Run to you

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The two were silent throughout the drive. Fine got a call from her sister who was very worried despite her assurance of her condition. Meanwhile, Gale went to his room and got an envelope from his drawer. He stared at it, contemplating if he must let Fine know or not. He held the envelope tight and decided that he must clear this matter with Fine. He went out of his room in time when Fine hung up. He sat on the chair next to Fine and brought out the pictures inside the envelope and then laid it on the table. Those were pictures of Fine. Her daily activities to her vacation with Adam's family.

Fine saw the pictures and picked the topmost. She smirked, surprised and disbelieving. It was far from what Gale expected. Guilt for not trusting her struck him, thinking how much he worsened Fine's wound. "I got this mailed to me. It might be from my mother." He said but Fine would not respond and would just stare at the pictures. "You see, the Presidential election is coming up and my family is very cautious and sensitive to the Board. This will surely-" Gale cut his sentence and just stared at Fine who was staring at him while slowly tearing the picture she has in her hand in half. He took a deep breath, desperation creeping in his veins. "I was jealous alright? What's with that vacation? Why were you in the same room and why was he on top of you? Jealousy got to me and I was more annoyed when you wanted to stay in his house like he did nothing to you. I don't care about what my mother would do, I don't care if my father would not become the University President but I care about who you sleep with because I'm your boyfriend Fine." He explained frustratedly.

He let his frustration out, but at the same time, he wanted Fine to understand the reason behind his attitude. Fine smirked and stood up. She understands but she felt suffocated and disappointed. She does not want to see him. "Where are you going?" Gale said, grabbing her arm. She shook off his hand, "Don't follow me." She said, distressed but Gale would not let her take a step out of his house until Fine pushed him with all her strength. "Don't follow me." She said once again, her eyes brimming with anger. "I can sleep with anyone I want. Let's end it here." She said and then she left. Gale was left speechless and guilty while Fine left naked and lost.

She wandered on the streets, walking to where her feet would take her. Her guide was only the street lights like candles on her asphalt road. She sat to a bench at the bus stop and waited for a bus. The ride went out of the city and she does not know where the bus is going to. She had no plans but it did not bother her. She would only look out the window and think of nothing. The road was familiar. It was to her surprise that the last stop was the place where she grew up at. She walked aimlessly, looking at their neighbors' houses and the convenience store she and her sister would run at when hunting for food at midnight. She passed by the playground near their house and decided to sit on the swing and get some fresh air. She kicked her feet to the ground and felt the breeze in her face, as well as the tears falling from her eyes. She misses her childhood when she used to play with their neighbors' children at the same play ground. She misses the time when her mother used to push the swing and smiled at her like brightly like the sun. She misses her innocence. She bawled her eyes out. She wanted to let it all out.

"F-Fine?" A familiar woman's voice. She looked up and found her mother standing not far from her, holding a bag from the convenience store. There was neither disappointment nor resentment. She ran towards her mother and embraced her tightly. She cried in her mother's arms whose surprise was caught in tears. "Mom, I'm so sorry I ran away. I'm so sorry mom." She said repeatedly. "It's alright my child. It's alright." Her mother comforted her. There was no exchange of words until Fine calmed down. They went home where her mother prepared her a warm coffee. Fine's mother held her hands while crying, "Are you coming home? Please come home Fine, I'm really sorry for what I have done." She said. Fine felt her mother's sincere apology. She embraced her mother, "I love you mom." She said which brought both in tears. "I love you Fine. Please forgive me for what I have done. I was so weak Fine." Her mother said. Both their chest throbbing loudly at their longing and forgiving of each other.

"I'm lonely mom." Fine said. "I'm sorry, It's because of me." Her mother said. Fine nodded and smiled faintly. "I hated you so much mom but that was because I loved you so much. I can't bring myself to face you. I didn't want to but now I'm here." She said. Her mother could only blame herself for what happened to their family. "I left him already. I was weak and I was blinded by what I thought was my regret and now I'm regretting it more. I had my family which I took for granted and now I want to have it back but I don't know how to." Her mother said, crying. "Fine, I know it's selfish of me but can we be a family again?" Her mother asked then Fine nodded and smiled at her. Her words are blocked by the joy she is feeling.

She was lying on her mother's lap while her mother runs her fingers through her hair just like when she was young. "What happened Fine? Why do you still look so sad?" Her mother's instincts kicked in. "It is because I feel disappointed with the man I love." She said then she told her mother everything who listened to her every words. "Your father and I also had times of misunderstandings especially he knew I could not get over first love. We fought a lot when we were newlyweds. There were times when we slept separately. We let it pass until we started talking with each other again. We opened up to each other, what we thought and what we did. We went to a retreat house for a week and there I discovered how selfish I was and how I really love your father. Insecurities, misunderstandings, misconstructions, those are normal between people who love each other because you only want the other for yourself but you know that the other has his own thoughts. Understanding is not the most important in a relationship because each person has a unique train of thought and you cannot understand a person at all times, the same as you cannot always be understood. It is only trust that is eternal. Even if you do not see, hear, nor understand, if you trust, you have peace. Betray it and everything will crumble down just like what happened to our family." Her mother said.

"Are you not against us? He's his son." Fine asked. "I'm not. You're not doing a wrong thing. If his mother tries to lay a finger in you, she'll see the depths of hell, or anyone from his family and even him." Her mother said then Fine chuckled, "I thought you were weak." She said. "A mother would always bare its fangs when her babies are threatened." Her mother said. "Just be careful Fine, he's a teacher and you're a student." Her mother said. "I know. I also have a scholarship to protect." She said. "But what if your relationship got exposed, putting your scholarship in peril?" Her mother asked then she shrugged her shoulders. "I'll find a way when I get there." She said then her mom chuckled. "You're like your father. But remember, no matter what happens, your family is with you." Her mother said and then minutes later, the door opened. "I'm home!" A man's voice echoed. Fine quickly sat up and stared at the man. "Fine!" The man saw her and ran towards her. "Dad!" He embraced her, crying in joy. "You're back sweetie." Her father said in surprise and joy. "I have no tears to cry anymore. What's this?" She asked then her father and mother looked at each other. "We'll fix our family. I cancelled the divorce. I can't do it." Her father said. "Does sister know this?" Fine asked then both nodded. "Why did she not tell me?" Fine asked. "She said you still do not want to see your mom. It would put your mom in bad light if she tells you right away. Forgiveness should be first right." Her father said while her mom prepares their dinner with a smile on her face.