Chapter One
A house in the middle of rice fields, this is where Daniel & his Dad Greg live. Farming lands they don't own is his Dad's source of income. They live a very simple lifestyle, Daniel goes to public school close to where they live. He's the only child, well his Mom died after giving birth to him so there's no chance for him to have more siblings. Not until his Dad will get married again, but he doesn't look like he will.. anytime soon.
Daniel is tall, dark & handsome. Very smart in his class too. Have one bestfriend he calls "Bro" but actually his name is Vince. The same height with him, not so good in class but can comprehend. Vince came from an average family, both parents are teachers working in that school they're both in. So he doesn't really have worries about buying materials for school projects, not like Daniel. He has to do some works outside his home to earn a little. His Dad didn't want to pay for his tuition, nor give him anything for school projects or for snacks. So he strives harder to meet up with his needs without having to bug his dad.
Greg is in his late 50's, became alcoholic when his wife died. He used to be very sweet until his wife gave birth to Daniel & died. He became worst when Daniel was on Grade School. He blamed him for killing his mother & but his Son never disrespect him for his bitterness. Every night when he comes home drunk from the whole day farming & drinking in between, Daniel will actually changed his clothes, cleaned him up & helped him to bed. Not to mention Him yelling to his Son how mad he is for killing his wife, that's the daily scenario!
How can a child embrace things he never wish to happen? Who would someone like to grow up not seeing his Mother? No one! As being punished by the death he knew he didn't do, is something hurtful. What could have done right? He knew his mom loved to have at least one child. From her diary left for Daniel to read, he read it many times & the contents are the same.
"Today, I'm pregnant with my first child. Though the health center midwife told me it's going to be tough.. still, I'm the happiest! "..
This was Elsa's handwriting, written on her diary. She was the happiest! but being one brought someone's life miserable at a very young age. How to undo things that's been done? If only he had powers to go back in time, he will definitely choose not to be born.. for being alive means death to his Father as seen in his eyes!
Greg & Elsa were married for almost 15 years. And tried to have kids many times they could count. Visited many health centers around their hometown but they got the same answer, Elsa's ovaries aren't strong enough to make & hold it. If ever they will be given a chance to have one, it will probably the reason for her death. Greg didn't like that! He said specifically that they don't need anyone else adding as a family member, each other is enough to live...to grow old with! But His wife has different prospectives.. Her views of a family isn't complete without having a child. And bearing one was the most tragic & painful times of her life, but the happiest too!
Life in the province is way harder than in the City. And since they don't have wealth to be able to get a second opinion from a good Doctor, Elsa was bedridden for almost 9 months when she was pregnant just to save Daniel. Her husband begged her million times not to pursue the pregnancy, convinced her to just adopt a child from a close relative.. but neither of those she listened to. She said,
"One day you will understand the blessing of having a child of your own"..
This was her favorite line, everytime Greg will helped her eased the pain from those nights she couldn't sleep through it.
Elsa is a bubbly woman, she likes to laugh out loud & joke around people she used to work with. With her husband, she helped around the rice fields. Having crops of her own on the side to sell for their daily needs. She likes cooking for lunch & bring it to the school canteen. She's a bit chubby but she's never a lazy person. They're both workaholics, Greg & her will always have something to do around their little home. Though their house is made of half concrete & half hardwood, it's very neat to have it surrounded with beautiful flowers & some vegetables at the back yard. They had 3 carabaos they're taking cared of. The three was owned by the family who owns the rice fields they're both working on.
Both of them doesn't have any siblings they've known of. Their ancestors were gone long before world war 2 & they don't have anyone to ask what happened next? They met one day on a flea market, it was love at first sight. After courting for months Elsa decided to marry Greg. Hoping they could have at least two kids of their own. Relatives claiming to be one live closed to where they live, so far they haven't have problems giving birth so Elsa was wondering how her condition is not the same to any of them. Well she thought it's because she works too hard? But even after she got rested on a simple vacation with her husband, nothing changed.
It was February of 1995 when finally she got pregnant. It started with a continuous morning sickness she has to overcome daily. Elsa on the other hand didn't wish to have a child anymore, but it did came to a surprise. She claimed it as a blessing, while her husband Greg called it a curse!
"Don't be bitter. God has a plan for us & the baby"..
Elsa will tell Greg everytime. Her pregnancy made her very ill, she couldn't work at the farm anymore. She then stayed at home knitting. Though there's plenty of times she almost got lost the baby.. but she made it through her last month.. until she gave birth and completely gave up her own life.
It was the most tragic day of her husband's life. When Daniel was a baby, Greg didn't start drinking at all. Even if He hated the fact that His wife died because of him.. He remained as his father. Taking good care of Him was a chore for him. Well it wasn't easy. He would have him tied around him in a cloth when he needed to be in the fields & Susan the lady that helped him look after Daniel won't come to babysit for any reason.
" If only your Mother is alive!" Greg will whisper to Baby Daniel.
When Elsa still lives,she loves making candies to give to the kids who plays by the field. She adores children, she likes knitting bonnets for Tina's kids too. To her not having one didn't make her bitter. Instead she got inspired by just loving kids of someone else's. She's the Godmother of Tina's eldest daughter Anya, & most of the times when she was alive Anya will spend her weekends at Elsa & Greg's. But then it stopped after her death because Greg seemed not to know her anymore. Big changes happened after her funeral. The flowers around their house died as if it's connected to Elsa's life. No music allowed in that house. Greg colored the whole house with black because he never smile anymore.. His emptiness corrupted the jolly home he used to enjoy staying. He likes coming home drunk & leaves early to avoid seeing the place without his loving wife in it!
His daily routine came to worst.. with him not saying a word to his Son became a habit. Daniel can't even vent out to his Dad.. he has no one to listen & to talk to at home. But though life with Greg was a hell, he never stopped loving & caring for his Dad. He reminded himself at a young age, that his Dad needs him for any reason. That's why he's staying.
