Immortal Love

Ano ang batayan ng totoong pagmamahal?

Is it based on how you shower her with expensive gifts? How you dedicate your attention to her? Or on how you treat her as your true lover?

Ito ang mga tanong na umuukupa sa isipan ng isang labin-limang gulang na si Michaela. May pagtataka sa mukhang nakamasid sa kaniyang lolo.

Her grandfather, Juan Carlos, holding the portraits and jewelry he got from a recent auction he attended, is happily showing them to his ex-wife... lying behind the marbled box with lots of fresh flowers on top. Tila buhay nitong kinakausap ang isang malaking litrato na nasa ibabaw ng marmol.

Matapos sa pagmamasid ay nagpatuloy si Michaela sa pagkain. Their families are gathered for the 5th death anniversary of her grandmother. Tapos na ang kanilang pag-alay ng dasal at mga mensahe kaya ngayo'y kumakain na ang lahat. Maliban kay Juan Carlos na patuloy pa ring naglalahad sa mga hindi pa nangangalahating mga regalo sa yumaong dating asawa.

Siguro ang makakakita sa kaniya'y iisipin na isa siyang mabuti at mapagmahal na asawa. A husband devoted to his wife even after death. But his sons would surely disagree.

Umiling-iling na lamang si Armando sa pagtanaw sa kaniyang ama. Armando understands this reaction from his father months after his mother's death. But it has been five years and he still acts the same. Wala ng silbi ang kaniyang mga regalo.

Kahit na ilang taon na ang lumipas at pumanaw na ang kanilang ina, siguro ay may kaunting parte pa rin sa kaniya na may hinanakit sa kanilang ama.

It was once a stormy night, with a deafening thunder and blinding lightning. It was the best for Armando and his little brother, Sebastian, as they snuggled into their warm blanket with hot champorado and watched cartoon movies.

But not for their mother, Lucia, who went inside their bedroom after making sure her children are comfortable. Tears were racing down her face as she silently wept.

Just like the sky, her day is very gloomy and full of tears. Dalawang araw nang hindi umuuwi ang kaniyang asawa. Ang rason ay dahil sa ibang bahay na ito tumutuloy.

Bagay na hinding-hindi niya aakalaing kaniyang mararanasan. A faithful wife being cheated on by someone who loved her with no conditions. Or so she thought...

Sa kanilang pagsasama habang magkasintahan at sa kanilang buhay mag-asawa ay ipinakita nito na hinding-hindi siya nagkakamali na kaniya itong pinakasalan.

Araw-araw ay tinutulungan siya nito sa mga gawaing bahay. Inaalagaan katulad nang kung paano siya inalagaan nang sila'y magkasintahan pa. Binibigyan ng mga mamahaling alahas at regalo na kailanman ay hindi niya hiningi. Inayang magpakasal sa pamamagitan ng isang mamahaling dyamante na kinuha pa nito mismo mula sa underground mining. At pinakasalan sa pinakamalaking simbahan sa buong bansa.

For those years, she felt spoiled and loved.

But these days were different. These days were the worst days she had since she was a child. The days that she never thought and was even confident that will not happen to her.

But it did. And it hurts. It hurts so bad.

Earlier, she went to her husband's mistress' house, confronting them. She begged, with knees on the wet cold concrete floor, drenched with rain drops and face contorted with pain and tears.

But all she got was a cold voice from her husband, telling her to go back home.

"Malakas ang ulan, Lucia. Walang kasama ang mga bata sa bahay. Go home," his voice is as cold and expressionless as his eyes. And it pained Lucia so much because he never treated her like that before.