Deanara Samaniego’s POV
“What’s happening?” Ethan rushed towards me.
I was running down the hallway when he met me. The elevator broke down, so I am sure that my son used the stairs to go down. I am not sure if he’s going down or up. I had already called the staff of the hotel to help me. It’s been minutes since he ran away while I was talking to my mother. I thought he wouldn’t have gone far because he’s inside the facility, but I was wrong…because he’s really like flash.
“He’s missing?” Ethan was already panicking as he tried to call some staff. “What’s happening? He might be around. Let’s split. I’ll take the stairs up then you can go down.”
I nodded. “Yes, okay…” I inhaled. “I’ll explain it later but it would be best if you will be the one he’s going to see instead of me because he might not want to see me now.”
“He knew already?” Ethan asked.
I sadly smiled. I don’t have time to explain it so we already parted ways. I prayed that he’s just around the area so it would be easy for us to actually look for him. I am now getting worried because this building is so wide and big. The only way for me to know where he is now is to look in the CCTV area.
Since, the elevator broke down. I had to take the stairs for three floors until I found the other elevator going down. It’s taking so much of my time, waiting for it to open. I felt like wasting it. Finally, it was okay. I counted every second until I was already in the staff room. I immediately went inside but some guards stopped me so I had to explain it. I hate wasting time. After a while, they helped me find my son.
I sighed a relief when I saw that he was on the rooftop and Ethan was already there. Yeah. That's the only place where he can go. And, he was really crying while Ethan was holding him. I could not hear what they were talking about but watching my son hug Ethan like that…I know that it would not be easy for Gray to take Ethan’s place as his own son. And, it would really take a lot of time to do it. I just hope that Sae will find the space for Gray…I would hate myself if he will not accept Gray in his life. It was my fault.
I don’t have any role as of the moment, so I decided to let Ethan handle it for a while. I need to give my son some space because I also don’t know what to tell him. And, explaining isn’t enough for all the things that happened between us. I didn’t go back to the unit and find myself going back to our old house.
Lyuna isn’t here yet in the city because of her business. I am really glad that she took care of the business that I gave her and now she’s really one of the most famous designers and she already designed clothes for actors and actresses which is really nice. I missed her…she’s really someone I want to share everything with but I don’t want to get in her dreams, so I might deal with it. I just hope that when she comes back, everything will be fine. I cut ties with her…and I don’t know if she still wants to see me…but I hope we can have our friendship back.
I sighed.
I went back inside my room, laid down, and closed my eyes. I need to breathe fresh air. I need it. I need to think, so I decided to stop answering calls now. Ugh! I felt like really dying right now and my mind is going to explode any moment.
What am I going to do?
I have a lot of things to do, that I am no longer aware of what to do first. Damn!
I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to go back to writing. This is really the only place where I can vent and say whatever I want to say. So, I decided to start a story. I have a lot of stories to finish, but instead I am here…starting a new one again. I sighed. I really missed writing.
I am not sure about my mother cutting me in her life…but if ever…well, I might go back to teaching or perhaps be a housewife, but that would bore me to death, so I have to do some hobbies.
After hours, I decided to open my phone again. I received a lot of texts from Gray that I need to call back because he might be overreacting now.
“Babe!” He yelled. “What the hell? Why aren’t you answering your phone?” He’s a bit worried. I could feel it.
“I’m sorry, I just need some thinking.” I honestly replied.
“You can think with me. What is it? Let me help you!” He told me. “Say it. Don’t hide it from me!”
“It’s about my mother.” I assured him. “We don’t have a problem, okay? I am not going to leave.” I told him, so he wouldn’t think twice and he would not get worried about me leaving him without saying anything. There is no way I am going to leave him again. I will fight for him this time.
“And, our son…Sae…” I deeply sighed. “He already knew and…”
“And, what did he say?”
“I’m sorry, Gray. I was supposed to tell him, but he heard it at the most unexpected time while I was fighting with my mother. So…he couldn’t really grasp the situation yet. Ethan is with him. He’s talking to him.”
