Will You Remember Then? - Chapter 292

Hayri’s heart broke out in pity for Markus. No matter how evil a person could be, he believed that he deserves a chance to change and live. Before he climbed up the last step of the helicopter ladder, he ran back to Markus and whispered something in his ears.

“If deep in your heart, you believe your son is alive, then live for him. God gives us an innate, fatherly instinct.” Hayri didn’t have the right to disclose a secret, but that was the closest way possible to open up his mind.

Markus stared back at him and the image of that boy whom Hayri introduced to him as his son revisited his thoughts. “You adopted him?”

Hayri answered with a smile, leaving him a clue. When Markus chose to release him in exchange for the freedom of his family, he believed he wasn’t totally heartless. As the aircraft rose higher and higher, Hayri bowed down his head for Markus, asking God to guide him in his final decision.

Charles, who sat on the pilot’s seat, alerted Hayri to look at the monitor before them. He then saw a large flock of people swarming at what seemed like a vast ground.

“Who are those people?’ Hayri asked, wondering what those people were doing in that place. Protest rally?

“They are the Madanihanons I gathered outside the Madani islands.”

Hayri nodded without saying anything. He was listening throughout the negotiation between him and Markus. He knew that by now, everyone had left the island, except Markus. He could not leave unless he succ.u.mbed to the conditions that Mr. Blacksmith set for him. And until now, Mr. Blacksmith remained the mysterious, faceless Mr. Blacksmith to everyone.

However, he became curious when his thoughts dwelt on Markus.

“Where is the family of Markus now?”

“I have them sent over to where he is.”

Soon after Charles spoke out his last word, the screen changed into an ongoing conversation between Markus and his family.

“Son, why not try appealing to Mr. Blacksmith for your life?” said his mother in between her sobs, “even if it means we have to agree to his conditions.”

Markus smirked as he glanced at his mother. It was already enough for him that he granted his family’s safety.

“Over my dead body!”

His father already joined in convincing him, but, as hard as a piece of steel, his pride did not waver.

“Why have you turned like this, my son? I did not bring you up to become a rebellious child!” Markus’ mother wailed louder, seeing the immovable will of his son.

“Don’t you want me to become a ruler of our people, mom? Someone to protect our business interests? Someone whom the whole nation will bow down and obey?”

Her mother got speechless. Ever since he was a child, she always encouraged him to join any political campaign, mass protest, and ouster rallies. Her reason was always about protecting their people and their business legacy.

“Son, please. This is no longer the right time to argue and blame each other.”

Markus laughed hard, allowing his tears to fall before the last ring of his laughter turned to wail. In that bitter cry, he poured out his unspoken humiliation against his family for depriving him of his happiness. For robbing off his right to express what he felt when they arranged Charles and Riza’s wedding. For not listening to his reason why he agreed to see her. For siding with Charles and pushing the crime against him.

“Mom, Dad, I will concede if you will bring Riza and my son back to life. If not, then I, together with the wealth of these islands, will die together. There’s no way I would kill my pride. This is all that I have now.”

“What about us? Your family? We also love you, son, and we are proud of you.”

Markus’ gaze darkened, and his mourning demeanor a while ago changed into a sharp and furious glare.

“From now on, stop telling me those words. Or else, I’ll make you forget that you have a son.”

______

Charles allowed the family of Markus to convince him to concede. That would mean he would also surrender to the government. That would also mean he would end up all those crimes and killing incidents he threw just so that the government would agree to the freedom he was proposing.

Then, the appointed time came. Markus and his family gathered outside the house, waiting for the chopper to land and pick up his family. Markus no longer spoke to them, but on the eleventh hour, he fell on their necks and cried, bidding them goodbye. He would now be alone in facing his defeat. When he held the assurance of owning the whole Madani Islands, many joined his cause. Yet, in his downfall now, not a single soul offered to die with him.

To their surprise, another chopper landed. Markus squinted to see an eight-year-old boy descending on the steps. His heartbeats raced. This was the boy whom he saw in Molave. Is Hayri here to see him before the explosion?

To his surprise, Charles descended after him. And his eyes got even wider when he saw the woman following after him.

“Rona?” Markus’ heart leaped with joy as he saw her old friend again, but his heart sank when Riza reappeared in his thoughts. Rona was the witness to their forbidden love in that haven of her beautiful island.

Before he stepped out to meet her, the child ran towards him, shouting the words he longed so much to hear.

“Daddy!”

Markus couldn’t explain but that simple gesture awakened in him a strange and wonderful feeling. He bent down to hug the boy, his eyes were on Charles, seeking for answers. For the first time, his hatred against Charles disappeared for a moment.

“His name is Kyle, Markus. Your son. I’m sorry for hiding him. The DNA paternity test result just came out a few days ago. I was afraid you would take your revenge on me through my son.”

At that moment, Markus felt his world stopped spinning. His eyes dilated as he took in the truth of his revelation. He stood frozen to the ground until the weight of Kyle’s body brought him back his senses. The child jumped to reach his neck, wrapping his arms around him the moment Markus’ reflexes caught him in his arms.

“Dad, please bring me home.”

Home. Son. Family. These three words echoed in his heart and mind as he laughed and cried at the same time, hugging his son closer to himself. Everyone who watched him fell silent, silently brushing their tears away.

For who knows how long, Markus released Kyle from him and gave him back to Charles.

“Take him with you, Charles. Thank you for allowing me to see him before I’ll die. If this is your drama to make me concede, thank you for the efforts. It is enough to know that my instinct is right. I really felt something strange the first time I saw him. Now, I am really happy.”

Markus hugged Kyle again, then walked towards Rona who was already bawling her eyes out. He hugged her tight and said, “Please, love my son like your own.”

Markus then turned away, leaving all of them in wide shock.