Chapter 4 The tears

Chapter 4

THIRD PERSON'S P.O.V

It was early morning, but Asher was still wide awake. He wanted to go to sleep, but the conversation he had with his parents was still running through his mind.

"Son, is that you?" said the father.

"Dad.."

"Asher! Where are you!?" was his daddy.

He closed his eyes and let the tears fall from his eyes. It was a few years ago and only now he heard the voice of his father and daddy again.

"Pa, Daddy? Aren't you mad at me?" Asher asked.

It was quiet on the other line, but he could still hear her sobs.

"We're going to be really angry if you don't come home," his father's voice was mixed with menace, but full of excitement. "We ask a lot, son, why? But we really don't see any reason, son."

"Pa, please forgive me if I only called now. Pa, Daddy, we're going home tomorrow," he said on the other line.

"We?"

"Yes, Pa," that's all and he immediately hung up. He washed his face and his sobs that he had been suppressing were completely released.

Asher looked at his son who was sleeping peacefully next to him.

"You will meet Papa and Daddy tomorrow," she said softly and immediately kissed his forehead.

He lay down next to his son and immediately hugged him.

The next day, Asher woke up because of his daughter's kisses on his cheek.

"Good morning, Pa," greeted the son and kissed Asher again.

Asher smiled and reciprocated the son.

"Take a bath, Pa, hurry!" driving away its son.

"Do I stink, baby?" Asher seems to have a swagger.

"Don't we still have a walk, Pa?" his son said happily.

Asher frowned.

"Baby?"

"Tito Rafael called a while ago while you were sleeping, Pa. He said that we have a trip and that Tito Rafael has something important to tell us!" happy turan of its son.

Asher's mood seems to have changed. He thought that his son heard his conversation with his parents. But there is no case for him. In fact, he will introduce his son to his parents now.

He watched his son who was already dressed. He smiled and kissed the boy's cheek again.

A few minutes later, Asher was done and he and his son went down together. And there, he found Rafael sitting on the sofa while talking to someone on the phone.

"Tito Rafael!" screamed the son and ran to Rafael. Rafael seemed surprised, so he immediately hung up.

"Baby Liam!" Rafael and messed up Liam's hair.

Asher approached them with a smile.

"Papa! I'm just cr!" said his son and immediately ran to the bathroom. When his son entered, his smiles disappeared and he looked at Rafael seriously.

"We're going home first, Rafael." Asher said while his tone of voice was serious. Rafael turned his gaze to her and I could see the joy on his face.

"Really?"

Asher nodded at him and smiled.

"I'm just going to call Jacob, that's the next time. Because I'll take you to your house..." said Rafael, the joy evident in his voice.

"Jacob?" frowned when Asher promised.

"Now I would like to introduce him to you, but only later." Rafael said and left to call his boyfriend, Jacob.

It didn't take long for him to return, along with his son Liam.

"Let's go?"

Asher nodded and immediately loaded Liam. They didn't bring any more things, because he knew that he had many things left at home.

While they were driving and talking happily, the soft noise of the engine and the occasional rustling of leaves outside provided a soothing companion to their conversation. Asher glanced at Liam, who was enthusiastically talking about things.

During their happy conversation in the car, Liam couldn't help but laugh at Rafael's jokes, even if they weren't that funny. The sound of his laughter filled the car, and Asher was infected by his son's laughter.

A few hours later, they were here in front of the mansion.

Liam looked dumbfounded at the size of the house.

"Daddy, it's big!!" his son said. Asher laughed softly and ruffled her hair.

"Your house is so big, Tito Rafael! I want a big house like this too.."

Rafael couldn't stop laughing.

"Silly, boy! That's your house.." said Rafael, still suppressing his laughter.

They went down together and Asher couldn't help but feel nervous again.

He looked at Rafael as he held his hand.

"I know they will be very happy..." Rafael calmed down.

Asher took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. After a while, the big black gate opened.

Asher carried Liam who was still amazed at what he saw.

An old man came out, but based on his posture and form, he looked like a young man, and next to him was a small man who almost matched the color of his white clothes.

"Papa, Daddy.."

On the other side..

Diego walked briskly towards the mansion, his mind consumed with thoughts of the missing 500 million from the company's accounts. He rehearsed what he would say to Asher's parents, knowing that this conversation would be crucial in determining the next steps for the company.

