Deceiving The Billionaire

20. Finale.

KAPAG hindi unang araw ng Nobyembre, nakakabingi ang katahimikan sa mga libingan. Mangilan-ngilan lang kasi ang mga bumibisita sa mga puntod ng mga mahal nila sa buhay kapag ordinaryong araw.

Tulad ng araw na iyon, mula sa entrada ng libingan ay nilakad lang ni Jillian ang patungo sa puntod na pakay. Napakatahimik ng lugar pero hindi naman nakakatakot dahil mataas ang sikat ng araw.

Habang naglalakad ang dalaga ay binabalikan niya sa alaala ang mga pangyayari sa buhay niya.

She failed so many times in her life. Nagtanim siya ng galit, umani siya ng sakit. Ilang beses siyang nagkamali, hindi nga niya mabilang. Pero noong nagkaroon naman siya ng pagkakataong bumawi, hindi naman niya sinayang ang pagkakataon.

Humingi siya ng tawad at nagpatawad. Nagsakripisyo siya at nagparaya. Even if it would hurt her. But the Lord's been gracious to her. Ibinigay nito sa kanya ang mga taong mahal niya. Until the bombing happened...

Huminto si Jillian sa isang museleo, pumasok doon at inilagay ang basket ng bulaklak sa ibabaw ng marmol na puntod.

"It's been a long time, Papa." Tears welled her eyes habang dinadama ng kanyang palad ang pangalan ng amang nakaukit sa lapida. After her mother disowned her when she was seven, hindi na siya nakabalik sa puntod ng kanyang ama.

"Forgive me, life's been tough and I struggled so much. I may have failed to visit you but I never forgot you, papa..." Before there was Sake Fortalejo and even Shawn, ang ama niya lang ang tanging lalaking nagmahal sa kanya nang totoo.

He wasn't only her father, he was her friend, her protector, her hero. The man who sacrificed his life just so she would live hers.

"'Andaming nangyari. Pakiramdam ko hindi ko na kaya." She cried. "I already lost a child once, I couldn't lose another. Shawn, your grandson is still in a critical condition. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Alam kong marami akong naging pagkakamali sa buhay ko, but is it fair to punish me like this? Walang kasalanan ang anak ko. Bakit siya pa? Bakit hindi na lang ako?"

Ang sakit-sakit ng nararamdaman niya at parang anytime ay magco-collapse na siya.

"Please lend me some of your strength, Papa..."

Several days after the bombing, Shawn is still on a medically induced coma. Nagkaroon ito ng brain injury in which details were vague to Jillian. Ang alam lang niya ay nasa peligro ang kanyang anak and her heart couldn't take it if her son won't survive.

Suspects were arrested after two days at umamin itong inutusan ito ng lover ni Julia. Paghihiganti umano iyon sa kalungkutang ibinigay nila sa kapatid niya. Julia denied any participation in the bombing.

Sa katunayan ay umiiyak itong humingi ng tawad kay Sake dahil hindi raw nito kailanman ipag-uutos na mapahamak ang lalaking mahal nito. Pero kahit umiyak pa ito ng dugo, what's done is done. Hindi no'n maibabalik ang masiglang katawan ng anak nila ni Sake.

Ngunit gaano man kasakit, Sake and Jillian weren't gods to deny Julia the forgiveness that she asked. Pero hindi ibig sabihin na okay na sila.

There are wounds that take more time to heal. At ang nangyaring pagsabog ay mas malalim ang iniwang sugat sa mga puso nila kaysa sa mga pisikal na sugat na tinamo nila.

Lora sustained minor injuries dahil nagkataong lumabas ito sa likod bahay para magtapon ng basura. Jillian and Sake recovered few days after the incident. But the latter will undergo a therapy dahil naipit ang isang paa nito habang pinoprotektahan sila ni Shawn noon.

Si Shawn na lang ang hindi pa sigurado ang kalagayan dahil malapit sa silid nito ang naunang pagsabog.

At napakasakit sa isang magulang na makitang nahihirapan ang kanyang anak.

"I don't know what to do anymore," she cried and cried until she was tired.

Jillian stayed for another hour bago siya nagpasyang umalis. Kailangan niyang harapin ang katotohanan. Kailangan niyang maging matatag--- para kay Shawn.

