Truth.
"Exposing the truth behind lies could be sometimes hard from both sides. At times, hiding the truth from our loved ones is needed to protect them. We all know that truth hurts, but we must know that a lie is much more hurtful once it is revealed later."
**************
"Truth?" Georgia mumbled after hearing his brother. Her heartbeat quickened as she burst her way to his room. The door hit the wall and made a loud sound. Jacob cursed in surprise but Georgia didn't bother to apologize and instead asked, "what truth, brother?"
"Georgia, what the hell? Were you eavesdropping? Why didn't you knock?" Jacob's voice was a bit raised. He sighed heavily and shut his eyes for a bit and then put his phone again in his ear. "I'm telling her mom. I'm doing it in dad and your stead." He then ended the call and put his phone in his pocket.
Georgia waited for him to begin. "Let's go to the living room."
As they headed to the living room, a few walks away, Jacob's phone rang. He took it out and check who it was calling. He shrugged as he pointed at it. "It's mom. Guess, I'll have to take it first."
Georgia nodded as she sat on the sofa. Jacob answered his phone, his other hand on his waist as he turned his back on Georgia.
"Yes, mom."
"Okay, but are you sure you can do it? I'm happy to be the one to tell her the truth, anyway."
"Fine. I'll tell her." Jacob then ended the call and put his phone on the center table and sat on the single sofa.
"What's the matter?" Georgia asked. She felt uncomfortable with her brother's stare.
"I can't tell you yet. Mom doesn't want me to. She said to wait for her and dad. They will be the ones who'll tell you what you need to know." He sighed. "For now, just go wash up. You reek of alcohol."
Georgia didn't argue and just obeyed. She went to her room and took a shower--a longer one. Her parents had arrived and she was still in the bathroom, crying. She wondered why she seemed so unlucky this week. She felt rejected and embarrassed, she felt like a fool, too, and most of all, she highly doubted that this day would end any better, too. She was guessing it would be more awful. Several minutes later, she was done and walked out of her room to face her family in the living room.
Her parents were seated on the long sofa in front of the TV, while Jacob was on the side-- still on his spot earlier--and Georgia sat on the other side across from her brother.
"Georgia," her mother, Jessi, called softly and smiled. "I know that it would come to this, I should've been more prepared. But...we will do our best to explain everything."
"I know this will be hard for you as this is also hard for us. But you must know that it was for your own good that we did not tell you sooner," her father, Jude, said as he smiled sadly. "And honestly, we were not planning to tell you the truth until Jacob told us that you are still hung up about Jimhuesh."
Georgia wrinkled her forehead. She didn't seem to follow where the conversation going. She paid glances to Jacob and her parents. "What do you mean? What does this have to do about Jimhuesh?"
Jacob was the first one to answer. "What you think you feel for him is pointless, George. You're not truly in love with him. You cannot. It can't be."
Georgia huffed and shook his head in disbelief. "Why does everyone assumes they know what I feel? Are they me? Are you me? And why can't I be in love with Jimhuesh? It's not like it's forbidden or something. Why are you against it so much?" Her eyes were starting to blur because of forming tears.
"Because he's your cousin! You are related, Georgia!" Jacob blurted out as he stood up. "You can't have those stupid feelings for your cousin!"
"What are you talking about?" Georgia scoffed, but her tears were now streaming down her face. "Are you joking?"
Jacob sighed heavily and looked directly into her eyes. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
She stood up and demanded an explanation. "If this is true. Then why didn't you tell me? It's weird that you all kept it a secret from me. Are we not supposed to be related to Andersons even if we are? Is that what you mean?" She turned her gaze to her parents. "Is it because we are a distant relative? I don't understand. What is really happening here?"
Jessi stood up and wiped away Georgia's tears. "Don't cry, dear. It's going to be okay. Let's all calm down first and take our seats." She hinted to Jacob and they all sat. "Georgia, dear. You are related to Andersons, but we are not."
"What? How is that even possible?" she asked. Georgia couldn't understand what were they getting to. She had a hunch, but she decided not to think anymore. As of now, it was hard for her to process anything.
"We're not your real parents, George," Jude admitted. "Your biological parents died in a car accident when you were just one year old. And your mother, Geneva, and Jimhuesh's father are siblings. That's why we are so against him. Jimhuesh is your cousin."
