Chapter 20

Nova was feeling nervous as she sat across her parents in their dining room. She wanted to break the news about her and Aldous, but she was unsure how they would take it. What if her dad opposed the idea of them getting back together? What if her mom did not like Aldous at all?

“What is this all about, dear?” her father asked. “You didn’t ask us to sit here just to stare at each other, right?” He picked up his mug and took a sip of tea.

“Come on, Nova. We’ve been waiting for you to speak for an hour now.” Her mother glanced at his father’s wristwatch. “We have a prayer meeting to attend at five pm, so you better tell us now.”

She rubbed her palm against the fabric of her jeans.

“I want you to know that—” The doorbell cut her sentence off. It rang continuously as though someone was harassing it.

“Who’s that demon?” Daddy William looked annoyed. He stood up and walked to the main door.

Nova followed and was stunned in astonishment when she saw Aldous standing by the doorstep with a bouquet of flowers in his hand.

“What are you doing here?” her dad went out and pushed him away.

“Dad, please, don’t…” She ran out of the house and stood in the middle of them.

“Nova…” Her father’s voice was too low. She did not have to ask what it meant.

“What is going on here—why are you here?” Mommy Esther went out of the house too and stood beside her father.

She turned to Aldous first to reprimand him for coming unannounced.

“You should have told me that you’re coming over. They didn’t know yet—”

“So, this is what you are about to tell us?” her father cut her off.

Nova sighed and turned to face her parents, who were now both looking at her with furrowed brows.

Aldous grabbed her hand and gently squeezed it, silently telling her that he got her back.

“W-we…” Nova swallowed hard. “We decided to go on with our marriage.”

“You mean you two are together now, for real?” Mommy Esther asked.

“That’s right, Ma’am,” Aldous confirmed.

“Because?” Daddy William folded his arms and stared at Aldous.

“I love him,” Nova said in a hoarse voice. She knew she was close to crying because her parents were reacting that way. “I want him in my life. And you can’t do anything about it—”

“Who says we are doing something about it?” Her mom smiled.

When Nova burst into tears, Aldous quickly pulled her for a hug.

“Your mom and I stayed quiet the whole time, but we know how you felt all those times, Nova.” She heard her father said. “You were so affected when he left. You even came back home and abandoned your apartment. We saw you sulking often, but we thought you needed space, so we give it to you and silently care for you.”

“We don’t have the right to stop you loving him now that you finally admit it to yourself,” her mother added. “All we want for you two is to be happy together.”

Now she understood what her parents meant when they told her to taste their medicine. They wanted her to grow, to realize and admit that she was at fault.

Nova distanced herself from Aldous and wiped her tears.

“Will you accept him now, Dad?” she asked in between her sobs.

Her dad smiled. “Of course, he is my handsome son-in-law!”

“And now you are trying to charm him.” She pouted her lips.

Aldous pulled her close to him again and kissed the side of her head.

“But I have one condition before we finally hand her over to you, son.”

They both turned to her dad.

“Name it,” Aldous said confidently.

“A church wedding. You see, Nova is our only child, and as a father, my dream is to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day.”

Nova turned her gaze at Aldous, who was now scratching the side of his neck.

“I think you just spoiled something.” Aldous fished something from his pocket. It was a small red velvet box. “The reason why I came here is to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

He handed her the bouquet of flowers and kneeled with one knee in front of her and her parents.

“Aldous…you…”

“I want to do it right this time.” He opened the box. “Nova, will you marry me for real?”

She grasped his shoulder tightly. “There is no way I will say no.”

Her response to his question made her parents laugh.

“Great.” Aldous smiled and took the ring out of the box.

Her body shivered when he held her hand and put the ring on her finger. The feeling was too overwhelming.

“This is real, right? This couldn’t be a dream…”

Aldous rose and cupped her cheeks. “Well, let’s see.”

He kissed her on the lips, and it felt so right. It was enough proof that she was not dreaming.

***

“Are you nervous?” Aldous asked when the car pulled over in front of their gate.

She turned to him and sighed.

“What if your mother hates me? I didn’t fulfill my promise to her last time.”

His hand reached her cheek at tapped her lightly.

“She is not that kind of person who grows resentment towards unfulfilled promises. And my mother likes you…a lot.”

