56

"A week or two, alright. Deal." I decided.

"But, wait of course for one to two weeks I can't talk to Sariel. I want all of you and your time in that short time."

"What the fvck ?! No! I won't!" I immediately refused when I found out the replacement he wanted.

"What, Aius? You won't lose your love for each other when you don't talk. All right, you don't want to? Okay, then so be it, let your lover's father die and let Sariel suffer from pain for the loss of his father. And I'll let you regret this decision of yours. You could have saved her father if you just accept my offer. " Allen said, she got a point alright, but there's something inside me that stopping me and I can't figure it out.

The line kept silent for a couple of minutes.

"So ... I'll hang up now." it was Allen who broke the silence.

"Alright, a week or a couple of weeks with you without any communication with Sariel in exchange of your offer." before she could finally cut the call, I said my decision with finality in my voice, then after that I turn off the call.

As I lay to my bed, my mind started to wonder and think a lot of things. Then I realized that I must have been in a hurry to make my decision. But I won't change my mind anymore, I won't get back what I've said. Whatever my decision was, I just hope and wish that I wouldn't regret it when the time comes.

I know, being not able to talk with Sariel will hurt me and her as well. But there's nothing I can do, it's okay for me to be hurt if the replacement is the happiness of the woman I love. I don't want to be selfish, I know how much she wanted to be with her father that's why I'm doing this. For her, I'll do everything just to make her happy, even it means hurting myself.

That's how love works, you'll do everything just to make your partner happy. You'll sacrifice your own feelings just to give everything that your partner wanted to have.

I just fell asleep thinking. The next day is a hell day for me, I couldn't talk to Sariel because Allen and I have already started talking. There were times when I talked to Sariel but that was only for a moment and it wasn't okay.

I acted cold and distant. She's hurting with my actions, I can easily tell that by just hearing her pained voice. And it's killing me inside. But I have to endure it, for her happiness.

Days had passed, and I was with Allen all day. I learned a lot from her, she apologized for everything that she did to me way back. And I forgive her.

I can tell also that a lot has changed in her, she became more mature and well kind. Gone the bitchy Allen.

But I don't know if I'm just hallucinating or what, but every time I looked in her eyes, there's something I can feel and see, it's like she's carrying something heavy inside her. Her eyes are dead, it doesn't smile even how much and how big her lips smile. But I'm not sure so I just let that slipped.

"You're so lucky." one night Allen told me, we are under the dark sky, watching the moon and waiting for a shooting star, that's her request.

"I know." I said.

"How I wish that I'm also lucky just like you. I envy you, finally you have someone to be with you through ups and downs. While me? I was and still left alone. All I have is myself through ups and downs . " sadness is very visible in her voice. And somehow my heart ache for her.

I pity her.

"Someday you'll have yours." out of words I just said.

"I'll be gone, soon remember?" he smiled bitterly at me. I just signed, stupid of me to tell it.

Silence enveloped us.

"He never comes back. He really didn't fulfill his promises. He's so unfair. He left me all alone, I was and still waiting for him but he never came. And daya n'ya." I was surprised when Allen burst into tears.

I ask her what happened and what is she talking about but she just kept on crying and saying things I didn't understand at all.

"I tried so hard to replace him inside my heart but no matter what I do, no matter how hard I tried to get him out of my heart, I just can't." she cried loudly. And I don't know what to do and how to comfort him. I'm clueless.

The night ended up, I don't know how we just got home.

Another days had passed, and today is finally our movie showing I can now finally see Sariel. I'm excited but at the same time disappointed, I remember I am prohibited to talk to her.

The movie showing is pretty good. But it would have been better if I didn’t have to pretend I didn’t care about Sariel.

The movie showing ended and I couldn't wait for Sariel because Allen immediately dragged me to my condo unit, I tried to stop her but she said she had something to say.

"Sariel's father's heart transplant is coming soon. And this is also the last day that you have to stay with me. But before I finally give my heart to his father, you have to do the last thing that I want you to do. . "

"What is it?"

"Sariel is pregnant with your twins, and she's going to confess it to you. I want you to tell this to her." then that's it she told me what I have to say.

"Are you really insane, Allen ?! You're being too much! I won't do it! That's my twins you're talking about, Allen! That's another conversation!" furious I said.

"Okay, then don't! You don't want to? Edi don't! Let her father die too, remember Aius that pregnant women are sensitive, when Sariel's father dies they will mourn and there will be a chance as well the baby in her womb will be affected! Go ahead and shop! " Allen shouted angrily as well.

I was silent, I said nothing. I have a hard time deciding. Add to that the fact that the doorbell of the unit suddenly rang.

"She's here. It's up to you to decide, Aius." after Allen said no he entered the room.

Allen is right. Sariel confesses to me about her pregnancy. And all I did is to stare at her intently. I was wondering what to do. But I don't know, call me stupid or what, but I thought about what Allen said she got a point so ...

I did the most stupid decision in my entire life. I hurt her with my words. The pain of my heart, I feel like breaking down infront of her especially the moment she kneeled and begged.

