Suddenly, I felt his hand touch mine so sweetly and tenderly. And to think that those hands of his still sends shivers down mine spine, how incredulous.
I slowly opened my eyes as I let the tears escape and rolled down the side of my face.
“That’s not the words of the Judy I know. Judy Luthel would never give up so easily either, no matter what. You may have lost one daughter, but there’s another waiting for your courage and strong will that you’ll be by her side when she finally opens her eyes.” Tion finally spoke as he held my hand in his.
“I don’t have the strength to be hopeful anymore” I replied as tears poured out uncontrollably.
My heart was breaking for both my daughters so much I felt like dying. It didn’t matter to me in whose presence I’m crying in.
“Then let me be your strength, till you gain yours back because I know you will. You just need time to mourn.” Tion hastily offered and I stared at him with wide eyes.
“Yes… we’re here for you. We may have been such shitty friends towards you for the past 33yrs and that’s just wrong. We’re all that’s left of our group of 5, so let us be your good friends again. Let’s make right what we’ve wronged.” Matthew requested courteously.
“(Sigh)… I guess I could really use a set of old friends right about now.” I commented genuinely with a sad smile.
Tion then brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it. I blushed in embarrassment as Matthew shot me an amazed look.
“I think I should excuse you both. You 2 seem to have a lot of catching up to do.” He insisted and kissed me on the cheek before excusing himself from the room.
“What has come over you? What was that for?” I asked Tion still surprised by his earlier action.
“I guess it’s true what they say about ‘not realizing how much you need something or someone until it’s been taken away from you’. I really thought I’d lost you when you went into surgery. Somehow, the feelings I’ve spent 30yrs burying deep inside resurface when I heard you had been shot.” He confessed as his eyes sparkle with tears forming.
“I’m ok now- physically. But emotionally and mentally, I’m a wreck. I don’t think my heart can withstand any more wreckage.” I confessed sadly in return.
“Then give me a chance to be a part of your life again. Let me help mend the wreckage in your heart, because I never stopped loving you.” He revealed, shocking me to my core.
I was in love with Tion Winfrey, truly in love. But I was too ambitious to properly end things with Matthew when I realized until things went sideways between the 3 of us.
Even though I had started dating Oscar before graduation just to spite the 2 brothers, I genuinely fell in love with Oscar after we reunited on my final year in college.
But Tion Winfrey was the first man I ever loved, and hearing his confession right now dug up my own buried feelings for him.
I have no idea what the future lies in store for us but at the moment, I just want to focus on making sure Livy and the babies are comfortable in comatose as best as I can.
Present Day
A month after I was shot by my own daughter and the other became comatose, I was ready to be discharged from the hospital and I got busy immediately.
4months later, I officially became a grandmother. It was difficult watching Markian suffer for those 4 months, but the arrival of my grandchildren brought back a bit of joy to him.
Everyone that had come in contact with my Livy misses her terribly, and that’s because she is selfless and kind in dealing with people around her. She maybe my daughter but I’m glad she took none of my bad qualities and all of her father’s goodness.
We all keep waiting, hoping and praying for the day she graces us with those cheerful smiles and gleeful laughters of her.
I hoped everyday would be the day that would happen, so maybe today could really be that day.
Livy
I found myself at the Winfrey Mansion and it seems like there’s some kind of a celebration going on. I walked into the living room and everybody I knew was there.
Am I dead? No. Maybe I’m dreaming, a very beautiful dream.
Everybody is laughing and cheering, it almost felt like I’m in heaven.
I walked among everyone gathered in the living room and I was very happy to see everyone happy.
Daniel was seating on the couch with Penelope, they both look dazzling and very happy.
Heather stood in a corner with a baby boy in her arms, and Jeffery stood beside her with a little girl holding his hand.
My mom sat on another couch with Mr Tion Winfrey, holding hands and looking very happy.
That’s strange, I thought as I looked for my father but I couldn’t find him.
Mr Matthew Winfrey is seating opposite Daniel and Penelope with aunt Sabrina beside him, so I looked around for Markian.
Where is he? I asked mentally.
Above us on the balcony was Carlos Guillian and beside him was Sophia.
What the hell is he doing here? Damn, I missed my sister so much.
The moment she saw me, she threw me one of those her bright smiles that could make heads turn. I smiled back at her and waved.
But something troubled me, someone isn’t here.
Where is Markian?
“Oh there they are.” Heather announced cheerfully as the doors to the living room flew open to reveal Markian.
