I was sure I couldn't face Zed once he'd be back in the room announcing what he had found out. So, I hurried to go out and made Ara my excuse for leaving ahead. Then, I left him a message and told him to get the card from the reception area.
And not long after I went inside Ara's room, someone knocked at the door. I jolted from my seat, thinking it was Zed. But my eyes flew wide when I opened the door and saw Tim and Maezy.
"I want to see her," Tim said, avoiding my eyes.
I wanted to send them away, but I got frightened at Maezy's gaze. So, I opened the door wide and let them in.
"Why are you here?" Ara asked, her voice contemptuous.
"Of course, to see you. How are you feeling now?" Tim replied, looking at him worriedly.
Ara scoffed and said, "I'm not going to die yet. But don't worry, I'm not holding you back."
Silence fell until Maezy broke it. "I'm sorry, Ar, but we fell in love out of the blue. And we are already planning to live together. If you love him, set him free and let him be with me where he can be happier. You can't provide for his needs as much as I do, so it would only be fair if you let him live a better and abundant life with me."
How shameless!
I writhed in anger that I couldn't help myself from standing up and opening the door to show them out.
"Leave! If you still have a conscience, you shouldn't haven't done it here and at this time. Ara is sick, and you choose this moment to expose your shamelessness!”
"Yen, calm down. I don't care anyway!" Ara butted in, and Maezy grinned.
"I'll provide for the needs of the baby and take care of your hospital bill as well,” she said proudly.
"No need, but Tim is not going to see this baby."
Tim didn't comment, but I saw him wincing in pain. And Maezy was right, indeed. Tim was then wearing a set of signature shirts and pants, paired with expensive sneakers. His watch also shone against the light, matching the gold necklace that hung in his neck like a dog chain.
"If you choose to be stubborn, we're out of it. So don't come to us in the future and beg for financial support."
Maezy then hurried out of the door, dragging Tim behind him.
I sat beside Ara and hugged her after the two went out. My muscles still quivered at Maezy's shamelessness!
"Don't worry, Ar. Your son could be your best revenge against Tim."
"If he still cares about this baby. But don't worry. We will live without him," Ara said, her voice started cracking.
All those days where she acted strong dissolved into an hour of bitter wailing. It’s maybe because reality hurts the most when you face it, but the agony is shorter. And that's what I hoped for, my best friend.
The door opened again, and Zed came in. He had a bag of food in his hand.
"It's time for breakfast," he said, smiling. But his smile didn't reach his eyes. Seeing him like that pricked my heart again.
"Ar, stop crying now. Eat first," I said. "They don't deserve your tears."
"Who said I wouldn't eat? I even need more food for my snacks."
I froze for a while; my mouth hung open. I never expected she would answer that way. Zed and I laughed, and I momentarily forgot the tension between us.
"Okay, ladies. Here are your boxes." He placed Ara's box in front of her while placing the other two boxes on the center table.
"Come over here," Zed said, motioning with his finger to let me transfer to the sofa.
I also obeyed and sat beside him, but a sense of awkwardness set in. The tension was choking me that the food tasted like a sponge in my mouth. I couldn't go on living in fear and discomfort like this, so I had decided at that moment to tell him the truth already.
"Where did you go?" I asked after stuffing a spoonful of rice into my mouth.
"I went to see the IT. I gave him some instructions on how to go about my presentation tonight."
I almost spat out my food. I couldn't believe what I heard. While I was dying to know if he saw Kim and me on CCTV, there he was, leisurely working on his slides.
“I see. Hope it’s okay already.”
“Yes.” He took a spoonful of food, then glanced at Ara. “How are you now, Ar? Has the fever subsided?”
Ara was lost in her thoughts while chewing her food that she got startled when Zed addressed her in a question.
“I am better now. The antibiotics do wonders for me.”
“Happy to know that. Please get well soon.”
“Thank you so much, Zed.” Ara then smiled at him awkwardly. She seldom talked to him, even if we hung around often. That’s because she always found Zed intimidating.
“Don’t mention it. You need to be healthy for the baby. I’m already eager to hold him in my arms.” Zed glanced, then looked down, eating the rest of his food silently.
Ara and I looked up together, and our eyes locked; the both of us glanced at Zed through our peripheral views.
When I placed down my spoon and fork, Zed glanced at me and said, “Dear, you may go to work. I’ll stay with Ara.”
Ara also put down her spoon and fork. “No, I’ll be fine. But thank you.”
“I already asked permission to leave from work today. So, I will accompany you,” I butted.
“No, Yen. Go to work. I’ll call if I need you.”
“Yes, dear. Go to work. If Ara is not comfortable having me around, I can stay at the hotel so that I’d be available if Ara needs anything.”
I indeed went to work. And when I got absorbed into the demands of work, my phone vibrated. I picked it up and saw Zed’s name sending a video call. I opened it and saw him in an OR gown, holding a baby in his arms. Behind him was Ara, lying in an OR bed under an overhead light. He only waved at me, then ended the call.
Oh, my goodness! Ara has given birth already! And the baby will be our first child!
I picked up my bag and hurried to go out, but I met Kim in the corridor.
"Is someone chasing you?" Kim asked, blocking my way. He then bent down without looking around and kissed me on the lips.
"Jakara, the footage showed Zed opening the door while we were making love."