Love in Separation

Chapter 12 - Savior

This is what I have been fearing since coming here.

Seeing him makes me yearn for him.

It’s been a week now since I last saw him and no matter how much I disappoint and frustrate myself, I found myself hoping I would see him by the daycare.

Waiting for me or he would simply pass by at the same time I am there.

I guess that’s how it is.

Sometimes, even though you can’t see someone or be with them for years your love doesn't fade.

As we eat in a restaurant, I invited my Aunt along with my cousin and their family so that Maralin can spend some more time with them while they aren’t as busy.

I’ve been swamped at work and have been getting Maralin 2 hours later than I normally get her. It’s gotten so bad that all of them saw how stressed I look.

“Wow, this job of yours sure is taking so much out of you.” My cousin Cathrine said as we eat.

“It’s the busy season so it’s getting more and more demanding,” I said, smiling. “I mean, shouldn’t you be saying that to me given that your job is a lot more demanding than mine?”

Cathrine chuckled before speaking. “Sure, but I have been a nurse for a long time now. What I do is normal for me. You, on the other hand, you’re only going to be staying there for a month, and look at how exhausting you are and it’s only been a week.”

Sighing in resignation, I nodded to her in affirmation. “The manager that quit made a whole bunch of mess on the system that it takes a long time for me to organize it apart from the other responsibilities I have to do.”

We continued to eat as we catch up when someone touches my shoulder and looks at me.

“Salina?”

The woman with a fair complexion, chinky dark eyes as she smiles at me. It took me a second before being able to recognize her.

“Deanne?”

Her smile grew wider upon recognizing her. I stood up and we hug each other. “Oh my god! I haven’t seen you since college!” She said.

“Yes! Oh my god, it’s so nice to see you!” I then look at my family and introduce her to them. “This is my college friend Deanne.”

After some niceties, and learning each other’s names, Deanne focused her attention on me. “I didn’t know you were here! If I hadn’t seen you, I wouldn’t have known!”

“I’m sorry, I know I should have mentioned it to you, I’m just a bit swamped with work.”

“Oh no, how long are you going to be staying here?”

“I still have 3 weeks left before we move to Florida.”

“What?! We have got to hang out tonight!” She said.

I would have instantly said yes but then I looked over at Maralin still eating her greens. “I’d love to but no one is going to watch over my daughter.”

Deanne then looked at Maralin and smiled. Forgetting that something tragic happened to her 2 years ago. “That’s too bad.”

“Maralin can have a sleepover with us,” Cathrine said smiling at us.

“Is it really okay? I didn’t want to impose on you.”

“Come on, it’s the weekend! It’s your first day off tomorrow. The kids and I would love to have Maralin with us over the weekend.”

“You okay with that, sweetie?” I ask, lowering towards her to see her face.

Maralin grinned and nodded her head in affirmation. “Mara can play with Cole and Corbin!”

Relieved, Deanne and I exchanged numbers and went our separate ways till we meet again after our meals.

I paid for the meals and stood outside the restaurant to say goodbye to my daughter and family. “You be good, okay? Don’t give them trouble okay?”

“Mara will behave.” She said grinning.

“Okay, I’ll pick you up on Sunday alright?”

“Okay, Mama.”

When they all left, I texted Deanne that I’m waiting outside the restaurant.

When she and her husband got out, we decided to go to a bar for a drink.

We sat by the bar and ordered cocktails as we catch up.

“Your daughter is so cute! How old is she?” She asks before sipping on her cosmopolitan.

“She’s turning 5 by the end of this year.”

Smiling bitterly, she downs her drink in one go. “Damn. My daughter would have been the same age as her.”

“I’m sorry, Deanne,” I said as I hug her tightly.

When we let go, she wipes off the tears in her eyes and puts on a grin. “No, let’s not talk about something sad. By the way, is Maralin the daughter of that white guy you used to date?”

Remembering Drayce, I nodded as I pursed my lips. “Yeah.”

