I'm Yours to Adore

Chapter 40 - Finale

It was a fun rollercoaster ride for Hugo and Ginny, but even good things end so here's a nice finale to complete the ride!

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Pinagmasdan ko nang maigi ang puntod ni Mama at Papa. "Hi." Saka ko nilingon si Hugo bago muling bumaling sa puntod ni Mama. "This is Hugo, Ma. I'm marrying him."

Napangiti ako at pinagmasdan ang paligid habang napapabuntong-hininga. "I can imagine you rolling your eyes." I glanced at my mother's grave. "I know, he's not that handsome."

Tinignan ko si Hugo na nangingiti na lang habang pinagbibigyan ako sa mga pinagsasabi ko.

"Ma, I miss you." Saka ko nilingon ang puntod ni Papa at napabuntonghininga na lang. "Turns out, you, too. Santi was right, you can hate someone and still miss them, especially if they're someone who used to be an important part of your life."

I smiled and stared at the bright sky. "The two of you, don't fight there. Or maybe Dad's in Hell?"

Hugo reached for my hand habang napapangiti. "You're too harsh to the dead."

"Don't worry, he wouldn't mind." Pareho naming nilingon ang puntod ni Mama. "I'll visit again, Ma. Rest well."

Bumalik kami sa sasakyan at nananghalian sa nadaan naming restaurant. Habang kumakain, masyadong tahimik si Hugo kaya pinagmasdan ko siya. "Is there something bothering you?"

"There's a special place for me that might irk you, do you still want me to take you there?"

I smiled and nodded at him. "If it's a special place for you, then I will learn to love it."

After our lunch, we hit the road again and went to a forest somewhere in Calamba. Nang makababa kami sa batuhang kalsada, tinanaw ko ang mga puno sa paligid. "It's both beautiful and creepy here."

Nilingon ko si Hugo na nakalahad na ang kamay kaya tinanggap ko ito at hinayaan siyang dalhin ako papasok sa gubat. "This place reminds of Nikki's hometown."

He glanced at me bago lumingon sa paligid. "Do you still communicate with them?"

Marahan akong umiling. "Matagal nang hindi. Since Nikki left the country and Katrin transferred, we just totally became strangers."

"I notice you don't have friends."

Ngumiti ako at pinagmasdan ang mga halaman sa paligid. "I have you, Gerard, Jim, and Katya. You guys are my friends, and I don't really need many, a few good ones will do."

He smiled and leaned closer to kiss me on my temple. Maya-maya, natanaw ko ang isang malawak na lawa. Natulala na ako sa ganda nito habang pinagmamasdan ang mga bulaklak sa paligid.

"I can't believe a lake could be this beautiful. Look at those flowers. What memories do you have here?"

"Burial."

Unti-unting napawi ang ngiti ko at nilingon siya. "Of whom?"

Tumanaw siya sa lawa at bumuntonghininga. "Vivian."

"What? H-how? Why?"

"When she woke up from coma, hindi maganda ang lagay niya. She had few seizures noong umalis kami and one day, she's... brain dead."

Nagbara ang lalamunan ko habang nakatingin sa payapang tubig. "So, you mean... I eventually killed her?"

Agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko para maiharap ako sa kaniya. "Let me tell this to you if this can ease your guilt. She knows that it was just an accident. Vivian is a kind woman, but she just lost it when she found out our son is dead. But Ginny, she appreciates you for fighting."