My Destiny (Completed)

Finale

Charlize sustained minor injuries. Pinakamalala na ang sugat niya sa ulo na humampas sa unahan ng kotseng nakabangga sa kanya.

Kaya naman nakabenda ang ulo niya ngayon after series of tests to make sure na wala siyang internal hemorrhage or anything na hindi malalaman by just lookingat her wound.

Kailangan din niyang mag-stay muna sa ospital for observation.

Other than that, her life is not in danger.

She smiled bitterly.

Yes, her life is in no danger, her heart was.

Kanina humahangos na dumating si Francis. He was really worried, on one second she thought he was scared. But she refused to talk to him ore ven see him kaya napilitan si Katrina na paalisin ito.

Napakahusay umarte ni Francis, anong iniisip nito? That she would easily be swayed sa pinapakita nitong concern?

Wasn't he the reason she ended up in the hospital in the first place?

"Charlize, Francis is really worried about you," si Katrina 'yon, sinusubukang konsensyahin siya.

"He's not worried. He's just guilty."

"He told me what happened. I'm not taking his side, sis but I strongly suggest that you allow him to explain."

"Stop it, Katrina. I don't wanna hear anything about him anymore. Okay?" Impatient at naiiyak niyang sabi

"He can't just do whatever he wants then expect me to forgive him at once."

"I'm sorry," nagpaalam muna ang kapatid niya. She said their parents were on their way and that they'll be there any minute.

She cried when Katrina left. She hated her life. Marrying Francis Park was so wrong.

But what hurts the most was it's a mistake that couldn't just be undone. Whether she likes it or not, their marriage, as stupid as it already was, was bounded by the laws of heaven and earth.

"May I come in?" It was Francis by the door and he was almost pleading.

She didn't answer and even looked away. He was the last person shewanted to see right now."

Alright, I won't come in. But could you just let me talk please?"

Shedidn't respond again so maybe he thought it was a go signal that she would like to listen.

"I just wanted to say sorry," he started. "It was never my intention to make things worse. I was jealous, I wanted you to feel the same way--"

"Could you just stop please?!" she shouted. Tinakpan niya ng dalawang kamay ang mga tainga niya. She had enough of his lies.

"Charlize --"

"Please, I don't wanna hear your lies! Leave me alone!"

"If that's what you want," Francis sighed in defeat. "Please tell me at once if you change your mind."

KC watched him leave. She wouldn't want anything else but watch him leave her life.

Apparently, hindi iyon gano'n kadali lalo na't kasama sa magdedesisyon ang puso niya. And at that point, she doesn't trust her heart one bit.

Karlo, Cassey and Myra came. They were all worried. For a while, she forgot about her husband.

*****

The next morning, KC thought she was in a flower field. Andaming bulaklak sa kwarto niya.

She was already smiling nang magawi ang tingin niya sa gwapo niyang asawa na nasa pintuan lang gaya kahapon. Ot was like crossing the line without her permission will send him to hell.

Binawi niya ang ngiti.

"Good morning," he greeted her, smiling a bit but obviously scared she might freak out.

"Thanks for the flowers," sabi niya, maybe a good night rest helped her calm herself.

"I'm glad you like them " medyo naging komportable ito. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

"Are you hungry? I brought you breakfast." Itinuro nito ang mga pagkaing dala nito na nasa paper bag pa sa sahig malapit sa pintong kinatatayuan nito.

She nodded.

There's no point arguing with him now. Makulit si Francis. Still she remembered how persuasive he was before they got married.

"May I help you?" Tanong nito nang magtangka siyang bumangon, her head suddenly seemed spinning. "If you would let me come in, you know, I--"

"Yes," she loved that he was obviously considering what she feels.

"Thank you," he was happily relieved, nasa tabi na niya ito agad, helping her got up.

"Let me get this clear to you, I still don't want to hear any explanation or whatever you have to say. Understood? I'm hungry to death, that's all."

"Yeah. I understand," nalungkot ito pero hindi na ito nakipagtalo. He helped her towards the restroom. "You sure you can manage alone inside?"

"Of course."

"Okay, let me prepare your breakfast."

