By Jessy:
 Dear Diary,
 Today marks a new beginning . Mumâs happy with Patrick. Philip and I, though not together, were happy to be just as we wereâfriends that were never going to be apart, especially now things were back to normal. Mum and I visited Dad’s grave today. Mum couldn’t stop crying on getting there. It was a good thing that I was there to comfort her. She asked for his forgiveness. And I know that wherever Dad is, he would be glad to know that she felt true remorse.
 Oh, and we would be leaving for London very soon. We’d start anew, along with Derek⊠and Dad. LâOâL. I could say I was having a hard time calling him that, but I had to accept the fact that he was bio Dad. I couldnât wait to bond with him better, and certainly couldnât wait to be done with college. My transfer paper was ready. I was going to miss Campbell for sure.
 Campbell… sigh.
  Many would talk about their campus experience, but when it came to mine, I could say it was one hell of a ride… a bitter sweet one, if I should say. But all the same, âMy campus lifeâ brought love, friendship, and memories Iâd never forget.
 âTricia? Honey? The guests are all waiting.â
 âComing mother,â
 âI guess thatâs it Lil D,” I closed my diary and got up to leave. I gave a final scan of my room and walked out the door, ready to hit the dance floor.
 I walked carefully down the stairs, rolling my eyes around for Philip, as Derek stood at the foot of the stairs looking dashing with his stylish hair-do.
 âWhatâ you doing?â I asked, smiling.
 âBeing your knight in shining armor!â he winked.
 I placed my hand on his and had me lead me to where Mum and Patrick were.
 It was the last party we were going to have in Hensonâalso, thanks to Mum for insisting that we threw it, since it was going to be our last with our friends and neighbours.
 Our house was packed with people, making it hard for me to find Philip. I rolled my eyes for him one more time and concluded he was never going to come. I was on my way back to Mum, when a guy that dressed in a flashy tux came walking through the front door.
 âPhil!â I let out a happy yell and rushed towards him and his grams.
 I greeted grandma Hennia, and we began making towards where Mum and Patrick were.
 âGrandma Hennia,â Mum greeted with a hug, and Philip and Derek exchanged manly pleasantries.
 Father also greeted her, and just as grandma Hennia made to hug Derek, she stopped and looked briefly into his eyes, moving them to Philip, and then back. âLionel?â
 We stared in shock, myself remembering where I had heard the name before.
 âLionel!â she called again, cupping Derek’s cheeks.
 âI-I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m Derek. Derek Nielsen,â Derek corrected.
 âNo. No, youâre Lionel,” she said in all seriousness, and continued. “I know my grandson very well. I can feel it in my heart.â she brought her hand on his arms and rubbed it warmly. âLionel. My grandson!” she hugged him with joy. “Youâre alive! You’re aliveââ she kept muttering.
 We all stood confused, watching the drama go on. How can this be?
 I remembered how mad Derek had gotten when dad told him he wasnât really his son. They had found him on the front porch, Dad narrated then. They had taken him in as their own son. Derek was heartbroken on hearing him tell him the truthâonly no one knew whose baby he was.
 âGrams. Grams, youâre not saying that Derek is my brother. Are you?â
 Grandma Hennia released Derek on hearing Philip ask. âHeâs your brother, Philip. The mark!â she exclaimed suddenly, making to unbutton his shirt.
 The markâ
~
 âWhat is this? Why do you have this on your chest?â
 âI was born with itââ I could recall his exact words.
â~â~â
 Could Derek really be her grandson? Has his family been here all along?
 âPhilip, it really is Lionel. Look!â
 I was lost in thought to notice Derek had slightly opened his shirt.
 Grandma Hennia ran her palm on it, and Philipâs eyes grew wider in shock, along with ours.
 âDerek is a MacKenny?â my mum finally spoke. âHeâs family has been here all along?â our thought collided with each other.
 Derek is really a MacKenny, I thought inwardly. Iâve loved the same blood without knowing! What a small world we live in!
 I couldnât help but marvel at everything that was going on. Derek was finally reunited with his family, and I couldnât be much happier knowing that.
 But wait! How did he end up on the Nielsen’s porch?
One thing we’ll never know.
~
 âSo⊠youâre finally happy,â
 Derek’s head came up at Tricia’s voice.
 “I am,” he smiled. “What about you?â he admired her as he asked.
 âMe?â
 He beckoned to her to sit by his side. âYou know, when Dad told me I wasnât really his son, I felt I had no purpose in lifeâŠâ
 âAnd why did you feel that way?â her question came.
 And he replied, âMaybe it’s because I thought Dad finally got the perfect family he’s always wantedâŠâ
 âPerfect?â she raised her brows. âYou think we’re perfect?â
  He nodded, then changed the topic. “Now’s my turn to ask.â his gaze lingered on her.
 âWell, what do you wanna ask?â
 He clasped her hand and looked into her eyes. âWould you let me be wherever you are?â
 Tricia knew where this was headed. She couldnât say a word but kept mute, for fear she would end up ruining the moment.
 âD-Derek, I donât know what to say. Londonâs not just here, and Iâm sure you wouldn’t wanna be far away from your people.â
 âWhen I’m with you,” he began. âI feel a lot betterâŠâ
 âDerekââ she sighed and stood up, knowing what he had in mind. He wanted her to stay, but this she wanted. Her mind was already made up, and not even her feelings would stop her from going to London.
 He caught her hand…
 He drew her back…
 And into his arms she came falling.
 âMarry me!â
 Her jaws dropped open. She thought it was all a dreamâonly that this was happening.
 He made to stand and she got up from him.
 âY-you canât be serious, can you?â she wanted to be sure.
 Her eyes widened when he took out a little box from his breast pocket and got on one knee. Has he always wanted to do this? she gaped at him, as he searched in her eyes.
  Smiling up at her, their eyes met.
 âD-Derekââ she couldn’t speak. She was having a hard time believing that this was real. How did he get the ring? she wondered, though it wasn’t hers to do. She was blushing all this whileâwas this really happening? She hoped she’d never wake up if ever it was a dream.
 âMarry me, Tricia Nielsen…. make me the happiest man on earth,â he said as tears dropped from her eyes.
 âOh, Derek. Oh God!â this was really happeningâhe was proposing to her. She smiled at the thought of him being hers forever. They were going to start a family together, she looked in awe, screaming âYesâ, as the diamond ring came on her middle fingerâwith their lips getting locked as he stood to kiss her.
  âI love you!â
 One could tell how happy she was by her voice. Derek was going to be hers. They were going to live happily ever afterâthis happiness she had never known in years. Who could have known that this day would come?
 A jolting ring made them stop.
 âThis has better be good,â she groaned and made to answer, a throaty voice so hard to forget, glueing her to the spot.
~ â ~
 THUS MY STORY CONTINUES â
~
  HIS SON >>> COMING SOON âââ
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A guy dressed in*