Run to you

A child's heart

The expression of Gale's mother on television is still vivid in his mind. Her sunken eyes, pale skin, and thin body are disturbing him. Despite the hate that he harbors for his father and mother, he is still worried. On their way back to the city, Fine could feel Gale's worry despite his effort to hide what he is feeling. Thinking of what Gale's mother has done to her family, she felt the justice her sister is trying to pursue and is happy about it but looking at Gale, she feels otherwise. "I'm fine. Why are you staring at me like that?" Gale said as he notices Fine staring at him. "Are you?" Fine said. "I-I am. Do you want to drop by a restaurant or a fast food for breakfast?" He asked. "Let's just buy fast food and eat it at your flat." She said without taking her eyes away from him. Gale parked the car at a diner. "Let's just eat here. I don't think there's a difference you know." He said then Fine agreed. It was an old diner. It is a very comfortable place especially that there are only few people at the hour since it is still early in the morning.

Gale tries to compose his self in front of the girl he loves. "Is the food not to your liking?" He asked Fine as he noticed her only staring at him. She held his hand which has surprised Gale. "I know you're not okay. I can feel it Gale. About your mother-" "It's alright Fine. You should be happy about it. She has done too much on your family so you must be happy that you'll be getting the justice that you deserve." He said which only made Fine hold his hand tighter. He saw genuine worry in Fine's eyes. He touched her face, "Really, don't worry about me. It's true that I am worrying about my mother right now because no matter how evil she is, she's still my mother but don't worry about me." Fine locked her hand with his and took a deep breath. "How could I not worry when I can feel how sad you are?" She said the Gale smiled. It was the first genuine smile after the news last night. "What's this? Gale?" A familiar voice came from Gale's back. He turned around and found Tina standing behind him. He stood up, "Tina, what are you doing here?" He asked, but Tina's eyes are locked at Fine. "Why are you with her? Why are you in this place? You were absent yesterday and now I find you with her, but isn't she your student?" She asked, suspicious of the two.

The couple cannot think of a way to get out of the situation. With a lot at stake, the two were dumbfounded. "Are you two going out? Is she your girlfriend?" Tina asked. "We- We're distant relatives but we're very close and he picked me up from my parent's house as per request of my parents." Fine said but Tina is not buying as she saw the two holding each other's hands and talking sweetly to each other. "I don't believe you" She said. Gale sat down. Knowing Tina's attitude, he ignored her. "Then don't if you don't want to." He said then he signalled Fine to stay calm and just ignore her while concealing the nervousness that he is feeling. "Just remember that I'm not believing that." She said then she walked out. The couple took a deep breath. "I'm so sorry for denying Gale." Fine said then Gale shook his head. "We must protect your scholarship Fine. So don't worry about it. I just wonder why she's here out of all places." He said, only to remember the most possible reason why they bumped with Tina at the place. "Right! I remember that bought a flat which is I think around this area. I'm sorry I did not think about that." He said frustratedly. Fine shook her head. "It's alright. Whether she buys it or not, it's up to her and it's up to us to deal with the consequences." She said then Gale smiled at her. "I must be the one protecting you but why do you always make me feel weak and fall for you again and again instead?" He said which made Fine's heart throb. "But seriously, we're dealing with a serious problem here once our relationship goes out." He added which Fine agreed to.

Gale went straight to his room and lie on his bed while Fine arranges the food her mother packed for them in the refrigerator. While she puts the food in the refrigerator, she played the piled up telephone messages. They were almost all of Tina's which only made her smile but the last one. She closed the refrigerator and listened closely. It was Gale's mother, asking him to answer her calls which abruptly ended. She went inside Gale's room and found Gale lying on his bed but staring at the ceiling. She sat beside him. "My head aches" He said. "You heard all the playbacks right?" She said but Gale would not answer, thinking about his mother then he smiled and looked at Fine with teasing eyes. "Are you by chance jealous? Don't worry, there's nothing between me and Tina." He said the Fine took a deep breath. "You know what I mean Gale, and I'm not worried about her even a little. I got you around my finger." She said then Gale laughed and later he closed his eyes. "I don't know what to do. I honestly don't know." He said. Fine held his hand, "Why don't you talk with your mother then? If it bothers you this much then talk with her." She said. Gale's grip grew tighter, "Should I?" He said with his next step already in mind.

