Chapter 11

The next few days are exhausting. Amanda was relieved that Keith had finally given up pursuing her. She already cut ties to him, changed her number and won’t entertain any of his men coming to her doorstep delivering various luxury things. It’s the least that she wanted. She wanted her peace after the tragedy that happened to her and Keith was never part of it.

As she’s in her first month of her pregnancy, being alone in her parent’s house was hard. Dealing with her morning sickness everyday can be weary at times. And she craved some food, bizarre combinations, and troubled her best friend a lot for finding them.

All these changes she gladly accepted. She’s actually looking forward to experiencing the journey of her pregnancy. There’s nothing in this world that could excite her more than to see her baby after a couple of months from now. And she’ll do everything she can to bring him or her safe and healthy into this world.

She already made an appointment to an Ob-gyne. Her doctor had already confirmed that the baby was safe and sound after a series of tests that included ultrasound, et cetera. The female doctor had prescribed her supplementary milk and vitamins to ensure that she and the baby will grow safe and healthy along the pregnancy journey.

Amanda was holding the image of her baby for the first time. She’s resting on the rocking chair on the balcony. It felt nostalgic somehow. She remembered the last time she saw her mother alive and hot tears flowed down her cheeks in an instant.

“Mom, Dad,” she turned to the sky and muttered their name in silence. “If you can see me from above, you know that I’m pregnant with your first grandchild…”

“Please guide us everyday until the day I deliver the child safe and healthy into this world.”

Alma came to visit her the next day. Her best friend has been such a good help for her these days. She spoiled her so much and her soon to be godchild. Alma would occasionally buy a lot of things into her house, either food for her or things for the child. Amanda was ashamed of all the efforts her best friend had exerted so far, but Alma still insisted on spoiling her as long as she could.

“Thank you,” Amanda uttered after taking the glass of fresh orange juice from Alma. Her best friend will spend the night with her until the weekend. “It’s really good to have you here.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that I am your friend, Amanda,” Alma rolled her eyes but smiled at her afterwards. “What are friends for? It’s only natural to help each other out.”

“But you don’t have to drag yourself into this,” Amanda said shyly. “It’s my own problem after all.”

“Problem?” Alma exclaimed. She came to her with a knotted forehead and touched the top of her belly. She’s beginning to see the lump. The baby was growing steady inside of her. “Don’t you dare say that this is a problem…”

“Actually, none of it. What happened to you and your family was not your fault. And this baby,” Alma stressed out. “Is absolutely a blessing, Amanda. And taking care of you has never been a problem. I will always be here for you, to support you till the end, you incoming mother who’s getting silly due to hormones.”

“Alma,” Amanda can't hold her tears so well these past days. It’s earlier to shed tears than before. Probably due to the hormones. She hugged her best friend and sobbed at her bosom. “I don’t know what would have become of me if you weren’t here.”

“Silly,” Alma stroked her hair as she consoled her. She’s drinking her can of beer despite her approval. She’s standing right beside her as she watches the sunset. “Your parents are watching you from above…”

“You gotta show them that you are strong for you, and especially for the baby.”

Alma had been her best friend for as long as she could remember. They shared secrets together. She knew her more than her parents do, maybe. And Alma had been frequent to their house on special occasions. Her parents regard her best friend as their daughter already.

Amanda was staring at her best friend who’s now sitting on the chair across the table. If she would want to, Alma could be popular with the boys. But apparently, she prioritizes her work and her dreams. And love was the least of her concern.

If there’s anyone who could really understand her better due to the recent situation, it was none other than Alma. She had lost her parents, her father died when she’s in highschool and her mother finally succumbed to her illness before she could even graduate from college. Alma believed that her mother didn’t want to become a burden and hid her illness. After all, her mother had been vocal about wanting her only daughter to graduate in college. And her best friend did grant the wish of her deceased mother.

Alma has her own struggles in life, dealing with the uncertainty and how to live free from financial burden. But she had conquered the adversities that came her way and now has a stable job with her own apartment in the city.

“What’s your plan now?” Alma pulled her out of her wandering thoughts. Amanda pouted, still quite unsure.

“Come what may?” She said then smiled.

