Unfinished Goodbyes

"Congratulations, Stacey." Her OB-GYN looked at her intently as she handed over the results of her pregnancy test. "You're five weeks pregnant. Your due date is in August."

Stacey felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She couldn't speak right away.

"Is there any problem?"

"N-no." Stacey’s hand went cold. "Nothing."

"You're pale."

"It looks like déjà vu to me."

"I understand." She nodded. "Does Aiah know you're trying to get pregnant?"

Stacey shook her head.

"What can I say? Will you inform her?"

This was also the doctor Stacey had when she miscarried. "Aiah's not here, she's in Cebu."

"Well, you should inform her. This is not your responsibility alone."

Stacey remembered what happened to her and Aiah at the latter’s art gallery. After that incident, she tried IVF again, believing that the love they shared was real. It had been almost two months since that happened. And she had been avoiding Aiah for just as long. She had kept the new townhouse she was renting a secret even from her assistant.

Stacey changed her phone number and strictly instructed her new secretary to tell callers that she was touring their plants and satellite offices.

But there wasn't a day that she didn't miss Aiah. Stacey didn't want what happened to her before to happen again. Especially since she had heard right here the reason why Aiah had approached her again.

"Stacey, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She quickly stood up. "Thank you, Doc. I'll be right back."

Stacey looked at the phone for a long time before she managed to dial Aiah's number. It rang three times before someone answered on the other line.

"Hello?" Her chest tightened when she heard Janna's voice. Stacey quickly cut off the connection. She replaced the old SIM card and miserably returned her attention to the paperwork she had brought home.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Stacey interrupted Jhoanna.

"Yes?" Jhoanna was clearly distracted. Her eyes were deep and it was like something was bothering her mind.

"I-I don't know how to tell you this but"

Stacey looked down. "I'm pregnant. But I promise it will not affect my performance."

"You're pregnant?" Jhoanna’s eyes widened. "When?"

"Six weeks."

"Does Aiah know?"

Stacey didn't answer.

"You can continue working, of course."

"Yes. But I want to know if I can still work here."

"Your pregnancy will not affect your position. Also, I'm getting very positive feedback from your people about you. So why do I need to worry?"

"You mean, I can stay?"

"Yes." Jhoanna smiled. "What can I say? Congratulations." She held out her hand. "You should inform Aiah, though."

Stacey smiled. "I will, but not right now."

Again, the sadness in her eyes was evident.

"Why?"

"Janna and I haven’t seen each other for a month, Stacey. Wala ka bang balita sa kanya?"

Stacey shook her head.

"Janna and Aiah disappeared just as suddenly." Jhoanna shrugged. "I don't know but maybe it's time that I move on."

"Maybe she needs some time, like I do."

"Probably." They talked for a while.

Stacey found the phone ringing when she returned to her office. She quickly picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Stacey?"

"Yes?" Even though she didn't introduce herself, she knew it was Janna's voice.

"I want to talk to you. Can we meet?"

"I'm busy. Why don't you talk to Jho? I'll transfer your call to her."

"I want to talk to you. Please, don't tell Jho I called. Just a moment, Stacey. Please."

Stacey thought for a moment. "Okay. Where?"

"At Flavors, on Makati Avenue. You know the place?"

"Yes."

"Tonight at seven?"

"Yes."

"I'll see you then."

"Fine." It took a long time for Stacey’s heart rate to return to normal.

Janna was already sitting when Stacey arrived at Flavors. She hadn't paid much attention to her when she saw her with Aiah. She suddenly felt insecure, especially in her situation.

Janna was tall. Her long red hair was shiny. She looked social in her sexy clothes. She moved with finesse and didn't even take off her shades when she sat down in the chair across from her.

"Hello."

"Stacey?"

"Yes." Her smile was forced. "What do you want to say?"

"Maybe we should order first."

"I'm not really hungry."

"Drinks?"

"Orange juice will be fine." The waiter approached them and Janna gave them both their drink orders.

"I'm not really hungry either. Sorry to call you up on such short notice. I just arrived and I need to talk to you before I go."

"Aalis ka?"

"Yes. I'm planning to go back and stay in Bicol for an indefinite period of time, Stacey. It's a shame that we only had the chance to meet and talk now. You know why we're both here... Aiah."

Stacey’s throat went dry at what she heard. "What about Aiah? There's no problem with us," she pretended. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?"

"No, Stacey." Janna’s voice was soft. "I want to know why all of a sudden, you disappeared from my friend's life. Aiah is still in shock about why and what she did to make you do this to her again. He's miserable and laging na lang galit. I can't stand it anymore!"

