Redemption! (3)

A couple of days later, things were slowly getting back to normal. After the incident, for several nights in a row, Louis was having nightmares in which he was still being held captive back in Martin’s hideout. Each time, he would awaken in tears and either his mother or big sister would console him the best they could.

Due to the fear he had, he was now afraid of leaving the house by himself, let alone playing outside. Seeing this, Sarah and Mrs. Evangelina were pained to the core, seeing that Louis had developed a trauma.

As more days passed by, at the Kyung Mansion, Martin was like a shadow of his former self. He no longer hung out with his friends or left the house. Each time his mother would ask him about the issue troubling him, he would always say, “ Everything’s alright, I swear. “

Unable to let the situation continue any further, one day, she called one of his friends over to question the latter about her son’s change in temperament.

“ Mrs. Kyung, I don’t know what to tell you. “ The friend said to Martin’s mother who retorted, “ I’d like to know what’s going on with my son, so speak the truth! “

Hesitating for several seconds, the friend said again, “ I think it’d be best if Martin was to tell you himself. It’s not my place to divulge things that have nothing to do with me. “

Retorting to that statement, the mother said, “ Ever since he came back, my son hasn’t been the same. He barely eats and doesn’t go out anymore like he used to. Whenever I ask him about it, he always tells me the same thing, that he’s fine and whatnot, but I’m his mother and I can see from head to toe that he’s lying to me. I just want to know what happened to put my son in such a haggard state. “

—

Listening to the mother’s explanation as well as spotting the worriedness she had for her son through her eyes, the friend succumbed and said, “ Something did happen with Martin and I’m going to tell you all about it. “

Over an hour later, Mrs. Kyung barged into her son’s room, startling him in the process.

“ So, this was what it was? “

?

“ Mom, is everything alright? “ Martin asked his mother who was in an off-state. “ You look angry. Did someone anger you? “

“ Yes, someone angered me and that’s you, you big dummy. “

?

Before Martin had any time to react whatsoever, a slap made itself across his face. Holding his flushed cheeks as tears started to come out, the son asked his mother, confused, “ Mom, why did you slap me? What have I done to anger you? “

“ You’ve got some nerve asking me what you’ve done? “ She shouted at her son who was even more confused about what he could have done to make his mother so riled up about him. “ How could you kidnap someone, let alone lock him up? Is that how I raised you? “

!

Finally understanding what the issue was and also the motive behind his mother’s lashing at him, Martin was stunned as he tried to figure out how his mother was made aware of the whole affair.

“ How do you know that, Mom? “ He asked, his voice shaking tremendously.

“ Wow, so you’re not denying it! How could you do something so foolish, Mat? You so disappointed me as a mother. “ Mrs. Kyung harbored at her son as disappointment ensued in her tone.

Seeing all the disappointment and anger in his mother’s eyes, Martin got on his knees and as he wept, he made his feelings across, “ Yes, I made a mistake, Mom, a terrible one at that. I’m to blame that you’re disappointed in me, Mother, and you can punish me severely for my deeds. But Mother, I wasn’t aware that my actions could result in severe consequences. I sincerely don’t know what I was thinking. “

Holding his mother’s feet, he wept even more and said, “ The only thing I wanted, the only thing I was after was for Sarah to love me. As she rejected me, I wanted to make her pay. I was full of resentment and before I knew it, I had already done the worst. I didn’t even realize the moment her brother was in my captivity. “

“ Believe me, Mother! You know me well enough, don’t you? As the son you’ve raised, you know I would never hurt someone deliberately. I lost my way with all the resentment and couldn’t turn back. “ He wept sorrowly. “ I’m sorry, Mom. I’m so sorry for everything, for hurting Sarah and her family the way I did, and for disappointing you as a son. I’m so sorry. I’m very sorry. “

—

Meanwhile, at the Esperanza Restaurant, the clientele was booming with each passing day. With more customers they had, the more their mind was kept occupied, making them unable to recall the bad memories.

Assisting with the clientele, Jennifer and Lucas worked the hardest and within a few hours, they were getting ready for closure and that’s when someone unexpectedly stomped in on them.

