Loving a Believer

Chapter 28: God is so Good (Last Chapter)

F A R A

I was woken up by the knocks on the door.

As I turned my gaze on my side, I couldn't help but smile when I saw a bouquet of red flowers beside me. I sniffed it. It didn't have scent - better! I didn't know what flower it was, but I liked it.

I saw a letter attached on it.

Wait for me to come home. Always smile and pray. I love you!

- Storm

They had a mission today, an evengelism. Hindi na ako nakasama dahil medyo malayo-layo ang lugar.

I bit my lip as I felt the tickling feeling in my stomach whlie reading his letter many of times. A year already passed and he was getting sweeter each day. He always had time for me even though he was busy.

"Fara?" Napatigil ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Manang Linda sa labas ng kwarto ko.

"Yes, Nang?" malakas na tugon ko.

"May bisita ka sa baba!"

Napabangon ako. "Bababa na lang po ako!"

I took a bath before I went downstairs. Pababa pa lang ako ng hagdan, natanaw ko na ang dalawang bulto ng tao na nakaupo sa couch ng living room. Napakunot-noo ako nang mamukhaan ko ang mga ito, lalo na ang nasa bandang kanan.

My vision got blurred in tears when I finally recognized who it was. "Dad?!" I ran to him. "Dad!" I exclaimed. Tumayo siya at nakita ko ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. Mabilis na niyakap ko siya nang makalapit ako. "D-dad, I've missed you!" I cried to him.

I felt his gentle touch on my back. "How's my daughter?" He broke our hug and then stared at me.

"I'm good." I told him emotionally. I stared at him. Nothing changed in him, but he looked a little bit older. "How about you?" I asked him this time.

He smiled a bit. "This is me now."

I was so glad, he was still alive and no longer in prison.

After my wedding, I talked to Dad, begging, "Please, do not go back to jail again."

He looked directly into my eyes, having no emotion as he used to to be. "Let me ask you one thing, Fara." He paused for a moment, not taking his eyes off me. And I was just waiting for him to continue while holding my tears back. "Do I deserve to be your father?" he finally asked.

I didn't expect he would ask something like that. I tried to get the right and true answer by looking back to how he fathered me and how I saw him as a father.

To be honest, I truly hated him before to my core because I blamed him for everything that happened in my life. But I was healed from those now; for all my traumas and brokenness. God healed me.

All I desired now was the reconciliation of my relationship with him. I was completely forgiving him.

"I am thankful because you are my dad. I am alive because you took care of me when mom didn't want me and hated me for existing. Thank you so much, Dad," I said with a smile and having blurred vision because of my tears.

I didn't know what was in his mind when he just nodded his head. And then, he said goodbye because he had to go back to prison.

I turned my gaze to my brother who stood on our side. "Kuya." I gave him a warm hug as well. Ilang taon din kaming hindi nagkita dahil namalagi siya sa Las Vegas.