“Let me go there. Wait for me. I’ll—”
“No!” I protested. “Not now. My mother is here and she will not like it. Let me settle it, and in return can you settle our relationship with your family? I know that they don’t say anything with regards to our relationship, but it doesn’t mean they don’t have anything to say. I want to—”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters, Gray.” I told him. “It matters to Sae. Our family isn’t the only problem. It’s Sae and the people around him who will do whatever they want to do just to break us. If it’s me, I can handle it. But, how can Sae handle all the issues? From Mattel to Ethan and to you. It’s my fault, I know that and I am trying to do my best to fix it…but it won’t be fixed overnight so I want you to help me.” I pleaded. “We cannot go on with the wedding without fixing this. The people will talk. You and I can ignore it. But, Sae? It will affect him.”
Gray sighed on the other line and I am sure he knew that I was right about it. Of course, I don’t want Sae to grow up with a lot of issues around us. He won’t be able to handle it, especially when people talk. And, they will start talking about Gray and Ethan…and him…with everything happening around us.
“Okay, I’ll settle it.” He replied to me. “Please…just talk to me, okay? Don’t hide things from me.”
“You do the same, Gray.” I replied to him. “Note that whatever happens, Gray…I will not leave again.”
“I will not let you leave again.”
Leaving will never be an option. So, I am going to make it work, no matter what happens. That’s what I am going to do.
“What, now?” I asked Ethan. “Is he mad at me?”
Ethan and I decided to talk outside. We are inside the coffee shop since I don’t want to go home, in our mansion, because I don’t think Sae would want to see me. He’s now with my mother and I hope my mother will do something for my son not to hate me. She’s not obliged to do it because it’s my fault, but a little help will do. Ethan had explained it to him, but still…it’s not enough.
“A bit.” He sadly smiled. “He’s a smart kid. He just needs some time, but yeah…he hates you…” Ethan chuckled a bit. “But, he’ll get by.”
“Are you enjoying this?”
He nodded. Wow, he didn’t even deny it.
“I enjoy the fact that Sae doesn’t like Gray to be his father. I mean, he was okay with being his uncle…but father…I don’t think so, so I guess you will have to marry me.” He laughed, although it was a joke.
“Anyway, I am happy that you and Gray have finally reconciled. But, I don’t think marriage will happen anytime soon. Sae still needs to adjust and you have a child coming in, right? He needs time.”
“Yeah.” I sighed. “Sae…do you think he will not like Gray?”
He shrugged. “I am really a good father to him. A great one…so well…” He grinned. “It will take time to replace me.”
“Yeah. Thanks for being a great father to him.” I smiled. It was a sincere one.
“I hate Gray, but I’ll help him. Okay? Before that, settle the issues with my family and yours. It will affect Sae, and it might give him some mental issues. We don’t want that to happen. Okay?”
I nodded. “I need your help. He’s really close to you…so…”
Ethan held my hand. “I am going to help him. Okay? But, Gray should really do everything…because I am sorry to say but it’s hard to just replace me.”
I hate to agree, but Ethan was right. I could attest to it that Ethan is really hard to replace when it comes to Sae because he was really a great one. He was the one who took care of Sae more than I ever did. He was the one who taught Sae things he needed to learn about the world. It was something that I could not even take away from my son. And, I am pretty sure that if Sae has to choose, he will choose Ethan more than he’s going to choose me. It’s never been an issue before because Gray is out of the picture, but now that he is here...then...I don’t know anymore.
It will take a lot of time for my son to adjust. He doesn’t even talk to me now.
“Are you going out with Ethan?” I asked him. As usual, my son just looked at me. It’s been like that for a day. But, I guess he cannot forever ignore me. I am still his mother.
“Does Uncle Gray know that I am his son?” He finally asked me. He was serious about it as I nodded. “Then...why…”
He smiled a bit. “Daddy Ethan explained to me everything. I understand it now, but mother…” He sighed. “I like him as my uncle, but I don’t think I like him as my father and do you love him? Do you love Uncle Gray because I thought you would be marrying Daddy Ethan.”
I approached him and held both of his shoulders, “Don’t you want to give him a chance? Are you closing your doors to him?”
He shook his head. “I am not, mother...but it doesn’t mean that I like him. I mean, I really don’t know him.”
“You know him…” I replied. “You’ve met him a lot of times, right?”