Georgia suddenly laughed--a really loud one as if she just heard a hilarious joke. She was so perplexed, she only knew how to laugh at the moment. "So, I'm adopted?" She nodded in disbelief. "It now made sense why my name doesn't start with the letter J. When I was a kid, I always get insecure because my name starts with G, George, while yours are Jude, Jessi, and Jacob. I thought I was adopted, but it turns out I was right. It hurts, even more knowing that what I thought was correct."
"Oh, Georgia, dear, I'm so--"
Jessi was cut off by Georgia's hand gesture, palm flashed at her mother. "Not now, mom. I need some time. Please, if you may excuse me..."
Her family didn't say anything. They seemed to understand her and were willing to give her space. Georgia headed to her room, grabbed her black crossbody phone bag, and slid her phone into it. She made her way outside their house and hailed a taxi. As she hopped on, she took her phone and called Walter.
"You told me to tell you everything instead of drowning myself in alcohol, right?"
"Glad you remembered. Are you okay? Your voice seems a little bit... Were you crying?" Walter asked with a worried voice.
Georgia forced a laugh. "I want to see you, where are you?"
"No, where are you? Stay where you are. I'm coming for you."
"No, no need. I'm in a taxi, just tell me where to go." She sniffed.
"Ok, fine. I'll send you the address."
The call ended. Georgia received his message. She told the driver her destination and after half an hour of silence, the driver said, "we've arrived, miss." Georgia was out of it and the driver had to repeat it thrice.
"Oh, sorry. Thank you, Mr." She handed the fare and got off the taxi.
"Georgie!" a voice called.
She turned to see Walter standing outside the house. He came towards her way and assisted her inside, his hand on her back as he opened the door with his free hand. When Georgia hesitated to proceed, Walter assured her that he was alone and Senthie and Cecile were at Fashion Sen's.
"I'm sorry for ruining your day off, Walter. I just... I can't think of anyone to talk to but you. You know that you're my only friend," Georgia began as they sat on the sofa. Walter beside her.
Walter smiled. "Don't sweat it, Georgie. You know that I'll give you all the time that I have just for you. So, be grateful instead of always saying you're sorry."
She giggled. "Okay, fine. Thank you, Walter. Thank you for always having my back. I don't think I could ever thank you enough for everything."
.
He smirked. "Just be happy. That's all I ask of you, Georgie. By the way, did something happen at home?"
Georgia nodded as she began to shed tears. She told him everything from how she found out that Jimhuesh was her cousin to how her parents admitted that they weren't her biological parents. Walter was surprised to hear all of it that even he couldn't seem to process what he heard.
"Wait, what? This is so unexpected. So how do you feel right now? Are you still in love with the VP? How about your parents? Are you still mad at them?"
"No." She forced a smile as she wiped her tears using the tissue that Walter gave to her a moment ago. She then blew her nose before she continued, "I'm no longer mad at my parents. I'm sure it was hard for them, too. I can understand why they didn't tell me the truth but... I still have the right to know my real identity. I hope they did tell me sooner so that I didn't have to think of such ridiculous feelings for Jimhuesh which I mistakenly thought of as romantically." She cringed. "Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl. I'm having goosebumps, look!" She showed her arm.
Walter laughed. "I'm happy for you, George. The truth sets you free."
"Indeed."
"So..." Walter trailed off as he stared at Georgia. She turned her gaze to him as she wait for him to continue. "So, does that mean we have a chance?"
Georgia furrowed her brows. "We have a chance of what?"
He smirked. "A chance for us in a romantic relationship."
Her heart thumped so hard as Walter moved his face closer to hers. His eyes were locked on her brown eyes, his lips forming a smirk. Georgia's heartbeat went faster as seconds passed. She couldn't figure out if he was being serious but knowing Walter, he must be teasing her. Georgia did her best not to show his effect on her.
"You're my best friend, Walter, if not, you're like a big brother to me." She put an effort to laugh but it came out awkward and nervous as she moved further from him.
Walter chuckled. "You're not so sure about that, Georgie. But I guess I'll have to make my move." He came closer to her and closed the distance between their faces again. Georgia flinched, heart racing, mind not processing, breathing harbored, cheeks burning, she gulped. "W-what are you trying to do?"