Aldous got off his car and opened the door to her side. Holding each other’s hands, they sauntered towards his house.

Nothing changed since the last time she went there, except the reason for her visit.

“Ma! Kuya’s here with Nova!” Natalie ran to her and hugged her tightly as if she missed her so much.

She did not know it was possible to be that affectionate towards someone when they were not even that close.

“Nova?” Aldous’s mother emerged from the room.

Unlike the last time, she was glowing and looking healthy. His mother recovered well, and she was glad she did. At least, the money went to something good.

Tita Lorelai spread her arms, inviting her for a hug. She looked at Aldous, who nodded at her. Shyly, she crossed their distance and hug his mother.

“I’m glad you came back, Nova. I missed you,” said Tita Lorelai as she caressed her back.

His mother was smiling at her brightly when they withdrew from each other’s arms.

“I’m sorry it took me so long to come back. There’s some—”

“I know. You don’t have to explain, Nova. I already know everything. You and Aldous have this crazy and weird fate, but it doesn’t matter. What’s important is that you’re together now.”

Nova turned to Aldous with narrowed eyes. So, he told his mother.

“Anyway, Natalie’s still cooking. Why don’t you take her to the veranda first and chat there as you wait?” Tita Lorelai suggested.

“Right. Let’s go?” He held her by the hand and ushered her to the veranda.

From there a garden full of flowers could be seen. It was such a relaxing sight. Nova sat on a rattan chair while Aldous stood in front of her as he leaned on the ledge.

“You’re blocking the view,” she said with furrowed brows.

“What view?” Aldous countered with a smile that brought a thousand butterflies to her stomach.

God, she never thought she could still experience such feelings.

Perhaps this is love, she mused.

“The garden.” She shook her head.

“Oh, I am a much better view, don’t you think?” He cocked his head to the side and winked.

She could not help but burst into laughter. Then, she stared at him.

“Aldous, did you tell your mother everything?” she asked afterward. “I want to know if you’re that kind of person.”

“So, now you’re bothered that your husband is a Mama’s boy?” He chuckled and joined her in the chair. When he sat on the armrest, he pulled her closer to his body.

“I just want to know if you tell her.” She leaned her head on his chest.

“I didn’t tell her anything.” Aldous patted the top of her head.

“Then why did she…”

“Well, she found this sponsored ad of a web novel in her social media newsfeed. She said she got hooked to it. Turns out it was a novel written by you. When I read it, I realized how she knew everything about us. So, partly it’s your fault.”

Nova’s eyes widened in shock.

“And what made her think that it’s about us?”

“Instinct?” He shrugged.

“Well, your mother was wrong. It’s not—”

“Oh, come on, Nova. Don’t you dare deny it again. Writers do that. We always put a piece of us in every story that we write. May it be intentional or unintentional.”

“Is that why you didn’t ask me too much?”

“Yes. I assumed everything that you wrote in that story was the way you feel about me.”

“You’re right,” Nova admitted. “I have the guts to write all my feelings for you, but I couldn’t muster the courage to face you back then. I thought I’m going to lose you forever, so I told myself I’d write a story about us and hoped that someday it would reach you. And it did…”

“That’s pretty romantic, Nova. No one would do that to me but you.” Aldous cupped her face and planted a quick kiss on her lips.

She looked at the garden again and watched as the flowers danced with the wind.

“Thank you, Aldous…” She entwined her fingers with his. “For not dating other girls while I’m away. You are one faithful husband.”

“Say it again, Nova…” he muttered.

“What?”

“Call me your husband again. It sounds endearing.” He grinned.

“Oh, my…I think my dear husband is acting strange this time.” She patted his cheek and stood up.

“Where are you going?” He pulled her hand to stop her from leaving.

“Well, I am going to the kitchen and see if I could be of help. You’re acting cheesy, and it’s making me cringe.”

Aldous laughed heartily and let go of her hand.

“Hey, need help?” she asked upon reaching the kitchen.

“Oh, I can manage.” Natalie looked at her and beamed.

“Okay, then let me hide here.” Nova pulled a chair and sat down.

Her sister-in-law laughed.

“And why are you hiding?”

“Your brother is starting to act cheesy.” She hugged herself.

“Well, now you get to know the real Aldous. Brace yourself because you’re going to endure his cheesiness for the rest of your life.”

“Oh, God…”

THE END