These riches of mine are not gold,
Yet, I act as the wealthiest person in the world.
Do you know what is it?
When the time has come you will realize it.
The blur of the city lights and the sound of honking cars make one's ear annoyed. With the slow movement of the traffic, ounces of patience are losing in Aurelio's head. He breathes deeply and tries to calm himself down. Aurelio is a wealthy businessman who works his butt of. He was always strict with his employees and because of this, he was named the Final Boss.
As the car parked in front of the house, he got out of the car and entered the front door. There he saw his wife greeting him like always. Her warm smile slightly reduces his stress and his angry brows are gone. His wife takes his coat off and he sits on the old man's chair. He took the newspaper right beside it and read. His wife knows that there is another problem with the company, so she lightly suggested something.
"You know… you should retire now, you're already 48, let the younger generation do it." His wife sighed heavily.
"I'm not that old yet... but what if the company-"
*Ding dong*
"Oh, they are already here." His wife blurted out.
"Who?" Aurelio asked.
His wife opened the door and revealed two people, a woman in her late twenties and a young man. His wife greeted them happily and the two had gifts on their hands. The woman embraced his wife.
"Happy anniversary mother!" His daughter exclaimed.
"Thank you, Audrey." His wife chuckled.
"Happy anniversary mother." And his son gave a soft smile.
"Thank you, Andrew."
"Greet your father, he's over there." and pointed to Aurelio's location.
"Happy anniversary father." lifelessly said by the two.
"Now, since we are all here, let's head to the dinner table. I cooked some delicious food today!"
The two nodded and followed their mother. Only then did Aurelio realize that he forgot that it was their anniversary. At the dinner table, only the three of them are talking and laughing, occasionally his wife mentions him. After everybody was full Audrey dropped the bomb.
" Mother and father, you both know my boyfriend right?" said Audrey.
"Yes, darling, what about him?" his wife asked.
" We are getting married.." Audrey muttered.
Both of them are shocked by the news and waiting for Audrey to continue.
"He proposed to me last week and we wanted to have your blessing guys but father was away at that time only today was father available, but sadly he (fiance) caught a cold and I'm very excited so…"
And she showed her mother her ring and happily hugged her daughter.
"No." A stiff and firm answer by Aurelio.
"What do you mean father?" All of them are very confused with Aurelio's answer.
"I said no, you're not going to marry him." with a stern voice, Aurelio said.
Audrey was heartbroken by his father's answer. Her mother, sensing that her daughter was hurt, comforted her.
"Don't worry darling, your father was just tired from his work. Just let him get some rest and we will talk this out in the morning."
"No mother, I wanted to know why my father did not agree." Even though she was heartbroken she still strives to know why, even if it hurts her, she was willing.
"He's just using you and he will hurt you." while taking the last sip of his wine.
"Father, we have been together for 5 years! And I know he is a decent man." Audrey pleaded.
"A no is a no Audrey." Aurelio slams the table making the utensils fly.
Audrey kept up tears came rushing down her eyes.
"I needed some fresh air." And she stormed out of the house.
"Father, mother...I also wanted to say something…" He said nervously.
"What is it honey?" his wife said.
"I don't want to inherit the company. I wanted to be a singer. Please support my decisions" And walked out of the house.
" You don't have to be so strict with them you know?" said his wife while cleaning the table.
"They are too young to know what they want." While massaging his forehand.
"Do you remember when you asked my father for my hand for marriage?" His wife asked.
"Yes… I still remember it clearly, but that is different."
His wife did not mind her husband's reaction and continued to speak.
"He also immediately disagreed too*laugh* back then you are penniless and you're just giving me a ride home on your bike. It's quite cute you know?"
Aurelio did not say anything, he felt ashamed of his past.
"Before, my father already arranged a marriage for me. Do you remember what you said to him after you found out?"
"'Sir, I will take care of your daughter and I will protect her with all I can.' It's a bit clique but back then... I am very flattered."
His wife sat beside him and continued to speak.
"When we got married I was very happy even though we are poor, we are still satisfied.."
"But you changed when Audrey got sick...we don't have enough money to support her medical bills and I know that you kneel in front of fathers house."
"After that incident… All you do is to meet my father's expectations...up until now. I don't want my children to experience that… We both know that right?"
Aurelio looked at the ground and couldn't face his wife. Every word she said was like a stab to his heart.
His wife hugged him and comforted him. He did not want his children to experience what he had experienced. So he worked hard to provide them a good and wealthy life but he had forgotten the most important thing, himself.
