"Dad?" Tawag ko kay Lio na nakadungaw sa may veranda while I hug him from the back. Worry keeps on invading my system at hindi ko matanggal ang mga nalaman ko kahapon. Who would give that poisonous candy to my son?
"Hmm?" He murmured before interlocking his fingers on mine. Tumingin siya sa side niya and I also look at him. "May problema ba, ma?"
"I think we shouldn't continue the party tomorrow." I decided. Maybe hindi good idea ang mag-party bukas to celebrate Iverson's birthday. Baka kasi may dumating nanaman o may hindi magandang mangyare. I just want to protect my son. Ayokong mangyare ang nangyare noon.
Ang nangyare sakin noon.
That woman keeps on bugging my mind. I want to find her, to know what she wants and to plead to stay away from the whole kingdom. But how? Unang una, hindi ko siya kilala at wala akong kilala na.. Ugh! I don't know what I'm gonna do!
"Huh?" Lio wondered saka hinawakan ang kamay ko at humarap saakin. Kailangan ko pang tumingala para makita siya. Ang tangkad niya kaya! "May problema ba? Why the sudden change of decisions ma?"
"This morning, may nagbigay ng red candy kay Iverson which Daniel said was a poisonous candy. Sino naman ang magbibigay ng ganun sa anak natin? There's a possibility that Iverson's life is in danger, dad at ayaw kong magaya siya sa nangyare saakin noon." Paliwanag ko because it's true.
Mahirap na. Malay ko ba kung talaga ngang delikado ang buhay ni Iverson. Lalo na't maraming tao bukas. Talagang walang makakapansin kapag may nangyare. Talagang hindi namin mapapansin kung may kakaiba na bang nangyayare sa paligid namin lalo na't bata pa lamang si Iverson.
He doesn't even know how to defend himself!
"Pero ma, sayang lahat ng pinagpaguran mo. I don't want to waste any of them. And besides, naibigay na natin yung mga invitations. The foods and the ball are all set."
"Pero dad, Iverson's life is all I'm worrying. Hindi ka ba natatakot? He might be in danger! Your son's life is more worth it than those grand cakes and music!" Sabi ko sakanya dahil mukhang kalmadong-kalmado lang siya. Like Iverson's life is just a dirt on the street or just another kid's life. "What if may mangyareng masama bukas? What if mangyare kay Iverson yung nangyare saakin noon? What if--"
"Those are just what-ifs, ma. Don't worry. I'll be telling Knight to protect Iverson pati na rin sina Jeremy at Cy. We don't know what will happen tomorrow, okay? Maging ready na lang tayo." He held my hands saka ito hinalikan. "I know, you're worrying again but I'm here. Walang makakakuha kay Iverson. Tsaka hindi pa naman natin sure, diba?" He asked.
I sighed. Maybe he's right. Maybe, I'm just overthinking na it reached to the point na ayoko nang ituloy ang party bukas. Nagaalala lang naman ako kay Iverson. I mean, he'd be dead by now kung kinain niya yung red candy. I'm just so glad he didn't.
"Maybe you're right." He smiled and hugged me tight.
"No one can hurt my family." Lio said as he kiss my hair.
~*~*~
Everyone's excited for the party. Nagsisidatingan na rin ang mga bisita. I even saw Natie here with their husbands except for Al. I mean, ewan ko ba dun. Tomboy yata eh. Cinareer ang pagiging guard.
Of course, my sister and brothers came with their family. Kasama rin nila ang mga anak nila kaya may kalaro nanaman sina Jeremy at Iverson. The difference is that I need to keep my eyes on Iverson the whole party. Mahirap na. Baka mamaya, nagtataranta na ako dun dahil hindi ko halos makita ang anak ko.
I just don't get it. Why Iverson? Delikado nanaman ba ang buhay namin? It's been 5 years pero delikado pa rin ang buhay namin? Dalawang battle na ang natatapos namin ni Lio. Dalawang challenge. Dalawang adventure na hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan.
Why can't we just live at peace?
I sighed. Maybe this is our destiny.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us now call on the King and Queen of this kingdom. King Lionardo and Queen Elizabeth!" As soon as we heard the emcee call our names, we made our way through the stage. Everyone clapped and the sound lingered the whole room.
Naunang umakyat ng stage si Lio habang sunod naman ako pero inalalayan niya parin ako. Of course, he's a gentleman. I smiled to all the visitors who came tonight. Ang dami nila.
While Lio is talking with his mic on his phone, bigla akong kinabahan. I mean, I even felt my heart skipped a beat and became frozen. I saw someone walking wearing a black cloak! Tumigil ito sa may likod, sa may malapit ng exit at saka tumingin saamin--saakin.
It's eyes. It's glowing! At nakakatakot because I think this party is a wrong move.
Tinignan ko sina James kasama yung ibang guards.
"Si Iverson?" I mouthed at them. Nakita kong kinausap ni James yung katabi niyang guard. Maybe sinabi niyang tignan niya si Iverson. I'm totally freaking right now!
"Ma?"
"Huh?" I asked saka tumingin kay Lio na katabi ko. He's looking at me. Nang tumingin naman ako sa harap ay nakatingin din saakin lahat ng bisita. It's like they're waiting for me to give a message.
"Ikaw na, ma." Lio said saka ibinigay saakin ang mic. Unti-unti ko itong kinuha habang tinitignan ang babaeng naka-suot ng black cloak.
Pero wala na siya dun.
"I hope we all have a great and fun night, tonight. Thank you for coming." Yun na Lang ang sinabi ko dahil sobrang nanginginig na ako. I gave the mic to Lio while the crowd clapped as the emcee speak.
Bumaba ako agad agad saka nilapitan Sina James, Dayala at Knight.
"Asan si Iverson?" Tanong ko agad. Nasa likod ko Lang si Lio. I don't understand. My heart is beating so fast!
"Chineck Nila sa kwarto ni Iverson pero wala siya dun. Ang Alam namin, kasama niya Sina Natie at Mack." Paliwanag ni Knight.
Yes. Kasama Nila Mack, Natie, Kate at Al. Kanina kasi, nagpaalam silang pupunta Lang Sila Kay Iverson to give their gifts.
"Andyan na Pala sila eh." Sabi ni Knight. I saw them running towards us with Iverson on Natie's hand. Agad ko siyang nilapitan saka niyakap at binuhat.
Nang biglang nagsalita si Al.
"Liza, Lio, Iverson's life is in danger."
"Why?" Lio asked.
They were just about to speak when the emcee spoke.
"Let us welcome, Prince Bryan Iverson Anderson!" Everyone clapped nang biglang..
*BOOGSH*
The lady with the black cloak appeared at the stage. Lahat ng tao, nagtatakbuhan. Lahat ng tao, sumisigaw at nagpapanic and all I could do is to protect my son.
This is not fair.
~*~*~
BINABASA MO ANG
The Lost Diamond Apple
FantasíaAFTER everything she had to go through: give birth to a baby with seven dwarves, got chased by piranhas, wandered around hell, she thought maybe she can finally have a rest. But queens do not take rests for when a new bright day came, when she thoug...
