(Alys Prov)
"Alys, I know sometimes you're crazy but this?!"
Aya had been lecturing me for a while. It had been three days since Fier and I had moved into the same house. The idea was crazy... but I was way more crazy. Never once in my life did I consider doing something like this. This idea was sorcery. It was unimaginable yet somehow I still did it.
I sat down and tried to calm myself. Fier wasn't trying to help either, she was being bitchy and all to me...
"That's enough, okay?" I said to her. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I couldn't sleep at night either. Nights were stressful the most. I guess I should go to the OB. Is Fier acting normal? She was acting like a lunatic... I knew she was pregnant but how she's acting was just too much. She's pregnant and not a psycho.
Aya sat down and placed her hands on her chin.
"Okay, let's talk sensibly, okay?" she said and I nodded. "Alys, why the hell?! Yes, you and Drake are married but how can you agree to live in the same house with a forgive my term-girlfriend?!"
I sighed. I really don't want to hear that Fier is a girlfriend... It hurts for her, for me. She's just a victim like anyone else. No matter how hard I try to be mad at her, I still remember the fact that she's pregnant with Drake's child. That fact alone was enough to pacify my heart.
It hurts to be told by a girlfriend. It wasn't her fault that Drake's not going to marry her. It wasn't Drake's fault, as well. It was no one's fault. Maybe we're just victims of fate. Our timing was screwed up.
"Don't be mad at Drake, Aya. He offered to let us stay in his unit but I declined," I answered truthfully.
She knocked the glass down in surprise. ""That's it! Goodness gracious, Alys Zyril! Why are you cramming yourself into that house when you have a choice?!"
I can't speak because I feel guilty. Why am I cramming? I don't know... Maybe it's because I don't want to make Drake suffer. I don't want to get to the point where I have to make him choose. I love him enough to spare him from that pain. I know how many times I've hurt Drake. Even though he never talked about it, I know I hurt him too much. The years apart broke him. I don't want that to happen again. We've suffered enough for four years.
No matter what they say, he's Drake's child. I love the child because he's Drake's child.
"Please, let's not talk about it anymore, okay? I came here to relax, not to be scolded by you," I said to her.
Aya did nothing but sigh. We just ate for a while and then she had to go back to the shop. She and Kent still weren't okay. I don't understand Aya, it's obvious that she still loves him but she doesn't want to forgive him. If we mess up, they mess up even more.
I bought some fruit for Fier first. Sometimes I wonder why I'm like this. Maybe if someone else I'm a girl, I'm going crazy and I'm slapping Drake.
When I got home, Drake wasn't there yet. Maybe he's still at work? Fier and I are the only people here. Uncle Steve is also at work, Ethos is still studying.
"Have you eaten?" I asked her.
She nodded and returned her attention to the glossy magazine she was reading.
I sat down next to her. "I have fruits..."
She slowly put the magazine down and looked at me. She gave out a heavy sigh. "What game are we playing, Alys?"
"Ha?"
She adjusted her seat and faced me. "Quit this being nice act, okay? I know you're mad at me. Be bitchy or whatever, I don't care. Just quit acting like you care."
Why is she like this? Yes, I don't like her but I'm not the kind of person to fight her. She's pregnant. She should be taken care of.
"Fier-"
"Drop it, Alys. You don't care. Deep inside, you just want my child and I to disappear, don't you?"
"Fier."
She stood up and faced me.
I'm jealous. I also want to experience being a mother. Maybe it's fun because it's nice to have a child. But not now. Our lives are still too chaotic. I want us to start a family when everything is in order. When our only problem is what to name our child...
"Stop it, Alys. We both know how this is going to end," she paused for a while. "One of us has to go." She stared at me. "You're married to him and we're having a child. Can't you see how crazy our situation is?" she said and then forced a laugh. "This baby," she said and then pointed to her stomach. "This baby will be labeled a bastard, Alys. A bastard."
She was speaking when suddenly, she clutched her hand on her tummy. "Ouch."
"Fier!" I said as I went over to her. "Oh, my god, what are you feeling?"
Oh, no, calm down, Alys. You can't panic.
