a problem, actually, if they fall in love with each other. They are both single; Andreas is a good man. He helped a lot in making Ayinah's stay meaningful and memorable," Nanay Sol said.
He felt a kick in his chest thinking that Andreas and Ayinah became lovers. But then he reminded himself again. He has no right to act and behave that way.
"Andreas knows about Ayinah. Ayinah told me that after she gave birth, Andreas will bring her to Italy. Do you know that Ayinah's photos are included in an exhibit in Andreas's gallery? Have you seen the pictures on the wall in her room? They're only a duplicate; the originals are in Italy in big frames. Wait, I'll show you the photo of the display." Nanay Sol continues.
Yes, he actually saw those photos hanging on the wall, the photos of her showing her baby bump each month. They were beautiful. Pregnancy made her even more beautiful.
He followed Nany Sol to Ayinah's. room.
She pulled a photo album from one of the drawers.
"Here," Nanay Sol gave her the photo album.
He started flipping the pages.
He could see Ayinah in her beautiful poses.
Andreas took a very beautiful photograph of her.
That means many people have seen it if they were part of his exhibit in his gallery.
Her body is only for him and his baby. His heart is pounding. His ego was hurt.