“Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Before we start the birthday celebration, Let’s thank our Lord Jesus. Miss Marian, please lead the prayer.” saad ng beking emcee.
“In the name of the father, of the son, and the holy spirits. Lord, thank you for guiding us, everyday. Thank you for the blessings and thank you for the things that we have today...”
Nagpatuloy ang pananalangin namin at pagka-tapos ay sumunod na ang mensahe ni mommy para kay Shawn.
“First of all, I would like to thank all of you... Thank you for being here tonight, celebrating with us. This may be the most memorable night for us.. Specially to our family, because of our eldest daughter... Selestine Villafuente is back.” Mom said.
“Happy birthday, son. Thank you for understanding us,. Kami ng papa niyo. Sorry dahil hindi namin ka‘yo nabigyan ng buo at normal na pamilya. Hindi niyo nakasama ang ate Selestine niyo sa pag-laki, but, I know you will understand and I thanked you for that. You know..wala akong ibang wish for you and for your siblings, kundi ang mag-patuloy lang sa buhay and kaunting tiyaga. I want you to have a bright future, and do the things that you want. I love you, Shawn.”
After that night, I went to a famous hotel para doon magpalipas ng oras. Agad akong lumabas ng elevator ng bumukas ito. Hindi ko inaasahang may makaka-salubong akong gagong lalake kasama ang haliparot na babaeng ngiting-ngiti saakin.
“Hi! Selestine, right? I heard he's your ex-husband.” maarteng saad ng babae.
“Yeah.” mataray na saad ko at saka iniwan silang naka tunganga.
“Hey, do you know how to respect!?” she looked at me and raised her eyebrows.
“No.” maikli ngunit mariin na sabi ko.
Lalakad na sana ako papalayo ng bigla niyang hilahin ang buhok ko.
“Fuck you, bitch! TANGINAMO, BITCH! Kapal ng pagmumukha mong kabayong bundat ka”
“How dare you! Mukha ka ring asong ulol!”
“Hey, stop it Melissa.”
“No, Yvor! Ipapamukha ko sa babaeng ito kung gaano siya hindi deserving maging asawa mo!”
“Tanginamo ka! Lolokohin ka rin ng lalaleng yan! Gago! Mamatay na sana kayong dalawa!”
I couldn't believe the audacity of this woman. How could she spew such vile words and insults at me? The anger in my veins boiled over as I was consumed by a fiery rage.
I raised my hand, ready to strike her, but a familiar voice cut through the tension like a sharp knife. It was Shawn, my younger brother. He stood there, looking at us with disappointment and hurt in his eyes.
"Stop it! Both of you! This is supposed to be a celebration, and here you are, acting like animals!" Shawn shouted, his voice filled with sorrow.
I immediately let go of the woman's hair, realizing the consequences of my actions. I took a step back, trying to control my anger and find my composure. Shawn approached me, his face a mix of sadness and understanding.
"Selestine, I know you're hurting. But let's not allow this bitterness to consume us. We've come a long way, and we deserve happiness. Let go of the past, sis. It's time to move forward." Shawn said gently, placing his hand on my shoulder.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at my brother, feeling a mix of gratitude and regret. He had always been the one to understand and support me, even in the darkest times. And here I was, losing sight of what mattered the most.
"I'm sorry, Shawn. You're right. I shouldn't let her affect me like this." I said, wiping away my tears.
We both turned to leave, leaving behind the woman and her companion, who were now silent and stunned by our sudden change of demeanor. As we walked away, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, knowing that I had chosen love and forgiveness over anger and bitterness.
That night, as we celebrated my birthday with family and friends, I made a silent promise to myself and to Shawn. I vowed to let go of the pain and resentment that had defined my past, and to embrace a future filled with peace and happiness.
Little did I know, this newfound strength and determination would become not only my personal triumph but also a guiding light for the ones I loved. From that day forward, I would be an example of resilience, forgiveness, and unconditional love, not just for Shawn but for everyone around me. Together, we would build a brighter future, one filled with genuine joy and overflowing with the blessings that life had to offer.
