Chapter 5

Ingrid's POV "Ingrid!" I was almost out of balance when someone came to hug me. My lips immediately felt open when I saw Chora, Indigo's best friend who looked even more childish in her appearance. I thought I would be able to go out peacefully but it's impossible now. 'Omg! It's really true that you are here! You look even more beautiful! Seriously, you don't even have pores, you are really blessed! " she said with a wide smile on her face. I was a little embarrassed because of that. 'It's embarrassing, is that really coming from you? When you are this beautiful," I said because when I see her in magazines, I really admire her beauty. It was as if as time went on she looked more and more young and beautiful. "Seriously, you really know how to tell lies now." She laughed at me so I can't help but pout. I'm not lying though? 'Let's go, come with us. Let's eat! I haven't seen you for a long time, and you're not active on Facebook!" she said, frowning at me. I changed my Facebook account. I also don't use it much, depending on if I need to update some parents. I'm even more updated when it comes to ig just to keep in touch. "No, I have to go home too." I don't want to go because I'll only see Indigo and Andra. 'Yeah, you're always like that, Ingrid! We just saw each other! Why? Will someone be angry?" Andra asked me who was just standing next to Indigo now. She's not holding him anymore. She also smiled broadly at me. "I just really need to go home early today," I said. 'Why? Is anyone waiting?" Indigo asked with an eyebrow still raised at me. "Yes." Your child. Well, they're still on their way but I also don't want them to wait for me. I can see how he looks at me because of what I said. "Just a minute, I don't think the person will be impatient to wait for you," Chora told me. He also didn't stop me until I agreed. Raya is not really an impatient person because that one knows very well how to entertain himself. She inherited that from her father. "I'll be with you for half an hour then," I said so Chora immediately smiled. She immediately tried to clasp her hands on my shoulder. "Not that I don't want you here but why did you go here?" I asked Chora when we were in the parking lot. My forehead furrowed when she smiled and turned to Indigo before laughing. "Ah, I went through the salon branch here so I also passed by to visit Indigo and Andra," she said with a playful grin. I thought she drives her car but it looks like she will just ride with Indigo and Andra. I couldn't help but stare at the two as they laughed when Andra sat in the front seat. I don't know why I'm still looking at them when I'm already hurting. I saw Indigo look at me in the rearview mirror, and for some unknown reason, I immediately averted his eyes. You're being too obvious, Ingrid. Chora just talked to me, I tried to focus my attention on her stories but I also couldn't help but be distracted because of Indigo and Andra who were talking sweetly. We both stopped when we heard the loud ring of my cell phone. I close my eyes because of that. I didn't keep it silent. My daughter's call is also becoming an alarm for me. I answered it when I saw Jolie's name. "Nay!" My daughter's voice came out immediately. "Hello, Baby?" I just lowered my voice when I answered her call. 'Mom, we are close to manila! When I saw you, I'll kiss you a hundred times! Can't wait to hug you, Mom!" she said so I couldn't stop the smile from my lips. Her energy is high again. I even laughed softly when I heard the sound of her kisses. 'I can't wait to see you too, I'll kiss you a hundred times too. Just make sure it's a hundred times, huh? Be careful, my love," I said. We called quickly because they were also on their trip. The smile just disappeared from my lips when I noticed that the three of them were silent while looking at me. I was even more silent when I put down my cell phone. Even Andra and Indigo who were laughing earlier are now quiet. I pouted and was a little nervous because they might have heard my daughter's voice. The phone is not on loudspeaker so it's impossible that they heard it. "That's why you're glowing," Chora said so I looked at her. "Huh?" I curiously asked. "You look in peace and you look like you're living your best life," she told me. "I am," I said, still imagining my child's face. I can't wait to hug her. Chora just stared at me so I looked at her in surprise. Soon she just smiled at me. "I'm happy for you," she said. Soon we arrived at the diner as well. I immediately stopped when I see where we are. The main branch of Ing&Ind, the company that we started. It seems like he has already made it big. "Let's go," Chora invited me. I was magnetized in the seat. I don't even know how to get out of the car to go there. I immediately felt my chest tighten when we got out of the car. Andra and Indigo were immediately greeted by their guard. They're obviously known here. "Good evening," they greeted Chora and me. I greeted them anxiously. When we went inside I became even quieter. Their shop looks so big. Everything Indigo and I dreamed of doing here, the shop doesn't have. This is probably Andra's concept. We