Mother's Daughter, Daughter's Home

Chapter 8: A Love Worth Fighting For

Elara ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She ran away from Julian, away from the school, away from the world that kept hurting her. Her heart was shattered into tiny pieces, just like she knew it would be.

"I knew it," she sobbed bitterly while running under the rain. "I knew it would end like this. No one can accept me. I am always the unwanted one. I am a burden."

When she arrived home, she was soaking wet. She went straight to her room and locked the door. She buried her face in her pillow and cried until she had no more tears left.

Why did I trust him? she thought in agony. Why did I believe that he was different? He is just like the others. His family is right. I am not good enough for him.

Lina noticed her daughter coming home looking like a broken doll. She followed her to the room and knocked gently.

"Anak? Elara? Open the door, please. It is Mother."

Elara wiped her tears and opened the door. Lina saw her red eyes and pale face. She immediately pulled her into a warm hug.

"What happened, anak? Tell me. Did someone hurt you again?" Lina asked softly, stroking her wet hair.

Elara could not hold it anymore. She cried on her mother's chest.

"Mother... Julian's parents don't want him to be with me," Elara choked out. "They said I am bad luck. They said I bring too many problems. They told him to leave me. And... and he told me that."

Lina’s heart ached for her daughter. She held her tighter.

"And it hurts so much, Mother!" Elara cried. "It feels like my chest is being ripped open. Why do I have to carry this name? Why do I have to carry this past? I just want to be happy. Is that a crime?"

(Lina’s POV)

My poor child, Lina thought, tears falling down her own face. You are suffering the same pain I suffered. History is repeating itself. But I will not let it break you.

"No, anak," Lina said firmly, holding Elara’s face to look her in the eyes. "Happiness is not a crime. And you are not bad luck. You are a blessing. The problem is not in you. The problem is in their eyes. They only see the dirt, they cannot see the gold inside you."

"But it hurts, Mother," Elara whispered.

"I know it hurts," Lina kissed her forehead. "But remember what we always say? We are strong. We survive. If he loves you truly, Julian will not let you go easily. And if he leaves... then he is not worthy of you. We can stand alone, right? We have done it before."

Elara nodded, taking strength from her mother’s words. "Yes, Mother. We are strong."

[ JULIAN’S POINT OF VIEW ]

Back at his house, the atmosphere was heavy and tense. Julian was angry and frustrated. He loved Elara more than anything, but his parents were putting so much pressure on him.

"Julian, listen to us," his father said seriously. "We are doing this for your own good. That girl comes from a complicated family. Her father was a criminal, her stepfather is sick. You will have a hard life if you marry her."

"Father, you don't understand!" Julian shouted, unable to control his emotions anymore. "Elara is the best person I have ever met! She is kind, she is smart, she is hardworking! Yes, her past is difficult, but that is not her fault! Why are you punishing her for things she didn't do?"

His mother stood up, crying. "We just want you to have an easy life, son! We want you to be rich and successful!"

"I will be successful with her!" Julian declared. "And I will tell you this now. I am not breaking up with her. I love her. And I will fight for her. If you disown me, then so be it. But I will not leave Elara."

He turned around and ran out of the house. He needed to find her. He needed to fix this.

[ BACK TO ELARA ]

The next day, Elara went to school with a heavy heart. She avoided looking at Julian’s direction. She pretended he did not exist. But her heart was screaming in pain.

During lunch break, she sat alone in a corner. Suddenly, someone pulled the chair opposite her and sat down forcefully.

It was Julian.

He looked tired, his eyes were red, but his determination was strong.

"Elara," Julian called her name.

Elara looked away. "Please leave me alone, Julian. Your parents are right. We are not meant to be."

"No!" Julian said loudly, grabbing her hand gently but firmly. "I am not leaving. And I am not listening to them."

Elara looked at him, surprised. "What?"

"I told them," Julian said, looking straight into her eyes. "I told them that I love you. I told them that you are the woman I want to marry. And I told them that if they cannot accept you, then they cannot accept me either."

"Julian... you did that?" Elara’s voice trembled. "But they will be angry. They will hate you."

"Let them be angry," Julian smiled sadly. "Love is not just about the happy times, Elara. Love is about fighting for someone even when it is hard. I am not Rico. I am not your biological father who ran away. I am Julian. I stay. I fight."

(Julian’s POV)

I will never let you go, he thought passionately. You are mine. And I am yours. We will face everything together.

Elara stared at him. The wall inside her heart completely crumbled. She cried tears of joy and relief.

"Julian..." she cried.

"I am sorry if I made you feel scared yesterday," Julian said softly. "I was just shocked. But I made my decision. You are not a burden. You are my inspiration. We will face your relatives, we will face the bills, we will face everything. Together."

Elara leaned forward and hugged him tightly in the middle of the cafeteria. She didn't care who saw them. She didn't care what people said.

"I love you, Julian," she whispered. "Thank you for choosing me. Thank you for loving me."

"I love you too, Elara Dizon," Julian said proudly, saying her name loud and clear. "And one day, everyone will see how amazing you are."

With Julian by her side, Elara felt stronger than ever. She worked even harder. She studied until late at night, with Julian helping her review her lessons.

"Remember this formula," Julian would say.

"And this history date," she would laugh.

They were a team.

But the relatives from Rico’s side did not stop. They kept coming back, harassing them about the land.

"You cannot hide forever!" they shouted one day when they met Elara in the market. "You have to sign the papers! Or we will take your brother!"

Elara, who was once scared of them, now stood tall. Julian was holding her hand.

"I will not sign anything," Elara said coldly. "That land is dirty. It is full of sin. And I will never let you use my brother for your greed."

"You are so arrogant!" the uncle shouted.

"And you are shameless!" Julian stepped forward, his voice commanding. "If you come near this family again, I will call the police. I will take you to court for harassment. Leave now!"

The relatives were shocked to see a young man defending them. They saw that Elara was not alone anymore. They hesitated and slowly walked away.

"We are not done yet!" they shouted but did not dare come closer.

Elara took a deep breath. She looked at Julian.

"Thank you," she smiled weakly.

"We showed them," Julian smiled back. "You are not alone anymore, Elara."

Life was still hard. Manuel was still sick. Money was still tight. But Elara was happy. She had her mother’s love, her father’s care, and Julian’s devotion.

She promised herself that she would graduate. She would become successful. And she would make sure that the name Dizon would finally be known not for pain and shame, but for success and honor.