“He’s a great uncle, mom. There is no doubt about it. But, it doesn’t mean that he is also a great father. He cheated on you. He lied a lot of times. How can you be so sure, mom, that he is okay now, that he’s not going to break your heart?”
I am not sure. Honestly, I don’t know about it because I cannot control everything. All I know is that I am going to trust him because I love him and it was right to trust the one you truly love. That is what’s supposed to happen.
“Mom, are you sure about it?” He asked again.
“How about this, you get to know him first...then if you really don’t like him as your father. We are going to take it from there...we are going to decide based on what you like. After all, you are my precious son and your happiness is all I ever wanted.”
“Then, can you let him go and marry Daddy Ethan? He loves you and I am sure that he’s never going to hurt you.” He was sure of it like how I am also sure of it.
I know Ethan and he’s one person that I know I can count on no matter what happens. I am pretty sure that he will not do anything that will harm me. He hasn’t done anything to make me feel not wanted. He’s always been there and without Gray, I am pretty sure that we are together.
And, Gray...no matter what I do...he’s really whom I want to be with. I tried everything, but it always went back to him.
“Gray will come home in weeks. Can you try to get to know him?” I sounded hopeful. He’s not that stubborn, so I know that he would agree with me.
“By the way, mother...are we going to settle here? Granny wanted me to go back to Spain. I guess you are not on good terms right now.”
“Where do you want to live?” I asked him. “The decision is yours, Sae. It’s for you to decide.”
I have been deciding for years, for him, that I never get to ask what he really wanted. Now, he knew the truth. It’s fair that he decides to do what he wants. If he wants to go back to Finland, then yes we will do it. If he wanted to stay in Spain, fine! I will do it. I know I told Gray that I will choose him, but above all I know he would understand if the choice is between him and Sae. All I can do right now is to actually hope that Sae will accept him.
“Can I think about it, mom?” He responded.
I nodded. “Yes. I’ll be waiting.”
“Do you love Uncle Gray more than Daddy Ethan?” He asked again.
There’s no room for me to say no because it is the truth so I nodded.
“How can you love someone who breaks your heart...again?” He sighed, he was concerned about me. That is what he was showing to me, maybe the reason why up until now he wasn’t sure about it.
I am sure it was my mother who told him things or maybe the people around him. I don’t know and I don’t want to talk about it since dealing with it doesn’t matter anymore. I cannot please all the people and cannot handle what they are going to say. It’s Sae that matters right now.
“Do you think he is going to break my heart?” I replied to him.
“He did it before, mom. What makes you think he wouldn’t do it again?”
“Can you meet him before I answer your question?” I said. “But, this time...as your father. How about that?”
He nodded with a smile on his face. “Okay. I’ll do it. But, it doesn’t mean that I am going to like him. Okay?”
I kissed my son on his cheeks as I let him go.
Now, it’s all in Gray’s hand. He should do everything in his power to actually get Sae’s love and care. It will never be easy...but I know time will come that we will become a happy family.
“Do you think he will like Gray?” I asked Ethan while we were having coffee.
Finally, Sae is now talking to me like nothing happened, and he is also waiting for Gray. Unfortunately, Gray is not yet around because he needs to do something with regards to his airline.
“Yes.” He was sure of it. “He might be an ass, but I am sure that he will do everything he can just to prove he is worthy of Sae.”
I smiled. I am sure of that.
“Anyway, Gray might be on his way home now.” Ethan looked at his watch. “We already sent another team to oversee the project, so that Gray can spend some time with you, guys. Also, you need to settle things with your mother, right?”
I nodded. “Yes…”
I will try my best to settle things with her.
We spend another hour waiting for Gray to come home. We already talked over the phone...and now he’s there to see Sae. Finally! I cannot wait for them to meet. Sae wasn’t sure about it, but then I could see that he wanted to try.
He was up with it and it was really amazing.
Only that destiny seems to play with us, whenever, we find peace and finally a happy ending.
Now, I don’t know what to do. I can't believe this is happening. I thought everything was settled now, but destiny really doesn’t seem to favor us. It always finds a way for us to break apart.
This time, it wasn’t under the control of a person, but it was something that we can no longer prevent. It wasn’t under our control. It was independent of our will and his life is also not in our hands right now.
“Mr. Elizalde’s plane crashed.”
Now...I am running for my life.