"Ugh, let me go!" she said to me as she withdrew her hand. I was shocked. Is she this angry with me that even though she's struggling, she still doesn't want to accept my help?
She grabbed the chair and then took a deep breath. I wanted to help her but she was pushing me away.
"What's happening?"
Fier and I looked at the person who spoke. It was Drake. He was looking at us and asking what the hell was happening. I had no idea. I was willing to help but she was pushing me all too willingly.
I'm not competing with her... She's pregnant. I would give way if she just asked nicely.
Drake came up to me and asked me. "What's happening?"
"I-I don't know."
"Please, Drake, tell your wife that I'm not here to be her best friend. Stop trying to be my friend. I don't need to," she said with spite.
She was limping because of pain as she walked up. Me? I was standing there, not knowing what to do.
I faced Drake with a torn apart face.
"Drake... I'm sorry... I didn't know it would be bad to talk to her," I said. If I only knew it would be bad to talk to the baby, I wouldn't have talked to her. I meant well. I didn't know it was bad to do.
Drake sighed and held me by the shoulders. "It wasn't your fault," he said and then kissed my forehead. "Did you eat already?"
I nodded.
"Alright," he said. "I'll just talk to Fier. Wait for me here," he continued and then left me there.
While waiting, I wondered if Aya was right. Was it a bad decision for me to live here? Maybe she was right, it was more bad than good for me to live here.
"Oh, Alys," Tito Steve said when he arrived. Ethos was also with him but Ethos ignored me and went straight upstairs. His mommy was also with him.
"Hi po," I said. I still wasn't comfortable calling him Daddy. Maybe later when everything was okay.
"Why are you here? Isn't Drake here yet?" he asked as he sat down on the chair in front of me.
I smiled at him. "He's upstairs, talking to Fier."
He just nodded. He probably knew. I knew our setup was weird for Uncle Steve too. I have to admit, my mom almost had a heart attack when she found out what was going on. It took me all my will power to stop her from talking to Fier. Knowing Fier, I knew they would only end up fighting.
"Alys," Uncle Steve said. "I'm the one who's having a hard time with the three of you."
"I'm having a hard time too, Uncle."
Uncle Steve closed his eyes for a moment.
"I don't know what to say," he said. "I want you for Drake, and you're already married to him so there's nothing I can do. But Fier... I can't send him away because he's bringing my grandson," he continued.
"Uncle Steve..."
He looked at me and smiled. "It's nothing, Alys. I'm just really confused. Okay, I'm going upstairs."
Just then, it hit me. Maybe I should leave.
Minutes later, Drake came down. His right cheek was red. She slapped him. Again.
In the few weeks I've lived here, how many times have I seen Fier slap Drake? Four? Five? I can't remember. I feel bad for Drake but I can't yell at or hurt Fier. She's pregnant, that's what I always remind myself.
"Drake?" I called out his name. He looked at me and then I touched his swollen cheek. I moved closer and I kissed his cheek. "Does it hurt?"
He shook his head. Liar.
I smiled at him. "I have a solution, Drake."
He looked at me. "Please don't tell me you're leaving again."
"I'm not leaving, Drake. You'll still see me. I'm not just staying here."
"You're leaving, then," he said.
"Dummy, I'm married to you. How far do you think I would go?"
He held my hand and placed it on top of his heart.
"One inch is already far enough for me to miss you. If I could, I'd carry you around with me. You bewitched me to the point that I'd go crazy if you dumped me once again," he said.
I smiled. But seriously, sometimes I'll take Drake to a psychiatrist. He must have been really affected by our breakup before.
"Drake, my decision is final, I'm leaving first. No, I won't run away from you, okay? I'm just having a hard time with you being the one who gets Fier's anger because of me. I will always be a call away," I said, trying to make him understand.
I smiled at him one last time and then turned around. I was about to leave when he grabbed my hand.
"You're not running away?"
I shook my head.
"Never, Drake. To the moon and back, remember?"
He smiled.
"Yeah. To the moon and back." I started walking when he called out my name. "Alys?" he said. I looked at him. "I love you."