Forbidden Relationship (Forbidden Series #3) (Completed)

Chapter 38

"Hinding-hindi magkakaayos ang pamilya natin! Walang Poniente ang makakapag-asawa ng Pueblo! Pinatay niyo ang anak ko!"

The woman's words are followed by a rumble of thunder in the sky. It's as if the heavens themselves echo her curse—the curse of Kuya Zade's mother.

She breaks down in sobs before her husband—Kuya Zade's father—rushes to her side, holding her trembling form.

I stay frozen in place. Ate Grapes stands there too, unmoving, her eyes locked on the edge of the cliff where we last saw Kuya Zade fall.

As a woman who loves, I understand this kind of pain. For Ate, witnessing the man she loves get shot and disappear into a ravine—it's the kind of trauma that shatters something inside you forever.

Mommy rushes to Daddy, who's now on the ground, writhing in pain from the bullet wound. And I—I don't know where to look, who to help first.

Ate Grapes, who's slowly losing her grip on reality?

Daddy, who's gasping and groaning on the forest floor?

Or Yhael, unconscious beside me, his chest barely rising—if rising at all?

Then, another gunshot slices through the air.

I whip my head around.

Kuya Zade's mother is standing with the gun raised, aimed at Mommy. I can't see her face clearly through the rain and the shadows, but her eyes burn with pure, unstoppable rage.

"That's not enough!" she screams, her voice raw with grief and fury.

"Tita, tama na po," iyak ni Ate Grapes.

The woman turns to Ate Grapes, her gun now pointed at her. "Why did my son fall for you?!" she screams, her voice sharp with fury and grief.

And I understand her. Losing a child—it's an agony that words can't describe.

"I'm sorry, Tita," Ate whispers, her voice cracking as tears stream down her face.

"Sorry?!" the man yells. "Will your sorry bring our son back?!"

"I will never forgive you—not unless you bring him back to life!"

"Our son is gone!" the woman snaps at her husband. "He was shot three times and fell off a cliff! No one survives that!"

Then she turns back to Ate Grapes. "So...” She cocks the hammer of the gun, her hands steady. "Let's end everything here. Let all four of then die."

Ate Grapes doesn't move. Doesn't even flinch.
It's like she's ready—like she'd rather die than live in a world without Kuya Zade.

"Not my daughters!" Mommy cries out, rushing toward Kuya Zade'z mother in a desperate attempt to grab the gun.

They struggle. Screams echo in the forest as the gun goes off—once, twice, then several more times.

It's only then that Ate seems to snap back to herself. She drops to her knees, covering her ears. I do the same.

I hear Kuya Zade's father cry out, his voice raw with pain. He's clutching his chest, collapsing beside his wife.

I feel like I'm losing my mind. The chaos around me blurs, but I force myself to stay strong—for Yhael.

I crawl over to Ate Grapes, my heart pounding, my limbs shaking.

She sees me. She takes my hand. Together, we stand.

"Kailangan na nating makaalis dito," lakas loob niyang sinabi kahit alam kong gusto na niyang bumigay.