DAY'S DESTINY: ZOYA'S CHAPTER

CHAPTER 14 – ASLEEP

                The doubts about myself remained but I decided to throw it at the back of my mind and just focus on taking care of Day. Work from home had also become a challenge, there are things that I have to handle personally but can’t because of Day. Grace or anyone in my company does not know that I had given birth because the last time they saw me was at least just 2 months ago, not enough time to bear and give birth to a child. This is why the time to choose between Day and work finally came when I let a 2 million project go because of my absence.

“Are you sure?” Zane asked me again as I rubbed Day’s back to let her burp after drinking milk.

“Yes. Day needs me more and work is kind of in the way right now.” I said but even I can’t hear conviction in my voice.

“Zoya, this is a career you’ve dreamed of in your entire life. You can’t just give it up because you became a mother.” Zane continued in disbelief while Abigail just sat there. Abigail is no doubt conflicting on what and whom to side on since she knows me and my brother are right on both, Day needs me 24/7 while I also can’t possibly give up the dream career I finally achieved.

“Then what am I supposed to do? Working requires all of me in the office for different sorts of reasons. Sure, maybe my stamina and strength can handle taking care of a child at the same time but I’m the only parent that Day has.”

“We can help as much as possible.” Zane said but I shook my head.

“I’ve thought it through this past few days and I’m choosing Day. She needs me Zane.”

                Zane stopped arguing with me after that but I let him have his moment to get over his shock. My family, especially Zane, knew how desperate I was to achieve my dream of becoming a fashion designer. I worked hard for several years, focused everything I have to build my own company and establish myself in the competitive world of designing but just as I am on the top and to tell Zane that I am giving up, it’s a shock to him and everyone. However, Day is not the only reason as to why I cannot continue as a designer. Josh had become the first reason.

“How about this? We buy her company, have it under us then Zoya can continue designing when she has the time?” Abigail finally spoke.

“Oh no, both of you are already busy enough with whatever is going on with your lives. I barely see the both of you.” I rejected but I can see that Zane had already accepted the idea.

“Oh you’re a genius honey.” Zane smacked a kiss on Abigail’s forehead, I saw cute colors on Abigail’s cheeks. Zane turned to me, a bit triumphant. “We can handle it.”

“Well fine. I’ll let Grace handle everything.”

“This Grace of yours, is she capable?” Zane asked with a look that I know too well. Day finally let out a cute burp.

“Yes and yes she can be the acting CEO of the company but you have to spend time to convince her. She’s a bit low on the self-esteem.”

                Just like that, I quit my job and finally became a full-time parent. I do love my job as a fashion designer and I could have pulled it off while taking care of Day but ever since Josh happened, something just broke inside me. Designing with the usual passion and overwhelming inspiration seems so foreign right now. It’s pathetic but that’s how my broken heart affected everything including my career.

“Hey sis.” I greeted Zyla when I saw her in the kitchen, drinking straight from the carton of milk but she has her own carton of milk since it had become a habit of hers not to use a glass.

“Where’s Day?” She asked instead.

“With dad. She’s getting better with the separation thing between the two of us.” I sighed in relief as I opened the cupboards to get an idea on what to cook.

“Oh. How long was I gone?” Zoya asked and I looked at her with a small smile. She’s still wearing her bathrobe after a bath. One thing about my little sister is that time doesn’t matter when her mind enters idea-work mode. She’s a scientist/inventor.

“2 days I think.” I answered and she did not reply. “So what have you been working on?”

“Another machine.” She simply replied.

“Oh.” There is a silent rule between the two of us that she won’t explain in detail the machines and research she does because I won’t be able to understand it. I do have a high mark on all my science subjects but maybe knowing how the world works is enough for my brain.

                Upon Zyla’s sleepy request, I decided on steak for dinner and also because it’s the only food that I know won’t burn under my cooking care. I realized that it’s been a long time since I cooked dinner for everyone so without knowing, I had put an utmost effort into it that by the time I’m done, I realized that it’s been 2 hours and I haven’t heard Day fuss or cry. It’s a good thing that she’s starting not to get too much attached to me but I still find it strange and worrying that she didn’t. I quickly went to the living room to check and I found her in the arms of my mother this time, asleep and dead to the world.

“How long was she asleep?” I asked as I took Day from my mother. She did not stir and continued sleeping.

“Almost one and a half hour.” Mom said with a small smile.

                I looked at the time and frowned. Day had developed a sleeping pattern over the days and her nap in the afternoon only last for 2 hours on specific times but it’s already past her specific times to be asleep. I know I’m overreacting a bit because she’s just sleeping but I just feel unsettled for some unknown reason. I tried to calm down and let Day sleep but after another hour passed and the dark is starting to claim the sky, I started panicking because Day is not waking up even if I tried to forcibly wake her up.

“She didn’t eat anything did she?” My father asked worriedly as we all hovered worriedly on Day in her crib.

“No.” Mom and I answered since we’re the last ones who held her.

“What about you Zoya? Did you eat anything unusual?” Mom asked.

“I don’t know. I-I drank milk and ate bread for breakfast and then…then nothing else.”

“We better get her to the hospital to check out what’s wrong.” Zyla said while my parents agreed.

                The idea freaked me out but I kept it in as we all rushed to the hospital. Another reason and mostly the main reason as to why I really cannot go back to work while taking care of Day is that Day’s existence must be kept a secret from anyone outside the family. She is undoubtedly mine and Josh’s child, we created her together but just this idea is an anomaly itself. Josh, a vampire, being able to father a normal child is bad news if anyone, especially vampires, find out about Day’s existence. Day is special because as Zyla had tested, she is fully a vampire, another mystery among all the other mysteries of her birth.