Chapter 158 - Sense Of Release

Cherry's eyes widened in shock. How could she not? Joanna was there! She got so worried that she might hurt her or that she might misinterpret her. She looked up and the latter met her eyes. To her surprise, Joanna nodded at her, telling her to allow him so he could ventilate his guilt. He blamed himself for causing her death and he carried the guilt for so long already.

In the next moment, Andrew was already sobbing at her shoulder. She stood frozen for a while, her feet pinned to the floor. When she regained her composure, she gently pulled him away and held his shoulders at arm's length.  

"Andrew..." she started to speak but suddenly, the words she had in her mind disappeared. 

Before she could continue, he spoke ahead. "I killed you. How did you save yourself? Please thank the person who rescued you from the water," said Andrew and he began crying again, placing both of his hands to cover his face. 

"Andrew, a fisherman rescued me right away. I was not struggling in the cold water. Only that I asked him to keep it secret." 

Cherry chose to lie. She understood that Andrew had been haunted by this terrible nightmare for so long already and realizing it, made her guilty.

"Every night, I dream about the dark night, the mighty storm and the big waves tossing you everywhere until you were drowned and gave in your last breath. My guilt made me refuse to live, Che. I tried to end my life so many times until Joanna came into my life. You were so good to me despite my weaknesses. I did not just betray you but also prompted you to kill yourself," Andrew confessed in between his sobs.

Cherry's heart was not as hard as stone. No matter how she tried to hold back her tears but it betrayed her and flowed freely into her cheeks.

"I have long forgiven you, Andrew. Forget the past and move on. I wish you and Joanna true happiness." With this, she threw herself at him again and hugged him, releasing the anger and hatred she kept in her heart through her tears.

After who knew how long, Andrew released her this time and held her shoulders also at arm's length.

"Che, thank you," he said and a smile broke in his face.

Cherry just nodded; all she wanted was to be alone and continue crying. She wanted to release all of her pain once and for all and start to love again. She glanced up at Joanna and Allie and found them drenched in tears also. She got amused and the sense of release tickled her heart that she burst out laughing, making all of them laugh as well.

Their breakfast over toast and coffee with a steaming, brewed coffee was a happy one. They talked about music and concerts and everyone participated, completely forgetting what had happened a while ago. They seemed like old friends in their usual hanging out. 

The natural glow in Andrew's eyes returned and he joined in the conversation as his normal self. Yet suddenly, he shifted the topic that stiffened the rest in their seats. He understood their reaction and sensed that something was not right.

"Why? Did I say something wrong?"

Allie was quick to regain her composure and she answered for all of them. "Nothing except that we do not expect that you will still remember her."

Andrew tossed his head back and laughed softly. "My goodness, Allyza, how can I forget. I may not be a saint but seeing her in that status, broke my heart apart."

He glanced up at them and seeing that nobody butted in, he continued. "You know, the last time we talked in that coffee shop, Mrs. Perez came to look for me," said Andrew, the smile on his face suddenly withered away.

He then looked at Cherry and went on, "She brought me to the grave she made for you and there she reminded me of the great sin I committed. If not for my betrayal, you would have still lived and become a famous singer someday."

All eyes fell on him and nobody dared to interrupt. "I came out of that memorial garden as a different person. I lost my courage to live. Every now and then, she reminded me of my betrayal and my crime. Until I decided to end my life. Unfortunately, they always caught me doing the deed so they got me scheduled to see a psychologist."

"It was how I met Joanna. She gives me hope and helps me live again," he laughed, he was just quoting a line of a famous love song.

"I realized how long and patient does God bears with me. He gives me chances to live and be loved again."

Since nobody offered their opinions aside from listening to him seriously, he laughed and dismissed the topic. "So much for that," he paused and looked at Cherry, "Che, it. 's your turn."

Cherry got startled by his request. She looked at Allie and asked for sympathy but the latter nodded her head and encouraged her to share her story. For Allie, it was another step to healing her wound.

"Long before I boarded MV Helena, I already processed my application to work in Turkey. I was lonely and friendless. I worked overtime always to ease out my boredom until one day, Allie sent her proposal to me. Knowing that she came from our country, I helped her gain the purchasing department's attention. And that's how our friendship started. Who would have known that she's Adrian's wife?"

"And just when did you know about them?" Andrew dared to ask. This was his issue against Ajie for not telling him the truth.

"I knew about it when Adrian came over to Turkey a few months ago to sign the contract of their partnership. He didn't know either that the owner of Rough Seas is Allie. And he did not know that he would also find me there."

Andrew glanced up shyly at Adrian. Just the other day, he accused Adrian of fooling him, of keeping the truth away from him. And Adrian proved him wrong at that moment.

"Adrian, I'm sorry. Something's wrong in my way of thinking and in my judgment. You may ask Joanna, she knows my psychological problem very well."

Adrian looked at him with a pursed smile. "If I am a person who keeps a grudge, I would have punched you to death the moment I learned about the video."

Andrew cowered in remembering this. He bent down his head, concealing the reddening of his face.

"I was torn by anger and jealousy at that moment. All I wanted was to retaliate," he glanced up a little and looked at Allie, "Lyz, I had it photoshopped."