04: responsibility

"WHETHER you like it or not, Gael, you should take your responsibility to my daughter," Gilberto said gently but firmly to Gael while facing him and Tallulah's family.

"Gilberto is right, Gael, you are not a child anymore, so you know the responsibility and the consequence of your actions. You're matured enough to understand everything," her mother, Caroline, seconded.

"But Uncle, I didn't do anything. I don't know what happened last night but I know I didn't do anything to her and I won't do anything to your daughter. Even if she undresses in front of me, I won't do anything," Gael returned as his palms intertwined. There is a trace of frustration on his face. "One more thing, I don't love your daughter, I treat her like a sister," he added.

The couple looked at each other as Tallulah kept her head down and played with her own hands. She was afraid that her parents might not be able to do anything and Gael would leave her completely.

"I-I wasn't drunk that night Gael so I know something happened between the two of us. I still feel the pain right now and I know it's because—"

"Tali, please stop," Caroline scolded her.

"But Mom, I'm telling the truth even if we get medical treatment, something happened to Gael and me and he should take his responsibility. I won't allow him to leave me after that," she said worriedly.

Gael took a breath and rubbed his forehead. He slightly tilted. "Ok fine, something happened to us but you know it was an accident. I was drunk and you're not but why didn't you do anything to stop me, Tallulah?" He asked.

She was stunned and didn't immediately answer because she knew that she meant not to stop him. She bowed for a moment. "B-because I love you Gael. I really love you and I want to marry you," she said directly.

"Tali, what are you talking about? Are you crazy?" Caroline reprimanded worriedly while her face showed surprise. "You're a woman and you shouldn't talk like that," she said.

"But, Mom, I love Gael and I don't want to marry any other man," she insisted.

Gilberto frowned and bowed for a moment because of what his daughter was saying. Even he was surprised and worried. "Are you out of your mind, Tallulah? You should act as a decent and respectable woman. It is not a woman who pursues and offers marriage to a man."

"Look, uncle Tallulah said that she wanted what happened even if she could prevent it. I'm not the one who's responsible for this, it's her responsibility because it wouldn't have happened if she didn't let it happen in the first place," Gael defended.

Her family was silent because they knew Gael's point and the root of everything that happened.

“B-but, Dad I tried to stop him but he's strong—"

"Shut up, Tallulah!" reprimanded Gilberto who surprised her because his voice was raised. He sighed and faced Gael. "I'm sorry, Gael, for what happened but now I understand everything. I'm sorry, you can leave," he said gently to Gael.

Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened. "D-Dad, no! Gael can't be responsible for me, he should marry me whether he likes or not," she answered worriedly.

"Tali, stop this please," Caroline gently scolded him.

Gael nodded. "Okay, Uncle, thank you!" He stood up with relief on his face.

When he stepped forward, she stood up quickly and chased after Gael. She hugged him from behind. “Gael, please marry me! Marry me because I don't have any other man I want to marry. I really love you! Please marry me! I'll do anything...I'll do anything you want just to make you love me. It'll be good if I'll be your wife. I'll do all the housework, I'll take care of you and I'll love you. Please! I'm begging you!" She begged Gael while she was almost on his knees.

She cannot accept that he is not responsible for what happened. She doesn't know how to live without him. She wants nothing more than to marry Gael and live with him. She does not see herself marrying another man.

"Tallulah, stop it!" Gael violently removed her arm wrapped around his body. Due to the strength of that, she moved backward.

She looked at the handsome Gael pleadingly. She didn't even see a little pity or love on his face. Anger is there.

"Do you think there is a man who will like what you do? You should be shy, don't give me your world and give me my freedom. Don't ruin your life just for me. There are many men out there that you can love and it's not me because no matter what you do, I won't love you," he said angrily with emphasis on the last words.

Behind her, the couple looked worried for her but they knew that she couldn't force what he wanted.

She shook her head. "No, Gael! I don't have any other man to love but you! I don't know how to love anyone else because you're the only one I know I can love. Please, marry me! Marry me even if you don't love me because maybe ..m-maybe when we get married, you'll learn how to love me too." She felt tears roll down her cheeks. "B-because I'll do anything just to make you love me."

Gael cupped his forehead and tilted his head slightly. He grinned. "Do you hear yourself? Are you really that desperate to lower your femininity to me? You should know your worth as a woman, Tallulah and you shouldn't be doing this."

"I don't care about my dignity or femininity, Gael. I don't care if you think I'm desperate, if you think low of me. I don't care anymore because I can do anything just to make you love me." Tears continued to fall from her eyes because of the pain she was feeling. She couldn't even feel a little love from Gael.

"Tallulah, stop!" Caroline couldn't hold back anymore, so she approached her daughter and reprimanded her. "Please, don't do this! You shouldn't be doing this. You don't have to lower your femininity just for a man. You're a gem! You should know your worth so you know what you're doing is wrong . You're gone too far, please, stop this," her mother warned.

"I'm sorry, Aunt, Uncle, but I can't love your daughter." Gael turned and walked out of the Lopez mansion.

"G-Gael! Gael!" She shouted his name. Caroline stopped her just as she was about to chase Gael. "Gael, please don't leave me! D-don't leave me, I-I can't." She wailed.

"Tallulah, stop!" She heard Gilberto shout with anger in his tone. "Do you know what you are doing is a shame, not only to yourself but also to our family. We did not raise you, send you to a good university just to lower yourself, your womanhood. You are shameful, Tallulah! You gave yourself to a man who doesn't love you and then you will cry? You should blame yourself why you are hurt!" He said while in front of her. It's not a secret from her family that she likes Gael so much.

"Hon, enough, don't scold—"

"That's the reason why she's like that, Caroline. You're spoiling your daughter too much. You're too supportive of all the stupid things that she does so she thinks that everything she wants to do is right," Gilberto interrupted.

"B-but, Dad, I love—"

"Damn that love, Tallulah! What can your love do for Gael? Obviously that's not love, what you feel is not love, that's an obsession that you have to stop. Can you call that love, that you put down your own self and put you to shame? Think about it! You're not a kid anymore, and you know what's right and wrong. Think about everything you've done because I won't support your stupidity." After he said that his father left.

She was left crying. No matter what the people around her said, it couldn't change her love for Gael. Even if he hurts her again and again, she still won't let go until she gets him. She will also be numb to all the hurtful words he will throw at her.

She quickly hugged her mother while crying. She can't leave Gael because she loves him so much. She will go crazy.

"I love him so much, Mom and I will do everything just for him to marry me.”