“Oh my god! That guy’s blood sure runs strong.” She said as we flag down the bartender for another round of drinks.

“Yeah. Sure did.”

“Does he know?”

“No. I mean, I only just saw him last week. I was scared that he has his life together now and it will be ruined all because of my daughter.”

“What?! He’s the father! He has to know. Wherever his life is at the moment, he needs to be a father to your child. He went away for so many years after all!”

Suddenly, an arm envelops our shoulders as a guy grinned at us. “Hey, bitches!”

Deanne and I both squealed upon realizing who it is. “Jean!”

The three of us hug each other and kissed his cheek. “It’s been so long!” I said.

“It’s a good thing Deanne texted me!”

As we all sit back up, the few drinks became a bit too many, especially with Jean.

“b***h what? Why did you just let that piece of a*s go?” He said as he starts slurring his words.

“Come on! I couldn’t just spill it out all of a sudden!”

“Uh, you could. Duh?”

“See! I told you.” Deanne chimed in.

“I’m scared that he’ll tell me that he has a girlfriend now or worse that he has a family of his own. I know Maralin would feel envious of a complete family I couldn’t give her.”

“But isn’t it a little unfair though? Regardless, a father has a right to know of his child’s existence. What if your daughter started asking for his father? Better yet, what if the two found and met each other?” Deanne asks as her voice starts to slur.

“Yeah, girl! Besides, you don’t even know the truth about his situation because you didn’t tell him. What if he was just waiting? Grab the chance already!” Jean chimed in before chugging his beer.

“Honestly! Why is it that my life is the only thing we’re talking about?”

“Because yours is like a straight out of a tv series from the Philippines you know.” Jean immediately responded.

“Alright, alright. No more complicated stuff. Let’s just talk about something else and have fun!” Deanne said before raising her nth glass of cosmo as we clink our glasses together.”

It’s been so long.

Since having Maralin, I forgot what it feels like to be me. I honestly didn’t think I’d have another chance like this.

After a while, our simple get-together turned into a club-hopping fiasco.

For a night, I allowed myself to let loose.

Even though Jean is a tall lean guy, it is very evident that he’s gay. So when we dance, there would sometimes be guys dancing along.

Tired of being hounded by strange men, I went by the bar and ordered another drink. As I wait for my drink, my arm fell from the bar making me lean on the person next to me.

“I’m sorry,” I said, as I push myself up. When I look up at him, his gray eyes gaze at me. I couldn’t read much into his expression but it didn’t matter as he looked away and did not pay me any other attention after that.

I would have done the same had he not looked so handsome and familiar.

Getting back to the dance floor my friends didn’t seem to realize I went back to get another drink.

As I down my drink while dancing, I felt someone’s hands along my body. When I turn around, I saw a stranger with a scary sneer on his face as he eagerly tries to feel me up more.

Disgusted, I pushed him away. My friends try to help me out but the guy is persistent. Trying to push him so hard, I ended up slipping and falling on the floor. The glass I was holding breaks on the floor.

The thing is, my vision started to blur and I’m getting dizzy. When I reach up for my head, I saw my hand bleeding or maybe it's just my drink. Being intoxicated, I could barely keep my head straight.

I heard a commotion going on. I must have drank so many tonight that my reflex is a bust.

Still looking at my hand, I can feel my friends lowering down towards me when a man fell on the ground.

It was the p*****t guy.

His mouth is bleeding as he looks up angrily at someone.

When I followed his gaze, towering over us is an exceptionally handsome man with gray eyes.

Wait… he’s awfully familiar…

My friends tried to pick me up but because we are all intoxicated, they weren’t able to successfully do it.

When the handsome man looked over to us, he walk towards me and carried me out. My friends immediately followed suit.

As he carries me, I feel an awful amount of ease with his warm muscular body.

Why is this so familiar?

When I look up at him once again, his gray eyes soon turned hazel.

His dark hair turned dirty blond.

When his eyes fall back on me, my heart beats so loud in recognition. “Drayce?”