Remembering The Bitter Past

Chapter 11

It is already past midnight but Emelia could not sleep. She was bothered with incident this morning. How could her and her best friend’s paths crossed again? The woman she bumped with in the fast-food restaurant was Linda. Her only best friend who knows everything about her past and what’s worse, Emerald was there.

Even though her daughter did not say anything about her father, she knows that she wanted to meet him and knows him. That is her biggest fear. She wanted to keep Emerald from her father. He should not know about her existence.

She is scared that he might not acknowledge her. Emelia knew that he married another woman. He has his own family and she don’t want Emerald to be the pathetic illegitimate daughter that his new family would despise. Much worse, he himself would despise her and denies her. That would be most painful for Emerald and she never wanted her daughter to be hurt. That is the last thing that she wanted to happen to her daughter.

But how can she stop the events and fate that is bound to happen. Emelia closed her eyes while remembering the past.

Flashback

“I am so sorry, lady.” A baritone voice came across Emelia’s ears while she picks up her books that was scattered all over the floor.

“Next time, watch where you’re going.” She irritably said as soon as she stands up.

 However, she was taken aback when she looked up to see the man standing in front of her. He was handing the books to her with a shy smile. The man was tall and the most noticeable about him was his emerald eyes. When you look at them, you would feel like there was a force that’s pulling you towards them. Like there was an invisible magnet that would keep you from looking away.

“I am really sorry. I didn’t mean to. I was just in a hurry that I did not see you.” He apologetically said.

Emelia pulled the books from his hand forcefully. “Apology accepted.”

“I’m Gerald, what’s your name.” he said when Emelia was about to turned around to walk away.

“Emelia.” She replied.

“Can I ask you out? We can have dinner as my apology for today.” He offered.

How can a woman say no to him? Emelia nodded as a response which made the man smiled. His pearly white teeth showed together with the gorgeous dimple on his right cheek. She hurriedly walked away and when she finally got far from the man she unconsciously touched her left chest where her heart was located. It was beating uncontrollably like it was about to jump out of her ribcage. That was crazy, she never felt something like this before.

The dinner was not the last. It was followed again and again. They did not just go out of dinner; they also ate together at lunch and even breakfast. Gerald was always around Emelia. Until he confessed his love for her. Emelia was young, she was a working scholar in the university which she later finds out that was owned by Gerald’s parents.

When they learned about her relationship with their son, they strongly oppose it. They went to see Emelia to pay her just so she will stay away from their son. They see her as an opportunist gold digger who has an ambition to climb on top of the pyramid of success using their wealth.

“Stay away from my son, here is a blank check. You can write any amount; you can start a new using this. Go far away, move to another city. You can continue your studies and do whatever you want just spare our son, he is about to marry his childhood sweetheart. She is the one he really loves; he was just toying on you.” Gerald’s mother said.  

“That’s not true. Gerald loves me. I don’t need your money. I love him whether he’s rich or poor.” Emelia tore the check in pieces.

This made the lady furious. “Listen, you b*tch. I am also doing this for your own good. I find you pitiful since my son was just playing with you. He was in love with Tyesha. He was just thrilled to have you in his bed which he usually does. I am doing this to compensate you. I see you potential and I don’t want my son to ruin your future. Just think about it, this is a win-win if you would just follow what I say. You will be saved from being ruined and my son’s future marriage with Tyesha will not be jeopardize.”

Emelia walks in big strides towards the door and slammed it. She hurriedly went to see Gerald. She needs to talk to him. Just this morning, she discovers that she was pregnant. She also needs to know the truth if all the things that his mother said was true. But when she reached his office, he was cold as ice.

He looks at her with disgust and that she was some kind of a stranger. She hugged him but he just shakes off her arms away. Her eyebrows knitted and she felt that something explode when she heard what he has to say.

 “The game is over, Emelia. I think my mother had already talked to you and you know everything about me and Tyesha.” He said without looking at her.

“Wh-hat do you mean. I know your mother was lying. She paid me money but I did not accept it. I don’t need it, I need you. Gerald, you know how much I love you. We can work this out.” Tears started o fall from her eyes.

“All that Mom said was true. I was just bored and I find you interesting but now I’m done with you. I no longer feel thrilled and you no longer excite me. You better accept the money so that you could start over and stay away from me.” He ruthlessly said.

“No, you can’t do this to me. Gerald, don’t do this to me. I love you and I know you love me. Why are you doing this? There must be a problem, tell me so we can work things out.” She begged him.

He grabbed Emelia’s hand. He did not listen to all her pleas and begging. He throws her out and shut the door. She continued knocking on the door to his office but he never opened it. All of the employees are looking at her with disgust and some looks at her with sympathy.

Everyone in the university knew about what happened to her. Gossips spread like wildfire and she was then the new laughing stock of the entire school. From her co-students, teachers, faculties and even guards did not spare her. So, Emelia decided to quit her studies. She went to a remote area in the province far from all the people who hurt her.

She never accepted the money that Gerald’s mother offered to her. She disappeared from their lives even her best friend Linda did not know where she went. The baby in her belly also started to grow which made her life even more difficult but she did not give up.

The life in her womb was her inspiration and motivation to strive. She made herself strong and fight for the sake of the child. When she was born, everything changed. It was difficult but when she sees the beautiful little girl, all her tiredness automatically disappeared like magic. It was then replaced with joy.  

End of flashback

Emelia opened her eyes which was now wet from tears. The wound from the past left a deep scar in her heart. The last news she heard from Gerald was he indeed got married to his best friend and childhood sweetheart Tyesha and the woman was already pregnant. Which means that he really was just treating her as his toy. She and Tyesha both got pregnant with Gerald’s child. He was cheating in her, or should she say he was cheating on his real girlfriend with her. She was the side chick without her knowing it.

How stupid she was and how heartless that man could be? She believed in him. She believed all his lies. She almost died from heartache. But now she had finally moved on. What she prays now is that Gerald and Emerald’s paths will never cross.

=Sarsi