But Phoenix still didn’t listen to me and he still persisted, "Is that an emergency? I'll drive you." He offered and I shook my head no. "
He sighed. "Sereia doesn't be naughty, just let me drive you home so you can arrive home safely," He said. I wanted to refuse but I can't help it since there are no cabs outside.
Mom texted me and said that they took my grandfather to the hospital. Phoenix then drove me to the said hospital as it was one hour away. 
The whole ride was quiet. When we reached the hospital, I went to ask the receptionist for my grandfather’s room number and when I reached the room I saw mom outside, crying.
"What happened, mom?"
Even though mom didn't say a word, she just sent me inside the room. 
“Take Phoenix with you.” Said mom. 
I looked behind me and saw Phoenix was following me. 
He looked at me curiously and I dragged him to the room without a second thought. He seemed confused but let me do it.
When we entered, it was Lola Nanding who greeted me.
I blinked, making sure it was her. "Lola Nanding?" I asked. She sent me a kind smile and I looked at the bed where my grandfather was. 
"Grandpa." I voiced out. Tubes were attached to him and he looked so weak. I swallowed the lump in my throat. 
"Lola Nanding?" Phoenix asked, seeing his grandmother here.
“Phoenix? Why are you here?" Grandma Nanding asked.
"I drove Sereia. Why are you here?" He asked back.
"I called her. Your grandfather wanted to see her so I brought her here.
So that is why I haven’t seen her earlier at the mansion…
Just then, Grandpa woke up and looked at us all. He smiled weakly and looked at Lola Nanding.
"Hi, Victorina." He greeted. 
"Hello, Alfredo." Lola Nanding smiled and m replied.
"You're still beautiful." He commented.
Lola Nanding chuckled. "You're still flattering me, Alfredo. My husband will haunt you if you keep that up."
Grandpa chuckled and when he noticed me, he sent a small smile. "Sereia, I know you’re curious why I asked you all to come here.” He spoke up. “And I think it's time you need to know the truth."
"What truth? That I am adopted?" I asked, trying to lighten up the atmosphere. I approached him and held his hands. 
I feel guilty that the last time I talked to him was shouting at him about the land. 
Grandpa laughed. "No. It's not that.” He said.  “But do you remember the woman I tell you I love the most? "
"Who? Isn't Grandma-" he cut me off.
"Wrong. It’s not your grandma. Victorina is the one I love. My first love. The woman I will never forget." He pointed to Lola Nanding.
"Yes. And so am I, he's the man I love, Phoenix." Lola Nanding admitted to Phoenix. 
I looked at Phoenix. What the? I couldn’t process what he was saying. "Do you know this Phoenix?"
"No….?" He replied unsurely, confused at what was happening. 
I turned to mom behind me. "Do you know it mom?”
She shook her head, “No…”
So it looks like all of us here are very confused at what is happening. I came here panicking, only to be told with something so random. 
And why does my grandpa choose to admit this now? 
"We just kept it a secret, the only one who knows except the two of us is my late husband." Lola Nanding added and began to speak. "Let's start at the beginning. Me, Victorina Daciana Hill and Alredo Felipe Hudson used to love each other. I remember that when we were still teenagers. We are each other’s, first love. We first met when we were still in class until we had a relationship in high school. But Alfredo had to get out of town so we split up.” She said, pausing for a bit before continuing. 
“Only a letter connected us. In those four years, we still love each other. Until my parents' friends came and decided that it’s best for me to marry their child, Gregorio Hill.  When Alfredo heard of it, he came back and personally asked for my hand.” She said.
“But my parents did not agree. Even if Alfredo has money, Gregorio is the better option for them. So Alfredo had made a plan, thinking this is the only solution.” He said.
“I am so sorry to say this, Sereia. Your view about me might change. Please forgive me.” She said to me and gulped.
 “Your grandfather got me pregnant and we decided to run away.”
I gasped at that, glancing at mom who was also shocked. Phoenix was quiet beside me. 
“But we failed. My parents got us married right away on the day Alfredo and I were supposed to leave.” 
 She was hiccuping now, recalling the memories. Grandpa reached out his hand and held hers. Lola Nanding inhaled deeply and continued.
 “I feel guilty about Gregorio. He didn’t know anything. Like me, he didn't say anything to his parents. So I told him what happened. That I was carrying a child with me. My parents don't know about it. Good thing that Gregorio was kind, he accepted the child in my womb. Alfredo no longer showed up.” 
“Yes, Gregorio didn’t want the wedding but we couldn’t do anything. He accepted me for who I am and I learned to love Gregorio and we had your father, Phoenix.” She said to Phoenix. 
I cleared my throat, trying to process everything at once. “Then what about your child with my grandpa?”
They both looked at each other and Lola Nanding responded, “She’s Gabriela. "
"Me?" Mom could hardly believe it.
Lola Nanding nodded. "Yes. You are our child. That's why I took care of you as a child until you were old. I gave you to Alfredo. And he always lets me visit your house to see you grow up."
