Imperious Series 3: As Always

Prologue

Malakas ang palahaw nang pag-iyak ni Lyka habang nakamasid sa kabaong ng kanyang namayapang ina. Her sudden death brought so much loneliness to her family particularly to her father and herself as well. Hindi nila lubos akalain na mawawala na lamang ito bigla sa kanila. Hindi niya sukat akalain na iiwan siya ng butihin at mapagmahal na ina sa murang gulang. How can she live without the guidance of her mother by her side? Paano na ang buhay niya nila, ng kanyang ama ngayong wala na ang ilaw ng kanilang tahanan? Hindi niya lubos maisip kung papaano na. Hindi kayang tanggapin ng murang isip niya ang pagkawala ng kanyang minamahal na ina.

Two days ago, they were so happy having a picnic on their favorite spot in the villa. Larawan ng malusog at masiglang ilaw ng tahanan ang ina niya nang araw na iyon. Hindi niya makakalimutan ang masaya at masiglang itsura ng kanyang ina nang araw na iyon. Walang kapaguran ang pakikipaghabulan nito sa kanya at sa kanyang ama. Parang hindi ito nauubusan ng lakas. The whole day was spent so lively, happily. Halos ginugol nila ang buong maghapon sa paglalaro, kulitan, habulan. Masayang-masaya siya. Masayang-masaya sila ng daddy niya. Hindi na nga rin niya gustong umuwi nang araw na iyon dahil niyang maglaro silang tatlo maghapon.

After going to the picnic, her mother personally prepared their dinner samantalang noon ay halos ang mga kasambahay nila ang nag-aasikaso sa kanilang pagkain. Her mother prepared all their favorites. Iisipin mong may piyesta sa hapag-kainan nila nang gabing iyon. Her father appreciated this act of her mother dahil matagal na panahon na raw mula noong huli nitong natikman ang luto ng mommy niya. Kasalo rin nila sa hapag-kainan ang kanilang mga kasambahay na masayang nilantakan ang mga luto ng kanyang mommy. Masayang-masaya siya. Abot hanggang langit ang saya niya habang naghahapunan, nagtatawan at nakikipagkwentuhan sa lahat lalong-lalo na sa mommy niya.

At bedtime, her mother even read bedtime stories to her together with her father. Tuwang-tuwa siya sa paraan nang pagkukwento nito sa kanya. Imbes na dalawin siya ng antok ay nagharutan pa silang mag-anak sa loob ng kanyang kwarto. She also sang her lullaby until she fell asleep, not knowing that it would be the last time she's going to see her, to be with her, to talk to her, to laugh with her. Iyon na pala ang huling pagkakataon na makita niya ang kanyang mommy na may buhay.

Morning came and she was awakened by the weeping of their housemaids and her yaya Mila. Napakalakas niyon kaya naman naalimpungatan siya at tuluyan nang magising. She went to where the sound came from and saw her mother sleeping. At the age of ten, she cannot fully decipher what was happening. Until she saw her father, silently crying beside her sleeping mother, holding her mother's hand. She was lying on their bed, lifeless. She died from cancer. Mag-isa nitong nilabanan ang sakit nito until she can take the pain no more and gave up on them, on her life.

When her father saw her, mas lalong lumakas ang agos ng luha nito sa mga mata. Then he went to her side and explained what was happening. She can still recall the exact words by her father, "Your loving mom was now in the hands of the Lord. She will not be in our side anymore but don't be too sad because she was watching you from above. You must stay strong and stronger. She wanted you to be happy with your life."

And here they are, bidding their last goodbye on her funeral. Her father was holding her hand so tight, comforting her. Sabay nilang pinagmamasdan ang kabaong ng ina habang unti-unti itong ibinababa sa huli nitong hantungan.

"Mommy! Don't leave me please! Mommy! Mommy!" Malakas na ang iyak niya at hindi alintana ang mga nasa paligid na nakamasid sa kanila.

"Hush! Hush! It's s alright, baby. Daddy's still here for you," awang-awang wika ng ama sa kanya na tahimik ring lumuluha.

Hanggang sa matapos ang libing ng mommy niya ay hindi pa rin matapos-tapos ang pagdaloy ng kanyang mga luha. Halos hindi na niya maiwan ang puntod ng kanyang mommy kung hindi lang siya pwersahang iniuwi ng kanyang daddy. Hindi niya gustong maiwan itong mag-isa roon. They went home feeling lost. Ang masayang tahanan nila, ngayon ay wala ng buhay. Lahat ay nagdadamlamhati sa pagkawala ng kanyang butihing ina. Napakatahimik ng buong bahay.

"Lyka Isabelle?" masuyong pagtawag sa kanya ng ama.

"D-daddy? H-hindi na ba t-talaga b-babalik si m-mommy?" umiiyak na tanong niya sa ama.

Her father hugged her so tight filling the emptiness brought by the lost of her mother.

"I wish I can say that she'll be back, my dear but she won't. I'd lie if I say she will and that would be more painful for you, for both of us. But you know, baby, she's in good hands now. And you must stay strong, and kind and have courage to face the future without her. You should be happy and must treasure her memories with us. Because that's what she wanted you to be."

Tanging iyak lamang ang naisagot niyang sa kanyang ama. Pero para sa ikatatahimik ng ina, she will be strong, kind like her mother and have the courage to face the future. She must grow stronger as ever. Nariyan pa ang kanyang ama na alam niyang mas nagdadalamhati sa pagkawala ng kabiyak ng puso nito.

She witnessed how her father loved her mother so much. And now that she's gone, he was in deep pain. Hindi lang siya ang nasasaktan. Nasasaktan din ang daddy niya kaya kailangan niyang tatagan ang loob para sa kanila ng daddy niya. Alam niyang sobrang nasasaktan ang daddy niya kahit hindi nito ipinapakita sa kanya. He was hiding his pain from her, but she knew, for he saw him, crying in agony, almost every night since her mother passed away. Her father thought she was sleeping, and he would cry on their room, asking her mother why she left the two of them suddenly. So, she must be strong not just for herself but for her father as well.

The days turned to months to years. Taon na rin pala ang lumipas mula nang pumanaw ang kanyang ina pero parang kahapon lamang. The pain was still there but not as painful as before. She learned how to accept the fact that her mother won't be back anymore. Tanggap na rin ng kanyang ama na ngayon ay subsob sa trabaho. Well, she can't blame him, kaysa naman sa magmukmok ito ay puro trabaho na ang inatupag nito kaya naman mas lalong lumago ang negosyo ng pamilya nila. Ang negosyong nakalaan na para sa kanyang kinabukasan.