“ I know I’ve made my appearance unannounced, but I’d like to talk to you about something. Would you mind sparing me some time? “

—

The one stomping in unexpectedly was Martin Kyung’s mother. Staring at her from head to toe, she asked, “ Would you mind if I came in? “

“ Yes, of course, Mrs. Kyung. “ Mrs. Evangelina quickly responded.

Walking inside the restaurant, Sarah started feeling uncomfortable and felt like leaving. Gazing at her mother, she said, “ Mom, I’ll be in the kitchen cleaning up. “

Nodding, Sarah was about to make her way to the kitchen when Mrs. Kyung held her hand from behind. Stopping, Mrs. Kyung said, “ Sarah, I’d like to speak with you too. Would you please stay along? “

“ I don’t think I’ll be of much assistance, Mrs. Kyung. “ Sarah remarked coldly to her and she retorted, “ I’m aware of what occurred between you two and I’d like the chance to make things right. “

Before Sarah could retort anything else, Mrs. Evangelina spoke to her daughter, “ Sarah, let’s at least hear what she has to say! “

“ As you wish, Mom. “ Sarah complied with her mother’s request.

“ We’ll leave you guys to chat by yourselves. “

Martin and Jennifer walked out by Sarah to head to the kitchen. Just then, Sarah held Jennifer’s hand and said, “ Please stay with me, Jennifer! “ She pleaded. “ I won’t be able to go through this alone, so please, don’t leave me by myself! “

—

Gazing at Lucas, he left with Louis to the kitchen. Gazing at Mrs. Evangelina, she nodded positively. “ Alright, I’ll stay with you if you want me to. “

“ Thank you. “

Facing Martin’s mother, Mrs. Evangelina spoke, “ We’re listening, Mrs. Kyung. What was it you had to tell us? “

“ Starting, Mrs. Kyung said, “ First of all, I’d like to apologize to you for my son’s foolishness. I heard about what he did and I’d like it if you could forgive him. “

At the sound of those words, Sarah lost it and said, “ Forgive him? Do you seriously think what your son did was a minor thing? “

“ That’s not what I meant to say, Sarah. “

Mrs. Kyung tried justifying her son’s actions the best she could, but Sarah wouldn’t listen. Instead, she lashed out all the hatred she had been harboring against Martin all the while to his mother. “ Did what my younger brother had to go through because of your son simply be erased? “

Simply listening in on Sarah’s complaints, she continued, “ Due to the kidnapping, Louis has now developed trauma and is afraid of going out. Because of your son’s cruelty, my younger brother is scared out of his wits each time none of us is around with him. Can you start to imagine the pain I feel whenever I see him in that state? “

—

“ For the past few days since he returned, he’s been having nightmares all night long, awakening in tears. “ Sarah narrated Louis's misadventures to Mrs. Kyung painlessly to which she had nothing to retort.

Gazing at Mrs. Kyung once more, Sarah asked straightforwardly, “ You spoke of forgiveness a minute ago, didn’t you? Let’s say for a second I were to forgive your son for his wrong deeds, will Louis's trauma be wiped out from his memory? Will he go on leading a normal life again before all the happenstance? “

—

“ If by any means, he can make it happen, then I’ll gladly forgive him for his sins. “ Sarah concluded coldly.

After saying all she had to say to Mrs. Kyung, Sarah painlessly leaned on Jennifer who consoled her.

Taking off from where her daughter had left off, Mrs. Evangelina said, “ Mrs. Kyung, we know you had good intentions while coming here, but what Mr. Kyung did cannot be easily forgotten or forgiven, so I’ll kindly ask you to leave as I don’t mean to sound rude. “

Flopping her hands as a means to ask Mrs. Kyung to depart from her restaurant, the latter suddenly took out a check from her luxury bag and handed it to Mrs. Evangelina who took it without knowing what it was at first glance.

“ What’s this? “ Mrs. Evangelina asked in dismay to which Mrs. Kyung retorted as follows, “ That’s a blank check and you’re welcome to inscribe any amount on it. For all, Martin had made you go through will serve as compensation. “