The Lost Diamond Apple

Chapter 3: Red Candy

"Sa Friday na ang birthday ni Iverson. Aren't we going to throw a party for him?" I asked Lio habang nagsusuklay ng buhok. I'm getting ready to sleep ng bigla Kong naisip ang birthday ni Iverson.

My parents always throw a party for us na magkakapatid when they were still alive and I want to feel the way I felt when they were doing that. I want Iverson, Jeremy and Cyrene feel the happiness I felt.

I mean I admit, the first time I knew about them, I was a bit mad. Feeling ko kasi kinalimutan nila ako but then I realized that they have to throw me away for my own sake. I owe them my life. 

"Right. We will throw a party and invite every royalty."

"And the villagers?" I asked as I look at him from the mirror. He smiled saka lumapit saakin at niyakap ako mula sa likod.

"We'll invite everyone you like." sabi niya before giving me a kiss on the cheek. Ngumiti ako saka siya hinarap at binigyan ng halik sa labi.

"Bakit iisa lang?" tanong niya saka ngumuso na para bang batang nagmumukmok dahil hindi siya binilhan ng paborito niyang laruan. "Dapat ganito." sabi niya saka ako hinalikan sa labi ng matagal.

Oops!

~*~*~

Everyone's excited dahil bukas na ang birthday ni Iverson. Everyone's getting ready with their dresses and gifts and of course, pati ako dahil nakatoka lahat saakin. Invitations, cakes, gifts, the flow of the program. Everything! Of course, ako yung nanay so it's my job.

"Handa na ba yung orchestra and yung mga sasayaw for tomorrow?" I asked Daniel habang naglalakad dito sa may ballroom where the party will be celebrated. Dito na rin lang naman sa ballroom kung saan naganap yung debut ko dati. 

"Opo, mahal na reyna. They're actually practicing the peace they're going to play tomorrow." He said saka ako tinignan. I smiled and nodded.

Tinanong ko pa sakanya about the cakes, the music, the food, yung susuotin ng birthday boy and the wardrobe for everyone including us hanggang sa malaman kong okay na lahat. 

"Okay Daniel. Paki-check na lang yung mga nagde-design ng ball room sa loob. I need you to check that. You know me naman na so you can just make some changes if you have to." I instructed. 

Of course I want to make my little boy's birthday celebration a perfection!

"Opo mahal na reyna." 

"Okay. You can go now." I said and he followed nang may naramdaman akong humihila sa dress na suot ko. Pagtingin ko sa baba, it was Iverson with chocolate smears on the side of his mouth. Natawa ako sa itsura ng anak ko kaya agad akong lumuhod para mapantayan siya.

"Bakit ganyan ang itsura mo? Where's daddy?" I asked habang tinatanggal yung mga chocolate sa mukha niya using my hanky. Its a little bit sticky dahil hindi siya madaling tanggaling. Para bang naka-glue na talaga yun doon.

"Outside, playing with Jeremy but mommy, look." He said saka siya may kinuha sa bulsa niya. Pag-bukas niya ng nakatiklop niyang kamay ay isang pulang candy. "A lady wearing a black cloak gave me this." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig ko mula kay Iverson.

I got the candy and immediately called Daniel. Iverson was confused, asking me why and commanding me to give him back the candy. Pero iba ang kutob ko dito sa pulang candy na to. 

"Bakit po?"

"Do you know what this is?" I said as I showed him the red candy. Kinuha niya iyon mula saakin saka tinignan ng mabuti, inobserbahan at inamoy na rin. His eyes widen saka tumingin saakin.

"I believe this is a Rosso Velenoso Caramella." I rasied my brows, nagtataka kung ano meaning nun because it's my first time to hear that kind of name. "Also known as the 'Red Poisonous Candy'. Mga taong may kinalaman sa Black Veil also known as the Black Magic lang ang makakagawa nito dahil hindi ito madaling gawin and the ingredients are very, very rare. If you eat this candy, pleasure will fill your heart and body pero unti-unti ka na rin namang namamatay so, this is a very dangerous candy." 

Parang nawalan ako ng hininga sa mga nalaman ko. I looked at Iverson and thanking to all the Gods dahil hindi niya kinain. I looked at Daniel. "Are you sure?"

"Ipapa-check ko na lang sa Isiquan Tower kung eto nga yun. Excuse me po, mahal na reyna." Daniel said before giving me a bow. Tinanguan ko na lang siya, agreeing with his decision saka tumingin kay Iverson who is also looking at me.

Nginitian ko siya. Now, I'm kinda worried. I mean, siguro kakabahan naman lahat ng ina kapag ay nagbigay ng ganun sa anak mo. And it's poisonous! Paano na lang kapag kinain yun ni Iverson without me or his father's knowing. 

I sighed." Saan mo nakita yung babaeng nagbigay ng candy sayo, Iverson?" I asked him. I need to see that lady. Bakit niya binibigyan ng ganun si Iverson? Noon, nakita ko siya but now, gusto naman niya, sa anak ko?

"Sa Enchanted Forest po mommy. Near the falls." Sabi niya saka hinawakan yung kamay ko. I stood up and let him lead the way. Yes, my son may be just a 5 year old boy pero matalino yan kahit 5 years old palang siya. Every royalty has a smart child.

Paglabas namin ng kingdom, I saw Lio playing with Jeremy pero hinayaan ko lang sila. Mukhang masaya naman sila so why bother? Besides, hindi tamang pagusapan ang mga bagay bagay sa harap nila Iverson at Jeremy. I just don't want to.

Pagkapasok palang namin sa Enchanted Forest, agad kong hinawakan ang kamay ni Iverson. I have this strange feeling that I have to protect him. Para bang may kadiliman ang nakapalibot sa forest. 

Strange. Hindi naman ganito ang nararamdaman ko noon everytime na pumapasok ako ng Enchanted Forest. I even feel delighted pero ngayon, parang delikado. 

Kinuha ko si Iverson saka siya binuhat. I feel something strange.

Tinignan ako ni Iverson pero nginitian niya lang din ako saka na tumingin sa dinadaanan namin. We continued walking hanggang sa nakadating na rin kami sa falls. Wala namang tao dun. Wala ring kakaiba except for a weird smell. 

Nagikot-ikot pa kami doon sa falls when I stopped dahil sa nakita ko. 

A dead hedgehog lying on the floor! Sa tabi nito ay isang pabilog na something na kulay pula. Tinitigan ko yun bago ko na-realize kung ano yun! Yung red candy. Nagtaka pa ako kung bakit may dugo na kulay asul na halos bumabalot na sa katawan niya. 

I immediately covered Iverson's eyes and left that place. 

Kailangan tong malaman ni Lio.

~*~*~