Love Me Harder

Prologue

"Daddy? do you love Mom?" dad looked at me for a moment and smiled.

"Yes, princess. I love her... bakit mo naman natanong yan?" I looked away at him and decided to focus my gaze on the beautiful stars up above us. Nags-star gazing kase kami ngayon ni Daddy dito sa balcony habang hinihintay ang Mom.

"Nothing Daddy. It's just that I wonder if Mom feels the same about us... Palagi na lang po kaseng wala si Mommy... kagaya ngayon" nakangusong sabi ko sabay napayuko.

I heard my dad sighed. He held my small hands and lifted up my chin just to make me look at him.

"Listen Princess, I know you're upset about not seeing Mommy most of the days, but please do not question her love for you, okay? Masyado lang busy ang Mommy mo pero believe me, she loves you just as much as I do" Does she? eh bakit kahit nandito siya hindi naman niya ako pinapansin?

"Do you still love her, Dad? kahit pa palaging wala si Mommy?" Dad fell silent for a while... what does it meant?

"Love is a complex feeling of deep affection, Jaden. If we are going to love a person, we make sure that we love them wholeheartedly, with no conditions and any limitations. We need to love them for who they are, Jaden... and even if it pains us the most, even if we have already have nothing, we need to give it all for love. That's what loving is all about..." I just blankly stare at my dad when he said those words, trying to comprehend what does he mean with them.

He just chuckled and pinch my cheeks.

"Masyado ka pang bata para maintindihan mo ang sinasabi ko ngayon, when you age a little bit older, you'll understand what I mean. But for now just stick to the idea that no matter how busy your Mom is, mahal na mahal ka pa rin niya and you should too... She's your Mom, Jaden... no matter what happens, she will always be your Mom and she loves you more than you know it, kaya sana ikaw rin... huwag ka sanang mapagod na mahalin siya kase siya hindi napapagod sa pagwowork just to give you everything" I felt a little guilt inside me nang sabihin iyon ni Dad sa'kin.

He's right. Mommy is working hard for us, how dare me para kwestyunin ang pagmamahal niya sa'kin? She always gives me everything that I need.

"Your Mom needs you more than you think, Princess. Kaya promise me, kahit anong mangyari hindi ka magsasawa na intindihin at mahalin ang mommy mo. You'll always be one of her strengths, Princess. Kaya huwag na huwag mo siyang iwan, okay?" I smiled at Dad sabay tumango sa kaniya.

"I promise Daddy. Hinding-hindi ko iiwan si Mommy. I will love her with all of my heart!" Dad smiled so widely sabay niyakap ako nang mahigpit.

"That's my girl..." he said as he softly caressed my hair.

"Dad, one last question na lang. Ako po? Love niyo po ba ako?" Dad let go of our hug sabay ngumiti.

"I love you above everything else, my Princess" he then planted a kiss on my forehead sabay niyakap ako nang napakahigpit.

"I love you too, Daddy. Promise that you'll never go far away from me okay?" sabi ko habang nakayakap kay Dad. I didn't heard him say anything but I felt him nod.