EPILOGUE
☆ Special Chapter ☆
••Trisha Valery Soleil's POV••
Today is my 18th birthday. I should have been celebrating but I chose not to dahil mas may importante akong plano ngayon.
Right now, I'm just sitting in front of my table habang may sinusulat.
I smiled dahil sa wakas natapos ko na sya sa mismong kaarawan ko pa.. My master piece and hope na magustuhan nya.
"Ms.Valery, you have a package delivery." Sabi ng isa sa mga kasambahay namin na agad kong kinangiti at masayang tumayo.
"Thank you..." I said after she handed me a bouquets of flowers and a small box na magiliw kong tinanggap dahil ito talaga inaabangan ko every birthdays ko.
I saw a card sa loob na agad kong kinuha.
'To my dearest Trisha,
I hope you enjoy your birthday sweetie, I love you more than much. -A.R.'
Tears fell from my eyes na agad ko rin pinahid habang nakangiti.
"I love you too.. so more than much.." I uttered at kuha na ng vase na niready ko na talaga mula pa ata kagabi then decided na wag muna buksan yung small box na regalo nya then I put the birthday card sa special box ko na halos marami na rin laman na letters na mula sa iisang tao lang — A.R.
I smiled habang inaayos yung mga letters ko ng mag ring naman yung phone ko and saw that it's my dad who's calling na agad kong sinagot.
'Happy birthday babygirl!!' Masiglang bungad nito.
“Nako daddy, 18 na po ako for your info.” Natatawang sabi ko pa at tingin sa salamin at ayos sa buhok ko then I grabbed my pursed at iba pa.
'No matter what age you are, baby pa rin kita..'
I smiled because of that.
'You're going there now anak?'
“Yes dad.. I'm on my way na. Kayo po?” I asked.
'I might be late for a bit but I'm on my way, hey..be safe ok? I love you. Let's talk again later may pasyente pa ko.' Napa iling nalang ako at natatawa.
“Yes po Dr.Lereg at please lang po na to make sure gumaling pasyente mo ng super ok ah? Puro kana O.T tatanda kang single nyan bahala ka. Mwuah..” Natatawang sabi ko pa and heard him chuckled before he ended the call.
I decided na lumabas na sa mansion at hayaan na rin yung driver namin ang mag hatid sakin roon.
I sighed as I looked outside my window then decided to open nalang since the way we're going has fresh air.
Napangiti ako ng tumama sakin ang sariwang hangin at napatingin sa kalangitan.
It seems like it's about to rain but still, I don't feel disappointed kundi mas napangiti ako.
The gray sky seems comforting for this day.
"Grey sky and ready to Rain.. Grey.. Rain.." I smiled then just rested my head on my seat sabay pikit para damhin ang hangin.
"Ms.Trisha Valery andito na po tayo." Napamulat ako dahil roon and I didn't even realized na naka tulog pala ko sa byahe siguro dahil na rin sa puyat ko lately.
I rubbed my eyes at kuha na sa mga dala ko matapos akong pagbuksan ng pintuan.
I smiled halfway pagkalabas ng makita ko ang naka golden lettering sa bungad.
'Grein's Garden'
The guards who's securing the premises opened the gate for me dahil kilala na nila ko at nag lakad nako papasok sa pribadong lugar at hindi ko maiwasan mamangha kung gaano ito kaganda sa loob no matter how many times I've been here na para bang nasa isa kang magandang panaginip kaya bawal rin talaga sasakyan basta rito to preserved the natural surrounding if possible.
The flowers are in bloom that even butterflies and birds are just flying freely, and on the side, there's a lake and even some hills at sa di kalayuan ay matatanaw mo naman ang dagat. The scenery really seems like a paradise napaka ganda.
Nag patuloy ako sa paglalakad papasok hanggang sa mapadpad sa nag iisang malaking puno at sa likod ay tanaw ang dagat, doon ay may dalawang statue ng babae at lalaki na parehong may korona habang nakalilim sa puno at naka unan ang babae sa hita nito habang magkangitian pa sila.
Napangiti ako dahil ang ganda nilang pagmasdan lalo na siguro kung hindi lang sila statue dahil mas makikita mo pagmamahalan sa mga mata nila sa paraan palang ng ngiti sa mga labi nila.
Huminto ako sa harapan ng lapida at nagsindi ng kandila and instead of flowers, I put down my own written story na kanina ko lang natapos. I want her to be the first one na makabasa nito kung sakali man mababasa nya to sa langit.
'Taming the Legendary Phoenix written by Trisha Valery'
I do pray and hope because this one is dedicated to her.. for them.
Grey Leisen.
Aristia Rain Soleil. / Mrs.Leisen..
"Hey tito Grey.. Tita Tia.." I paused, then smiled.
"Not tita but mommy Aristia.." Pagtatama ko kasabay non ang pangingilid ng luha ko.
