Chapter 21

Bea, Lorna, Manang Sora and Stephen are currently in the hospital with shaking hands while sitting in the waiting area.

“Stephen, what really happened?” the girl asked him worriedly as he sat next to her and had been watching her anxious face for a while.

"I didn't kill him.. I didn't kill him." He said weakly and repeatedly. Manang Sora approached them for a moment and held both of his hands.

"Listen, you're not to blame for what happened. It was all an accident." The old man said to him as he just stared at Manang Sora.

"But, you saw-" he stopped speaking when Manang Sora hugged him and gently caressed his back. Stephen burst into tears and hugged the old man tightly. Bea almost had tears in her eyes when she saw him become emotional. He just stood up and turned around while rubbing his eyes.

He noticed for a moment his mother, Lorna, who was sitting quietly to one side with her head bowed.

"We two need to talk." Bea said to her mother and she walked away but she followed her right away.

The two of them went outside the hospital and there the girl spoke to him with bulging eyes.

"I won't prolong what I have to say. I want to know from you myself if he is really my real father?" he said and he was referring to Bernny, Stephen's father.

Lorna bowed for a moment and faced her son again.

"No. Daniel is still your real father." He replied with tears in his eyes.

"Then do you love him?" his voice trembled and restrained himself. Lorna didn't answer right away, instead she just burst into tears while staring at the girl.

"Y-yeah." He answered. Tears suddenly fell from the corner of Bea's eyes and she quickly avoided looking at her mother.

"How much do you love him? Is it more than you love me?" he asked again even though his voice was straining and he wanted to cry.

"Yes." There is no doubt that this is a response to him. Bea almost bowed her head and could not speak. He seemed to be struggling to breathe because of the mixed emotions he was feeling, but he was trying to stay calm. After a few moments, he faced Lorna again and held her by the hand.

"Can't you.. can't you leave him? At least for my sake?" he said but the lady just let him go.

"I'm going to ask you, Bea. Do you love that man?" he asked Bea.

"Dear.. I love him so much."

"How much do you love him? would you trade your own mother for a man like him?" after he said, the girl closed her eyes for a moment and let out a deep breath.

"All this time, I knew you were the one sending me my tuition. Dad told me that, because he didn't want me to harbor a grudge about you. So I just accepted it even though it was against my will. At that time I couldn't understand why you left us and it caused a big wound in my heart. But when I thought about it, that's when I realized the hardship you went through. I kept thinking if I should should I spend the money you give me or do you even eat something good or do you have any left over for yourself? that's what always bothers me.

I know how much you sacrificed. But I don't know how difficult it is for you to be alone and separated from your own family. Maybe, you're very sad, aren't you? missing the love of a son and wife. That's why, even if it hurts. Even if it is difficult, it will be accepted. I will sacrifice myself, for the sake of the happiness that was denied to you. I love Stephen and he is important to me too. But what makes you happy, I will give you. Because that's all I can do for you as your son." He said as he turned his back and left. The lady was left there alone and crying. She almost sat down and covered her mouth.

While Bea was walking stupidly and just looking into the distance. Tears are still flowing from his eyes and he is thinking deeply.

Until he stopped walking when he momentarily turned to his right and saw a bright light coming towards him.

It seemed that he was suddenly deafened by his honking at him one after another and he seemed to be a rock that froze where he stood.

"BEA!" when the white car was close, Lorna quickly approached him and pulled him closer.

With the strength of his pull, they both fell down and lay on the ground. The driver who was driving the car was shouting and cursing very angrily but he left immediately.

The lady got up quickly and approached Bea immediately, even though she got some scars on her body and face.

"Bea, son. Are you okay? Are you not hurt?" He worriedly promised the girl but she just looked him in the eye and suddenly hugged him.

Lorna was just surprised and heard the heavy sobbing of her son. Tears fell from his eyes and gently caressed the girl's back.

"I'm sorry, mom! I'm sorry. Please forgive me." He said trembling and hugged his mother tightly.

Tears welled up in Lorna's eyes when she heard what he said. That's why he just hugged him tightly and apologized to his son again and again.

