Mr. Bubbly Meets Mr. Gloomy

Chapter 27

Ethan's POV

After Keilah stepped out on Cherub's room, she gestured me to enter. Ginawa ko nga ito at nakita ko ang nakahigang si Cherub. Mahal, miss na miss na kita. Thank goodness you're awake.

"Cherub?" I called him. "Are you asleep?"

Wala akong nakuhang response. May nakita akong upuan sa tabi ng hinihigaan n'ya at napagdesisyonan na umupo doon. After I sat, I noticed him moved. I smiled. He is definitely awake.

I sighed and stayed quiet. Kahit andami kong gustong sabihin sa kanya ngayon. I know he is afraid. I know he is worried that I'll leave him if he told me what happened. When he was abducted. To be honest, what I heard made my heart break. But I will not going to leave him. Ngayon pa? Ngayon pa ba kailangan na kailangan n'ya ng karamay?

"Ethan—" He finally spoke. "Stay away from me. Go out!"

"What do you mean?"

"Go away! I know you'll leave me if you knew what happened. Inihanda ko na ang sarili ko, so go now. Don't say goodbye. Just go outside and walk away from me."

Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o masasaktan sa sinasabi n'ya. Well, totoo pala 'yong sinasabi nila. Nakakatawa 'yong nagsisinuling 'yong isang tao sa'yo without knowing na alam mo ang totoo.

"What if I don't?" I asked, raising one of my eyebrows.

"W-what?" Tanong n'ya. Hindi pa rin lumilingon sa akin.

"What if I didn't leave? Or walk away? What if I stayed here with you?"

"Don't make this hard for me, Ethan. Please, just leave." He begged.

"I am not making this hard for you, Mahal." I stood up, and started walking to reach the other side of the bed.

"Alam kong hihiwalayan mo ako kapag nalaman mo ang totoo. So please leave! Stay away from me!" He said, almost shouting.

"I sighed while continued walking. "Ano ba ang totoo?" I asked. I want to hear it from him. I want to hear it so I could tell him not to worry about me leaving him. 'Cause I will not. I will never.

I heard him sniffed. He moved and sat on the mattress. Wearing the expression he usually have when he is scared or embarrassed.

"Ethan, I got raped while I was there. I got raped by Erwin who tortured me after. Ethan, ang dumi ko!!" He said, facing down. Imbes na galit ang maramdaman ko sa kanya, naawa ako.

I approached him and stared at him intently. I will not going to leave you, Cherub. Kahit sino ka pa o ano ka pa man. Kahit ano pang nangyari sa'yo. Lumapit pa ako sa kanya at niyakap s'ya ng mahigpit. I forced myself not to cry as my heart broke into pieces. He needs me right now. I can't cry in front of him.

"Ethan, l-let go of me! I'm dirty and disgusting! Are you not disgusted with me?" Cherub said, forcing me to let him go.

"Cherub Clayton Sanford–Montefalco." I said. "First of all, hindi ako kailan man mandidiri sa'yo. Kahit kailan, hindi ako mandidiri sa taong mahal ko. Second, alam ko ang nangyari. I overheard you and Keilah talking about it earlier, and Eric already told me. Yeah, I was hurt at first. But I have to accept it. For you, Cherub. Sinabihan ko ang sarili ko na hindi ako aalis sa tabi mo. Specially now."

I sat in front of him and cupped both of his cheeks. Using my thumb, I wiped his tears.

"Third—" I said, continuing what I'm saying a while ago. "Nangako ako na mamahalin ka habang buhay. I won't and cannot leave you! Lastly, I love you. And that will never ever gonna change. Hm?"

"Pero Ethan—"

"Cherub." I cut him off. "I love you, and hindi porket nangyari 'yan sa'yo ay hihiwalayan na kita. No. I love you, Cherub. Hindi katawan ang habol ko sa'yo, tandaan mo 'yan. I love you for who you are. Don't ever doubt yourself and my love for you, hm?" I said and sighed, before continuing. "I cannot afford to lose you again. I waited for that sunrise. Pinanghawakan ko ang pangako ng pagbabalik mo. You don't know how much I missed you."

"Ethan." He said, forcing himself not to cry.

Instead of saying what's on my mind, I hugged him. A very tight hug while brushing the back of his head.

