Will You Remember Then? - Chapter 294

“Mom, I still have to hug you yet, let me finish first,” Riza teased as she wrapped her in her arms, thinking that her sudden outburst must be related to her mixed emotion of loneliness due to her loss, and the immense joy for her return. She hugged her tight, allowing her to ventilate her worries, sadness, and miseries out until her sobs ebbed down.

When she left, her mother must have been sleepless for years in thinking where she had gone. Losing her was perhaps, her tale of early death, but setting her free was far better than having her inside the four walls of the Madani Jail.

“I’m sorry, dear. If anyone here deserves to die, it is me.”

Riza’s father frowned, scolding her. “What nonsense are you talking about?” It was such a sensitive subject that no one should unnecessarily bring up. Markus was on the line, and talking about it was like adding some grains of salt to an already festering wound.

“I’m sorry, but what I am saying is true. I deserve to die because all these times, I hide the sin I committed against you.”

Everyone around threw their eyes in her direction, stunned. Riza’s father glared at her, bracing himself for whatever bomb she was about to hurl. Markus’ immediate family also stared at her, astounded by her sudden declaration. Even from the very start, they were the close-knitted families. And because of this closeness, they were unable to notice earlier the secret relationship between Markus and Riza. No matter how humiliated Markus was, it didn’t sever the ties they had firmly established, and even at this trying moment, they were all there for Markus.

“We are here to listen, mom. Go ahead.” Riza assured her, and her voice silenced them all.

“If there is something I hate about our culture, it’s the arranged marriages,” she began, her vision started to blur again. “Though I consented to my marriage, it didn’t mean it was easy. It broke my heart. And the night before our wedding, I sneaked out and had a moment with Charles’ uncle.”

Everyone gasped and froze again to another astounding revelation, shaking their hearts in fear for what may come next.  Any act of betrayal between a married couple deserves capital punishment if the aggrieved push the matter into the court. All the men stood up and started to guard Riza’s mother, expecting an outrage from her father.

“Do you mean Riza is not my daughter?” Riza’s father snarled, his eyes bulging out in anger.

“She’s not,” her mother confessed, starting to wail again.

“How could you do this to me? All this time that I am blind to all of your lies, you’re making me look like a fool,” he hurled a finger against her, his eyes wet with unshed tears of humiliation.

“Come on, dear husband, it looks like you’re the only victim here. Do you think I have no idea that you were also sneaking out?” Her mirthless laughed then followed, challenging him to come out in the open.

Riza’s father got stunned and speechless for a while, allowing his wife to retaliate.

“But she did not get pregnant-”

“And it doesn’t mean you did not have s.e.x with her-”

Markus’s father butted in, stopping their argument. It was something personal that only the two of them should talk about.

“It would be best if you settle your differences later. Anyway, it is already too late to discuss some issues of the past. We have more important matters to discuss.”

Ignoring now her parent’s argument, Riza smiled happily as she looked at Markus. “It only means we’re not cousins, and that my marriage to Charles is null and void from the beginning.”

Charles felt awkward. Even if he did not love her, he treated her with the utmost respect and that he accepted her as his wife. What he could not accept was the betrayal within the bond of marriage. To everyone’s surprise, Riza was straightforward and acted as if she didn’t care about what others may say.

“Charles, let’s do the annulment process as soon as possible. As much as I want to marry Markus, I also know that you are dying to be with Rona. I even got surprised when I learned that you two did not get married right after I died.” Charles stiffened, but Riza broke into a wide grin.

Rona responded with only a weak smile. It was not the right time yet to tell her story to them. She stole a glance at Markus, and everyone followed her eyes. He seemed to be out of his mood. Perhaps, he was really not happy with his sudden decision to concede. Before anyone else could dare to ask, Riza stepped ahead of them again.

“Markus, are you not happy?” Riza asked, worrying about his blunt responses from the start.

Markus reached out for her hand, not caring about the presence of everyone around. “I’m afraid I can’t still be with you.”

“Why? Aren’t you happy for our freedom now? Do you have someone else already?” came the many questions from Riza’s mouth, her hands to sweat out.

“There’s the court waiting for me. I have to answer for the sins I committed against the government.”

Markus held his breath, too afraid already of another failure. However, her nonchalant reply warmed his heart.

“I don’t mind if our wedding will be in jail.”

Everyone laughed, though their hearts ached for them. However, Markus had to pay the price.

________

Charles climbed up the chopper together with Rona and the kids. They were going to the Madani Islands to see how huge was the damage the bomb explosion did to their homeplace. Kristian was very excited; it was his first time to fly.

“Kristian, look there!” Kyle squealed, pointing his finger at the sprawling islands below.

“Kyle, look also there!” he shouted back, pointing at the dolphins leaping out of the water.

Charles and Rona laughed as they watched them, both happy that the kids got along well. Markus decided to let Kyle stay with Charles and Rona until the child’s mind would be ready to accept them as his real parents.

As they hovered above the Madani Islands, Charles’ eyes got wide. Where he thought that his homeland crumbled into shreds and buried underneath the fathomless depths, the islands still sprawled out in its untainted beauty from the aerial view.

“Nelson! What happened to the bombs? It did not explode?” Though his voice was a bit louder than a whisper, he was still able to stress it out enough for Nelson to know his absolute flabbergast.

“It did. Look at the news. It recorded the time, the location, and the 8.5 magnitude.”

“You must be kidding! The islands are still intact.”

“Charles, we are only humans. What our minds and bodies can achieve are still specks against what God can do. And the extent of His power is beyond our human control. The islands are among His creations, and it lies in His will if He allows harm and destruction to any of His dominion.”