"You should know why."

"If I know, we won't be having this conversation. Do you really love Aiah, Stacey?"

Stacey didn't know what to answer. But when she remembered this was the reason for her suffering, she suddenly thought of something to say to hurt her. "Yes, I love Aiah. Are you happy?"

"Should I be? If you love her, why did you leave her?"

"Are you kidding me, Janna? Ikaw ang mahal ni Aiah. Ikaw ang gusto niya," she said tearfully. "You were the reason why I left her. And now, when I saw you in the gallery"

"In the gallery?" Janna’s forehead furrowed.

"Yes. I saw you in the pantry. Umiiyak ka sa kanya. You were jealous because Aiah's attention was on me. You know her plan to get back at me."

"I was crying before, yes. I was jealous of you, yes. But not because of Aiah, but because of Jho."

Stacey was shocked.

"Honestly speaking, I thought you were just playing with Aiah to make Jho jealous."

"Jealous? Why would I do that?"

"Because Jho wants you and you're getting back at Aiah because Jho and I are close to each other."

"Jho and I are friends!"

"Do you want me to believe what you're saying?"

"It's the truth!"

"And if I told you that Aiah and I are just friends, would you believe me too?"

Stacey didn't immediately answer. It's funny to think that jealousy is the only thing that dominates their hearts.

"Five years ago, Aiah helped me through a difficult time in my life, Stacey. She is a very good friend. You are lucky because you did not go through all the pains in my life. Aiah loves you. You are the only woman she has loved from then until now."

"And you?"

"I'm her friend. And if you agree, maybe we can also be friends?" Janna smiled.

"But what I saw in the gallery-"

"Like I told you, I am not jealous of Aiah. There's something I need to know. Kayo na ba ni Jho?"

"No. Absolutely not. It's true that she proposed that we get married. But we both realized that it was not right. It is impossible for a relationship to work without love."

"You don't love Jho?"

"Not as a girlfriend.” Stacey responded. “You love her?" It was her turn to ask.

"I do." Janna looked down. "But there's nothing I can do about it." She held Stacey’s hand, "Aiah is in her condo unit, She left me in Quezon but the moment she left, I came back here to Manila to talk to you. I know I have to do something to at least repay her kindness to me all these years."

"You were the one who answered her cellphone last night?"

"Me?" Janna’s eyebrows rose. "Hindi. Tumawag ka sa kanya?"

"Yes, but a woman answered."

“Anong oras?"

"About nine o'clock at night.”

"Aiah was already asleep and drunk in our guest room. Maybe she left her phone in the living room and the maid answered it."

Stacey bit her lip.

"There's no one else but you in Aiah’s life, Stacey. So go to her. I want both of you to be happy."

"Pero ikaw? Si Jho?"

"Unfortunately, I can't go back to her even now that I know na hindi pala kayo."

"Why?"

Janna smiled and took off her glasses, "You see, I'm blind, Stacey. That's why Aiah has been very supportive of me these last few months. It started a year ago and it steadily progressed."

"What?!" Stacey couldn't believe it. Her eyes widened as she looked straight into Janna’s eyes. "You're blind?"

"Yes." Janna put her glasses back on.

“Paano ka nakapunta rito?"

"If you look to our left, there's a fat man and an elderly woman sitting there. She's my assistant. At least, until such a time that I can adjust to being blind."

"How can you be so casual about this?"

"I don't question my fate, Stacey. Now, go and talk to Aiah."

"I can't leave you."

"Oh, yes, you can." Janna smiled. "Go. I will expect you and Aiah in Batangas over the weekend. You can at least go there before I close it."

"Jho should know about this."

"For what? So that she will feel sorry for me?"

"You should not doubt her love for you."

"And you shouldn't doubt Aiah's love for you. Besides, do you think Jho will accept me in this situation knowing who she is in society?"

"If Jhoanna really loves you, she will accept you no matter what."

"No, we're talking about you and Aiah. Please, don't tell Jho about this," Janna pleaded.

How could Stacey say that she couldn't promise that? She had only felt guilty like that in her entire life. "I'm so sorry for thinking bad about you."

Janna let go of her hand. "Go to Aiah, Stacey."

"Thank you." Stacey stood up and hugged her before leaving. "Thank you so much!"

Janna smiled.

Jho was waiting outside and greeted Stacey as she exited the restaurant. "Janna's inside. Go see her."

"You're such a friend." Jhoanna hurried into the restaurant. Stacey got into her car to go see Aiah.