Every time important events are happening Aurelio is always away. His wife always explains the reasons to them but still, there is a lingering feeling. A father's love that was lost.
Aurelio and his wife were about to go to their room when the house phone rang. Aurelio took the phone and it was Andrew.
"Father, Audrey got into an accident! We are in XXXX Hospital." Andrew hollered.
"Okay, we are on our way." Aurelio worriedly said.
"What happened?" His wife asked.
"Audrey had an accident. Let's go now." while he picks up his coat and his wife soon follows.
At the hospital, Andrew was nervous, very nervous. He was thinking about what got into his sister's head to do this. Moments later his parents arrived. They were very worried and asked Andrew what happened.
"We are talking on the phone when I hear a crashing sound. I asked her if she's okay but she didn't answer. The doctor told me that for now she was in a coma and didn't specify when she would be waking up." Andrew trembled.
His mother sat on the ground crying and Andrew assisted her mother to the bench nearby. When they are about to talk about transferring Audrey to another room. A man comes looking for Audrey too.
He looks like a patient in the hospital except he was not wearing one. Andrew notices him and waves his hand at him. He runs over to him and asks about Audrey's conditions. When he hears that, he falls to the ground breathing heavily to catch his breath.
Then he notices Andrew's parents. He stands up immediately and respectfully bows his head and introduces himself to them. And he apologized for not being able to accompany Audrey to go there. Then Aurelio asked him.
"My daughter said that you proposed to her."
"Yes sir I did but I would like to ask your permission first before it becomes official." He politely said.
"Then I will ask you this If my daughter loses her legs what will you do?" Aurelio asked.
"Then I will be her legs, sir." He bravely said.
"If my daughter never wakes up from this what will you do?" Aurelio asked.
"Then I will accompany her until I die." He vowed.
Andrew and his mother cry watching them talk seriously. Even Audrey who was listening in the control room was touched. Yap, you read that right.
"Then I will talk first to Audrey about this and then I will give you my blessing."
"Thank yo-" And he collapsed.
All of them were shocked when he collapsed on the floor. Andrew immediately asks for help. Audrey then shows herself with a worried look on her face. After that Audrey's fiance was safe and was admitted to a room. Aurelio then asks Audrey.
"Explain yourself, young lady." In a serious tone, Aurelio said.
"Ahem… I'm sorry father." Audrey murmured.
"I ask for your explanation, not your apology," Aurelio said.
"I thought that you would agree if something bad happened, and I did not expect Him (fiance) to be like this." With a sorry face.
"And who is involved in this scheme of yours?" Aurelio asked.
"Andrew and Mother. He (fiance) is not involved in this"
Aurelio then looks at the two people who are mentioned. Both of them looked away and tried to come up with an excuse to leave. Aurelio sighs as the two escape his sight. After a long thought, Aurelio finally said something.
" I'll decide after I talk to both of you," Aurelio said.
"Thank you, father." Audrey smiled.
After Audrey's fiance awoke, Aurelio talked to them and finally agreed.
On the wedding day, Audrey walked to the aisle with her father in her arms. Every step he takes, memories pour in bit by bit. Aurelio did not notice that he was crying more than the bride. As the final step, he took he gave his daughter's hand. He smiled sadly.
"Don't worry sir, I promise that I will take care of her." He said.
"You should," Aurelio said.
He was about to walk away when Audrey called her.
"Father...Thank you." And gave a big smile.
Aurelio then remembers his daughter when she was still a small girl. For him, she was still his little girl. Aurelio then nodded and walked over to his wife. Who then comforts him like a baby.
After the wedding. Aurelio decided that there are more important things in life and resigned as the president of the company, Audrey then became the president and Andrew pursued his dream with the help of his family. Aurelio then accompanied his wife to the countryside where they spent most of their time satisfied. The end.
But is it?
It was raining hard, the droplets of the rain sympathize with the man kneeling in front of the big gate. He's been kneeling for 3 hours straight, not moving an inch for his place. Despair concerned his mind. His wife was sick, his daughter was in the hospital, his son was still a child, and he lost his job. His pride has been sick to the bottom of the abyss.
A black cloak appeared before him. Even this mysterious being showed in front of his face he still did not move.
"I can give you what you want. I can fulfill your desire." The mysterious being said.
"What's the catch?" The man asked.
"A wish for a wish…" He murmured.
"Then... What is your wish?"
"I wanted to be free…"
"Consider it done."
He Who Will Live With
No Regrets May Find The Way Out
Aurelio xxxxxx
(19xx-19xx)