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Ernaline was smiling as she saw her big tummy. During the few months she lived here in Montenegro she was unaware of the growth of the child in her womb.
Ernaline slowly gets up from her bed as she reaches her slippers from the floor, but she can't bend down because of her big tummy.
"Baby, don't torture Mommy,"
Until Ernaline got up from the bed, she slowly walked to the restroom to take a shower.
Montenegro country is located in the west-central Balkans at the southern end of the Dinaric Alps. It is bounded by the Adriatic Sea and Croatia (southwest), Bosnia and Herzegovina (northwest), Serbia (northeast), Kosovo (east), and Albania (southeast).
Ernaline was brought here by her ticket that her brother bought. Ernaline did not think that there was an existing country named Montenegro. And what surprised him, even more, was that their whole clan lived here - on their Father's side.
The terrain of Montenegro ranges from high mountains along its borders with Kosovo and Albania, through a segment of the Karst region of the western Balkan Peninsula, to a narrow coastal plain that is only 1 to 4 miles wide.
As Ernaline had decided, she lived alone here in Montenegro. Her Mom pleaded she need someone to be with her but Ernaline refused. She wanted to be independent. His family visits but they don't stay long because of work. Ernaline finished her bath and changed her clothes to a maternity dress. Ernaline never visited a doctor since she wanted it to be surprised. Before leaving the Philippines Ernaline made sure she had everything she needed from vitamins, foods, and fruits that she had to eat. At first, she had difficulty conceiving especially. The food he is looking for is available in the Philippines.
Fortunately, her brother and Father supported her with the things she needed. Fortunately, Ernaline was able to conceive and next month she will give birth. Ernaline grabs her notebook and her guitar as she got out of her room. Like the old days, writing a song is one of her escapes especially when Perth Dezrail is popping up on her head. She also cried for several nights when she was alone in that country. But she promises herself that once the baby is delivered in safe, she will live in Montenegro in peace.
Ernaline has no plans to return to the Philippines because she has no plans to return there. Her life is there now together with her child. Ernaline closes her front door. He immediately walked towards a park near his house. The houses here are bungalow type after all they are in the mountains. The climate is not that much heat - just the right heat on the skin. And the wind was blowing gently.
"Good morning, Ernaline." Greetings by the old woman who was sitting on a bench that seemed to be breathing when she saw Ernaline who was having difficulty walking because of her big belly.
"Good morning too, Aunt Smith,"
"Are you going to write a song again?"
Ernaline looks at her back where her guitar was hanging. "Music is one of my comfort zone, Aunt Smith you know that."
Smith Montenegro is one of Ernaline's relatives; she's already in her seventies.
"I wish I could hear your music."
Ernaline smile at the old woman. Just like in the old days, Ernaline chooses to hide her talent and sing her heart out where no one is around.
"I doubt that, Aunt Smith. I am not confident enough about my music and my song."
The old woman no longer insisted and let Ernaline leave in front of her. Ernaline gasping air as she reached a tree at the far end of the section. When she first saw it, she immediately remembered the times she was still in the Philippines. This area in the park was the only scene Ernaline wanted to relive. She slowly sat down on the grass as she removes her guitar and places her notebook on her thigh. Ernaline tones her guitar as she strums them.
As the wind blows, Ernaline leaned her back at the body of the tree as she closes her eyes and feels the music she creates. A memory flowed into her mind, from the start where she and Perth meet up at a place like this. At first, he thought Perth was a ghost but it wasn't. It just so happened that they were both the place they wanted to go. Ernaline was about to sing when someone interrupted her travel to the music world.
"Why are you crying?" An angel voice interrupted Ernaline's rest.
Ernaline opened her eyes but she was surprised when she saw the child where Perth and Serenity introduced that night at their engagement party. Ernaline wipes her tears and smiled at the child. "I am not crying, it's one of my conceptions. You know I am having a baby," The child looked at her tummy and the child was confused.
"Did you swallow a big melon?"
Ernaline laughs at the child because of amusement. "It's a baby bump."
"Oh! I get it. My Aunt is also swallowed a big melon same as you. So that's what you call a baby?"
Ernaline was comforted in the child's face at its innocence.
"Can I ask where are your Mom and Dad?"
"My Dad is at home, I just run away from him to play here and then I heard something like a sound of a guitar and then I find where the music is from so here I am in then I saw you here crying alone." Talkative language as a child.
Pain crossed Ernaline's eyes but she just smiled.
"I think your father is looking for you. And also, did anyone told you that if you don't know the person won't talk to a stranger?"
"My Mom told me that, that's why I don't have any friends because when I'm with her she limits all the kids I saw to play with me even our neighbors. So I decided to be with my Daddy and I hate my Mom for that. "
Ernaline didn't utter a word because of what the child says. Are Perth and Serenity separated? Ernaline places her guitar to her side as she invited the child to sit beside her and the child accept it.
"That's bad you know? Planting hatred towards your Mom is not good. Your Mom loves you,"
"I don't think so,"
Ernaline felt sadness in the child's voice. He wanted to investigate but he was hesitant and did not want to interfere in Perth's life.
"May I know what your name is?"
"My name is Sirene Abegail, how about you?"
Ernaline feels light as the child spoke to her.
"Call me Ashleigh,"
As time goes by, Ernaline and Sirene talk with each other. Ernaline taught Sirene how to play the guitar and create music from it. Sirene was so excited about what she taught that they didn’t realize the time. At the same time, Sirene and Ernaline turned to the person who had just arrived when he spoke.
"Sirene, I was looking for you everywhere!" A tall man exposed Ernaline.
She was surprised when she recognizes the person. Sirene got up from her seat as she runs to the man and hugs his thigh.
"Daddy," said Sirene.
Ernaline got up from her seat too as she looks at the two-person in front of her. She can't believe that she will meet this person here in this kind of country.
"Big brother Rommy?"
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