I saw my mother’s hand trembling, and she blinked, looking at grandpa. "Dad, does mom know this? And what about Adam? Does he know about this too?” 
Grandpa nodded slowly. "Yes. It’s only you that don’t know it. I’m sorry, my child. 
Mom’s eyebrows creased at that, "She's not angry?"
"When I told Janet everything she accepted me. She's the woman who loved me again. The world is still colorful. She stayed for me, and I fell in love with her too. We gave birth to your brother, Adam."
Mom approached Lola Nanding and hugged her. 
“Shouldn’t you be angry at me?”
“No. Why would I be? I always had a nagging feeling that I only look like my dad.  I’m happy I knew about it.” She said and they continued hugging. 
“Alfredo and I loved each other. But we were not destined…” Lola Nanding said. “Well, it’s all in the past. What’s done is done.” 
"The mansion and the land, it was supposed to be the place where Alfredo and I met and lived.” Lola Nanding said to Phoenix. “That is why I never left the house. I made sure it was still new.” 
I cleared my throat, now putting it all together. "So ... if mom and Phoenix’s dad are half-siblings, does that mean Phoenix and I are cousins?"
Lola Nanding shook her head. "No. Phoenix was adopted, his parents couldn't have children. And there was a couple who couldn't afford to raise a child so they took Phoenix."
I glanced at Phoenix who didn’t look surprised at this, “Do you know this?”
He nodded. “My parents never said it to me but I heard them talking about it.” 
"I'm sorry, Sereia, Phoenix. I’ve wanted to tell you, but can't tell you without Alfredo. I hid everything, and to this day, I still hid it from your father, Phoenix. I’m planning on telling this to him soon.”
“Speaking of father, he called and threatened Sereia.” Said Phoenix and Lola Nanding gasped.
“I guess I didn’t raise that child well. He never listens to me. If only Gregorio were still here.” She sighed. 
****
After admitting everything, my grandfather arranged everything, almost like it's his way of saying goodbye. His lawyer even came and he signed some papers. 
After a week, his heart failed. He never woke up again. 
I feel so sad that I shut down everything. Mother came to talk with Phoenix’s dad, introducing herself as half-siblings.
Arthur Hill didn’t believe it at first but decided to catch up with mom sometimes. 
Phoenix’s text and calls were consistent and I decided not to answer it. 
I still feel a bit gloomy from grandpa’s death and I’m not in the mood to answer him now. I have to recollect myself. 
Though last night, the news says that the famous bachelor Phoenix, came back to the cory and is about to get married to Mr. Buenaventura’s daughter. It was all over the television and fans were sad about it.
I want to wish him a happy marriage but I would be lying to myself when I said it didn’t hurt me. 
 We held a funeral last week and now, grandma always asks us to visit his grave.  I decided to come with her, wanting to let her know that I’m always here. 
Because of my grandfather's death, I decided to just stay here in the city with my mom and grandma. They need my help now especially since daddy is still in another country.
I called Eion about grandpa and him and Uncle Adam came to attend the funeral last week. They made sure everything was fine, and I watched as my mother and my uncle hugged, grieving for their father’s death. 
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Asked Eion.
I nodded “Yes. “ 
He looked at me, studying my expression with his stone-cold expression before releasing a heavy breath and opened his arms wider, “Come.” 
I looked at him and accepted his hug. I let the tears I was holding back for days now fall. “Just cry your eyes out and wet my shirt cuz” he joked and I chuckled, feeling a bit better. 
“It’s going to be okay.” He said. 
“You know, I told horrible things to him last time and I never got the chance to apologize to him,” I admitted, crying through his shirt. 
They decided to stay for only a few days as Eion needs to prepare for his wedding soon. 
Now, going back to grandpa’s coffin with grandma by my side, I couldn’t focus my attention on his coffin. I was just looking at my grandmother who was just stunned by my grandfather's grave.
I never saw her cry. It’s strange. "Grandma, don't be numb anymore. Grandpa told me everything." I said, referring to Grandpa’s secrets. How he managed to keep that secret until before his death amazes me. 
Grandma just smiled at me. "It's different when you love a person, my dear. I love your grandpa very much. I can tolerate everything so much.” She answered.  
“Yes, he loves me. But no matter what I do, I could never replace Victorina in his heart. She had a special place in his heart.”
Saying that, she can't stop the tears from flowing in her eyes and I hugged her tight. 
Before everything happened, I never understood why some people choose to be hurt and sacrifice just to be with the one they love.
They chose to endure the pain.
I don’t know what hurts more. To Lola Nanding who was supposed to be my grandpa’s wife but the world was against them and watched as his great love married someone else.
 Or to my grandma who chose to be with someone who doesn't love him that much and endure all the pain just to be with grandpa. She knows that if grandpa were to turn back time, he would choose Lola Nanding over her. 
And that pains me. I don't think I could bear that.