By God, he’s breaktaking and outrageously attractive and handsome, but he wasn’t alone.
By his side was a brunette with beautiful honey brown eyes, and she looks gorgeous.
No. Something is wrong with this dream, I thought, as he stopped halfway and held her hand tenderly, took it to his lips and kissed it.
I felt a sharp pain in my chest at that single gesture. One don’t need a seer to tell that Markian is completely in love with that lady, whoever she is.
What is happening here? Why is Markian with another woman? Who the hell is she? I wanted to find the answers to these questions.
But then I found myself at the dining table. Everyone is seated as well, and I was placed directly opposite Markian with his brunette wife by his side
Wait, what? He’s married to her? I mentally asked myself as my eyes fell on her gorgeous ring.
This can not be happening right? This is supposed to be a happy dream, but its turning out to be a nightmare. I’m the only miserable person in the room, I thought as I slowly began to have an anxiety attack.
Sophia smiled beside me as she whispered something to her husband, Carlos.
Are you kidding? Husband, really? Why?
“When did Markian get married to her?” I asked Sophia in a whisper.
“Are you serious? You don’t remember?” Sophia asked back.
Oh, yeah. You’re married to Carlos and Markian brought a brunette home. None of that seems strange to you but my simple question does? I ranted in my head.
“Remember what?” I asked impatiently.
“They’ve been married for 3yrs now. Today is their 3rd year marriage anniversary and you organized this gathering. Livy, are you sure you’re ok?” She asked suspiciously, but her answer suddenly made me nauseous.
“I’m… good” I forced myself to lie.
I don’t think I belong here.
“Hey cos, when are we expecting the good news from the both of you?” Sophia asked Markian.
Wait, what? Cousin? How the hell is Markian our Cos… Oh shit.
My dad isn’t here which means mom is married to Mr Tion Winfrey. That means Daniel and Heather are my siblings, which makes Markian my cousin.
“Oh, hell no.” I exclaimed as I got up and left the dining room rudely.
I went to the terrace to cry maybe, or scream? I don’t know what to do now I’m here. Turns out I’m the only one miserable in my own dream.
Or is this my new reality? A reality where Markian isn’t in love with me?
“Hey cos…” I heard his soothing voice call out to me as he made his way towards me, “… what are you doing here?” He asked, playfully bumping me with his shoulder.
“I needed some air.” I stated without looking at him.
This can’t be my new reality, this isn’t real right?
“I see… You’re still can’t bring yourself to accept Hayley, right?…” he asked sadly. So that b’tch name is Hayley.
“… I thought that was the whole point of you hosting this gathering, that you finally accept her?” He asked me.
“I haven’t accepted her? Why?” I asked cluelessly.
“Because she and I shared the same fate when we were kids. We were both kidnapped, remember?” He said shocking me.
No way. My love story became hers? No. I don’t want this, be it a dream or my reality. Please, someone wake me up, I begged in my head.
“Do you really love her? Are you truly happy with her?” I asked unconsciously but I shouldn’t have.
“I fell in love with her since I was 13, of course I’m happy. And she’s wonderful.” He replied, sending a straight blow to my heart.
“Good for you… Now I really want to be alone, if you don’t mind.” I abstrusly dismissed him, and he obliged disappointed.
I looked up to the sky and screamed out, “am I still being tested? Why Markian? He is all I have, so why him?”
“Because that was your last wish…” I heard a Sophia’s voice reply from behind me scaring me. “… oops, sorry for scaring you. But do you remember your last wish?” She asked me.
Yes. I think I remember. I wished for things to be different and that Sophia didn’t have to suffer.
“I do remember, but this ‘different’ is insane.” I replied sternly.
“This is a possible reality for you. If our parents hadn’t made the mistakes they made, mom would have been married to Mr Tion and that would make Markian our cousin. If aunt Sabrina hadn’t died, Markian wouldn’t have had a greedy step-mother who kidnapped you both. Your love story would not have started because you both weren’t kidnapped together. So, even though everyone you love is happy, if things didn’t happen as it did you and Markian wouldn’t have had a bond that’s fated.” She explained.
“I just wanted to protect you, that was my only promise to dad. And I failed to do that.” I confessed shamefully.
“I made my choice and it’s not your fault. I choice to set you free from that promise so you’d realize where your happiness lies. Now get out of this place and go back to the people that love you. You’ve stayed too long in here already, before your husband gets remarried to a lady called Hayley and you babies become hers.” Sophia warned and gave me the fright of my life.
“He dare not.” I uttered, before I opened my eyes.
*****