Love Is Second Best — Chapter 41: TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

Carmella's POV

One month has passed since that confession happened. I guess I hurt Adrian the most because it's been almost two weeks that he never texted or called me.

“How’s everything?” Kara randomly asked me some questions about Adrian and me. I looked down as I swallowed. “W-Well, I am okay. Please don’t mind me.” I smiled at her however, she’s my best friend. I almost forgot. She knew me even before I told her certain things to her.

On the other hand, I am feeling happy because it made way for Hope to go to Adrian's games. Through Kara, they were able to know each other.

After two months, Hope told me that she accepted Adrian's proposal to be his girlfriend.

"Congratulations..." I told them both. Kara looked at me with a meaningful look. It's as if she wanted to make sure that my greetings for the couple are not bitter by the sound of it.

"Thank you Carmella..." Adrian also answered with a smile as he rested her hands on Hope's shoulders. Hope blushed too hard. It was so evident because she has naturally pinkish cheeks and fair skin tone.

"Thank you, sis. I am so happy that my crush is the love of my life, now." Hope said as she looked at the same direction with a smile. Adrian never minded it anyway. I could see from his eyes that he is so in love with Hope and she also felt the same way too.

"Congratulations, Hope. I guess Adrian is really for you. Sometimes, you just have to think love and not the other way around. It's a risk you know."

I stepped on Kara's feet as soon as I heard those words from her. If I won’t do it, she might overdo everything and spill what’s not needed to be spilled. She’s really talkative. I can’t believe she’s my best friend.

"Ouch, Carmella you're so bad!" She exclaimed as she almost jumped with pain. Adrian and Hope checked on us and I denied doing anything to Kara. I am only reasoning out that she's being silly.

“What happened? Is everything alright?” Adrian stood up, looking worried as he checked under the table. Hope also waved her hand as if wanting to hold someone who’s in pain. I held her hand instead and whispered to her ear that it was me.

“We’re fine, dear.”

“Oh,” She looked relieved and smiled right away. I looked at my half-sister not knowing what to really feel.I don’t know if I will feel good that she smiled right away or I will feel bad because she’s still fine. She’s doing alright. She’s feeling okay even if she’s totally blind. It hurts me to see her being at the heights of happiness despite her condition? While me? I may have the complete physical features but I am lacking the happiness I always desire to have from the people I loved the most.

“Oh, I guess everything is in control.”

“What was it?” Hope insisted and we looked at each other, the three of us.

“Guys, I told you. Kara is just being silly. Why? Do you still need to go somewhere?” I initiated the conversation again.

"I am so sorry, dear. I never meant that joke. Please forgive me."

"No. Don't mind me. Just don't do something silly in front of the couple, okay?" She nodded. I was able to meet Adrian and I told him about everything. When he realized it, he couldn't help but to shed a tear.

"I promise I will take care of your sister. I will always love her so much."

"Thank you Adrian. If you will just assure that you will love my sister like the way I expect you to be, I guess that's already my happiness."

"I promise. I will always love her all the days of her life because I know she deserves it."

Of course, she deserves it so much. She’s the one and only Elise Hope. My ever-loving and selfless half-sister. Who am I to stop great things from happening in her life? I know this is not enough, I mean letting go of Adrian is not enough for me to compensate for what she had sacrificed only for me. My half-sister loved me so much even before we learned the truth, that we’re really sisters by blood.

"Thank you, Adrian." He looked at me with those familiar eyes. However, it shifted right away to my half-sister. It left a pang in my heart that he is now looking at her the way he’s looking at me before. The way he looked at my sister is so valuable and loved it hurt me so much.

“Yeah, we’re about to eat our snacks, right, love?” Adrian looked at Hope and my half-sister blushed too much it was too obvious for the three of us to notice.

“Y-Yeah,” She responded in a very timid manner. I can’t help but look at Kara whom I caught looking at me first. It’s as if she’s really studying my every reaction to the kind of sweetness that these two are showing us.

“B-But, you know...if you guys like, then you can also accompany us. The more, the merrier!” Hope suggested. Well, too late. I won’t even let that happen, even in my dreams. Well, I never said those words to them but I just kept them in my heart.

“You know what, guys? Please go ahead. We’ll also have our bonding. Ka-Ka will be roaming around the mall, you know.”

“Oh, I see. Love, let’s go! We’ll go ahead.” Adrian started to wave at us goodbye. She also assisted Hope in the gentlest way possible. He made sure he held both of her hands as they went ahead. After the couple left, I cried hard that Kara hugged me tight.

A lot of things came to my mind. If I did accept his confession to me a long time ago, I guess I am the happiest girl enjoying his love now. Maybe, I am the one he’s looking like that with a lovable pair of brown eyes.

If only in another life, I could have that precious chance again. If only I could grab the opportunity to bring back the time when you confessed your love for me, I would say yes along the way. Maybe, I will also be happy and smiling just like what my sister is doing right now.

----

After knowing that they were in a relationship, I tried letting myself heal for more than two months. It's been hard for me since I always see them sweet together. They were a happy couple and admired by many. They were even featured in our school magazine and they've been tagged as the best couple that the University has for being true to each other. By loving each other despite the physical differences that they have.

"I hope you're somehow okay now." Kara greeted me as soon as she sat down to her favorite chair of the restaurant where we often eat.

"Somehow."

"Good thing Adrian offered a helping hand in accompanying Hope most of the time. At least, you can be free to wherever you want to go."

"Yeah." I said while sipping on my favorite mango puree.

"My goodness! You're not even talking to me!"

"Sorry... I guess I am not in the mood."

"I'm sorry too, dear." Kara held my hand as I was about to cry again.

