GAME 1: RAIN

That day… was the day that I should have been happy, but everything turned out the other way. I lost everything in one snap. As if I wasn’t allowed to feel happiness because I don’t deserve any. That I have no rights because I have everything. Name. Wealth. Power. And anything.

With my blurry eyes, I stared at the flatscreen TV and let my tears continue running down my cheeks. It was one of the cold days in December, but the news that morning was hot and burning. Like it was a scorching fire that burned my young and innocent heart and turned it into ashes.

“Two of the most successful business couples in the Philippines were declared dead on arrival this early morning. Engineer Akem Jhyun Lee and his wife, Architect Oseanna Lee, had a plane crash after their business trip in Palawan,” the popular female newscaster said.

My teary eyes remained on the screen as my parents’ pictures flashed after she declared the headline. My heart started to beat fast and loud. I couldn’t believe what I saw! Although the footage and information were all there, I couldn’t understand a single one. Maybe because I was still holding on to my parents’ promises that they would come home early today. Hoping that those who hated them made up what was on the news.

But I doubt it! Who would believe it? My parents were good competitors. I was even there when they received awards from the party that we attended before.

“N-No… M-Mommy… D-Daddy… This can't be," I said, shifting my gaze to the two people on stretchers dressed in familiar clothing.

The man was dressed in long white sleeves and black slacks, while the woman was beautiful in her yellow dress. As far as I remember, those were the clothes that my parents wore before they left the mansion yesterday…

“Yes, Mr. Fruego. Everything's fine. Yes. We’re leaving now,” Daddy told someone on his phone.

That was the first breakfast I had at the table with them. Because they were busy with work, as far as I know, they left the mansion before the sun rose. So I got that rare chance to tell them what I wanted.

“Mommy… Daddy… Do you really have to leave? I mean… Christmas vacation is approaching. Can you just stay here with me?”

Mommy looked at me with weary eyes and then at Daddy before facing me again with a sweet smile across her lips. She put her phone down on the wooden table, and then she reached for my hands that were playing in my lap.

“Sweetie, you know what your Daddy and I are doing, right?”

I bowed my head and nodded slowly. “Yes.”

It was all for my future. That's always their reason for leaving. As a child, I was used to having my parents away every day because of work.

Daddy’s companies were already growing at that time. It became popular in different parts of the country because it was new. And also, as I knew, big people in business were their first customers. That's why the companies immediately reached the top in the field of construction.

Besides that, their main company, Lee Engineering, was based in Manila. Meanwhile, Leesteel, an importer of construction materials, was here on the island. They visited it once, but it still grew a lot.

"We have to go, Oseanna," Daddy said as he stood up.

He must have finished eating even though he didn't eat even a spoonful.

"Okay." Mommy took a sip of water from her glass.

Daddy came closer to where I was sitting. He knelt on the floor made of marmol so that our eyes were equal. He cupped my cheek, and as the warmth from his soft palm touched my skin, a sweet smile immediately stretched across my lips.

"We have to go, Baby. We will be back home early tomorrow," said Daddy.

"Really?” His deep voice is full of conviction, and that made me feel a little better. “Is that true?”

Daddy nodded. "What does my baby want?"

I shook my head in excitement. “Nothing. It’s enough that you and Mommy will be here tomorrow.”

"We love you so much, sweetie! Always keep that in mind. In time... you will understand everything," Mommy sobbed.

"I love you!" I hugged them both at the same time.

It was nice to think that, at such a young age, material things didn't matter to me. It became more important in my innocent mind to understand the essence of having a complete and happy family. That was the result of the days I was separated from them and my enviousness of my classmates whenever I saw them with their moms or dads. Hoping that at least one day a week, we will be together.

I used to understand everything. Not until Yaya Dores told me about the existence of my late sister. My parents never mentioned anything, as if I had no right to know about her. That was why I had no idea that they were going through something heavy. I didn't know that they harbored pain for years. It probably all started when they lost her.

Because of that, I started to feel envious of my late big sister. Because at least she experienced our parents’ love and care. Not like me. I grew up with just the guidance of Yaya Dores.

"The bandits took your sister Acki. It was raining and storming. We slept soundly at that midnight..."

I remembered the sadness in Yaya Dores' voice when she told me the story about that crime. That was the biggest turning point in my parents' lives. She said that they were once a lively couple and full of positivity in life, but were consumed by sadness and desperation for several months after losing their child.

Stressed, they visited different places and nooks and crannies of the island every day. Until one stormy night came, they were all terribly surprised when they found Ate Acki inside her room—bloody and lifeless. The baby was almost unrecognizable because of the wounds on her face and some parts of her body. Proofs that she passed through the violent hands of the perpetrator.

My parents have been very depressed since then. Especially when no one was able to find the perpetrators and justice was not served to their late daughter.

To forget, Daddy built the Lee Engineering Company with his close friends. which was immediately followed by Leesteel.

I sighed.

The sun almost burned my skin one fine afternoon. Even though the sun was so hot, it wasn't enough to quench the cold in my heart.

I was standing outside the gate of our mansion, looking out into the distance, and waiting for my parents to arrive. I was hoping to see, hug, and kiss them again.

It has been almost five hours since I watched the news about my parents' deaths. They are dead. But here I am, still hoping. I was hoping that everything was just a dream and I could once again see the familiar black SUV car with them in it, even though it was already impossible.

Suddenly, the part where I was standing got dark. I looked up and saw the black umbrella engulfing me. My eyes were fixed there for a moment before I slowly turned to someone who was handling it.

