Chapter 23

(Austin)

“I’M GOING to ask Maggy to marry me,” I declared to Alano and Clarice when I came to their house. I’ve pondered about this many times ever since Maggy accepted me in her life again.

I know that marrying her while she was in this situation was not right. Even if she loved me, I still can’t deny the fact that I’m the last person she would think of marrying under normal circumstances. But I feel restless. Nana Cora told me that there were women who kept calling in the landline number of our mansion. They were Radha and Yalena. I strictly told them not to give Maggy the phone if ever someone called and searched for her knowing that it might be her assailant.

Radha also came to my office once. She knew that Maggy was under my protection. And she wanted to talk to her Boss, but I didn’t let her. I’d seen her many times near the guard house of the exclusive village where I lived, but unless I gave the guards the go signal, they wouldn’t let anyone inside.

I also assigned cops to tail us whenever Maggy and I would go outside. She hadn’t notice them yet because they were in their civilian uniform. I did it for two reasons. First was to protect her and the second was for my own selfish reason. And that was to separate her from the people whose aim was to remind her of the truth. I also did the same thing when we were in the hospital. Aside from Clarice, Alano, and myself, I didn’t allow anyone else to get near her room. I surrounded the hallway with guards.

Clarice once told me that Radha was Maggy’s friend and her loyal employee as well. Radha had tried contacting Clarice and somehow, I was relieved to know that she avoided giving Radha any information. I know that somehow, my sister-in-law was on my side. I didn’t want Maggy to be connected to anyone who would remind her of the real reason why she came back to the Philippines. I knew Radha and Yalena wouldn’t hesitate to expose the truth.

I also had our family portrait removed in the mansion as well as all of our photo albums and framed pictures. I didn’t want those things to trigger anything in her memory so I had them locked in a separate room. I know I was being paranoid.

Every single day, I keep getting anxious. I don’t know how long I can hide the truth. I’m certain that Yalena had her suspicions by now since she had lost contact with her sister. There was a possibility that she would appear any time soon and surprise Maggy. And once Yalena takes her sister away, I will not be able to do anything.

That’s why I wanted us to get married. So that whatever happens next, whether her memories return or not, we’d already be bonded by marriage. I wanted to own her just as I wanted her to own me completely.

“This is madness, Austin,” Clarice said when she recovered from shock. “I tried not to interfere with your plans but this is too much. We would both earn the twins’ wrath if they found out how you took advantage of the situation. I wouldn’t be spared since I’m allowing you to do what you want.”

“I wouldn’t have done this if she doesn’t love me. If it wasn’t because of Dad, Maggy and I would have gotten married already.”

“The problem was that you can never get Dad out of the equation, Austin. Whether you like it or not, he’s involved here. He’s the root cause of this whole mess. And we can never change that. Even your love can’t change that.” Alano butted in. “Think of what Maggy will feel once she regains her memories. You are taking away her chance to choose a life that she wants for herself.”

“Because I know she will only deny herself the chance to be happy with me.” I breathed heavily before I stood up. “I am not here to ask for your permission. I am just informing you that I am going to marry Maggy. And no one can stop me, not even our family. And Clarice,” I glanced at my sister-in-law. “Before you think about telling her the truth, try thinking about how happy Maggy had been with me for the past weeks. You are not blind. You are not dense either. I’m sure you could see how happy Maggy and I when we’re together.”

I looked at my brother’s direction. He seemed astounded. “Our parents’ sin was not our sin. I am going to keep fighting for what I feel. And I am going to keep fighting until the end. After all, isn’t that how love is supposed to be?”

I did not give any of them the chance to argue with me. I stepped out of their house and went to my car. I am so sorry, Maggy. You love me and I love you. You can hate me all you want afterwards but I know somewhere deep down in your heart, a part of you will still love me. Because sweetheart, our love is real, so real, that even if you couldn’t remember anything about yourself, your heart remembered you loved me.

(Maggy)

“WHERE are you taking me?” I asked Austin while we were riding his bike together. I was sitting behind him. It was only eight in the morning. After we had breakfast, he invited me out. I was even surprised when I found out that we would only be riding his bike. But I have no complains. I love having him this close to me.

When Austin told me he loved me, I realized that it was still possible for me to live a colorful and merry life despite my condition. Every time I’m with him, it feels like it was so easy to smile. Whenever he kisses me and embraces me, I feel like there was nothing I could not conquer. I became braver and hopeful whenever he smiles at me, whenever he looks at me with love and fascination.

I just hope that my memory returns soon. I want to remember everything from how we met, how I felt that day, what we said to each other, and all the previous encounters I had with him. Austin said I met his parents already. I want to know whom he got his looks from. Was it from his father or from his mother? I’m dying with curiosity since I don’t see his parents’ pictures in the mansion and he seldom talk about his family, too.

“I used to admire my mom. She was the first woman I’ve ever admired. I’ve always regarded her as a superwoman. She remained strong even after her divorce with Dad. She was our hope, our love, our joy and our heroine,” Austin said instead after a few minutes of silence between us. “But one crazy day, I found out about what she had been hiding to us for so many years now. Right there and then, all my beliefs I’ve had about her crumbled. I don’t want to judge her but what she did was something I am not yet ready to accept. I’ve been avoiding her for months now because what she did still hurts a lot.”

That was unexpected. “Why are you telling me these all of a sudden?”

