CHAPTER 7 | Reviving Trails

The man's eyes met mine, a mix of joy and trepidation evident in his gaze. "Son! It's me, your father," he said, attempting to conceal the tremor in his voice.

A whirlwind of emotions surged within me. I longed to rush into his arms and hold him tight, but the memories of our struggles since he left us held me back. Bitterness and anger clouded my heart, making it hard to readily accept the man claiming to be my father.

"Why are you here? What do you want from us? Our lives are fine without you," I retorted, my words tinged with hurt and betrayal.

Jigger's heart sank, realizing the gravity of his actions and the pain he had caused his family. "Son, please forgive me. I never meant to leave you. You have no idea how much I endured and waited to be with you again," he implored, his voice thick with remorse.

My gaze bore into his, torn between the desire to forgive and the wounds that still festered from his absence. "You have the audacity to remind us of your suffering and waiting? You have no idea how my mother and I struggled," I snapped.

His heart heavy with sorrow, he dropped to his knees before me, seeking the forgiveness he knew he had to earn. Though he had hoped for a warm embrace, I met him with guarded resentment.

"I know I can't undo the past, but please believe me when I say that I didn't intend to leave you. I was imprisoned, and your grandfather was ruthless. He would have endangered your lives if we had stayed together. I chose to wait for the right time to reunite with you both," he explained, his voice trembling with vulnerability.

My anger softened slightly, but my wounds ran deep. "You never even tried to reach out to us, to check on us. You and your father are the same—cruel and heartless," I said, my words filled with pain and accusation.

"I understand your anger, and I'm not making excuses. I'm here to apologize and seek your forgiveness," he said, sincerity evident in his voice.

Mom watched us with bated breath, yearning for healing and reconciliation for our fractured family.

He continued, "I want to be a part of your life, to make amends for my mistakes. I know it won't be easy, but I'm willing to wait and prove myself worthy of your love and trust."

An inner battle raged within me as I looked into his eyes, seeing both the pain he caused and the vulnerability in his plea for forgiveness. Slowly, the walls around my heart began to crack.

The weight of my anger and the longing for a father's love warred within me. Jigger's words rang true, and I couldn't ignore the flicker of hope that emerged.

"I want to forgive you, but it won't be easy. I need time," I admitted, my voice tinged with vulnerability.

Jigger nodded, understanding the depth of my pain. "Take all the time you need. I'll be here, waiting," he said, his eyes never leaving mine.

A seed of hope was planted—a chance at redemption and reconciliation. The road to forgiveness was daunting, but both Jigger and I were willing to walk it as we embarked on a journey to heal the wounds of the past and rebuild the bonds that time had shattered.

Mom could feel the weight of my emotions as she watched us, silently praying that our family would finally be whole again.

Thus, the journey towards redemption and forgiveness began, and only time would tell whether love would conquer the wounds of the past and pave the way for a future filled with healing and renewal.

Dad stood up, approached me, and embraced me tightly. I had longed for those hugs, the kind that would protect me. At that moment, I felt invulnerable, as if nothing could harm me. I reciprocated the embrace, slowly understanding the trials he had gone through. I forgave him, and a sense of liberation washed over me. Mom joined in, her sobbing almost breaking the silence. It had been an excruciatingly long wait for our family to be complete. Finally, I experienced a kind of happiness that was beyond compare. It was an indescribable feeling of bliss.

"Is he really my father?" I asked, my voice trembling with both joy and relief.

"Huhuhu, No, my child, he's the plumber from the neighborhood. He happened to pass by, and then you suddenly got emotional. huhuhu." Mom replied amidst her tears, her words made me burst into laughter.

"Mom, seriously?" I spoke.

"Stop with the drama already. We're being overly dramatic, you know." Mom teased.

Dad added, "Your mother is right. We should be happy now that we're finally together after a long time."

"It's already eleven o'clock, and we haven't eaten yet." Mom noted.

"Go get dressed, and we'll have our meal outside. And let's also buy the other things we need for our new home." Dad suggested, I was taken aback by what he said.

"New home?" I was surprised, not that I'm not expecting it, this guy here is freaking rich he won't live here for sure, but this is so sudden.

"Yes, it's our new home. Didn't your mother tell you? But we can't move there yet because there are still some things to be fixed. So, we can move in there tomorrow. I came today just to see you. But of course, for tonight, you'll sleep in the hotel where we're staying." He confirmed.

I was shocked and didn't know what to say. But I couldn't leave abruptly now; it would surely be disastrous. I needed to bid farewell to that person; otherwise, I'd get into trouble. As we made our way to the car, everyone stared at us, making me feel uneasy. However, they were not my focus at the time. Mom noticed my silence and caught my gaze, seemingly understanding what was on my mind.

Mom said, "I think it will just be the two of us sleeping in the hotel tonight."

"Huh! Why?" Dad asked.

"Because our child can't leave right away. He still needs to say his goodbyes to someone." She replied.

"Ah, I see. Does our child already have a girlfriend?" Dad chuckled and ruffled my hair while driving.

Mom burst into laughter, "Girlfriend? Hahahahaha, yes, he already has one. That's why it's okay to let him stay for a while. Nothing can stop him anyway."

"But are you okay with him staying alone there?" Dad said out of concern.

"Yes, I'll be fine on my own. I'll just ask my friend to accompany me." I assured them.

Mom chimed in "Yes, yes, yes, it's good he has a friend there. Hahaha." I couldn't understand Mom; it felt like she was becoming the ultimate antagonist towards me. She's been like this since earlier.

"Alright then, just take care. But make sure to come back

after eating." Dad finally agreed.

"Yes, I'll be back tomorrow. Don't worry, I'm familiar with the place, and I already know the people there." I promised.

Honestly, I wanted to join them because I've never been inside a hotel before, and it's a shame to miss out. But nothing is as important to me right now as saying goodbye to James before leaving. Our departure will surely bring about significant changes. We won't see each other as often, and it worries me because we'll be facing a big transition. Even though it hasn't happened yet, I'm already planning in my mind what I should do.

My father has arrived, wealthy and influential, and I have realized that I will have more opportunities to achieve my dreams. James is a significant part of my life, and he has been with me in all my aspirations. I will never let him down; I'll always be there for him. He will be a part of every inch of success I'm going to achieve.