Love Reunited

Love can be defined in many ways, but it was only a few days ago when I saw a good, graphic interpretation of the said word.

According to some undocumented accounts about my family's history, our clan carries a curse that will last for seven generations. It is said that for seven generations, the women in our family will bear fatherless children, as my female family members would fall in love with men who already belong to someone else. Perhaps the curse is true, based on a series of coincidences that took place, for yes, most of my cousins (and including myself) grew up with missing fathers, and they are bound to find their dads in the near future. I consider myself lucky for having found mine at the right time.

The case of my cousin is different, however.

Three years ago, one of my aunts fell under the said curse, and our family called her disgraceful for having a child out of wedlock. The father of her child is already married, and therefore they cannot build a family of their own. She eventually gave birth to a boy, who is now a bratty yet still adorable kid who wakes up early to play with his other cousins in their playground-the Tacloban market. My aunt meanwhile shed off her thoughts about her child's father, in the belief that disclosing information or updates about him will only make life complicated once again. She focused on the family business, while at the same time bringing up her child single-handed.

But there is always a time saved for realizations to take place. Out of sheer fun, she met up with her lost love, the father of her child, for a night of merry-making. Bottles of beer were spent, and they had a conversation so light it seemed like nothing happened in the past. She then had the chance to ask and answer questions, to get the explanations she deserved, and have herself clarified. The guy was given the opportunity to say his piece too. That night she saw and felt the sincerity in his eyes, that even though everything is still at the planning stage, she could see that he is now in a better disposition in facing his responsibilities. And because of that, she found hope.

She is now determined to raise their child, not out of obligation, but of true love. To hell with the hypocrisies of our family.