Nelica breathed deeply when her mother didn't answer her.
"Come on, Mom, tell me. Does he know the reason why I'm.. I'm still this up to now? Does he know about that, mom?"
Her mother abruptly looked away. "N-Not yet."
She scoffed weakly. "See? He doesn't even know that big issue of mine yet. So how can you both even say that he's the man for me if you didn't even know that he's judgmental or not?"
Her mother tightened the latter's grip on her hand nervously and sadly said, "Then you can tell him that as soon as he arrives here in the Philippines to meet you. And if he still accepts you then that's a good sign that he's really the best man for you, Nelica. And if he won't accept you then we won't bother you anymore about your personal life but just promise us that you won't be devastated anymore and that you will slowly move on by yourself. But honestly, we really hope he would still accept that thing about you. But don't worry, daughter. We have this feeling that he's not judgmental. He's not that kind of man though."
She sighed and shook her head slowly. "Oh, mom.. Why didn't you and dad tell him directly about that matter when you asked for that man's help?"
"Because we want you to tell him that yourself when you two finally met up here." Nelica's mother said and sighed.
She abruptly held her forehead. Her head wasn't aching while she was drinking some wine earlier but it's kind of aching that moment already because of everything she heard from her parents. "Mom.. What you and dad did was an obvious act of lying."
"And all parents are willing to do every stupid things just for their children's sake. And we are one of those parents, Nelica. We made this decision even though we're still not sure if he will really accept your past, even though we're only holding on to the thought that he's not a judgmental type of a man like his parents told us and we believe that. We took this risk for you. So please.. Give this man a chance. And give yourself a chance to love again. That is.. If he would still accept you, tell him your past's issue.."
She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead gently. "And if he won't accept me?"
"Then.. Then we won't bother you anymore about this matter but just promise us that you will move on, on your own. But I guess, moving on by yourself is the most impossible thing in the world, Nelica."
She sighed. "Mom, please.."
"And please as well, daughter.. We're begging you.. Just.. Try to meet up with that guy and tell him everything instantly."
"But, Mom.. What if he'll get mad at the both of you for not telling him that directly in the first place?"
"It's alright if he will get mad at us for not telling him that but at least, his parents knew. We made the two of you meet up in person finally for a better reason this time. And it's already up to the both of you on what will you choose to happen next."
"Oh God, so the parents of that man knew about that also.. And how sure are you that they won't tell him that now?"
"We're a hundred percent sure, daughter. Because we agreed not to spill that out yet and just let you have the honour to tell him that matter and wait for you to tell him that yourself."
She sighed and rubbed her forehead again. 'Parents.' She helplessly thought and shook her head again. Then a thought suddenly crossed her mind. "Mom.. Dad.. You told me you went there in London to ask help from that man.. So my question now is.." She cleared her throat and continued, "Did.. Did he already agree?"
And so she saw how her parents' eyes twinkled abruptly and instantly smiled widely before answering in chorus, "Yes, daughter. He already agreed."
So she expelled a helpless breath once again and said, "If.. I'll give this a try.. And we still won't click, then could the both of you please let me forget about what happened again on my own?"
Her father sighed. "As long as you promise us that you won't be devastated anymore.. Why not? But honestly, daughter.. We really hope that everything will fall into place after you and your supposedly husband meet up finally. Because this is the only way that we know that can change every negative thing to a positive one. And also.. This is the only way.. To slowly push away the guilt that was eating us always when we see you cry. So please, daughter.. Give this.. A try."
She shook her head slowly while smiling bitterly. "I.. I don't know, dad.. I don't think things would fall the way you both expected to me and to that guy. Because what if.. Yes he would still accept me, but in the end, he would leave me broken apart again?" She said let out a sound of her sad chuckle then continued, "I just.. I just can't bear any more pain once again, dad.."
"So take this advice of mine, daughter. Give this a try. But don't give your full trust at first. Just.. Try to balance the situation first. Observe his personality. And if you finally see and also feel that he's far different and the exact opposite of that guy who broke you and made you like that up to now, like he's a positive opposite of that guy from your past, then go for it and take that risk. And I know that this time, daughter.. You are smarter than before. And most of all, I know also.. That this man you're about to meet up with.. Is the right man for you. I can feel it. Me and your mom have known him since he was still a kid up to that age of his by the help of his parents who are my long time friends. They keep us updated on their first son's activities at school, at home and his personalities. Same goes for us. We keep them updated about you too even for the last six years. Up to now."
She gasped softly. "W-What? Up to now?"