A day later, Gale made a call to his mom and they met at the restaurant by the seaside which his family frequent to while Fine on the other hand, met with Sally who contacted her and wanted to see her. Gale was surprised to see her mother looking sicker than before. There was silence between the two, only staring at the dishes on the table. To break the silence, the mother took a scoop of shrimp and placed it on her son's plate. "You loved this dish. Right?" She said. "So what's your plan?" Gale asked without looking at his mother, torn between his disgust of her mother's filthy deeds and his love for his mother. His mother, Alicia, looked at him. She herself knew she had no escape this time. "Will you pull some strings again? What have you got under your sleeves this time?" He asked coldly and still not looking in his mother's eyes. "I-" Alicia's voice wavered which has got through her son's heart. Gale looked at her. Her face is not the same as how he remembers anymore. Her eyes got deeper and her skin is paler. How long did he ran away and refused to see his family is what he was thinking as he looks at his mother. He clenched his fist and looked away from his mother. He can feel his chest constrict. Alicia's tears fell but she quickly wiped it off for her son not to see.
"Here, do you want this? I have ordered everything that you like." She said while frantically reaching for the dishes.

Gale looked at her, "Stop it." He said. Alicia could only look at him while her words get stuck in her throat. "You knew well why I ran away from home. Now, you're getting what you deserve. This might not even be enough for everything that you have done." He told his mother whose tears started to fall down again. "You're pitiful mother. How could you let yourself become like this?" He asked, looking at his mother who is caught up in regret. He stood up and walked towards her mother's side. "But when you're like this, how could I ignore you? You're still my mother after all." He said as he embraces his mother. "Gale, my son, I'm so sorry about everything that I have done. I have caused too much pain to others." She said as she whimpers. "I-I'll face my sentence." She said while Gale's embrace grows tighter. "C-Can you go back to our house son?" She asked. Gale composed his self and sat beside his mother. "I can't mother. I'm-I'm currently living with-" "With that girl you're with when we met here right?" She said which did not surprise Gale who suspects his mom to be the one who sent him the photos. "Mom, did you put her under surveillance?" He asked, disappointed at his mother. "I did." Alicia answered. "Then those photos were really sent by you." He said then he sighed. "What pictures?" His mom asked in confusion then he looked at his mother in disbelief. "Were you not the one who sent me her pictures with her bestfriend?" He asked then his mother shook her head. "I only had her background investigated. I found out who her family is and that's enough for me. I don't want to aggravate your hate towards me anymore. I even let you run away from home. I did not once showed myself to you ever since." She said which has confused Gale more as to who has sent the pictures. "Then who might it be?" He asks his self. "Maybe it's your father. I have a hunch that it is your father. I told him of you two. I miscalculated that and have taken into account that he may do that." She said. Gale sighed, "So it's him. I thought it was you. Why would he do it? Why would he want to cause misunderstanding between me and Fine?" He asked, puzzled. His mother stares at him and smiled. "You do really love her. You're always composed. I have never seen you like this." She said then Gale looked at her and smiled. "I do mother. I do love her." He said then his mother held his hand. "Then hold onto her tightly. Don't be like your father and me. He has always loved another woman" She said. "As long as I have you and Angelica. However, I-I have not been a good mother to you. I'm so sorry Gale." She said, her eyes brimming with tears again. "It's not too late mom. It's not too late." He said then his mother smiled at him and embraced him. "Thank you son. I'm not a good person. I'm not a good mom but still, you are so forgiving of me. Thank you son." She said. The mother and son spent the next hours reminiscing the good days in forgiveness, only for Gale to learn a situation that has gotten worse in his absence.