"Erwin will pay. He will be locked in a mental facility until we graduate. Then, he'll be imprisoned. Wala ng mananakit sa'yo, Mahal." I informed him.

Cherub's POV

Lord, what did I do to deserve this man in front of me? Pero, thank you pa rin. You gave me an understanding, funny, thoughtful, sweet, caring, lovely, and supportive boyfriend. Of course, his handsomeness was only a bonus point.

As he hug me, memories started roaming around my head. From the first time I hugged him, till the day I hugged him before being abducted. I missed everything that Ethan have. His warmth, his scent, his calming voice, and his lovely, handsome face.

"Cherub, mahal na mahal kita. Tandaan mo 'yan, hm?" He said.

He let go of me, and kisses me in the forehead. He know what happened to me. So kissing me in the lips would be a “no” for the meantime. I smiled at him in return. Tears started forming from my eyes and slowly trailed off from it. Ethan wiped it down using his hand and gave me the warmest smile he ever had.

"You're still as cute as ever, Mahal." He commented. Making me blushed.

He chuckled lightly while seeing my embarrassed face. This is it. I guess, tapos na ang lahat-lahat sa akin. I smiled gently as I held his hand that cupping my cheeks.

"Mahal, someone wanted to talk to you. Mabuti naalala ko." Sambit n'ya bigla na ikinataka ko.

"Who? Si Ralph ba?"

He shook his head and stood. "I'll just call him." He went outside and came back with a man.

A man around fourties with a great bodybuild. I tilted my head slightly while figuring out who he is. He's slightly familiar.

"Ijo, iwan mo muna kami." The man said. Doon ko na napagtanto kung sino s'ya. He's my Papa.

Sige po, Tito. I'll be outside waiting." Sambit naman ni Ethan. Umalis s'ya dahilan para maiwan ako kasama ang lalake.

That man started walking towards me as my heartbeat started racing. It really is him. Wala pa ring nagbabago sa Papa ko. Hindi ko na namalayan na tumutulo na pala ang luha ko. Isa pa 'to sa mga nami-miss ko ng sobra.

"Cherub, anak? Nakikilala mo pa ba ako?" He asked.

I nodded slowly."Y-yes." Hindi ko na napigilan at niyakap ko s'ya. "P-papa! Na-m-miss po k-kita ng sobra! W-where have you b-been all this y-years?" I cried out loud.

"There, there Cherub." Sambit ni Papa habang hinihimas ang buhok ko. "I am here now, and I won't leave you again. At pasensya na kung iniwan kita ng biglaan." His voice calmed my whole system.

Naupo s'ya sa tabi ko at nag-kwento. "It's been seven years, anak. Seven years since I left you. Siguro, panahon na para malaman mo ang totoo."

I sighed as my heart continues to beat faster.

"Cherub, your mom and I had a great misunderstanding. We already thought of fixing it, but no avail. She keeps telling me na may babae ako, kahit wala naman. She keeps telling me about it until sa hindi ko na nakaya. I left our house one night. No good-byes, no text or calls the next day I left. I focused on my work as a police officer. Pero walang araw o oras na hindi kayo ang nasa isip ko. I am really sorry for leaving you and Cherry. Patawarin mo ako Cherub." He said. Holding my hand while begging me to forgive him.

"'Pa, kahit anong mangyari, kayo pa rin ang Papa ko. At, matagal ko na po kayong napatawad. It's okay now. I'm just thankful that you showed up."

"Salamat, anak. I promise, I'll make it up to you. I promise."

What he said made me smile. Now, I can definitely say that everything is fine and settled. Sa wakas, magsisismula na ang bagong kabanata ng buhay ko. And Lord, thank you for giving me this chance to live my life again. I will not going to waste it.

"Anak, matanong ko lang." He said suddenly. I hummed in response. "Gaano na kayo katagal ni Ethan??"

What he asked caught me off guard, but I told him anyways. So, matagal-tagal na rin kami ni Ethan. It's our fourth month as boyfriends. And in the next two weeks, pang-lima na namin. Still going strong as it is before. Nakangiti si Papa habang nakikinig sa kwento ko tungkol kay Ethan. Embarrassing, but fun.

Thoughts?