From that day on, the mother and daughter never showed up at that hospital again. Stephen looked for the girl almost everywhere but he failed to catch her.

The news about her husband also reached Tessie immediately. So he hurriedly left the hotel and went to the hospital where it was located.

He almost fell to his knees in shock when he discovered that his wife was comatose. Stephen quickly ran inside the room and found his mother sitting on the floor with tears in her eyes.

He came immediately and touched the lady's face.

"Ma, look into my eyes. Ma!" she shouted and got his attention too.

"Listen to me, Mom. Take a deep breath." He said but she was just looking at him.

"It's okay, Mom. Just cry and let it all out. I'm here and I won't leave you." He continued and hugged the lady. After a few moments, he gradually tightened his arms around his son and he cried loudly.

Stephen almost burst into tears but he also tried to strengthen his heart even though he was very heavy with the hardships he was going through now. Especially when there was no one else around him but just the two of him and his mother.

Not long after, Bernny gradually recovered. More than six months ago, since he woke up from the coma. Tessie, his wife, did not abandon him. Instead, he took care of him and watched over him all night. He also did not leave his wife's side until she regained consciousness.

Three months later, Bernny was able to return to their old home. His body is still limp and temporarily the wheel chair supports him so that he can walk.

While Stephen went ahead and held their company. He almost immersed himself in working to forget the sorrow and sadness he felt in his heart.

If only it were possible, he would never rest to forget about missing his former lover who suddenly left him and disappeared like a bubble.

Even from Ara and some of his close friends, he did not get any information about the girl's whereabouts. He just left without saying goodbye and went with his mother.

He also went to where Bea used to stay but according to those who know her there, they haven't seen the girl for a long time. That's why he thought of hiring a staff capable of finding the missing.

Regardless of the size of the amount he will pay for the search. Because the only thing more important to him is seeing Bea again.

But more than a year has passed and he still hasn't heard anything about the girl. That's why he seems to be discouraged and he feels that he is tired of what he is looking for. However, he still did not give up. He won't stop until he sees it and finds it.

two months later it seems Stephen still hasn't heard anything about what he's been looking for. He thinks that he is getting discouraged and losing hope.

That's why he thought of going to the former night bar that he also frequented and where he and Bea first met.

As usual, he ordered and drank scotch whiskey. He was sitting there alone while looking at the girl's picture of the two of them in his cellphone gallery.

Tears almost fell from the corner of his eyes and he was eager to see the girl again. But as time and days pass by, he's getting more and more difficult and he's wondering if he should just give up? maybe she doesn't intend to show him anymore or maybe she loves another man now.

Despite his frenzy at the thought, he just bowed down and cried. Until he started going to that night bar more often, because that was the only thing that lightened his mood and that's where he spent his free time.

Such work became his everyday routine. He still goes home to the house he and Bea once built. Every night he was drunk and when he got home he would immediately go to the bedroom and lie down on the bed. Sometimes his drunkenness overtook him and sometimes he slept outside.

He almost neglected even himself. Because he often comes to work on an empty stomach or goes the whole night without eating. Even his employees notice his body falling and sinking into the day's work. That's why some of them care about him bringing food to his office, but he doesn't touch it and sometimes he just ignores it.

He also often does not sleep well at night. Insomnia always hits him, so he just goes to the kitchen and drowns himself in alcohol to at least feel sleepy.

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February 14, 2021. This is the day he thought of going to a night club to entertain himself and find a girl to date.

Many beautiful and sexy women approach and hold his strong arms, but he simply rejects them.

He wanted to go jamming, but he seemed to be stopping himself, so he decided to sit at the bar again.

"What's your drink, sir?" the bartender asked him.

"Anything as long as the light." He responded to the young man and suddenly he started mixing tequila.

On the other hand, where a beautiful beauty who is being looked at and followed by men grabs attention.

She is wearing a shimmering bronze sleeveless party dress that almost fits the shape of her body. Its whiteness became brighter and matched her short hair.

He walked towards Stephen's direction and sat next to the gentleman. At first he didn't notice her and he also ordered his own drink.