In the time they have been business partners, this has only happened to the company. So, even though it's too early, he has to go for one of the biggest shares in the company. To get its opinions.

As Diego approached the mansion, he caught sight of someone he hadn't seen in a long time - Asher, holding hands with another man while carrying a child. The sight caught him off guard, stirring up a mix of emotions within him. He paused for a moment, unsure of how to proceed, before steeling himself and continuing towards the entrance, where he would soon confront Asher's parents about the missing funds.

He didn't realize that for a long time he didn't see the tears, now they just fell from his eyes.

Diego's hands tightened on the steering wheel as he made a sharp turn, diverting from the mansion towards a well-known bar. Even though it was early, he didn't care anymore.

His mind buzzed with questions, his heart heavy with the weight of betrayal and uncertainty. He needed a moment to collect his thoughts, away from the looming confrontation and the unexpected sight of Asher with another man and a child.

Inside the bar.

He ordered a drink, trying to drown out the cacophony of emotions swirling within him. As he sipped his drink, he couldn't shake the image of Asher from his mind, nor could he ignore the nagging feeling that there was more to the situation than met the eye. What he thought he had long ago buried in oblivion. But in just one glance, everything seemed to return. Very painful!

The morning stretched on as Diego nursed his drink, his mind racing with possibilities and his heart heavy with unresolved questions. And as the hours ticked by, he knew that the answers he sought lay somewhere in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered.

Diego's contemplation was interrupted by the sound of a woman's voice nearby. He glanced up to see a woman sitting alone at the bar, her eyes fixed on him with a curious expression. With a faint smile, she raised her glass in greeting.

"Soup?" her voice laced with empathy.

Diego nodded, grateful for the distraction.

"Mind if I join you?"

She shook her head, gesturing for him to take a seat. "Please, be my guest."

As Diego settled onto the stool, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief at the chance to divert his thoughts, even if only momentarily.

"So, what's got you looking like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders?" the woman asked, her tone gentle yet probing.

Diego hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to divulge to a stranger. But something about her demeanor put him at ease, and he found himself opening up in ways he hadn't expected.

"It's complicated," he began, swirling the ice cubes in his glass. "I'm dealing with some... business troubles. And personal ones, too."

The woman nodded understandingly, her eyes reflecting a depth of empathy that caught Diego off guard.

"Sounds like you could use a listening ear," she said softly. "I'm all ears if you want to talk about it."

And so, in the dimly lit ambiance of the bar, Diego found himself pouring out his worries and frustrations to a stranger, grateful for the chance to unburden himself, if only for a moment.

DIEGO'S P.O.V:

As I stood at the end of the aisle, my heart pounded with anticipation, my eyes fixed on the entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of my soon-to-be spouse. With each passing moment, my excitement turned to confusion and then to a deep sense of hurt as the minutes stretched on, and it became painfully clear that I had been left waiting alone, abandoned at the altar. My world seemed to collapse when I realized that Asher didn't pick me up. I looked at those around me and I saw a lot of sadness on their faces.

I sat on the pavement while the tears slowly fell. Until I started crying. It's so painful, I've spent so much time preparing for it, it just comes to nothing.

"Diego..." he said my name.

I immediately looked up because of his familiar voice.

"Mahal?" I can't believe my promise.

He smiled at me, but soon it disappeared and was replaced by sobs. Because of the panic, I immediately stood up to help him, but he pushed me.

"You're a cheat! You're a liar!" it snorted and immediately pointed the gun at me. "I loved you so much! But this is the only thing you're going to repay? When we're actually married?! Putangîna, Diego! I love you so much! But I won't let you be happy with her!"

"L-love?"

"Goodbye, Diego!" At the same time as the gun went off, I immediately woke up from a bad dream.

My heart raced as I sat up, my breath ragged from the intensity of the nightmare. Blinking rapidly, I tried to shake off the lingering fear as I focused on the woman approaching me, her face etched with concern. My forehead was wrinkled. Where am I?

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine worry. He stood next to me and immediately wiped the sweat that had formed on my forehead.

Instead of answering her question, I looked around the room.

"Where am I?"

"In my condo. I don't know where you live, so I just brought you here," she replied with a smile on her lips. "You were too drunk earlier.."

"Who are you?"

The smile on her lips disappeared and was replaced by a snort. "How quickly you forget! You sulk!"

I rolled my eyes.

To Be Continued...