In an instant, seeing her worried face, I shed new tears again.

“Come inside the house, Hija, and eat. You haven't had lunch yet. You might get sick.”

I ignored what she said. “I s-saw the news, Yaya Dores. It was M-Mommy and Daddy. That's not true, is it? Mommy and Daddy aren't dead yet, aren’t they? "

"My God, Hija!"

Yaya Dores reached for me with her shaking hands and hugged me tightly. I could clearly see the pity in her red eyes. I was so sure that it was a pity because she became the eyes and ears for my complaints every day that I was left in the mansion alone.

I pity myself, too!

I don't fully understand why I experienced this at such a young age. Yes, I'm smart and always at the top of the class, but I don't understand why me? Why not just someone else from my class? After all, they were always with their parents. Me? I just want us to be together on Christmas Day. To experience what it feels like to have my parents by my side as we make the most of our vacation. The feeling of personally handing our gifts to each other.

I remembered the one I drew for them. It was a portrait of our family. Christmas is just seven days away. That would be my gift to them. By the way, I can't give it anymore because they're no longer alive.

Why did He take Mommy and Daddy so early?

Many more questions played in my mind, especially when I saw my dear parents inside the white box—white and lifeless. Like the silence of the night, they also seem to be sleeping soundly and resting.

Am I a bad daughter, then?

I cried harder in front of my daddy's coffin. I'm a daddy's girl even though my looks and personality are inherited from my mommy. The fairness of my skin, my round and deep-set eyes, my thin and sharp nose, and my soft jaw—I inherited everything from my half-Chinese and half-Spanish mommy.

Yaya Dores was at my back, trying to comfort me, but she failed when I heard her sobs, too. "T-That's enough, Hija. Think about them wherever they are… they're fine and happy now…”

I faced her with my cheeks very wet. "Happy?" I caught my breath and wiped my cheeks before continuing to speak. "Why didn't they take me with them? D-Don't they… l-love me?"

Yaya Dores quickly shook her head and caressed the bottom of my jaw. "No! Your parents love you very much---"

"If they love me... then, why? Why did they leave me? Are they mad at me? Ate Acki? Are they with Ate Acki? They chose to be with her instead of me?"

Yaya Dores was speechless. She was constantly shaking and sniffling. The pity she felt for me was clear in her reddened eyes.

I glanced at the big picture of my mom next to the coffin and white flowers. I closed my eyes tightly as I felt the warmth that hugged me from behind.

Maybe I wasn't a good daughter to them. They left me because I was a bad and naughty child. Even Yaya Dores couldn't answer my questions. How am I now? What will happen to me after this? I am just ten. And how can I handle this situation? What about our companies? My parents' property? Everything?

"God, Oseanna! What happened to you?!"

I stopped crying and began questioning myself as I heard that scream. I wasn't the only one who was stunned, but even those people who arrived here to sympathize.

I took a deep breath and looked at the woman. Even though my eyes were blurry, I could still see her face clearly as she walked dramatically along the chapel's aisle.

Silence suddenly enveloped the entire room. No one tried to speak or question the woman's arrival as she continued walking and ignored the astonishment of our visitors.

The woman in her mid-thirties is well-toned in her black sheath dress. Her pony-tailed auburn hair fiercely emphasized her heart-shaped face. With surprise and dismay, her eyes started looming with tears. Like an antagonist in some movies that I had watched—sophisticated, bold, and prim—she made her way to where the coffins were.

"Why does this happen to you, my poor Oseanna? Why? Why did Akem let this happen to you? I told you! That man will only destroy you!"

I frowned and took a deep breath.

"That man is really worthless! He always was! I warned you about him so many times already! But, what? You didn't listen to me! What did you get from that man, huh?"

She continued to cry in front of the coffin as if Mommy would answer her. Her words hurt. That was painful for me, especially since everything she was saying was meant for my unconscious Daddy.

"That's not true! Daddy is innocent! He loves mommy so much! I know he won't let mommy get hurt!"

I couldn't keep my mouth shut anymore.

That's too much!

She's too much!

If she was going to hurt me because I didn't respect her, at least I was able to defend my dad somehow.

"And who are you?" she asked me with her menacing eyes.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. My heart was sore at what she said. Her words were like a sharp knife, cutting my heart into millions of pieces. My face was getting hotter. I could feel so much anger for this woman. Who is she? Instead of sympathizing, she even scolded my cold parents!

"Are you the daughter of Akem and Oseanna?" She groaned and laughed afterward. "That's too crazy of me to ask that!" she whispered. "Sorry, Hija. Anyway, it's obvious! Your deep and round eyes resemble her."

"Oh—"

Yaya Dores would have answered and agreed with the woman, but she immediately cut her off.

"I know, right!"

The woman raised her brows but eventually calmed down. She approached us a little, but stopped immediately. She shot me a glance from head to toe and back again, her eyes scrutinizing.

I gulped.

I quickly turned around and hid behind Yaya Dores. Her eyes were scary! I glanced at the woman once again, and I then realized, those hazel brown eyes are scary?

I was fascinated by different eye colors, but not hers! I love my mommy's mysterious, innocent, and profound brown eyes. That's what I inherited from him, not my dad's black eyes.

The woman took a small step closer to us, so I immediately clung tightly to the hem of Yaya Dores' blue uniform.

"Hija... I'm your mommy's sister. I'm your Aunt Ingrid. I know this is hard and painful for you. But I am here now..."

Her voice softened.

I slightly glanced at the woman from Yaya Dores' side.

Is she my mommy's sister?

"From now on, I will be your mother, Hija."