Chasing After My Wife - Chapter 554

Elizabeth was reading another medical book she found in the mini library of the orphanage. She was one of the frequent users of the library since she likes books a lot specially science and mathematics. Beside her was the sleeping face of Anton. Every time she visits the library, Anton will come along with her, only to sleep when they arrived.

She looked at him and smiled. ‘If after ten years we are still together, I would want to marry you.’ This was what Elizabeth thought. Among the other children, Anton was the one who understood her the most. He cares for her a lot and he also protected her from other children who always bully her because of her in becoming a doctor.

Anton also plants her favorite roses and took care of them when she couldn’t. He was kind and helpful. He knew how to make her laugh, too. She didn’t have any high standards when it came to men. Anton’s quality was more than enough for her.

“Anton. Wake up.” Elizabeth was shaking his shoulders to wake him up. “It’s almost five.  We need to leave now.”

Anton stirred and opened his eyes. She was the person he saw before sleeping and the first person he saw after waking up. “Did I fall asleep again?”

“Duh! When have you stayed awake with me here?”

“Sorry.”

“No problem. It’s alright.” Elizabeth arranged the books she used and, just like always, Anton took it from her to return them on the shelves. “Anton, I have something to tell you.”

“Hn? What is it?”

Her heart rate increased and she started to blush. “Just forget about it. I forgot.”

“Heh! Is it about your crush?”

“Shut up!! Just forget about it.”

Anton chuckled as he returned the books on their respective shelves. Elizabeth was fiddling with her fingers behind him, nervous and anxious. “I like you.” Anton whispered.

“Huh? Did you say something?”

Anton bit his lower lip, not sure if he should say those words again. He kept his back facing her and he clenched-unclenched his fist. “I…I like you.”

Elizabeth blinked her eyes, not sure if she was hearing things right. She held his hands and had him face her. Looking at his flushed face, Elizabeth knew that she heard him correctly. “I like you, too.”

The two of them faced each other, looking at each other’s eyes, seeing the love they have for one another. “You are not joking, right?”

“Why? Were you joking with your words?”

“No, I am not. I am serious here.” Anton responded with a smile. “Can I hug you?”

“You hugged me several times in the past, did you ask my permission?” Anton chuckled and pulled her in his arms.

In the corner of the library, the two of them confessed their feelings, praying that they will stay just how they were. Sadly, certain things must come to an end. Elizabeth was adopted. He wanted to stop her but that would show how selfish he was. He wanted her to have a beautiful future and that could only happen when Elizabeth gets adopted to a wealthy family.

Elizabeth found a new family. She was sad. She wanted to be with Anton. “Can I still visit the orphanage in the future?”

Mrs. Summer, her new mother, looked at her and smiled. “Sure, dear. You can visit them whenever you want.” Elizabeth was happy to hear such news and it didn’t take long for her to get used to her new life. The only problem was, she’d get nightmares in the evening and she often had episodes of sleepwalking. She kept looking for Anton.

Weeks turned to months and months turned to years. Whenever she wanted to visit the orphanage, they’ve got so many excuses to give her. She was brought overseas for some medical therapy regarding her sleepwalking and her recurring nightmares. She had no idea that she was being hypnotized. She had been doing the therapy for almost every year. Eventually she forgot the orphanage.

At the same time, fate would bring destined couples closer to each other. Elizabeth found her way to the orphanage. She may have forgotten them but there was something in her heart that whispers it was an important place. And there, she met Anton again.

He was running towards her and there was a happy smile on his face. However, the closer he got, the smile turned to a sad expression. “Hello.” Elizabeth greeted him. There was something in him that made her feel lighter. She likes to hear his voice and she likes to see the smile on his face.

Anton led her to a flower field that he said was planted by him and his friend. He looked happy and sad when he talked about his friend and Elizabeth felt sad for him as well. ‘He must have missed his friend so much.’ Elizabeth thought to herself while watching him.

“What do you want to become when you grow up?” she heard Anton asked her. They were currently playing with the swing under the mango tree. It was a really nice place.

“I want to grow up as soon as I can. I want to go get married and go to a faraway place.”

“Aren’t you happy?”

“No.”

“I’ll study hard and grow up. Then, I’ll take you away from them.”

“Promise?”

“Hn. I promise.”

Elizabeth remembered countless memories with the young Anton Xavier. She remembered the time that they were in the library. She remembered the first time that they planted the flowers that he likes. She remembered the time they confessed their feelings. She remembered the moment that she left. She remembered his promise.

“Anton, why?” her tears kept flowing while she clutched the necklace that he gave her. “Why did you have to fulfill the promise that I have forgotten? Why?” she could feel the pain in her legs. She knew that if she’s going to be saved, her legs will be amputated. She could smell the spilled gas as well. “Anton, aren’t we meant to have a happy ending? I have learned to love you again. I want to fulfill my end of the promise. Why did you leave me?” she kept murmuring and her tears kept falling.

While she was in the brink of death she remembered her mother’s conversation with her doctor. “What will make her remember everything? What’s the key to the locked memories?”

“Once she’s in the brink of death, when she felt she’s dying, everything will come back to her.” The doctor responded.

At first, she didn’t understand what it means. She didn’t know that her memories were locked intentionally with her mother’s request. Now, she understood everything but, it’s too late. The man that she was supposed to love for the rest of her life has left. It had been seven years, she had been waiting for seven years but there wasn’t even a shadow of him. Atty. Lewis came to them to give them the house property and the bank accounts that should be given to them.

Elizabeth didn’t accept any of them. She wanted to see her husband, not the riches he got.

She could see people trying to open the car window to get her. She could hear faint voices but her vision was getting blurry and breathing was becoming laboring for her. It was painful in her chest when she tried to take a deep breath. “Jillyanna, I’m sorry.”

Then and there, her last moment was given to her husband and her last breath was given to her daughter.

Fate was really cruel to her and to Anton. At the ve ry young age, they knew that they wouldn’t want to marry anyone aside from them. At the very young age, they were separated. At the very young age, Anton learned to look for money. He worked hard to fulfill his promise. Everyday, all he could think of was Elizabeth and their future. He did his best to get her.

Elizabeth forgot him. She fell in love with someone else. She got heartbroken. She thought she failed the person she loved the most. When she got married, she realized that she did the right thing. She accepted the fact that Enzo wasn’t meant for her. She didn’t regret anything and Anton was very kind to her. He was respectful. He was caring. And most of all, he truly loved her.

From the very start, they were meant to spend their life together. However, there wasn’t any communication between them. They weren’t honest to each other. Secrets kept piling one after another. Insecurities ate Anton away. Guilt coated Eliabeth’s heart for leaving Enzo without saying anything.

In the end, the two of them suffered because of their own actions. And the most affected person was the daughter that was left alone. They were both selfish, they kept thinking for themselves. They never thought of the consequence that would befall on their daughter. Instead of living their present and plan for the future, they were bound to their pasts. They kept thinking about their unsaid secrets.

Before taking their last breaths, they only felt one thing – and that’s regret.