"I'm trying to make you rethink your feelings about me." He leaned even closer, he glanced at her lips. Their lips almost touching. "Now, do you still think of me like a big brother?"
"Definitely not." Georgia moved closer and their lips touched, and that touch turned to kisses.
----------------------------------
Georgia was now back and was ready to face her family again. Jessi's face saddened as her tears started pouring. They were in the middle of the conversation. "I'm sorry, dear. I'm sorry, George. I wanted to make you feel like we are a family, 'coz we are. Even if I didn't give birth to you, I think of you as my real child. You are our daughter, you added more joy to our lives. We love you, I love you. I loved your mother. I loved my best friend and I love her daughter just like any mother loves her child." Jessi cupped her daughter's face with both of her hands and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, my dear daughter."
Georgia began to sob loudly as she sniffed the mucus back into her nose. "I love you, too, mom, like any daughter loves her mother. I love you."
They pulled each other into a tight hug--like a mother and daughter that hadn't seen each other for so many years. The warmth of Georgia's mom was all she needed to get by through this tiring day. A moment later, Jude groaned and whined for having their moment without him, so he joined in and pulled also his son, Jacob to get into the group hug. It was a nice view to see a loving family get into a better understanding after such a big revelation.
After the heartwarming embraces, Georgia thanked her family for telling her the truth and that they need not worry about her being hung up still about Jimhuesh. She could now confirm it wasn't a romantic love after knowing that they were cousins, she cringed at the thought that she was in love, but she also felt relieved that there would be no more chasing on her part and that it was better to feel foolish for not being able to distinguish her feelings for him as not romantic love than to be foolishly obsessed with the wrong person, well it would never be really good to be obsessed with someone, anyway. The most important thing was she knew now whose she was in love with.
Georgia also thanked her family for treating her like a real one of them. They never lacked in giving her love. She felt love from them, even with Jacob, who was always there for her. They were really close back then, but their relationship changed when he went against her feelings for Jimhuesh. Now she knew why. She apologized to him. Jacob accepted it and let her promise that he should be the first one to know if she had someone special in her life. Georgia secretly blushed at the thought of Walter, and the incident that happened earlier. The kiss was amazingly unexplainable. She almost didn't want to part from his lips. That was how good it was.
When everything was fine, Georgia felt the need to ask about her biological parents. Of course, she would be curious about them, but she decided to just ask about the accident to not hurt the feelings of her known parents.
Georgia cleared her throat before she courageously asked, "am I with them when the accident happened? Did they protect me and lost their lives in the process?"
"No, no, no. It wasn't like that." Jessi shook her head as she gave her answer. "You were with us. I was babysitting you when the accident happened."
"So it wasn't my fault."
"Of course, it wasn't! And even if you were with them, it still wouldn't be your fault. It was the drunken driver's fault."
"So... If my moth-- I mean, my biological mother is Jimhuesh's father's sister. Then he is my uncle...and then Madam Jennifer is my aunt, am I right?"
"Yes, that's right," Jude agreed. Jessi nodded.
"So, can I call Jimhuesh's father, uncle Ronaldo? And his wife, aunt--"
Jessi didn't let Georgia finish her sentence. She shook her head and flatly say, "no. Mr. Ronaldo is not your mother's brother."
Georgia's forehead wrinkled terribly. She couldn't do the math. She was so confused. "How is that possible? If Mr. Ronaldo isn't my biological mother's brother. Then he's not Jimhuesh's father either? Again, what is happening here?"
"I don't know if Jimhuesh knows this, but I guess, he probably does since he's aware that you two are cousins. But his father, Jimmuel, died in a car accident together with your parents. Other than that, I can't tell you anything regarding this matter."
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Hello, Noomiells!
Thank you for reading this chapter. Hope you liked it. :D
What can you say about the revelations? Georgia and Jimhuesh are cousins! Georgia's biological parents died in a car accident together with Jimhuesh's father!
Along with the drama, there's also Walter making his move on Georgia! My ship is sailing! (They're my fav ship in UL, tbh) Do you ship them, too?
So, if Mr. Ronaldo is not Jimhuesh's biological father, then, of course, he's his stepfather! XD You think so, too?
I would like to know your opinion. Please, let me know! :D
If you like drama, you can expect more of it in the rest of the chapters!