Chapter 18: Disciplinary Action

'The lights are still on, Marco.", Divina wondered as she arrived outside their home. 'WHAT RICARDO!? TELL ME! HAVE YOU BECOME A MUTE NOW?! WHERE IS YOUR SISTER?!!, Divina heard her mother yelling in the middle of the night. 'It's my mother!", Divina shivered in fear. They could clearly hear her angry voice even from the outside. 'She's yelling at older brother… she's looking for me, Marco! Maybe… maybe she already knew about us!", Divina anxiously said as she hugged Marco. 'What will happen to us, Marco?", Divina cried as she hugged him tightly, afraid that she might lose him. 'Divina… I won't let go of you! Ever!", Marco was firm on his words as he hugged her tightly too when suddenly they heard the door loudly slammed. Someone opened the door, it was Ricardo with tears in his eyes. Ricardo was surprised to see the couple in front of the house. 'D-Divina?", Ricardo whispered in surprise and he looks both at Marco and Divina. 'What!? What did you say?! Divina's there?!", their mother angrily said and hurriedly went outside their house. Ricardo couldn't stop cussing in secret, he was about to leave the house to find Divina, to warn her about their mother and to tell them to hide but now he didn't expect it would end this way… worst thing happened, their mother had caught the two lovers with her own eyes. 'You?! YOU AGAIN?! YOU SEDUCER!!!", Divina's mother flared in anger as she saw both Divina and Marco hugging each other. She hurriedly went to attack the couple, she forced to separate them and went to grab Divina by her hair. 'You thick-faced man! I told you to get away from Divina!!!", Divina's mother angrily yelled at Marco as she continues to grab Divina's hair. Divina was crying both of heartbreak and pain from her mother's grasp. 'Mother! Please stop already!", Divina cried helplessly. 'Mother!!!", Ricardo tried to stop their mother and even though he's a woman by heart, his built was still of a man and he easily overpowered their mother. Ricardo grabbed their mother's hand and separated it from Divina's hair. There are even a few strands of hair left in her hand as it was pulled out from Divina's scalp. Their mother then turned her anger on Ricardo and went to slap him hard on his face. 'How could you tolerate your sister?! You're already gay and now you're adding a burden to our family?! You're already an embarrassment and now you're also dragging your sister in humiliation!", their mother angrily said. Ricardo's tears fell like rain, he was hurt by their mother's words but he kept his silence. 'Mother! It's my fault! You should hurt me instead!---', Divina tried to defend her elder brother but was interrupted by her mother's loud slap on her cheek. 'You'll definitely pay for this!", their mother angrily yelled both at Divina and Marco then forced Dina inside the house. 'Marco… please forgive our mother.", Ricardo to Marco in a sad tone. It was obvious that he was worried for them as their mother was sure of her threat. 'I should be the one apologizing, Ricardo. You've become involved in this because of us.", Marco answered sadly too. 'I've hated this family long before already, Marco. I am just worried about Divina… because she's the only one who's been kind to me.", Ricardo admitted. Marco kept silent. 'I suggest you should go first and I will think of a way for you and Divina to be able to meet again because mother won't trust me anymore.", Ricardo added to Marco's silence. Marco just nodded in agreement. After Marco had left, Ricardo decided to leave too, he wanted a break from this hateful family. After what happened that night, Divina wasn't able to go out of the house anymore. Divina had become sadder each, she was even more burdened when she found out that her mother went to the school where she and Marco had been teaching. Her mother had complained to the owner and had exposed their secret relationship to them. She revealed that they had been seeing each other as lovers even before when she was still teaching at that school, she even claimed false accusations against Marco, wanting to portray him as evil as possible as she could. Her mother had made a scene at school, humiliating and ruining her beloved in front of everyone. Mr. Smith had become enraged by what happened. He immediately called Marco to his office to clarify all these things and discipline him for his actions. 'Have a seat.", Mr. Smith to Marco in a cold tone. Marco obeyed. 'Is it true?", the old man had directly asked him straight to his point, a few moments after Marco had sat down. 'Yes sir.", Marco politely answered as he gazes straight into Mr. Smith's eyes. Mr. Smith deeply sighed. 'You know the rules and yet…", Mr. Smith wasn't able to finish his sentence as he sighed again then shook his head. He was utterly disappointed in him. "I love her, sir. There are no other explanations.", Marco humbly said and continues to look into Mr. Smith's eyes. "If I fire you, your reputation will be tainted. It will be difficult for you to find another job.", the old man said, feeling sad. "I am fully aware of the consequences of my actions sir.", Marco seriously answered. "But you love teaching. I can't understand---", Mr. Smith wasn't able to finish his sentence again. "Yes, I love teaching sir, it has been always my passion. But she... is my life now.", Marco emotionally said. The old man nodded slowly as if he was understanding him and deliberating on what should be done with him. "I won't fire you. I won't taint your reputation... because you need to have a good reputation to marry her.", the old man said in an understanding tone. Marco's eyes widened in surprise. He was not expecting for Mr. Smith to say these words. "But, in return, are you willing to accept my disciplinary action that would last for three years?", Mr. Smith added. "Three years will be just a blink of an eye for me! Yes sir!", Marco answered cheerfully and he couldn't hide his smile of how happy he is. 'You will be assigned somewhere at the country's border. You need to establish the school there. And you're the only one I can trust. In short, you will be my co-owner of that school. Are you still willing?", Mr. Smith to Marco. "Co-owner sir? That's too much sir... I wasn't expecting for you to be this kind, sir. Of course, I'm willing sir.", Marco smiled happily again. "But you must not see her, talk to her or communicate in any way possible to her for three years!", Mr. Smith looked at Marco seriously. Marco was taken aback, he realized, of course, there's always a catch, everything seems too good to be true. He felt a sharp pain in his chest… but he decided in a blink of an eye. He wanted to face Divina's family with respect and honor. "My love for her is not only valid for three years... I love her so much, forever. Yes sir, I'll do it.", Marco answered even though he felt a bit sad. He decided to talk to Ricardo to tell Divina about this. He wanted to fast-forward the time so three years would come soon.