Alma sighed. “It’s better to have plans than none, you know that,” Then she coughed repeatedly when she remembered something. “Sorry about that—”

“I remember seeing Keith at the cemetery. His image was vague but I knew it was him,” Alma’s eyes squinted towards her. “What’s the deal with that man?”

It’s her turn to sigh. “Can’t we just not talk about him?”

“No, won’t do, Amanda.”

“Keith wanted to talk to me in private.”

“And…” Alma urged her to continue. She sighed as how pushover Alma could be.

“And I said no. Period.”

“And,” Alma’s eyes are still staring at her. “I think I hear a but there.”

“But he did bother me after, sending me gifts and such. But don’t worry, he stopped already—”

“That bastard still had the face to show you after all he’d done. Has he no shame!” Alma exclaimed. “If he’s really that quite brilliant of a businessman, he should’ve already known that those pictures were fake in the first place!”

Amanda couldn’t retaliate to her best friend’s words. But no matter how much they think the situation through, it will not change the fact that she already signed the divorce papers. Any moment from now and she’ll receive the letter officially informing her that the case has been concluded and that she’s finally a free woman again.

She’s tired of thinking of the what if’s. It really doesn’t matter even if along the way Keith had a change of heart. The most important thing for Amanda as of now was to move on from the unfortunate event that had happened to her in order to support and care for the life growing inside of her.

“Let’s not spoil our afternoon talking about him,” she sipped on her glass while caressing her belly. “Sooner or later, he’ll know that what he's doing was just a waste of time.”

“Are you sure?” Alma had this ridiculous look again. As if she was not convinced of her resolve. “What if Keith finally sees your worth and finally be the man you wanted him to be?”

“Would you still accept the bastard who’s also the father of your baby?”

“Definitely, No!” She declared. “There’s no chance. And besides, he wouldn’t do that either.”

“I don’t know about him but I know you, Amanda,” Alma drank her canned beer again. “You were head-over-heels in love with him—”

“And that was before, Alma,” Amanda was getting annoyed at the flow of this conversation. “Please, let’s just change the topic or you don’t want to get this pregnant angry?”

Alma raised both her hands in surrender. Amanda could see that her best friend was testing her. However, It’s not really a matter of interest. Her marriage with Keith had already ended. And she will move on and exact her revenge on him when the time is right.

She will never forgive nor forget. Keith will pay for all of it.

Days have passed and no Keith has dared to bother her doorstep again. Amanda was surveying the outside of their house, looking for any strange man but nothing was caught even in her peripheral vision. After confirming that the coast is clear, she left the house and rode her car back to the city.

Alma insisted that she never had to work since she’s pregnant. That the trust fund left by her parents was sufficient enough to support her and the baby’s needs in the coming years. But Amanda was so bored of seeing the four corners of the house that she wanted to challenge herself again. After all, she’s a licensed engineer. And she needs to put her skills into action or she’ll become stagnant all her life.

So without informing Alma, she went to the city to attend her initial interview at the Ferrer Properties. The said distinguished name had been on top of the game when it comes to the construction industry. They are expanding the business to real estate, which is aligned to their main business.

Amanda saw their hiring on one of the sites and she immediately signed for it. Gaining experience at such a renowned corporation can be a good addition to her portfolio.

She went out of her car after checking herself in front of the mirror. In front of her was the main office of Ferrer Properties. Amanda could feel the excitement overwhelmed her for the first time. This is it! She said to herself as she took the first step towards the completion of her own dream.

Working as a Structural Engineer was one of her dreams. If only she hadn’t married right after that incident, she may have accomplished many things during those three years.

“Still the past is past, Amanda,” a part of her reasoned. “All you have to do is to move forward…”

If the exterior of the building was overwhelming and well-built, the interiors were on-point, all aligned to the theme of simplistic but with a touch of luxury. Amanda was stopped for a moment as the view of the magnificent lobby amazed her. Only until one of the employees behind the reception calls her attention.

“Name, please,” the receptionist politely smiled at her. Amanda returned the gesture and showed her her ID.

“Miss Amanda Munoz,” the woman checked something in her computer and after a few seconds, she got back to her. “I already confirmed your appointment into our database…”

“This way, please,” and Amanda followed the woman until they reached the meeting room at the end of the hallway. The receptionist bid her the best of luck as she opened the door for her.

Amanda was confident as she entered the room only to be stunned upon meeting the familiar man in slick black suit.