MY CAMPUS LIFE – EPILOGUE EDITED

  Dear Diary,

 

💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘

 

  Today marks a new beginning— Mum’s happy with Patrick… and Philip and I, though not together, are happy to be friends once again. Mum and I visited Dad’s grave today. She couldn’t stop crying on getting there… it’s a good thing that I was there with her. She asked for his forgiveness. And I know that wherever Dad is, he would be glad to know that she felt true remorse. 

 

  Oh, and we will be leaving for London very soon. We will start anew, along with Derek… and Dad. L❀O❀L. I can say I was having a hard time calling him that… but I had to accept the fact that he was bio Dad. I couldn’t wait to bond with him better, and certainly couldn’t wait to be done with college. My transfer paper was ready, I was going to miss Campbell for sure. 

 

   Sigh—

 

   Many would talk about their campus experience, but when it came to mine, I would say it was one hell of a ride. But all the same “My campus life” brought love, friendship… and memories I’d never forget.

 

  “Tricia? Honey? The guests are all waiting.”

 

  “Coming mother,” 

 

  “I guess that’s it Lil D,” 

 

  I closed my diary and got up to leave. I gave a final scan of my room and walked out the door, ready to hit the dance floor.

 

  I walked carefully down the stairs, rolling my eyes around for Philip, as Derek stood at the foot of the stairs looking dashing with his stylish hair-do.

 

  “What’ you doing?” I asked, smiling.

 

  “Being your knight in shining armor!” he winked. 

 

  I placed my hand on his and had me lead me to where Mum and Patrick were.

 

  It was the last party we were going to have in Henson—also, thanks to Mum for insisting that we threw it, since it was going to be our last with our friends and neighbours.

 

  Our house was packed with people, making it hard for me to find Philip. I rolled my eyes for him one more time and concluded he was never going to come. I was on my way back to Mum, when a guy dressed in a flashy tux came walking through the front door. 

 

  “Phil!” I let out a happy yell and rushed towards him and his grams.

 

  I greeted grandma Hennia, and we began making towards where Mum and Patrick were.

 

  “Grandma Hennia,” Mum greeted with a hug.

 

  Father also greeted her. 

 

  Grandma Hennia was about greeting Derek when she stopped and stared into his eyes.

 

  We stared in shock, myself remembering where I had heard the name before.

 

  “Lionel!” she called again, cupping Derek’s cheeks.

 

  “I-I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m Derek. Derek Nielsen,” Derek corrected.

 

  “No. No, you’re Lionel,” she said in all seriousness, and continued. “I know my grandson very well. I can feel it in my heart.” she brought her hand on his arms and rubbed it warmly. “Lionel. My grandson!” she hugged him with joy. “You’re alive! You’re alive—” she kept muttering.

 

  We all stood confused, watching the drama go on. How can this be?

 

  I remembered how furious Derek had gotten when dad told him he wasn’t really his son. They had found him on the front porch, Dad narrated then. They had taken him in as their own son. Derek was heartbroken on hearing him tell him the truth—only no one knew whose baby he was.

 

  “G-Grams. Grams, you’re not saying Derek is my brother. Are you?”

 

  Grandma Hennia released Derek on hearing Philip ask. “He’s your brother, Philip. The mark!” she exclaimed suddenly, making to unbutton his shirt.

 

  The mark—

 

~

 

  “What is this? Why do you have this on your chest?”

 

  “I was born with it—” I could remember his exact words.

 

☆~☆~☆

 

  Could Derek really be her grandson? Has his family been here all along?

 

  “Philip, it really is Lionel. Look!”

 

  I was lost in thought to notice Derek had slightly opened his shirt.

 

  Grandma Hennia ran her palm on it and Philip’s eyes grew wider in shock, along with ours.

 

  “Derek is a MacKenny?” my mum finally spoke. “His family’s been here all along?” our thoughts collided with each other.

 

  Derek is really a MacKenny, I thought inwardly. I’ve loved the same blood without knowing! What a small world we live in!

 

  I couldn’t help but marvel at everything that was going on. Derek was finally reunited with his family, and I couldn’t be much happier knowing that.

 

  But wait! How did he end up on Dad’s porch? 

 

  I guess we’ll never know…

 

~

 

  “So you’re finally happy,”

 

  Derek’s head came up at Tricia’s voice. 

 

  “I am.” he smiled. “What about you?” he admired her as he asked.

 

  “Me?” 

 

  He beckoned to her to sit by his side. “You know, when Dad told me I wasn’t really his son, I felt I had no purpose in life…”

 

  “And why did you?” her question came.

 

  “Maybe it’s because I thought Dad finally got the perfect family he’s always wanted…”

 

  “Perfect?” she raised her brows. “You think we’re perfect?”

 

   He nodded, then changed the topic. “Now’s my turn to ask.” his gaze lingered on.

 

  “Well, what do you wanna ask?”

 

  He clasped her hand and looked into her eyes. “Will you let me be wherever you are?”

 

  Tricia knew where this was headed. She couldn’t say a word but kept mute, for fear she would end up ruining the moment.

 

 

  “Mm?”

 

  “D-Derek, I don’t know what to say. London’s not just here and I’m sure you wouldn’t wanna be far away from your people.”

 

  “I feel a lot better when I’m with you.”

 

  “Derek—” she sighed and stood up, knowing what he had in mind. He wanted her to stay, but this she wanted. Tricia’s mind was already made up, and not even her feelings would stop her from going to London.

 

  She wanted to leave.

 

  And he caught her hand… as she came falling into his arms.

 

  “Marry me!” he said.

 

  And her jaws dropped open. Is this a dream? she couldn’t believe her eyes.

 

  He made to stand and she got up from him. 

 

  “Y-you can’t be serious, can you?” she wanted to be sure.

 

  Her eyes widened when he took out a little box from his brea$t pocket and got on one knee. He’s been planning this all along? she realized. 

 

  “D-Derek—” she wanted to talk but could only call his name. She was having a hard time believing this was real. How did he even get the ring? she wondered, though it wasn’t hers to do. She was blushing all this while—was this really happening? she couldn’t stop asking.

 

  “Marry me, Tricia Nielsen…. make me the happiest man on earth,” he said as tears dropped from her eyes. 

 

  “Oh, Derek. Oh God!” 

 

  He was really proposing to her. She smiled at the thought of him being hers forever and how they were going to start a family together. 

 

  She wasted no time accepting him—looking in awe as the diamond ring came on her middle finger.

 

   “I love you!” 

 

  One could tell how happy she was by her voice. Derek was going to be hers. They were going to live happily ever after—this happiness she’d never known in years. Who could have known that this day would come?

 

  A jolting ring made them stop. 

 

  “This has better be good!” she groaned and made to answer, a throaty voice so hard to forget glueing her to the spot. 

 

~ ☆ ~

 

  THUS MY STORY CONTINUES ❗

 

~

 

   HIS SON >>> COMING SOON ❌❌❌