-----

"SHAWN is a strong kid. He's a fighter," wika ni Sake habang nakatunghay sila sa kanilang anak. "Mana sa mommy eh. Walang dudang makakaya niyang lampasan ito." Naka-cast pa rin ang isang paa ni Sake pero nakakatayo ito sa pamamagitan ng dalawang saklay.

"Sana ako na lang," aniya.

"Sshhh... Don't say that. If it's you, Shawn's heart would be devastated as well." Kinuha nito ang mga kamay niya. "Be strong for Shawn, my love. He needs you to be strong and never give up on him."

"I will never give him up, Sake!"

"Yes, Jill. We won't give him up." He smiled at her. "We'll get through this together... Hmn?"

Hilam ng luha ang mga matang tumango siya.

"What will I do without you?" Yumakap siya sa binatang nagsisilbi niyang lakas.

"Nakalimutan mo na bang malakas ka? Ikaw ang pinakamatapang na babaeng kilala ko, Jillian. At alam kong yuyuko ang mga pagsubok sa 'yo. Including this one. Keep smiling huh? This too, will pass." He kissed her hair. "I love you, Jillian."

"I love you too, Sake Fortalejo."

------

Eighteen months later ...

Dressed in white, adorned with a crown of fresh flowers, a bouquet in her hand, a beautiful setting sun, the calm sea and the sand beneath her feet...

This is the day...

Jillian was nervous as she walked down the sandy aisle. She had never made such a very huge decision in her life. Pero batid din niyang ang pagtayo niya sa lugar na iyon ang isa sa mga pinakatamang desisyong ginawa niya sa buhay niya.

Sake is her first and last love. The man that the Lord have graciously given to her. Hindi niya ito deserve kung tutuusin. She deceived him twice but he still chose to love her. Hindi pa ba biyayang maituturing iyon? That after everything, she was rewarded with a good man?

Needless for a praise, her groom looked as handsome as ever. But her favorite was that look in his eyes that tells her she was his everything, the love of his life.

And on this blessed day, Jillian will vow to love Sake Fortalejo for all eternity.

SAKE waited patiently as he stood at the end of the aisle. He wasn't much of an emotional person. But watching his bride walk down the aisle has got him teary eyed.

He was so blessed to be the man to love Jillian. It was an honor, a great privilege to be the person who will take care of her and grow old with her. He promised to make her happy all the days of their life together.

Bago umabot sa kanya si Jillian ay huminto ito sa tapat ng kanilang four year-old-son. Their little heartthrob is making heads turn. And he was a proud father. At alam niyang gano'n din si Jillian, isang proud na ina ang maganda niyang soon to be ex-fiancée.

Hindi madali ang pinagdaanan nilang trahedya. But their little boy was a fighter. After undergoing several months of therapy, Shawn returned to the lovely kid he was once. At ngayon nga, handa na itong samahan sila sa panibagong yugto ng buhay nila. Ang maging isang buong pamilya silang tatlo.

Jillian kissed Shawn who kissed her back. Gusto niyang makisali sa mag-ina niya pero nag-flying kiss lang ang mga ito sa kanya. Sake pretended to catch the kiss and put it atop his chest. The two smiled at him at pakiramdam niya sasabog ang puso niya sa kasiyahan at pagmamahal.

Nang magpatuloy sa paglapit sa kanya si Jillian, sinalubong na niya ito.

"I'm already dying to make you Mrs. Fortalejo, my love," he whispered.

Jillian giggled and took his hand.

Moments later, on an intimate beach wedding ceremony, in front of their few carefully chosen guests, Jillian and Sake exchanged their marriage vows.

"What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder" Mark 10:9 (KJV)

Wakas

Author's note:

Maraming-maraming salamat po sa lahat ng nagbasa nito!

I miss writing stories as short as this. Dati ganito lang kahaba, sapat na. Ngayon kasi, pahabaan na to the point na wala ng relevance sa story ang ibang scenes.

Ayon, so wala naman. Hahaha, pa-speech lang! Share your thoughts about the story. Ipublish ko 'to, bili kayo. Char....

Salamat ulit!

God bless!