also increased the number of sweets we used to sell years ago but the things I used to bake are still here. "Let's sit here, Ingrid," Chora said to me with a smile. I just smiled too when I approached her. Chora is talkative so I didn't feel out of place with Andra and Indigo talking. I was just looking at them, they really look good together. Andra seems to know Indigo very well. Of course, they were together for how many years now, even longer than our relationship with Indigo then. I just secretly watched them. All right, hurt yourself, even more, Ingrid. "Hey, that's all you're going to eat?" Chora asked me. "Are you on a diet?" she asked me so I immediately shook. "You should eat more, someone will get angry." She laughed. I don't know if I'm being teased or what. I just kept eating. "Can I go home now?" I ask. She stared at me because of that. She just smiled and nodded. "Just take it out then, you just ate a little," she told me before she signaled a waiter to come in our table. I looked at Indigo and Andra. They were so busy talking that they didn't even notice me until Andra saw me standing. "You're going home?" she asked me. I nodded and smiled. 'It's still early! Does someone keep on asking you to go home now? Seriously?" she asked so I frowned. "Ah, no, I'm the one who wants to go home," I said with a smile. She nodded and I could still see her grin. "Let's go, I'll take you," Indigo said but I immediately shook my head. I don't want to because I've been holding back tears now. "I'll just take a taxi, thank you." I smiled sweetly again before walking away from them. I immediately hailed a taxi when I got out. I just said where I will be going. Once I was inside the taxi, I just stared at Indigo and Andra's paper bag of sweets. Sweets that we both started. I was happy and hurt at the same time. I'm happy because he was still able to continue the business between the two of us now and it hurts because I'm no longer there. I am no longer the one with him to fulfill our dream. He was already happy and successful with her so how can I tell him that we have a child? That he has a child? I don't want to hurt him. I don't want to ruin the life he's enjoying now because I know he deserves it all. I was no longer aware that I was quietly crying. No sound. Just pure pain. "Ma'am, tissue," Manong said so I just smiled. I'm mentally tired. Instead of going straight home, I just hailed a taxi far away. When I came down, I just cried on the sidewalks. With a heavy heart. I don't want my daughter to see me like this so I just quietly soothe my tears. I even saw a call from my daughter so I just wiped the tears from my eyes. "Hello, Baby?" I feel for him. 'Nay, we are here! Where are you?" she asked me from the other line. I restrained myself from sobbing or any sign that I was crying now. "I'm going home too, my love," I said from the other line. "Okay, see you!" I just smiled because of that. I just wiped away the tears and was even able to look at myself in the mirror. Your child can't see you crying, Ingrid. Fix yourself. When I was finally able to fix myself, I went to the apartment again. I was immediately greeted with a tight hug by my daughter. I couldn't stop my heart from pounding. I really need that now. He kisses me too so I can't help but smile. 'Is that a hundred kisses? It doesn't seem like it." I laughed. "I will give you the 50 kisses later when we go to sleep," she said so I smiled before I lifted her inside. "Did you miss Nanay?" I asked her, rubbing her cheek. "Yes, so much!" She said with a wide smile on her face. 'Mom! There are so many plants that I bought! Our garden is full now!" she said, still giggling. I smiled when I put her down on the sofa. "Did grandpa buy you so many plants again?" I asked her. She immediately shook her head. "No, because Tito and Tita teased me and then they said that I shouldn't tell you," she said so I immediately turned to Jolie who was just busy fixing her eyelids. "We'll take it back, you told Big Sister!" The reason why my daughter pouted. "Hehe, it's just a joke, Nay. They didn't tease me at all," Raya said so I laughed softly. "Did they keep on teasing you while I was away?" I asked her. She shook her head at me because of that. 'We didn't tease her, Ate. If she cries, no one will calm her down," Jolie said so I couldn't help but shake my head. They knew I wasn't there so they would take care of her just in case she cries. "Sandro was the one who often teases so he buys her plants," Jolie said with a laugh. I couldn't help but laugh because of that. I imagine Sandro's reaction. 'You know, Mom, we planted last year, didn't we? It grows up so good now!" she said telling me stories now. I smiled because she was having fun while telling me the story. "Then yesterday, we planted almost all the seeds we brought," Raya said with a smile. The smile faded from my lips as I looked at her wide smile. I don't want that smile to be gone. Maybe it's only right not to really tell Indigo. I don't want to lose the smile of the two of them. They are happy in life with the idea that there is no presence of each other so why should I destroy it, right?