Austin shrugged. “I guess I wanted you to know how different we are. You came from a wonderful family, Maggy. That was something I thought I had despite my parents’ divorce. But I was wrong.” I felt his whole body tense up. “My family would fail to match even half of your family’s greatness. I’ve done a little research about Vicente De Lara, your father. And it made me feel insecure.” He laughed but it sounded bitter in my ears. “I found out that so many people adored your parents, your family. And I adore you, too. You’ve always been a strong woman, sweetheart. When I first met you, you were like a star brightly shining. Each time you are going through something, your radiance would disappear but only for a moment. It would come back right away and it’ll make you brighter than before. There were even times when I get scared that I might mar your radiance.”

“Austin… Where is this leading to?”

“I’m just saying that I’m not as nice as you think I am. I’m no knight in shining armor. I’m no prince. There will be times that I could hurt you because of certain situations I have no control over. But I can assure you that I could love you with all my heart. I love you so much that I’m more than willing to walk away from my principles and from the ones that matter to me, just for you.”

Warmth spread in my heart when I heard the sincerity in Austin’s voice.

“I… I love you, too,” was all I could answer.

“I know,” he said in voice laced with fondness while he continued biking. “Next to my mother, I admired Sylvia Earle. She was the face of Marine Biology and was awarded as the woman of the year. She had been protecting the ocean from overfishing and environmental damage,” he added as if he was reporting. “In nineteen-ninety, she was the first to lead a group of women to live underwater through a submarine. She spent more than seven thousand hours underwater and continued to do it even when she turned eighty.”

“Wow, that was…wonderful and passionate of her,” I replied, still confused. I could not tell where this conversation was heading.

“I adored the old lady. And then I met you. Before I knew it, it was all about you. I’ve forgotten my dream of having a partner like Sylvia Earle. You are the face of a fighter, you know. And if I could give you the woman of the year award too, I would have given it to you. Because you were able to get through the storms in your life, Maggy. I can’t even begin to fathom where your strength is coming from. I will always be proud of you, sweetheart, for surviving so many things.”

“I feel like you are up to something. Get on with it, Austin. I feel like my ears will explode if I hear one more word from you about marine biology.”

Austin chuckled.

I was about to ask again but I was surprised when there were suddenly so many bikers around the park. They pedaled along with Austin. They were all using red bikes and were wearing red shirts. And when they pedaled forward, I gasped when I saw what was written on the back of their shirts. Each biker had a letter on the back of their shirt.

And when the letters were put together, it formed, I LOVE YOU, MAGGY.

I smacked Austin’s shoulder out of amazement. “You didn’t have to do this, you know.”

The bikers drove further away. When I could no longer see them, there was another batch of bikers that pedaled along with Austin. This time, they were using white bikes and their shirts were all white. They also drove forward. Every biker had a word written on the back of their shirt that says, WILL YOU MARRY ME, MAGGY?

“Oh, God. Austin!”

He finally stopped pedaling. When we both got off the bike, all the bikers came back. They formed a huge circle and continued cycling with me and Austin in the center.

Austin turned to me and kneeled. From the pocket of his jeans, he pulled out a diamond ring. “Sometimes, I feel like destiny keeps on messing with our lives because there are countless things we need to deal with every day. You had an accident that made you forget everything crucial in your life. But I’m glad that I get to be with you as you face each day. Like you, I am also scared about what tomorrow will bring. But my fears disappears whenever I see you starting to enjoy life again.”

Austin’s eyes shone when he smiled. “I’ve always believed that God made the two of us meet for a purpose. And I think I’m beginning to understand what that was. I believe that He made us meet not only to love each other but also to learn from each other. Because when I met you and fell in love with you, I started to understand myself more. I learned what kind of a person I am. I learned what I can do for love. My views changed. And I am hoping that as you go along your life with me, you will also discover His purpose why this happened to us. I am also hoping that you would take that purpose positively.”

It was cold but I found myself sweating. “Won’t you regret this? Isn’t it too soon for marriage?”

“If you only remember everything, you wouldn’t think that it’s too soon for this subject. I love you. And I don’t want to prolong this anymore. Will you marry me, sweetheart? Please say yes. Let’s discover more things about ourselves together. I can’t promise that we will always be happy. But I assure you that I will be your refuge. In these struggling times, I will be your home.”

I just stared at his face for a long time. I still believe that it was too soon for this. It’s only been a few weeks since we started dating. There were so many things I still needed to remember and accomplish for myself. But upon looking at his loving eyes, I couldn’t say no. I felt like I’ve been in love with him for a long time now.

Besides, there was no assurance if my memory would return. If I would wait for it before I marry Austin, we might end up waiting forever. Besides, we love each other. There was no sense denying myself the chance to be happier with him. He was right. What’s important was that I’ll never be alone again. I can just rediscover things with him.

I stroke his cheeks. Tenderness overflowed my heart. “I feel like there are a lot I still need to know about you. But I have a lifetime to do it and to get to know you better. There are also a lot of things around us that I don’t remember. Sometimes I feel like I’m a toddler who was just beginning to perceive the world. Will you promise to be patient with me?”

Austin nodded. “Always.”

“There will be times that I’d get frustrated or annoyed relearning things. Will you promise to stick with me?”

“I promise to do that and more. Because I love you so, Maggy.”

I smiled once more. “Then yes, I will marry you with all my heart, Austin.”