Adaline's POV:
"Dad?" I saw my dad sitting on a bench in the park not far from our old rental house.
Dad smiled, patting the empty space next to him, and reluctantly, I walked over and sat down.
"Why are you here?" I asked, glancing at our old house. The house we left when I entered middle school. The house filled with beautiful memories where I grew up.
"Do you forget? Back when we were moving, you cried incessantly. Saying to us how much you liked our old house."
I smiled and nodded. I did cry a lot back then, begging my parents not to move from there.
I didn't want to make new friends because I had a hard time socializing. But Dad said everything would be okay. In fact, if we moved, I would be even happier.
Dad said I needed to learn to be more sociable because life is more beautiful with many friends.
"Why are we here?" I asked, confused.
My dad smiled. His face looked so fresh, cheerful, and of course, handsome.
"Just a reminder that we once had a past," my dad said casually. "Do you remember what I said back then?"
I furrowed my brow. There were too many proverbs Dad told me. I couldn't remember them all.
"We're here today because the past shapes us.
We're strong because in the past, we faced tough trials.
We're happy because we once suffered.
But don't let the past be a reason to hate. Don't let others' mistakes against you be a reason to resent.
No matter how big someone's mistake is. Even though it's hard to forgive, try to forget.
Try to understand them before judging them. Because everyone has a reason for all the mistakes they make.' Do you remember?" Dad asked again. I nodded.
Those were the words my dad said to me when I found out who I really was. That I wasn't my parents' biological daughter.
Dad asked me not to harbor ill thoughts about why I was in an orphanage. No one knew if my biological parents were still alive or not. But even if they were gone, Dad said I shouldn't hold any grudges against them.
Because if they hadn't left me, I wouldn't have met my current Mom and Dad.
"Forget all the wrongs others have done to you. Accept it, because once you feel sincere, you won't feel hurt. Do you understand?" I nodded. "I entrust your mother to you. I know you love her very much. Be a good daughter to your mother.
"And don't forget, your in-laws are your parents too. Respect and love them as you love both of us.
"Be a good wife, remember how you should respect and care for your husband's feelings. Be a good mother to my grandchildren. Send my regards to them.
"Come back. Return to those waiting for you there. We'll meet again in a place that God has prepared for us." I nodded and hugged my dad tightly.
"Darling, open your eyes." I heard Altezza's voice calling me.
Dad let go of the hug and smiled at me. He then stood up and walked away. The light gradually faded him from my view as I remained seated, trying to hear that faint voice.
"Adaline Quirino, the mother of my children. Wake up, Darling. I miss you.
"I don't want you to break your promise and leave me again. I truly won't let you go." I smiled upon hearing it. Even in my dreams, my husband refuses to give up.
I felt everything turn dark. My body felt cold, yet my hands felt warm and wet.
"Darling, are you listening to me?" The voice sounded so real. So close to my ear.
"Mrs. Adaline Quirino. Please. Stop scaring me. You can seek revenge on me in other ways.
"But please, open your eyes first.
"Don't you want to see our children? Even until now, I haven't dared to touch them. I haven't even given them names."
Children? Did I manage to give birth to them? I felt a throbbing pain in my stomach. It seemed that I did indeed give birth to them. Although not in the way I wanted.
I wanted to open my eyes. But I felt like I wanted to hear my husband's words a little longer.
Once again, I felt his lips kissing the back of my hand. A ticklish sensation coursed through me. It seemed like my husband forgot to shave his beard again. I tried to suppress my giggles.
"I'm waiting for you. They're waiting for you," he said sadly.
"I don't care how long you'll be asleep. Because as long as that happens, I won't give them names. Just let them be called Teteh and Dede.
"I won't change their names. Not until you wake up. So if you love them, wake up soon."
"Do you love me too?" I asked, still with my eyes closed.
I heard the man fall silent. It seemed like he couldn't believe he heard my voice. I couldn't believe it either because it didn't sound like my voice due to the hoarseness. My throat felt really sore.
"Darling, did you just speak?" the man asked, unsure.
I could hear the chair legs squeak as if pushed back. I could also feel his grip on my hand tighten.
"Ma'am...?" he called again, trying to convince himself. "Adaline, if you wake up, you have to open your eyes!" he commanded softly.
I knew he was feeling tense. I could feel it.
"I'm thirsty," I said as I slowly opened my eyes.
My husband looked so disheveled, just as I had suspected earlier. He hadn't even shaved his beard and let it grow wild. His eye bags were so dark, and his eyes looked sunken. His hair was also messy, not as neat as usual.
"Oh God, thank you, thank you, God," he praised loudly in his ears. He hugged me. So tight that it felt hard for me to breathe.
"Al..." I called out. "Can't breathe," I protested weakly.
He released his embrace. He cupped my face with both hands. His eyes stared at me with awe.
"Thank you," he said with every kiss he planted on me. "Thank you for coming back."
He kissed my forehead, both cheeks, nose, and lips. I could only smile at his actions.
"Oh, you're thirsty," he then searched for a bottle of mineral water placed at the bottom of the nightstand. He broke the seal and inserted a straw into it. "Have a little, Darling. You still need to fast," he commanded, to which I only nodded. He placed the bottle back on the nightstand.
"I'm so happy. So, so, so happy. I love you. So, so, so much," he kissed both of my hands again. The back and the palms before kissing my face again.
Our journey is not over yet...
There are still many stories that we will go through ahead. But with a newfound belief, I believe we can make this marriage a happy one.
Always forgiving and compromising is a principle I must hold onto. Even though there will inevitably be misunderstandings, arguments ahead, as long as we can resolve them with open minds.
I believe happiness will be our end.