Missing My wedding

Back in High School

Hanah POV

I remember the day I met Leonard like it was yesterday. We were in our junior year at St. Augustine High School in Manila, Philippines. I was 15, and he was 16. I was a shy and awkward student, always keeping to myself, while he was the popular jock, charming and confident. It was a typical day in school, and I was walking down the hallway when I saw him - Leonard, the star basketball player. He was standing by his locker, laughing with his friends. I couldn't help but notice him, with his bright smile and piercing eyes. As I walked past him, he caught my eye and smiled. I felt my heart skip a beat. I quickly looked away, feeling embarrassed. But fate had other plans. We were assigned to work together on a group project in our English class. I was nervous, but he was friendly and easy-going, making me feel at ease. As we worked together, I discovered that we had a lot in common. We both loved music, movies, and books. We would talk for hours about our favorite authors and stories.

Before I knew it, we were inseparable. We would sit together in class, study together during lunch, and explore the city together on weekends. Leonard was my first love, my first heartbreak, and my first everything. He was charming, kind, and genuinely interested in getting to know me. But our love was not without its challenges. We came from different worlds, and our families did not approve of our relationship. Despite the odds against us, we continued to see each other in secret. Our love grew stronger with each passing day. And then, everything changed. I got pregnant, and our whole world came crashing down... But I refused to give up. I knew that I had to be strong, not just for myself, but for our child. I raised our son on my own, working multiple jobs to make ends meet. It was hard, but it was worth it. And now, all these years later, I've finally found the courage to confront Leonard about his past. To make him face the consequences of his actions, and to demand the truth about why he left me…

The quiet restaurant was a stark contrast to the turmoil that was brewing inside me. I had waited years for this moment, and finally, I was face to face with Leonard again. He looked older, wearier, but still handsome. I, on the other hand, felt like I was still that scared, pregnant teenager, searching for answers. "Why did you leave me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Leonard looked down, his eyes avoiding mine. "I was scared, Hannah. I was young, and I didn't know how to handle it." I laughed, a bitter taste in my mouth. "You were scared? You think you were scared? I was the one who was pregnant, alone, and scared. You were just... gone." Leonard took a deep breath, his eyes finally meeting mine. "It's not that simple, Hannah. My mom... she was sick. Lung cancer. And I knew that if she found out about... about us, about the baby... it would have killed her. Before the cancer did, anyway." I felt a pang of surprise, of understanding. I had never known about his mom's illness. "I'm sorry," I said, my voice softer now. Leonard nodded, a small smile on his face. "I know I should have told you. I should have been stronger. But I was trying to protect my mom, and I didn't know how to do that and be there for you at the same time."

I took a deep breath, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "It's okay," I said. "I understand." And then, I stood up, and gestured to the boy sitting at the table next to us. "Leonard, this is Abel. Our son." Leonard's eyes widened, his face pale. "Abel?" he repeated, his voice shaking. I nodded, a small smile on my face. "Thirteen years old. Smart, funny, and kind. Just like his father." Leonard's eyes met Abel's, and I could see the shock, the wonder, the love in his eyes. He stood up, his chair scraping against the floor, and took a step forward. "Abel?" he said again, his voice barely above a whisper. Abel looked up at him, a curious expression on his face. "Yeah?" he said. Leonard took another step forward, his eyes never leaving Abel's face. "I'm your father," he said, his voice shaking with emotion. Abel's eyes widened, his face pale. And then, in a move that broke my heart and healed it at the same time, Abel stood up and walked into Leonard's arms.

Leonard POV

As I stood there, frozen in shock, I couldn't believe my eyes. The boy, Abel, was... was my son. My flesh and blood. The child I had abandoned, the child I had never known. I felt like I had been punched in the gut, like all the air had been sucked out of me. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All I could do was stare at Abel, at the boy who was my son. And then, Hannah said the words that broke me: "Thirteen years old. Smart, funny, and kind. Just like his father." I felt a lump form in my throat as I gazed at Abel. He looked... like me. He had my eyes, my nose, my smile. He was a miniature version of me, a version that I had never known existed. As I took a step forward, my heart pounding in my chest, Abel looked up at me with a curious expression. "Yeah?" he said, his voice hesitant. I took another step forward, my voice shaking with emotion. "I'm your father," I said, the words feeling like they were tearing me apart. Abel's eyes widened, his face pale. And then, in a move that broke my heart and healed it at the same time, Abel stood up and walked into my arms.

I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close as tears streamed down my face. I felt like I was home, like I had finally found the piece of me that had been missing for so long. "I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you." Abel looked up at me, his eyes shining with tears. "It's okay, Dad," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Dad. The word felt like a punch to the gut, a reminder of all the years I had missed, all the moments I had lost. But it also felt like a gift, a chance to start anew, to make up for lost time. As I held Abel close, I knew that I would do anything to make it right, to be the father I should have been from the start.