Chapter 11
Stacey's hands were cold and her heart was beating fast when she reached the floor where Aiah's unit was. She knew the attendant she saw in the lobby so she asked her not to call Aiah to tell her she was there.
She was already in front of the door of the unit but she couldn't knock. She bit her lip and waited for the right moment when it suddenly opened.
Aiah appeared before her. She was wearing a walking suit so she figured she would leave if she didn't go there.
"Can I come in? I'll just come back," Stacey said when Aiah didn't answer. She had already turned her back when she felt Aiah’s hand on her arm. She was surprised when she guided her into her unit.
After Aiah closed the door, she leaned Stacey against her and kissed her. That kiss was full of longing.
Stacey didn't refuse. She let go of the longing she felt for Aiah. She hugged her tightly as she picked her up and carried her to her room.
"God, I missed you so much! I should beat you for doing this to me!"
Aiah gently laid her down but she sat up and hugged her anyway. Stacey fumbled with the button on Aiah’s polo shirt while the other woman unzipped the zipper on the back of Stacey’s dress.
Before Stacey even got there, she had already pushed all the worries out of her mind. She loved Aiah so much. That was what mattered most to her. When their naked bodies touched, she closed her eyes as she felt the heat emanating from her body.
"I love you so much, Stacey." Aiah locked her lips in a hot kiss. The last covering on her body was finally removed.
"I love you, I love you, Aiah. I'm so sorry if I ever doubted you.”
"Sshh." Aiah pressed a finger to her lips. "You have more time to explain. Not now."
Hearing this, Stacey tightened her embrace with her.
"Stacey." When Stacey looked at Aiah and saw the sadness in her eyes, her desire to explain to her took precedence over her desire to be close to her.
"Janna and I talked."
"Janna?" Aiah asked in surprise. "Nasa Bicol si Janna."
"No, we met earlier."
Aiah’s face darkened. "Are you here because she asked you to come see me?"
"No, we talked because she explained to me what I saw in your gallery."
"My secretary told me that you went there but you left in a hurry."
"I heard what you and Janna talked about." Stacey couldn't look at Aiah. "I thought she was jealous of me, but it turns out–"
"With Jho. And I'm only assuring her that you are very happy with me and that you and Jho have no relationship whatsoever."
"Why didn't you explain all this to me?"
"Paano?" Aiah's smile was bitter. "I can’t find you. Nagtago ka at nawala na namang parang bula. I went to your house. I called you on your phone in your office. But your secretary is hiding you." She shrugged. "I love you but you keep on running away without bothering to explain to me why."
"Aiah..."
"Janna asked me not to tell you about her condition," Aiah continued. "I've been helping her through all these. Lately, Jho has always been by her side. Janna finally found someone who will love her. Until she thought na kayo na ni Jho."
"Hindi naging kami ni Jho. Do you think that since I've been working for her for so long that nothing would happen if I liked her?"
"Then why didn't you listen to my explanation? Why did you run away again?"
"I can't stand to see you again," Stacey said softly. "I'm scared because if we meet again, baka pumayag akong dalawa kami ni Janna ang maging babae sa buhay mo. And I just can't live with that."
"Janna is only a friend, my best friend."
"I know that now." Stacey looked at Aiah. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
"Don't cry." Aiah hugged her.
"I can't imagine having another woman in your life."
"That's impossible. You're the only woman I've ever loved."
"I love you, Aiah."
"I love you, too." Aiah rubbed Stacey’s back.
"Always."
Stacey closed her eyes. She felt the heat of Aiah’s lips on her neck.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Aiah moved away from her a little.
"Hmm? Later."
"Have you forgiven me?"
"Yes, sweetheart. But don't do it again."
Stacey almost forgot what she was going to say because of her body's reaction to Aiah’s tender kiss. She gently pushed her away.
"What?"
"I'm pregnant. I'm trying to do IVF again after what happened to us in the gallery." Stacey smiled when she saw Aiah freeze in her spot.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! Six weeks."
Aiah frowned and suddenly let go of her.
"Why? You don't want it?"
"This is probably the best news I've ever had in all my life." Aiah hugged Stacey again. "And when are you planning to tell me this, huh?"
"I'm planning to tell you. I was just afraid of seeing you again." Stacey hugged her. She was about to kiss Aiah when she suddenly pulled away.
"If you're pregnant, then it means I cannot make love to you tonight." Aiah’s face was disappointed.
Stacey laughed. "Of course not! We can still do it!"
"Are you sure?"
"They are actually advocating it nowadays, even in the last trimester of pregnancy." Aiah frowned even more; Stacey just laughed. "Make love to me, Aiah."
"I want to. God knows I want to but–" Aiah looked at Stacey’s flat stomach. "Are you sure?"
"Positive." Stacey hugged her and kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Aiah pressed a kiss to her and slowly laid her down on the bed.
Stacey knew they would never be apart again.