KC was seriously thinking of ending their marriage. She thought about it countless times in just one night. Pero bakit sa tuwing makikita niya ito, gustong magbago ng isip niya?

Especially that, he seemed to have become a different person overnight.

*****

Hindi na siya nagtagal sa ospital. And no matter how bad she wanted to go home to her parents, sa condo ni Francis pa rin ang bagsak niya.

Although alam niyang may hint na ang mga magulang niya na hindi sila okay ng asawa niya. Perhaps they were trusting them to fix things on their own.

"Welcome home," ani Francis, masayang-masaya ba ito na maiuwi siya ulit?

Lately hindi niya nakikita ang antipatikong version nito. He'd been very patient with her kahit nagsusungit siya. He had become the original him that she used to know before they learned that she was Charlize.

"I'm tired. I'll just go to my room," iwas niya.

"I was hoping we can talk--" he was disappointed. "About this whole marriage thing, ahm, I mean, about us," Francis seemed to struggle with his words like he was unsure or afraid.

"Not now, please." She went to her room but he followed. "Hindi ka ba papasok? It's not weekend Mr. CEO."

"No. I took the day off. Actually not just today, I requested for a one week break."

"Why would you do that?" Hindi niya narerealize that she was already engaging him in a conversation. "I believe your presence is very much needed in the office."

"I wanted to just stay here with you." Hinarang siya nito and held her hands before she could even react. "Charlize, I'm sorry, I know I failed you and I hate myself for hurting you," he added sincerely.

"I'm okay," she looked away so he cupped her face para mapilitan siyang tumingin nang diretso sa mga mata nito.

"You were never a good liar, Charlize." His smile was warm yet nervous. "I've been a terrible husband to you. I know you hated me. I wasted so much time haven't I? If only I can turn it back," he touched her cheeks gently. "I would've done things differently."

"What are you trying to say?" Napalunok siya sa paraan ng pagtitig nito. Her walls starting to collapse in his touch and her anger slowly melting away.

She knew she couldn't be angry with him for long. Mahal na mahal niya ang asawa niya and it didn't change kahit kaunti.

His next words caught her off guard.

"Have I told you I love you?" He asked, his eyes already misty. "That I married you because I love you? That there could never be any other reason why I agreed to marry you? I would've said no, Charlize. I made my own decision. Hadn't it been you, I would've ran away."

"Francis." Her tears already started their way down her cheeks.

"I love you, Charlize and I would never regret marrying you." His face was already too close to her. "Please give me another chance, I will court you if I need to. I will prove to you that even before that night, I had already wished for it a thousand times--"

"But it wasn't me," she gently pushed him away but he was holding her real tight. "It couldn't be me, Francis. I passed out and the next thing I knew was waking up beside you."

"Does it still matter now?"

"Yes. Because I want you to believe me that it wasn't me... I would never hurt Alex. I would never want you to think that I was that kind of girl. That I would ruin my own sister just to be with the man I love. I didn't want you to think I was selfish that's why I tried my very best to ----"mabilis at sunud-sunod na sabi niya pero napatigil siya nang makita ang napakagwapong ngiti nito that matched his teary eyes well. "--avoid you. Even if it hurts... What? Did I say anything funny?" Kunot-noo niyang tanong.

"You said you love me," he said.

"I did?" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya.

"Yes," he was hopeful as he patiently waited for her to confirm, parang hindi nga ito humihinga.

"Did I really say I love you?" Ulit niya. "Well... Uhmn... I do." She smiled shyly. "I guess I love you too."

"Yes!!!" Tuwang-tuwa ito like he won a super lotto. Mahigpit siya nitong niyakap she almost felt her bones breaking apart. Binuhat pa siya nito at iniikot. "I love you, Charlize!"

He put her down, traced her lips with his finger. "I think I loved you the very first time I saw you as KC. Who would've thought?"

"I love you too, Francis... " She was already overwhelmed and flattered. She loves Francis so much and it was just so amazing how he had also loved her.

She tiptoed to kiss her husband and he responded like it was their first kiss in forever.

Just forget about everything else...