Stephen was just bending down and looking at the wallpaper of his phone screen which is a picture of him and Bea.

The girl peeked a little at what he was busy with. He just grinned and stood up. A few moments later, he went to the stage and whispered to the DJ.

Everyone was surprised and stopped dancing when the music stopped. They turned for a moment to the stage where the girl was standing and she was holding a microphone.

"Ah-ha. Mic test, mic test." He said and suddenly the dj played great music. A sweet smile appeared on the girl's lips and she grabbed the microphone she was holding with both hands.

"Why do birds suddenly appear

Every time you are near? just like me, they long to be, Close to you." He is currently singing Close to you by Carpenters and the intro alone seems to have caught Stephen's attention immediately.

He was still sitting with his back to him. He listened carefully to the familiar song he heard now.

This is what Bea sang when they first met at a night bar. That's why his mood suddenly lightened and a small smile appeared on his lips.

The girl just continued singing, until she gradually realized her familiar voice. He quickly turned from where he was but he couldn't see him properly because of the crowd.

So he stood up and thought to have fun with what they were watching.

"Excuse me, excuse me please."

"Just make money." He said as he squeezed in with the people there.

After a while, he also found the light. Where he saw the girl up close and smiling at her.

Stephen could hardly believe it when he saw Bea singing on stage. Suddenly, tears came to his eyes without realizing it and he walked closer to the girl.

Bea got off the stage and walked towards the gentleman to meet him. Her eyes are also teary and eager to hug her ex-boyfriend.

They both stopped in the middle and Bea finished what she was singing. Until their audience applauded and he lowered the microphone he was holding.

Stephen grinned and wiped the tears from the girl's face.

"Sorry if I've been gone for a while." Bea said to the gentleman that the tears just kept flowing in her eyes.

"No. It's alright. I should be the one to apologize to you because I didn't find you right away." He said and she hugged him tightly. The people watching them there cheered and applauded. Just for a few moments, Bea suddenly moved away from him and knelt in front of him.

The gentleman seemed to frown and was surprised by his sudden kneeling down.

"Will you marry me, Mr. Stephen Ulysses?" he said with a smile on Stephen's lips and shyly looked around them.

The gentleman didn't answer right away, instead he knelt down in front of the girl and took out a proposal ring from his pocket that he always carries.

Bea was just surprised to see the sing-sing he was holding. He hardly expected it to be ready.

"No, because I'm the one who should ask you that question. Now, will you marry me, Beatrice Tuazon? to be my sex slave for all night and day?" Stephen said so Bea grinned and the people there laughed.

"Yes. I will marry you but not to be your sex slave, but to be your wife." He said smiling and then Stephen put on the girl's finger. Then he immediately grabbed her with a passionate kiss on her lips. A smile appeared on the gentleman's lips and the girl's lips responded.

Those who witnessed the love between the two cheered and applauded again. Until Bea and Stephen ended up getting married and continued the chapter of their lives as a married couple and later they were blessed with twin children.

They both lived far away with the new family they both built. Bernny Ulysses' former condition has also returned to normal, he is in charge of their company again and he and Tessie are getting along well, as husband and wife.

While Lorna is in the province and is happily starting her new life.

Aldrin, on the other hand, has found a woman he will love and spend the rest of his life with.

Leo and Abby soon became friends. And they also tried to date for a month to see if their relationship would work but it looks like they both ended up in a one night stand. So more than two months passed and they got married right away.

Robin and Ara are now living peacefully in another country and she is currently carrying their third child.

Pearl is also married to her fiancé and has lived in France.

Our life is full of trials and problems, but we should not give up and run away. We have a lot to learn before we can achieve the happiness and success we long for.

So if you are going through something right now or if the burden is heavy on your chest. Don't worry because you'll get over it and tomorrow you'll just smile at it and say, "Why did I make him cry?"

Don't be afraid to love again because being torn, hurt, crushed, destroyed and hurt is part of love. Don't give up and just go on with life, because remember as long as there is a woman or a man alive in the world, it's not bad to fall in love. Just don't be with a person with a penchant. I wonder if he can fight for you.