SAUDADE

prologue

Third Person

"Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday...

Happy Birthday to you..."

The family sang as little Mary Ilyana Catalina, or as they call her, Yana, blew the fires off on her candle sitting above her 3 layered cake.

The 7 year old grinned and clasped her hand together as the smoke from the candle evaporated into thin air.

She looked around and saw that she was surrounded by her loved ones. But a frown came when she noticed that her father still hasn't come. She looked down and then smiled as she felt a hand on her back.

"Happy Birthday, my love..." Her mother carried her and kissed her cheek. She looped her arms around her mother's neck and kissed her cheek back. "Thank you, mommy!" She giggled.

She looked at her kuya's and stuck her tongue out as they approached her, "Happy Birthday, kiddo!" Alfy grinned.

Yana came 12 years after Luis, there was a huge age gap between her and her kuya's but she loved it secretly as she was the princess. Irene had her only daughter when she was 38 years old, the pregnancy was a little scary but thank God it was successful.

Yana was the youngest of the Marcos-Araneta family, she was a year younger than Vincent, Bongbong's youngest son.

Even the Marcos family; she was the youngest and was the rose among the thorns. Their cousin line were-from oldest to youngest;

Borgy, Alfy, Luis, Mike, Matt, Sandro, Simon, Vinny, and lastly, Yana.

Imee and her sons went to the little birthday celebrant and showered her with kisses. "Our baby is 7 years old na..." Imee pouted and took Yana from her mother's arms.

"Mama Imee, I am a grown up na." She giggled making Imee chuckle, "No, no... You're still our baby, noh!." She poked her nose.

The birthday party went on, the invited guests were only their family and closest, closest friends. Irene and Yana were at the table of the celebrant, Irene feeding her daughter slices of cake.

"Mommy? Where is Dada?" She asked in her little, innocent voice, mouth half full from the cake she was eating.

Irene forced a smile and stroked her daughter's hair. "Dada's coming na, love..."

Yana only nodded at this and smiled at her mother. Not knowing things are quite complicated than they show to others.

"Ma..." Alfonso went to his mother's side and leaned in to her ear, "Dad's not picking up his phone... We called the company number, may biglaang emergency meeting pa daw..." He whispered and frowned.

He and Luis knew that his mum and dad were now constantly arguing. But they knew it was better to not tell their parents they know about it. It's for their own sanity. And for Yana too.

Irene swallowed a lump on her throat and forced a smile and looked at her oldest son, "Okay, dear... Thank you..."

Alfy only nodded at this and went back to his cousins. Bongbong and Liza had already went home as their children were much younger than Imee's and Irene's children.

The night flew by quickly and their families were already bidding goodbye to go home. Even after this, Greggy still wasn't seen.

Luis was carrying Yana in his arms towards her room. Alfy went with his younger brother and sister as they were told to read Yana a bedtime story.