Written: 2014
Proofread by Bernadeth Guevarra (2017)
Published under LIB (2015).
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Prologue: What is Love?
"MOMMY, what is love?" nakapangalumbabang tanong ng limang taong gulang na si Eunice sa kanyang ina.
Napalingon sa kanya ang mommy Elle niya na busy sa pagde-design ng cake na katatapos lang nitong i-bake.
Her mother smiled at her. Ang ganda-ganda ng mommy niya kapag naka-smile. "Why do you ask, baby?"
"Kasi, yesterday, teacher asked that. Tapos, hindi ako nakasagot," nakalabing sabi niya. Lahat ng classmates niya nakasagot habang siya hindi.
Lumapit sa kanya ang mommy Elle niya. Binuhat siya nito at pagkuwa'y umupo at kinandong siya. "Hmm...how should I answer your question?"
"Why, Mommy? Is it a hard question? Nakasagot naman mga classmates ko kahapon, eh."
"You can define love in so many ways, Eunice," she said while caressing Eunice's soft long hair.
Ah! Kaya pala kahit iba-iba ang sagot ng classmates niya kahapon, they were all right. "Bakit ang daming puwedeng answer, Mommy? Hindi ba puwedeng isa lang?"
Natawa ito. "There is one answer that can truly define what love is, baby. Pero gusto ko, you..." sabay turo sa kanya, "must find it out yourself when you grew up. I want you to understand it more clearly when the right time comes."
Eunice pouted her lips. "It's so matagal pa, Mommy. Hindi ba puwedeng now na?"
Mommy Elle lightly pinched her nose. "Okay, okay. Para sa'kin, love is... you."
"Huh?"
She smiled. "Love is... you, your kuya Eugene, and your daddy."
Eunice smiled. "Love is family!" masayang wika niya.
"Wow! Ang tali-talino naman ng baby ko!" sabay halik nito sa kanyang pisngi. "Yes, Eunice. Love is family and so much more."
"Okay lang ang isang sagot, Mommy. Next time, may isa na akong sagot kay teacher!" bibong sabi niya pa.
Her mommy chuckled. "For now, 'yan muna ang definition mo sa love. But I know, as you grow up, you'll encounter a million—or maybe billions of 'love' definitions. Pero mag-iingat ka, Eunice."
"Why?" Eunice curiously asked.
"Kasi minsan, other people define love in a way that it is not supposed to be defined. Ang salitang 'love' kasi, binibigyan siya ng meaning base from the experiences of other people. Kaya iba-iba at sobrang dami na ng ibig sabihin ng love."
Eunice nodded. "Pero Mommy, bakit ang dami pa? 'Yan tuloy, I have to know pa if it's true."
"Okay, okay, I'll tell you that one specific meaning. And that is—"
"Elle, honey? Have you finished baking?"
Sabay pang napalingon ang mag-ina nang marinig ang boses ni Daddy Bill. Pumasok ito ng kusina at nakangiting lumapit sa kanila.