We talked about my regrets and my true feelings about the couple. I know Kara felt me more than Hope. Somehow, I am very happy about what happened to her. It broke my heart. My decisions and everything and yet it also made her dreams come true.

I came home with a heavy heart and mom came to greet me with her usual, hateful tone. I was so used to it that I just ignored her as I started to go home.

"How dare you to turn your back when I am not even done with you, yet?"

"Mom, please, I am tired. You can just get angry at me tomorrow after a goodnight's sleep." She grabbed me by the arm and started slapping me from my left cheek to my right. I was stunned for a moment that I just kept silent.

"How dare you to ignore me when I am talking to you? Stupid asshole!" I just cried silently as a response. I know there's nothing I could do right now. She's my mother and I still have all the respect for her despite the things she does to me.

"Thelma!" I heard my father Leonard exclaimed as she was caught in the act of hurting me physically. He rushed towards us and hugged me tight while mom's face became red with embarrassment. She never thought that father would appear somewhere any time.

"What are you doing?" He exclaimed. I could sense that he was so angry at mom that I was able to stand between the two of them because they've been arguing in a raised voice.

"Mom, dad, please stop it. I don't want this anymore. Sorry dad, it was my fault. I am so sorry, mom." I said between sobs. I can see that father Leonard clenched his fists.

"I was able to witness what happened a while ago. From the very beginning. From what you told your daughter."

My mom was silent all of a sudden. I guess she never thought that she would be busted to what she's been doing whenever they were not here in the house. We're all shocked when we heard someone cry behind us. It was Hope and just like father Leonard, she also heard everything from the very beginning. Mom rushed towards her to try to explain everything but then she didn't want to talk to her again from what happened.

"Please forgive mom, Hope." I pleaded as I held her hand. She cried as she cupped my cheeks.

"Are you insane? Why are you being so blinded by this one? Let me tell you this. It is okay to hate someone and not talk to them when you feel like you're hurting the most." She replied.

Oh, so coming from my half sister, I am allowed to do that? I guess it's a little too late right now. I can't hate them. I know for a fact that no matter how I try hating them, I would end up being miserable the most because I will be the one that would be very affected by my own actions. I don't want to hate those people who were with me during both my shining and darkest hours. I choose to forgive them not because they deserve it but because I want peace for myself.

I deserve love and affection. I don't want to hate people that were already a part of who I am now and who I will become someday.

"Nope. It's alright. After all, mom was the only one who was there for me when there's no one else I could turn to."

"Carmella..."

"She's our mom. We can't hate her. All we need to do is to understand her situation and what she's been through." My sister cried even more from what she heard from me. Without noticing it, mom heard everything I said. She visited me one day and hugged me tight. She told me that from what she heard from me, it made her realize many things.

First, she doesn't want Hope to get angry at her forever, nor father Leonard hating her so much that he would prefer sleeping in the guestroom more than sleeping in the master's bedroom.

----

Days turned into weeks. Mom tried her best to keep up with what she has done to all of us. I appreciated how she's willing to change for the better. She wanted to prove herself that she will turn to her bad, wicked ways to restore our family as the complete one.

She also did all the efforts to prove to me that she's changing by giving us all we need. She even went inside my room one particular night.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" I asked as soon as I saw that it was indeed her who knocked on the door of my room.

"I just want to tuck you to bed, sweetie." She said with teary eyes as she hugged me tight. I let her get inside and she hugged me even more.

I heard her sobbing from behind me as she rested her head on my shoulders.

"I am so sorry. I know this is not enough to prove to you that I am indeed willing to change for you my dear."

"Thank you so much mom. This is the thing that I have been waiting for so long. I thought that I will never have the chance to experience this one again. I thought I would be only wishing for love from my mother all by myself. I can't believe this one is happening right now."

"Yes it is, dear. I want to change because I realized that I needed my complete family more than what I have been through from the past."

"I love you so much mom. You will always be my favorite mom and nobody could ever replace you for me."

We hugged each other. That reconciliation alone felt like the best highlight of my life so far. Being in good terms with mom on a normal day feels heaven here on earth. I thought that I would only live my life to the expectation of my mother every graduation day. But now? I guess she has changed a lot. I hope that she will always do this for me and to all of us as one, big happy family.

For Hope and Adrian, I know they deserve each other. Everyday, they were very sweet to one another. Hope said that he completes her so much that she's inspired about living despite her condition. He became her light during her darkest hours, literally and figuratively speaking. We were still the best of friends with Kara. She has never changed ever since highschool. She's the same, quirky best friend who will be really willing to be with you through thick and thin.

Now, as I live my life, I realize that I may be below cloud nine or there were a lot of people more fortunate than me, I could still be the best version of myself. I proved that your past person should be the only rival of your present one. Never give up on things if you feel like giving up when you can sense that you can still do something about it. Choose to forgive and forget rather than forgiving alone. Understand that we are not perfect but life could bring us lessons to correct past mistakes. We should also pray as often as possible. Whatever we're doing, wherever we are and whatever our life's decisions will be. It could lead us to beautiful destinations if we are too positive about life.

As of the moment, I am happy and content. Hope may be above cloud nine but I am always that cloud that she could see with her when she decides to fly and her wings when she wanted to soar higher than what she's been dreaming of having in life.

I loved Adrian but I love my sister. I choose to let go to give chance to love someone that I feel she deserves the best in life. As for me? I will continue to aim and reach for my dreams. I know if love will have its chance to me, nothing could ever stop it. Nothing could ever stop me from falling in love once again. At the right time, at the right day. Maybe someday...I am not sure. I will just live my life to the fullest and never give up.

----THE END-----