FORBIDDEN AFFECTIONS: ADDICTED TO MY STEPMOM

In a slow and weak voice and with a smile, he uttered, “… Mom… am I dreaming?”

I shook my head and wiped the tears from my cheeks. “No. You’re okay, Aki. You’re not dreaming. You’re safe now, and alive… You’re alive, baby..”

I grabbed his hand and squeezed it before I promptly turned around and said, “I’ll just call the nurse.”

Before I could entirely break down and cry myself in front of Jack, I hurriedly went out and called the doctor and nurse.

They both came quickly and did a check-up on Jack. It went faster than I thought, or perhaps I was too focused on Jack, seeing him well, and finally opened his eyes that I could barely put my attention on anyone else. After a few minutes, the doctor gave me a few instructions before they finally told Jack to stay and get well, and finally left.

After discovering what happened to Jack and me, the local high officials gave us a private room. It wasn’t exactly as grand as most of the private hospitals had but it was neat and decent enough for a single person to occupy while recuperating. I thanked the doctor and watched them leave before I turned back to Jack.

“Are you really okay Aki? Tell me right away if you’re in pain, okay?” I asked Jack while moving closer to him.

He laughed a little and said, “I’m fine, mom… I’m happy because nothing bad happened to you either. Finally, we’re out of the woods.”

I smiled and Jack motioned for me to come over. I immediately gave in to it as well. I moved, our faces only a few inches apart when I did.

“The tribe?” Jack asked me softly.

“They’re okay… No one was hurt and the fire was put out quickly,” I replied, mentioning that I have also talked to Bon recently.

Jack smiled and caressed my face before he stared me in the eyes. They reflected all the emotions that he had for me, which I knew resonated just as well with what mine held for him.

“Someone might come…” I uttered lowly as I felt the familiar caress his palm was doing to my skin.

“I don’t care… I was called plenty of times by that light, mom… It was asking me to go with it,” he exclaimed with a soft laugh, making me smile at the same time.

He brushed a few strands of hair away, tucking them behind my ear before he pulled me down, his lips brushing mine softly.

The sweet kiss Jack and I shared was full, long, and deep. It was probably because of those intense experiences we had, that our love had now begun to feel even hotter and stronger.

“I love you,” he said once before kissing my lips one more time.

Love overflowed in my heart when I responded, “I love you too.”

Our lips met for the thousandth time. During those times, I didn’t ask for anything more to happen. I feel like I have everything I need right in front of me and I am happy and content.

“Mars…?”

My heart stopped beating, my body subconsciously pulling away and taking a step back. I turned around and saw Jonah at the door. She was holding what seemed to be a bag of food and a new set of clothes on the other.

“Jonah–” “Auntie–”

Jack and I called Jonah almost at the same time before Jonah looked at us with a complicated look and suddenly turned to leave the room. I gave a quick glance at Jack before I didn’t hesitate and quickly followed Jonah outside.

“Jonah! Jonah, wait!” I called her but she just walked even faster.

I felt the pounding of my chest ringing inside my ears. I didn’t know what to do. She just saw us – Jack and me, engaged with that kiss. I couldn’t hide this from her. I couldn’t cover the truth anymore.

“Jonah, please wait! I- I will explain. Please at least let me!” I exclaimed, hopeless as I looked at her back.

The familiar back of my friend slowly came into view. She finally stopped and slowly turned around.

I didn’t waste time and quickly told her, “Jonah… T-That… I…” Even with so many words I wanted to say, I couldn’t even muster the courage to utter another lie. So in the end, I found myself uttering a weak word, “I’m sorry…”

She looked at me hard. “What for?” She asked with her tone stern and seemingly hard to break and melt.

I felt my throat dry up because of that. Still, this was my best friend. I couldn’t… I didn’t want to lose her. Deciding to reveal everything to her, I invited her to talk to the nearest coffee shop. Thankfully, she agreed.

“Jonah… I’m sorry,” I said with all my heart. “I… I love Aki.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Jonah replied.

Stunned, I looked at her. What did she say?

“Marianne, I’m your best friend. I’ve known you since high school… And you know I love you so much. We’re sisters by heart, you know this,” Jonah said, making my heart ache. “I know Jack loves you so much. And I’ve already noticed the way he looks at you… I, somewhere at the back of my mind, I know he loves you. More than what he should,” Jonah said.

She took a deep breath and further added, “I already have a hunch that he’s Amy’s father. But I’m waiting for you to tell me that yourself. Because I can’t be wrong and mistake your relationship and make things awkward. Right? You know what kind of family I came from… It’s… It’s different and crazy and messed up. We were all messed up. But love kept me sane. Love kept us both sane, didn’t it? At least that’s what you and I have always agreed with together ever since high school… But this, this thing with you and Jack? Marianne, I thought we were best friends. But you never even shared your real feelings with me…” Jonah uttered, voice hinting her disappointment towards me. Then she looked at me and gave me a serious and sad look, “When are you planning to tell me, Marianne?”

I couldn’t believe what I heard. I had known Jonah since we were teenagers, foolish and naive teenagers with big dreams and too little knowledge about love. Still, with the kind of families we had back then, we became each other’s shoulders. We carried on our lives together.

And yet, even after knowing Jack and my’s relationship, she didn’t even judge me…. “A-Aren’t you… Aren’t you weirded out?” I asked.

“Me? You’re asking me that, out of all people in this world?” She asked. The events of the past briefly flashed back and I couldn’t help but halt as I remembered that Jonah was the first to advise me about Jack.

“Are you really only mad because I didn’t say that Aki is Amy’s real father?” I asked her.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“Of course! What else can I be angry about? Mars, I thought we were best friends forever. But you managed to keep it a secret from me. Don’t you trust me? I know I have f*cked up when trying to set you up with that son of a b*tch but I… I wouldn’t even push that f*cker into your life if I know you have something going on with Jack. Mars, tell me the truth. Don’t you really … trust me?” Jonah asked, the pain reflected in her eyes.

“No! Jonah, it’s not like that …” I replied quickly and explained everything that happened from the beginning to the present. As I speak I feel a little lighter. I thought, finally, I can get out all the things I just kept to myself for a long time.

And I didn’t expect Jonah to accept me. Or maybe I did. A small part of me had always known she would accept me no matter what. It was a selfish thought but I held onto it and embraced it as much as I could.

Jonah hugged me and said I had nothing to worry about because she fully understood me. At that moment, it was as if the thorn in my heart made out of the anxieties of the future full of judgment, prejudice, and hatred had finally been poked out and lifted away from me.

Jonah, my best friend, finally knew what my real feelings and relationship with Jack were, and she accepted them with warmth and a genuine smile.