01 : Happy Endings 

Kabanata 1 

Happy Endings 

Happy endings are for those who live with magic and fairy tales because in real life there is no happy ending. Pero taliwas ito sa mga iniisip ko. I wrote stories with happy endings even though I saw how tragic real life is. 

When you write something you must use your heart and choose happy endings instead of sad endings. Dahil sa pagsusulat lang tayo may karapatang pagandahin ang mga buhay natin. 

"And they lived happily ever after." 

As I finished reading my story, my sisters beamed. They were all satisfied with how my story ended up happily ever after. 

"I must find my Prince Charming, Ate." My seven years old sister said sweetly.

"Nah! It's just a fictional Zania." Franciline commented, a sixteen years old girl.

"How can you say that, Franceline? It's was a happy ending!" Umismid ang twelve years old kong kapatid na si Sapphira. 

"They lived happily, and that's the important thing." Sienna concluded, she's fourteen.

"It's not real, okay!" Sigaw ni Franceline, pero nakangisi tila pinipikon niya lang ang bata kong kapatid.

Aakma nang makikipag-away ang tatlo kay France kaya pinigilan ko na. 

"That's enough, girls. The moral lesson of the story was-" 

"Miss Yulara, ang Señora!" Naputol ang sasabihin ko nang pumasok sa study ang aming Mayordoma na hinihingal pa.

Walang pag-alinlangan ay tinakbo namin ang silid ng aming Ina. Nadatnan namin ang Doctor na nakatayo kausap si Daddy. Sa likod nito ay ang aming Ina na mahimbing na natutulog pero parang may mali ata.

Napahinto ako pero ang apat kong kapatid ay dumalo na sa kanya at tuluyan nang bumuhos ang kanilang munting luha. 

Huli na ang lahat, nagdeklara na ang Doctor na nabawian na ng buhay ang aming Ina. 

Mother was suffering from a heart disease. We have Doctor Aurelio, our private Doctor and he did everything just to heal my Mom. I don't understand how medicine works but my Mom undergoes all the medications but ends up leaving us. That's how tragic and sad stories run in real life.

My heart hurts so bad as my sisters too.

Days have passed and the time has come to say our goodbyes.I saw my father standing in front of the coffin of my Mom and we never saw him shed a tears even one drop.

I don't know if he's happy or sad that my Mom already left us. As far as I remember, when Mommy is still alive, they never skip a day for a fight. Dad hurt Mom, physically. And he never knew that Mom was suffering from a heart disease. I think Dad made a way for my Mom's death. But I don't blame him. I'd rather blame myself. This is all my fault. I want to say sorry to Mom but I know it's too late. How awful real life is.

"Yulara..." He called my name after the ceremony of the burial of my Mom. 

I'm wearing my all white dress with a small black rectangular pin in my chest. Big sunglasses to cover my puffiness and my long hair dance with the wind as I turn around to see my Dad.

"Yes, Dad?"

"I want to talk to you." He said and followed him to the car. 

"What is it, Dad?"

"Yulara, as my eldest daughter, I'm planning for your future, hija. I'm asking you to get your things ready. Dahil sa makawala ay hindi ka na rito titira." He said, casually.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa naging pahayag niya.

"What do you mean, Dad?"

"You are marrying a Sanjorjo so be ready and dress up beautifully." He said it like it was nothing but a simple thing to do.

"What? Marrying? I'm just 17, Dad. How can you say that?" Usal ko.

"You'll be 18 tomorrow, Yulara. You're legal and allowed to get married."

"But Dad, I'm not ready for that." I want to protest more but I'm scared of how he can manipulate our lives and how he manipulated Mom's life.

"You don't need to be ready. You just need to follow what I set for your future." He said calmly.

"Dad, I can run our business. I'll study hard, get a job and that's my future. Marrying is not!" Utas ko, gusto nang magmaktol pero hindi ko ginawa.

"Marrying Sanjorjo benefits you a lot. Our company needs a Sanjorjo so you need to marry that man. Whether you like it or not! Titira ka kasama siya!" Himig kong pinipigilan na ni Daddy ang galit niya.

"I won't, Dad! And that's final. I can study our business and I assure that it'll run properly as we don't need the Sanjorjo!" May diin kong sinabi.

Galit na ang mga mata ng aking Ama na nakatingin sa akin. Paano niya kayang gawin sa akin ito? Ipapakasal niya ako sa taong hindi ko kakilala and worst hindi ko mahal.

"I don't need your assurance for the company, I need you to marry that heir. Magpapakasal na kayo sa lalong madaling panahon." Linapitan niya ako at hinawakan ako sa magkabilang balikat, hinigpitan niya ang paghawak sa balikat ko.

Napangiwi ako sa sakit na naidudulot niya sa akin.

"Sumunod ka na lang sa gusto ko. Para rin naman ito sa kinabukasan mo!" Galit niyang sigaw.

"Ayokong magpakasal sabi, e!" Sa tono ng pananalita ko ay nabitawan niya ako at isang malakas na sampal ang natamo ko.

"Sumusuway ka na ngayon? Ha!?" Isang sampal pa ang tinanggap ko galing sa palad niya.

"Ayoko po talaga, Dad. Please, po." Halos magmakaawa na ako sa kanya. 

"This is for you own good, Yulara at sinusuway mo pa ako!"

"I won't marry anyone!" Sagot ko. 

Sinampal niya ulit ako, mas masakit na ito kumpara kanina. 

"Anong gusto mo? Matulad sa Nanay mo? Ha?!"

Gamit ang kanyang isang kamay ay sinikop niya ang magkabilang pisngi ko dahilan na napadaing ako sa sakit.

"D-Dad, nasasaktan po ako." Gusto ko nang umiyak pero hindi ko siya pinakitaan ng anong panghihina.

Buo ang loob kong hindi magpakasal sa taong hindi ko kakilala at hindi ko mahal. 

Binitiwan ako ni Daddy at tinulak niya dahilan nang pagsubsob ako sa isang dulo.

"Prepare your things and you'll be leaving soon." Aniya bago ako iniwan. Sa takot na makita ako ng mga kapatid ko pumasok agad ako sa kotse

By the time he left me, the tears are now dripping down to my cheeks. Iniyak ko na ang lahat. Iniyak ko ang ganitong sitwasyon. This all fucked up!

And also I blame myself for my Mom's death. Kung hindi ko lang sana ginawa ang bagay na iyon ay sana.. sana humihinga pa siya ngayon.

I told my Dad how my Mom and his colleague kissed in our library. Mom has an affair with my Dad's friend. At doon na nagsimula ang walang humpay na away at sakitan nilang dalawa. It takes the lead of my Mom's disease. Imbis na mas lalong gumaling, mas lalong lumalala.

That's why my dream is to be a Writer. Sa pagsusulat ko lang nagagawang pakalmahin ang masalimoot kong buhay. But, how can I do that if this shit comes up? I want to write something beautiful and happy. Not like this! Fucked and hatred. Well, this is life. A real one. How I wish I'm one of the Princess in a story who's waiting for his Prince to save her from a bad nightmare.

But I know that it will never happen in real life.