2 Worrying Like Crazy

Days passed by, and the two great vessels were now on their regular trips. Allyza, the world's largest cruise ship designed and built by Adrian, started cruising around the wonders of Asian countries. At the same time, Amor Omnia Vincit sailed back to its homeport in Turkey to explore European territories. Hayri opened this new port to accommodate Amor Omnia Vincit during its return from its destination while their old shipyard in Tuzla started to build the new yacht models Allie designed for the company.

It was already almost a month since Hayri left on the day of her ship's inauguration, but until now, Allyza got no word from him. She tried calling him a thousand times, but all her calls did not go through. She left him lots of messages, thinking that he was just too busy to answer her calls, but even during night time, he still did not reply. She started to feel bad already since it was too unlikely of him to ignore her. There must be something behind, and she was afraid it was because of her pregnancy. Who's a man enough to rejoice over the fact that his fiancee was carrying her ex-husband's child?

After some more days of waiting, she decided to go after him in Turkey. Hayri's dad, Mr.Dioko, had based his business in Tuzla, Turkey, when he started to build Gretel's Shipyard until he expanded into a shipping line. Through his expansion efforts through business partnership, only the shipyard remained as his sole proprietorship, now managed by Hayri. Though his son planned to take over Gretel's Shipping Lines, Mr.Dioko's freedom from imprisonment made him decide to return to his post. He didn't want to be killed by his boredom, should he choose to leave it all to his son. Now, with the change of plan, Hayri decided to expand the shipyard services and started the building of yachts as Allie had initially envisioned.

As Allie started to pack her things, her phone vibrated before it sang the call alert ringtone. She checked the caller's name and sighed.  At long last, Hayri remembered her.

"Zheena, I'm not allowing you to travel. I'm afraid it will affect the baby." 

Allie's heart sank in hearing him. His intimate ways of calling her and his endearments were now gone. He was even addressing her now with her pseudonym. Hearing his voice as if nothing happened, she started to flare up. She had been worrying for him like crazy, but it seemed he didn't care.

"Is that all you have to say? Hayri, I have been worrying to death. I have been calling you a million times, but all I hear is your answering machine."

"Zheena, calm down. It's not good for the baby."

His indirect way of avoiding her concern made her sense something was really off, but  Hayri just tried to play well to divert her to another subject.

"Hayri, just please tell me why you are avoiding me. I will try to understand. Is it because this child is Ajie's?"

Hayri paused for a moment and just listened to her, his mind scouting for a better and more sensible answer. How could he tell her that it's because she is his sister?

"I'm just busy. Why don't you focus instead in the opening of your company rather than creating ill thoughts against me?"

Speaking of Rough Seas Marine Supplies and Equipment, the company she had developed through her hard efforts after working hours while she was still in Turkey, she remembered Ajie. He had signed a contract to become her company's primary investor in the Philippines, and now that she was planning for the launching, she knew she could not avoid seeing him often. She was now worrying that this might cause trouble between her and Hayri.

"Are you sure it's alright with you?" she confirmed.

His answer came fast that she got surprised. "Of course, dear."

"Hayri, Ajie knows that he is the father. He overheard us while Dr. Yee and I were talking about it."

Allie's heart stopped as she waited for his reply. She felt the earth had stopped spinning when it took him an eternity to reply to her. She was sure he didn't like it. While it was never a question if he was willing to give her baby his name, the fact that Ajie knew that he was the father was another dreadful story. It was already uncomfortable on her part that in a week, she would be seeing him often because of Chloe, how much more in the fact that Adrian would have reasons to see her more often because of the baby in her womb.

"Then, don't deny him of his right."

Allie felt that this conversation would go nowhere, so she decided to end it up. Just as she placed her phone on the table, a knock on her door alerted her senses back to reality.

"Allie, they are here. Adrian wishes to talk to you."

She squinted her eyes as she looked at her mother, wondering what she meant by 'they.' She was still on the first plight of the stair when she saw Jane carrying Chloe in her arms. She couldn't understand why, but she couldn't help but feels uncomfortable whenever Jane was around. Allie knew and believed sincerely that Ajie still loved her up to this moment, but the fact that he was soon going to marry her, created sour knots in her stomach. She wanted to go back to her room, but she was already too late, Jane had already seen her.

"Dr. Jane, it's good to see you around." It's too kind of her to say it, but in her heart, she meant otherwise.

"Lyz, from now on, please call me Jane," said Dr. Jane, her smile was just too awkward.

"Dear skies, why is she feeling close to me?" she mumbled to herself, her mind screaming in deep protest.