*****

"Forgive me, Charlize!" Alex came to their house shortly after Francis and KC sorted things out between them. "I wanted to get even! That's the only thing I knew that would make your image bad to everyone."

She related how she made KC fell asleep with a dose of sleeping pills. Then Alex lured Francis into sleeping with her, him believing she was KC using the latter's necklace.

He was too drunk then to even recognize and the necklace did the trick.

"I wanted Francis to hate you and regret dumping me. I thought I won! Akala ko nakaganti na ako. All I cared about was destroying my very own sister because my boyfriend chose her over me. KC, I was wrong." Alex hugged her. "Each time na nakikita kitang nasasaktan dahil sa kalokohan ko, I feel guilty."

Ipinagtapat nito how even after the wedding ay sinisiraan siya nito kay Francis and that she also regretted doing that kasi sinaktan din nito ang lalaking mahal nito.

"When you were rushed to the hospital, I was so scared. I bet more than anyone else was, akala ko 'di na ako makakahingi ng tawad sa 'yo!"

"Alex-" she didn't know what to say, she looked at Francis na nagpipigil ng galit after hearing Alexandra's confession.

"I know galit ka sa'kin... Naging napakasama ko sa 'yo. Pero gusto kong malaman mo na after all, I missed my best friend! 'Yong kaisa-isang taong naniwala at nagmahal sa'kin nang totoo was the very same person I ruined. I'm so sorry." She cried like a baby. "Please tell me if there's anything I could do to ease your pain --"

"Alex." Kumalas siya rito at ginagap ang dalawang kamay nito. "I forgive you." She smiled genuinely.

What would she get kapag nagalit siya sa kapatid niya? Besides, it worked for the better. Okay na sila ni Francis.

"You do? That quick?" Hindi ito makapaniwala.

"You're my sister, Alex. So I guess it's true, blood is thicker than water--"

"Thank you, Charlize!!!" She hugged her again. "Magpapakabait na ako, promise!"

Francis didn't forgive Alex. But he said he will think about it.

"What are you still angry about?" KC asked nang makaalis si Alex, nakayakap siya kay Francis habang nakaupo lang sila sa sofa at ine-enjoy ang oras na magkasama sila.

"Pinaglaruan niya tayo."

"At least we're already together... You said you don't regret a thing and neither do I, so what's the problem?"

"Charlize, kahit hindi tayo sinet-up ni Alex, I will still marry you. I didn't even get the chance to court you. It would've been special. Hindi gano'n na napilitan ka lang. You don't deserve to be treated like that. And I hated myself for forgetting to consider your feelings."

"Really?" She was teary eyed again. "But you know I don't mind--"

"Will you marry me?" He asked suddenly locking his gaze on hers. "I mean, again? Will you marry me again, Charlize Park?"

She smiled while lovingly caressing her husband's face. Wala itong ideya how much having him around was already more than enough.

"Charlize, you're making me nervous," he shed the tear that escaped her eyes when she didn't answer. She just looked at him with love. "I promise you, this time, we will do it for the right reason. So, will you marry again?"

"You don't even need to ask, you know," she said. "Coz I'd love to marry you, Francis Park, over and over and over again..."

"I love you, Charlize. I have always loved you and I will love you forever." He kissed her.

"I love you too, Francis." She kissed him back.

Francis had been very careful to just kiss her. He said he would never take advantage of her again when he thought Alex was her. And that was even if they're legally married.

"Let's wait 'til our real wedding night. It would be special. I promise."

*****

Charlize and Francis got married again after two months. Ibinalik siya nito sa mga magulang niya while they were waiting for their wedding and he pretended to court her everyday like he would have done if Alex didn't set them up.

Francis finally forgave Alex sa pangungulit na rin ni Charlize, insisting that if he would genuinely wanted to be a part of her family, dapat tanggapin din nito ang kapatid niya.

Katrina and Alex also started to get along each other well. Kat said it's time to give Alex a chance. Ivan left his post in their company telling them that he'll have to find himself again.

So everything was in order when Charlize and Francis tied the knot, this time, not for all the wrong reasons, but of love.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13

-*- THE END -*-

Yohanna Leigh