It's killing me. But I have to endure it. And then Allen showed up, I didn't expect her to call me that endearment of us, before. Sariel leave the room.

I wanted so bad to follow her, but I can't. And I'm also sure that she'll be safe, I texted Alexander a while ago to pick up Sariel. Alexander and I are not in good terms but I just swallowed my pride and ask for his help.

I'm fuming mad at Allen, I can't stop myself anymore and hurt her with my words, not even with my words. I even slapped her hard and I almost punch her. I wouldn’t have stopped hurting him physically if he hadn’t cried.

"T-t-t-father and poooo, I don't want to poo. That's right pooo!" she cried. He said like a child, when I looked at him he was squirming.

It was as if I was drenched in water when I saw the blood coming from his nose, and the crack on his lip. I tried to console her but she just took a step back as if she was so scared, until she dozed off to sleep.

I bring her to the hospital. While I was in the hospital, I received a call that Sariel had left the country. That night, I drowned myself in alcohol.

He left me. Gone.

The next day I just woke up to a call, saying that Sariel's father is dead. The weight of how I feel. It hurts. I was angry, furious. It's all Allen's fault.

In a fit of rage, I decided to sue Allen. In case she is no longer in the hospital, she has already escaped and now she is nowhere to be found. I was caught.

Days and weeks had passed, and I did nothing but find Allen and drown myself in alcohol.

"Men, aren't you still going back to your girlfriend? She needs you. Then find Allen when Sariel is okay. She's about to give birth and she needs you." Alexander told me one time.

But me being a coward and stupid asshole I didn't listen to him, why? I'm still looking for Allen. Once I put her behind bars, I'll surely make it up to Sariel.

Time past by like a whirlwind, I thought I wouldn't get sick anymore. I thought it was over. But not yet.

I learned that one of our children had died. Our baby girl is dead. It hurts. I want to go back to Sariel but I don't look like I can face her yet.

I just mourned the mourning until I was no longer aware of the passage of time. All I knew was I woke up and was working. I'm just like a living dead.

Alive outside but dead inside. That's the hardest phase of my life.

Years had passed and finally we saw Allen. I pursued the case. But then his case was also annulled when we went to court and it was proven that Allen was mentally ill.

She needs medication. So he was free. But as promised, he will be imprisoned once he recovers.

He was taken to a mental institution but the nurses said that he always went crazy and mentioned my name, he also always ran away. But when he sees me, he's fine.

Then the doctor asked me to help Allen to recover from the illness. Since I can help Allen. So even against my will I helped. The case I was not informed that they were coming Sariel.

Then everything is a messed again, I fucked up.

I finally got to see my son personally, the handsome boy, mana sa dad.

But it hurts more when your child is angry with you.

But then, since they are already here with us, I won't let them go, so I came up with this stupid plan. I force Sariel to marry me in papers and live with me. I know I am being selfish but can you blame me? How long have I been waiting.

Alexander even punched me for what I did. But it was also fixed when I told him all my reasons. But the blow still hurts.

Living with Sariel and our son in one roof isn't easy, I can feel the distance. It hurts more but I have to endure it. It's all my plan so I must make a move to make it work.

I took our son’s heart, it’s not easy at all but thankfully I got to get his attention and heart.

But then, Sariel is so hard to please. She doesn't want to believe me anymore. Shes doesn't love me anymore. She even leave me and our son, that's how much she loathed me.

But then, even how much she pushed me away, I won't let her leave me again. I give her space since I know she need that. But a short period of time is enough.

With the help of Alexander, I got to know that Sariel still love me but doesn't want to be with me. So I came up to this wicked plan of ours.

All of us pretended that I got into this accident. Then surprise, one the most memorable moment of our life. I now have her hands.

****

"Happy birthday, son! And happy birthday in heaven to our little angel. I wish you're happy, my princess. Daddy, loves you so much." I cried infront of my daughter's grave.

"Don't cry, daddy. My sister won't be happy if she sees you crying." I heard my son's comforting voice.

I smiled bitterly as I felt Sariel's hand caressing my back.

"Don't be sad, Love. Our princess is now happy seeing us together. She'll stay us our angel." Sariel told me. Then I smiled once again and we bid our goodbye and walk out of the cemetery.

As I drove our way back home, I realized that all our pain and sufferings we still got our happy endings. Many were lost but all of them had a replacement.

Our son died, but there was still a replacement. Our princess is the reason why we are here now. She's a blessing in disguise.

I was so lost for a very long time, but now I am not. Sariel is my home, and I can now finally say that I am home.

Forgiveness and acceptance are the two powerful things in life.

So everyone, I am Aius Frosco a father of a handsome young man and a cute little angel. I am leaving you all this words; We may face a lot of battles and challenges in life, but always remember to never give up and always look at the good things in every situation. Don't you ever blame God for all the pain that he gave you, because he has a plan. God sometimes give as challenges that cause us pain to teach us a lot of lessons and to make us strong and be the best version of ourselves. Once again, I am Aius Frosco, contented, happy and thankful for all the challenges that I faced. A survivor of pain.

Always remember that; There's always a rainbow after every storm.

THE END...