Serendipitous

Lose Yourself

Drabble Challenge
AMACon4 Day 6
PROMPT: Not Everyone You Lose Is A Loss

"I hate you and I am glad to finally be rid of you," Rj stated harshly as he stared into eyes so familiar to him.

"You are a waste of space in this world. A chronic liar; a drunkard; a person who uses other people for one's own benefit. You're a person who sucks all the positive energy around and turns it into discord, anger, sadness."

Rj paced the room as he took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure while he pushed himself to finally end everything, here and now. Pointing to Mary Ann, he continued his impassioned speech. "How many times have you made your mother cry as she prayed for you to finally change your self-destructive ways?"

As he walked to the other side, he pointed to Coleen, who sat there crying. "Si Coleen? Have you ever thought how much it hurt your sister everytime she saw you going out with someone new almost every week, practically selling your body to the highest bidder who gives in and feeds your vices? That no matter how many times she pleaded for you to stop prostituting yourself, you ignored her and even snarled at her to leave you alone because you felt you were being attacked? When in fact she was doing it out of love for you?"

He laughed humorlessly as he shook his head. "Pakiramdam mo lagi kang inaapi, when in fact, ikaw ang nagdadala ng sama ng loob sa pamilya mo. From this day forward, we will turn our backs on you and forget you ever existed."

He turned and slowly walked away. After a few steps, he stopped and turned around, raised his eyes to the image in front of him. "GOODBYE, ALDEN," he said aloud as he threw the rock he was holding towards the mirror. As it broke into a million pieces, Rj's heart felt lighter, happier.

A loud clap echoed in the auditorium as Maine stood up and applauded her fiancé. Maine knew how much effort it took for him to finally face his greatest enemy, his old self, in front of the most important people in his life. He smiled as the rest of his loved ones stood up and joined in the applause.

He went down from the stage and hugged Mary Ann, Teddy and Coleen. "Thank you for never giving up on me. Pasensya na po kung naging sakit ng ulo ako sa inyo kahit na pagmamahal lang ang ipinaramdam ninyo sa akin. Kahit hindi ninyo ako tunay na anak, you treated me in the same way as your other children. Your prayers and Maine's presence in my life helped me to realize my mistakes. Magmula ngayon, babawi po ako sa inyo. Alden Richard Faulkerson, Jr. is a totally different person from now on."

He was taken in by the Mendozas when he was 13, after his parents died in a plane crash. He was a very difficult child to care for - always angry at the world and anyone who tried to stop his self-destructive ways. Even when he was already an adult, the Mendozas didn't give up on him no matter what damage or hurt he inflicted on them.

"Anak, hindi naman kami nawalan ng pag-asa na magbabago ka. Nagpapasalamat lang kami na naabutan pa namin ang panahong ito," Mary Ann replied with tears in her eyes.

"Love always protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres. Iba talaga ang tunay na pagmamahal, anak. May milagrong dala yun lagi," Teddy quietly reassured him with a smile.

"Nay, Tay, tama na ang iyakan, may kasal pa tayong pupuntahan mamaya," Maine reminded them as she linked her arms with that of Rj's. "Ikaw naman, alam mong kasal na natin mamaya, ngayon mo pa naisipan gawin ito. Magtatagal ako sa make-up chair nito kasi namamaga mata ko."

"Meng, gusto ko lang kasi that when we finally become man and wife, it truly is a fresh start for us. Your love helped me strive to change and be a renewed man - one who is worthy to be called your husband. When you stepped in to intervene, I finally started to see and hear the truth. For that, I will be forever thankful. Lahat ng iutos mo, susundin ko, madam!"

"Ang daldal mo, babe. Why don't you just shut up and kiss me instead," she teased.

"My pleasure." As his head started to descend towards her waiting lips, he heard Teddy clear his throat behind him.

"Nak, mamaya pa ang kasal. Wala pa yung 'you may now kiss the bride,'" he reminded them. With a sheepish grin, Rj kissed Maine's forehead instead.

"O, tara na! Lahat ng babae, sumama na kay Maine tapos dun kami ni Rj sa kabilang suite. Baka ma-late pa kayo nito sa sarili ninyong kasal."

As they walked towards the exit of the small auditorium, Rj looked back towards the broken mirror as he smiled and thought, "I'm finally free of the old me. Goodbye and good riddance. Now, a new and better Rj emerges."