After Nathan left, Chari marched back to the house. She let her eyes wander to the living room.

It was empty with no trace of John anywhere. She went up to the second floor to check.

There she saw him pacing back and forth. His heels could have dug a hole on the carpeted floor in his anger. His fists clenched. His face red

Chari squared her shoulders before she went in. She mentally and emotionally prepared herself for the battle that would ensue.

She balked when John turned to her unexpectedly, “I was sick worried. You were gone for hours, and no one knew where you were.” He spat the words out.

Chari winced at his sudden verbal attack. She was momentarily rendered speechless.

“You did not even tell me,” Chari noted the hurt in John’s voice. She realized that although her best friend could not see her as a woman, he still cared for her.

Her expression softened. She bowed her head in shame.

“Sorry. We had a lot to talk about, and I lost track of time.” She said softly, swiftly diffusing a little bit of John’s anger.

“Did you enjoy yourself so much that you forgot everything else?” There was an edge to John’s voice when he asked her.

If there was one thing Chari mastered in loving her best friend through these years, it was the art of deceiving everyone around her, including herself. She realized that parading a string of boyfriends was her cover. Right now, she latched on the opportunity of meeting Nathan to conceal her true feelings and save face from further embarrassment.

It was painful enough to accept that John could not see her as a woman. She did not want to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much his rejection broke her.

“He already explained.” She said in resignation.

John’s head snapped when he bore her his intense gaze, “And?” he queried.

“A-and I realized I did not give him a chance to explain. He said he was drunk at that time and could not remember anything.”

“And you believed him?”

“I do not have any reason not to. In the year that we were together, Nathan was a loyal boyfriend. We never had problems with any third party.” She said in a tiny voice.

“Are you telling me that you are willing to accept him and welcome him back?” Chari noted the sarcasm and something more from his voice.

“What about our marriage?” This time, Chari heard the fear, and it gave a bitter taste to her mouth.

She brushed it aside.

“If you are worried about our baby. Don’t. You will always be his father. I will not take that away from you.” Chari said sadly. She was trying hard to keep her tears at bay.

“What do you mean? You are leaving me just like that?” John’s voice rose once again. Chari bit her lip before she nodded.

She braved a glance at John, and she saw him shut his eyes tight. His eyes were red when he opened them again.

“Can I not leave right away? I need to find a decent place to live before I go.” She made the request, her throat tight as she fought back her tears.

John's gaze bore into her. He didn't say anything.

Chari matched his stare, trying hard to keep her pain. She does not want to stay married to him out of pity.

Finally, John shook his head.

“No, I bought this house for you and the baby. I should be the one to leave.” He yielded.

Chari felt her heart broke in pieces. He did not even fight. As always, she put up a brave front and forced herself to smile.

That same night, John packed his things.

When done, he turned to Chari and said, “I will be at my condo unit. If you need anything, please call me.”

Chari hesitated before she answered. “Would you still come with me to the delivery?”

“Of course,” John said before he picked up his things and left.

As she heard the faint sound of his shoes leaving, Chari could not control her tears anymore. She wanted to beg him to stay, but she restrained herself. She only had her pride left. Besides, she wanted his happiness, and she knew that his happiness does not rely on her.

She curled up in bed and let herself cry.

__

John sat pensively on his executive chair. He had been thinking about Chari these past weeks.

He missed her, and he worried about her. She is on her due month, and anytime soon, she would be delivering his baby.

At the thought of his baby, John’s heart swelled with excitement and love. He also felt sadness whenever he thought about his wife.

Chari had never contacted him in the two weeks that they were separated. He only got some news about her through their house helper Manang Rosa.

Every day, Manang Rosa would call him and report to him Chari’s condition. What she ate. What she was doing. He was tempted to visit when Manang Rosa told him that Chari looked sad since he left.

After his talk with Manang Rosa, he readied himself so he could come home to his wife. He was already in parking lot when he stopped on his tracks. He realized that he might not be the one she missed.

He was sad to learn that Chari moved on from him years ago and he could not do anything about it except to accept.

John realized that they could not go on like this. He and Chari needed to talk seriously.

He knew that he had been hasty. He was angry that night. He was also jealous as hell. But he could not push himself to talk to her in her condition.

John’s cellphone rang.

His heart did an involuntary thump when he saw that the registered caller was Chari. At last, his wife called him. He was excited when he answered, “Hello?”

His eyes passed by the LED digital clock on his table, and he was surprised to learn that it was already late. He was busy thinking about Chari that he forgot the time.

His heart sank when he learned that his caller was not his wife but Manang Rosa.

“Hello, Sir John. Ma’am Chari’s water bag broke. We are now bringing her to the hospital.” Panic rose to his chest. His body went taut. He immediately looked for his car keys and half-run to the hallway leading to his private elevator.

“Take care of your ma’am. I am on my way.” He barked on the other end.

When the elevator doors opened, he hurriedly went in before he pushed the down button to the basement parking area.

His driver, Mang Joe became alert when he saw his tensed expression. When John told him what happened, he immediately revved the engine, and within a few minutes, they were already on their way.

John bolted from his car when Mang Joe parked it in front of the hospital entrance. His movements brisk.

He found Chari being prepped for delivery when he entered the room. His heart softened when he saw her beautiful face. He drank in her sight. Then, he noted the fear from her eyes as she tried hard to keep herself together.

He hesitated for a second. He drew in a sharp breath and started to walk towards her, but an attending nurse blocked his way. They suited him up before they gave him the green go.

While walking towards his wife, John could not help but feel glad that he was able to make it. He worried that she would go into labor alone. Good thing, Mang Joe, his driver was calm the whole ride.

“Hi.” He greeted Chari when he stopped in front of her bent form. When she looked up, and he saw the relief from her eyes, he could not help himself. He kissed her full on the mouth.

Chari’s eyes widened.

When they parted, she saw his ashen face, and her eyes softened. Just like before, John would always be her best friend and protector. She held out her hand to him. He held on to it tight, kissing it tenderly from time to time.

“I was worried.” He admitted.

Chari grimaced. “I am as strong as a horse.” She declared to allay his fears, but it worsened when he heard her yelp in pain.

“Okay, Chari, you are already dilated, at the count of three push!” the doctor commanded. Chari followed while gripping his hand.

“I can see the head, push!” Chari pushed again. He saw beads of perspiration gathering on her forehead. He dabbed at it with his hands while his other hand continued to hold her hand.

“John….” There were tears in Chari’s eyes when he looked up at her, the sight squeezed his insides. If only he could trade places with her, he would gladly do so.

“Push!” The doctor barked one last time before he heard a loud guttural cry broke from her throat, and the sound of a baby’s cry filled the room.

They were both gasping for breath after the ordeal. He let Chari’s hand go to take their baby from the nurse.

“It is a boy.” He excitedly told her and put their child to her bosom before he enveloped her upper body in his arms, all the while kissing her hair and saying, “I love you." Then Chari passed out.