It's hard to love when so many questions are troubling and running through your mind---questions without adequate answers.
Let's take a look at the life story of Avrielle Xchier Cortes, who at the age of 19 has been raising her five younger sibling...
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Prologue
A wedding is a sacred event. It’s only for two people who truly love each other. The two of them will face the aisle of the church and promise each other that they will share in hardship and comfort. Our God and the people who attended their wedding were witnesses to their vow.
“Kanina pa po naghihintay sa inyo ang make-up artist n’yo, Madam! Lumabas na po kayo sa inyong kuwarto!” our maid shouted as she repeatedly knocked on my door.
Ilang luha na ba ang naibuhos ko? Ilang paghikbi at paghagulgol na ba ang pinakawalan ko? Ilang rolyo na ba ng tissue ang naubos ko dahil sa mga mapangahas kong mga luha na hindi na maawat sa pagbagsak?
Dapat ay masaya ako ngayon dahil makukuha ko na ang ninanais ko dati pa man, yayaman na ako at nagtagumpay ang ginawang operasyon sa aking ina ngunit bakit hindi ako masaya? Bakit kasabay nang pagbuhos ng mga luha ko ay siyang hapdi ng aking puso?
I didn’t know I would experience this; my heart and mind were arguing. My brain tells me to continue the marriage, but it is against what my heart wants.
“Honey, please open the door! Are you still asleep?” Don Trevor Fluente asked me in a calm voice, knocking softly on the door of my room.
It has been a few years since I lived in their mansion with my mother and my siblings. Natagalan ang kasal namin dahil hinintay muna namin na matapos ang therapy at maka-recover si Mama.
Katulad ng iniisip n’yo tanging pera at kayamanan lang ang habol ko sa kaniya. Hindi n'yo ako masisisi, wala akong ibang pagpipilian dahil buhay na ng pamilya ko ang nakataya. Tinulungan niya akong ipagamot ang aking ina. Tinulungan niya akong mabago ang masalimuot naming buhay.
“Please, honey, open the door—”
“Saglit lang! Palabas na ako!” I cut him off. Hindi na ako puwedeng umatras pa sa kasal. Siguro ito na ang kapalaran ko, na maikasal sa isang matandang lalaki na triple ang bilang ng edad sa akin.
I looked at my appearance in front of the mirror. I combed my messy hair and lightly applied powder to my face so as not to notice the pallor of my skin. Ngumiti ako nang pilit, ngunit mababakas sa aking mga mata ang kalungkutan . . . kalungkutan na siguro’y hindi na ako lulubayan pa.
As I opened the door of my room, the worried face of the old man met my sight. He quickly hugged me tightly.
“I'm glad that you're okay!” Halos buhatin na niya ako. I just firmly closed my eyes and let him do what he was doing. “Oh, you may go now, honey, the make-up artist and hairstylist are waiting for you! I love you!” He removed his hug from me and kissed my right cheek. “Good luck!”
