(Alys Prov)
I smiled at him. We just got married, for heaven's sake!
"Are you happy?" he asked me. I just smiled at him. Words can't suffice what I was feeling at that moment. I held his hand tighter and intertwined our fingers.
We walked back to the car together. Even though they said we were just having a civil wedding, we were still married. That's all that mattered to me, huh.
"Where are we going?" I asked him. He just kept driving, I didn't push it. What mattered to me was that we were going to be together forever. That's all that mattered, right?
Minutes after driving around, we arrived at their house. It felt so nostalgic. It was like all my high school memories suddenly came flooding back now. Because when I used to come here, all I could remember were painful memories... Maybe they were right all along, I was just pretending to be okay but the truth is, I really miss Drake.
He stopped the car momentarily.
"Why are we here?" I asked him. Instead of answering my question, he just smiled at me and kissed my cheek.
We got out of the car together. I've never had Drake open his car door. I don't know, it's just not his cup of tea. He's a gentleman but not to that extent. I remember I used to always compare Drake to Tripp. When I was with Tripp, I was a princess. All things were prepared before me. I guess I didn't have to do anything. It's all there, huh. But Drake? I have to work hard. I used to hate that about him, I felt like he didn't care about me...
But then I asked him why. I just smiled when I remembered.
"Why would I? You're not invalid, Alys. You're independent. I trust you enough to let you do things on your own. You may think that I don't give a damn but really, I do. You just don't see it but I am always watching over you. It's fucking corny but I always do."
And when he said that, I felt good about myself. The years that we were not together may have been wasted but in reality, being apart did us good. I became more independent, I got to know myself better. One of the things I was afraid of that would have happened was that the real Alys was lost because she was in love with Drake. I don't want that. I want to be myself while being in love with him.
What would love bring us if along the process, we would lose ourselves? Wasn't that deception? Making yourself believe that you're just in love when in reality, yes you are but where's the sense? You're not yourself anymore... And it's painful. You loved me, you changed... I just can't see the sense.
"Why are we here?" I asked him as we walked.
"I'll introduce you," he simply said. I could feel his hand getting colder every second. He was nervous... I was nervous too but I knew we could handle this. We've been through the worst, I'm sure we could handle this.
We entered their house and caught up with Ethos walking away with his friends.
"Where's dad?" asked Drake. Ethos just pointed to their receiving area. Drake nodded at him. He was about to start walking when Ethos tugged on his pants. "Why?" he asked him, looking down.
"The old hag is also here."
Old hag? Was he referring to me?
Drake froze. He looked at me and motioned me to sit.
"Stay and wait for me," he said and then abruptly walked away. I watched as he walked away. Why do I feel bad about this?
I was on my reverie when Ethos nudged me.
"Hey," he said to me.
Where are this kid's manners? The last time I saw him, he still knew how to do it. Is he losing his manners as time goes on? Is aging a turn for the worse?
"Why?" I asked him.
He was still eating a lollipop. I guess Ethos's behavior is really bad? Dane isn't like that kid... Why is Drake's brother like that?
I looked at the kids with him. They seemed kind, ah. Why did they tolerate Ethos' behavior?
"Hi, what's your name?" I asked the little white boy.
He smiled at me and offered me his hand. "Julian Lee."
"Hi, Julian!" I said. He just smiled at me and played with his iPad. I looked at the kid who was bothering Julian. He looked like a slob.
"What's your name?"
"Chrischen," he said.
Oh, my gosh, they're both so cute! Why can't Ethos be like this? I mean, he wouldn't lose anything if he were cute every now and then, right?
I was talking to Chrischen and Julian when I heard something fall in their receiving area.
"What's that?" I asked myself.
Ethos looked at me. "Stay here..."
"Huh?"
For the first time since forever, he smiled at me. "Don't leave my brother. Even if I don't want to because you made him cry before, don't leave him."
I smiled back at him and kissed his cheek. "Of course," I said. I pat his head and then stood up. "Wait a minute, okay. I'll just go see your brother..."
He tried to stop me. Weird.
I was walking towards their receiving area when I heard a loud slap. I stopped.
I don't know but my heart felt like it was pounding.
"How dare you!"
My heart was beating faster than ever. My hands were shaking. I was having a hard time breathing.
"What do you mean you don't want to marry my daughter?!" a voice said.
I slowly walked towards the source of the voices. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack at any moment... It's always like this...
"Sir..." I heard Drake's voice.
Just then, I heard Fier crying. "Dad! I told you his name not to hurt you! I thought you were just talking!"
"Shut up, Fier! I didn't raise you to be pregnant and unwed!"
"But Dad!"
"I said shut up!" the voice said. "And you, Palma, marry my daughter! You won't like it when I'm mad!" he said and then I heard another voice.
"Can we just talk calmly?" said Uncle Steve.
I don't know how to be calm at this time. I know they've been hurting Drake for a while... I feel bad that he slapped Drake...
I heard them moving. Me? I can't move... I can't breathe...
"What do you want to happen, Mr. Sandoval?" I heard Tito Steve ask.
There was a beat of silence. "I need for your son to marry my daughter."
"Drake?" Tito Steve broke the silence.
He answered faster than anything and it was a firm, "No. I won't."
"What!" I heard the man shouted.
"Dad! Stop hurting him!" Fier shouted at his father.
I wanted to run and help Drake but I couldn't... I was scared...
"Drake, really?" Tito Steve asked him, as if he was frustrated with what was happening.
I heard Drake sigh. "No, Dad. I won't. Not now, not ever."
"Dad, don't push me, please. He doesn't love me and I don't wanna push myself. Please, let's go home..."
I heard another voice. "She's right, Dad. Don't push it."
"Shut up, Lourd, I'm not talking to you! Get married, Fier, and you'll follow me. If you don't want to get married, don't come home. I'll cut all your resources. Stay here until you're married."
"WHAT?!"
"Let's go, Lourd and Chance. I hope our next meeting would be a pleasant one, Mr. Palma."
I heard footsteps approaching so I hid. I saw an old man and two boys about my age come out.
"Dad, are you serious about leaving Fier there?"
"Yes. It's not my fault she got pregnant. You two, if you don't want to see me angry, get over it."
The guy with blonde streaks laughed. "I'm always protected."
"Asshole."
"Stop it. Let's go," the old man said and then walked away.
Me? I'm left there. I don't know what to do. Should I go see Drake?
I don't know... I thought I was through the worst... I didn't think our situation would get any worse...
"Drake," I heard Fier say. "You can't push me away. I'm pregnant. I don't want to live on the street."
Drake drew a deep breath. "Fine."
"Thank you."
"But I still won't marry you."
"I know. But don't plan for the ending yet, Drake. We'll be living in the same house. You have no idea what will happen."
Drake smirked. I saw him smirk.
"I'm already married, Fier. I married Alys earlier. I thought it was an impulsive decision but seeing how your Dad's practically threatening me to marry you, that may have been the best decision I have ever made."