A Martial's Query (Saint Series #6)

Chapter 30

Last chapter before epilogue :') This is Chano's last POV since I will give Konon the epilogue. I know some of you are disappointed that Chano's not the epilogue holder but this was all planned since 2020 and I don't want to change my plans. Hope you all enjoy this last chapter. Thank u!

P.s. I am soooo sorry for the v v slow update. Idk what happened either :) pls, forgive me hehe.

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Chapter 30
Rimbo

"So, you're telling me that it's all my fault again?"

"Did I say that?"

"It looks like it, Amora!"

Mula sa pagsusulat ko ng assignment ay tahimik kong pinunasan ang aking luha na unti-unti nang pumapatak. Slowly, I walked through the door to close it: for me not to hear my parents fighting as if they're so ready to shot each other with guns once they're given a chance.

"Bakit kasi hindi mo pa ako pakawalan sa lintek na kasal na ito? Sakal na sakal na ako, Amora!" sigaw ng aking ama na pilit kumawala kahit sinarado ko na ang pintuan.

"So, you really want me gone? Is that what you're saying, Levitico?" my mom's voice cracked.

Hindi ko na nakayanan. Muli akong sumilip sa hagdan para silipin mula sa baba ang aking magulang na patuloy ang pag-aaway.

"I-it's not like that, Amora," my Father's taken aback.

"H-hindi... hindi mo na ako mahal," my mom is completely shattered now. My father's about to hold her when she pushed him. "Lubayan mo ako," she said lastly before slamming the door and went outside.

"Don't... don't love too hard, anak," my dad told me when he saw me. Hinawakan nya ako sa balikat at susuray-suray na pumanhik sa kwarto nila. "Love will make your life miserable. I love Amora too hard and there's nothing left for me. It's such a shame to be pitied by everyone that used to respect you," pabulong pa nyang sabi before closing the door. Naiwan akong tulala sa aking pwesto bago ako bumalik sa aking kwarto at kumain ng tsokolate.

Don't love too hard. That's what my father told me even when I'm too young to understand it. Is love really making our lives miserable? Does it?

Slowly, I looked at Ameliah who's currently smiling in front of the camera while hooking an arm to mine.

No. The answer is no. Love doesn't makes our life miserable. Actually, it helps us survive this cruel world. What makes it miserable is when we don't handle it well. When we know it's not for us but we're still pushing it through. No. Love does not make our life miserable. Just like what my parents did, they made a choice to make it miserable.

"Huy! Ayos ka lang?"

Nabalik ako sa katotohanan nang sikuhin ako ni Ameliah matapos namin harapin ang mga tao. Today's our engagement party. Kasalukuyan akong nasa veranda ng hotel para magpahangin... at para isipin kung talaga bang miserable ang pagmamahal. At kung tama ba ang pagpayag ko sa engagement namin.

But, I definitely agree with this engagement. I want to save Pupa so bad from her mother. I know I'm hurting Chantal... but...

"Pupa..." I called her. Mula sa paglilibot ng tingin sa garden na nasa harapan namin ay nilingon nya ako.

"Hmm?" she asked while eyes twinkling. She's pretty as the moon. She blooms as if she's the best seller flower in town.

"Is love miserable?" tanong ko. Nangunot ang noo nya at tila napaisip. Slowly, sumandal sya sa railings at kinuha ang aking braso para iakbay sa kanya.

"Yeah," she replied after a while.

"Why though?" gulat kong tanong.

"My love for you when we were little made me cry. My love for my real parents keep hurting me day by day. The love you have for your parents made you walked away from them. Love is miserable, Chano," mahaba nyang sagot. "Love is miserable for the fragile people like me. We have different views on that," she added before tapping my arm.