Napatingala ako sa kalangitan upang mapigil maging emosyonal bago nag pasya na umupo sa damuhan sa pagitan nilang dalawa para mag kwento na madalas kong gawin.
"Mommy.. Tito daddy... I'm now officially 18 and an author at the same time a business woman about to be a CEO sa company at young age can you believe that?" Proud kong sabi sabay tingin sa manuscript ko na nakabalot ng plastic pa.
"I'm also writing stories as my hobby... ilan books na rin po nasulat ko na puro Phoenix ang pinaka tauhan and amazingly tinangkilik naman to and yea, I'm 18 now and normal lang buhay ko. Walang mafia, walang gulo at dahil po yon sa inyo.."
My tears fell na agad kong pinahid at haplos sa lapida ni mommy Aristia.
"I wrote Phoenix because I want to share to other people how amazing the Phoenix I know.. more than the legendary bird.. the Phoenix na gusto kong tumatak hindi lang sakin kundi para sa iba and it's you.. it's your story and tito."
"Mom... thank you.. thank you kasi kahit wala kana pinaparamdam mo pa rin sakin na nandyan ka lang, na tuwing birthday ko o may special occasion ay sinisiguro mo na may simple gifts akong matatanggap na mula sayo na para bang alam mo ng ma aachieved ko talaga yon.." Pumatak ang luha ko na agad ko rin pinahid habang nakangiti.
"I received the flowers this morning and heard before mula sa flower shop na halos bilihin mo na raw negosyo nila before just to make sure na mapapadalhan ako ng flowers kahit anong mangyari kasi favorite ko yon at pinapatanong pa kung kamusta kana, nagandahan ata sayo masyado mommy kaya unforgettable ka sa kanila.." Medyo natatawang biro ko.
Muli kong pinahid luha ko at tumungo sandali sa mga tuhod ko at bend ng ulo unti habang nakatingin sa pangalan nya.
"Mommy I'm sorry.. I'm sorry if I'm too late to call you my mom, it must have been painful to you na Tita lang kaya kong itawag sayo noon after all your sacrifices just to make sure na hindi ako mapapahamak.. m-mommy I'm so sorry if hindi ko man lang nasuklian man lang yon. I'm sorry kung wala ko sa tabi mo kung kelan ako na kailangan mo."
Nadama ko marahang haplos ng hangin sa balat ko na kinangiti ko ng mapait.
"Nakayakap ka po ba sakin ngayon mommy?" I asked at napahawak sa balikat ko.
"Miss na po kita sobra.. I missed my Tita Tia na tinatawagan ko para ih comfort ako or masabihan ko kung kamusta araw ko, sasabihan ng mga dreams ko paglaki at sasabihin sakin na proud sa ginagawa ko and my Tita Phoenix na handang itago ang itsura sa maskara para lang masiguradong hindi ako masasaktan.. miss ko na yakap mo.. I miss the simple tapped on my shoulder at haplos sa pisngi ko at sasabihin sakin na I'm the best gift ever.. na lahat ng yon ikaw rin.."
"Mommy... I'm healed.. d-daddy finally cured me and I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry mommy kasi dama ko na iba ka even before he cured me, dama ko na gusto kita laging nakakausap, nakakasama.. Na kapag nandyan ka pakiramdam ko lahat ng bigat nawawala, lahat ng sakit naiibsan, lahat ng pagsubok makakayanan pero mas inuna ko yung takot ko.. mas iniintindi ko yung sakit physically pero nakalimutan ko na kung masakit sakin yon what more pa yung sayo?"
Napaiyak ako lalo na madama ko patak ng ulan sa balat ko at napatungo.
"Mommy I missed you... I missed you so much.." I uttered at pahid ng luha ko at nangangatog na kamay na binuksan yung box na regalo niya na napadala rin kaninang umaga and saw that there's some letter in a bottle with a card inside so I read the card first.
'Sweetie... Happy 18th birthday... I love you no matter what, no matter where I ended up.. I'll always love you.. that's my first words to you.'
I smiled and I mouthed the same to her at binasa muli ang kasunod ng liham.
'Everytime you feel sad, just get one letter on that bottle. In that way, you will still feel that I'm just there… There's three bottles there with different colored paper.. Pink if you're happy and read what I want to say to you, Gray if you want advice and Sky blue if you're sad and want to smile.. I hope I can make you smile though.. From Tita Tia, love you my baby..'
I swallowed hard at gaya ng nasa liham kumuha ako ng isa sa sky blue since I felt so sad.
'Smile for me baby.. don't be sad.. Tita Tia will be sad too.'
Napahagulgol ako at yakap sa maliit na letter dahil halatang hirap na sya mag sulat ng mga sandaling ginagawa nya to pero she still tried her best to manage para sakin, para makasiguro na masasabi nya pa to kahit hirap na sya.
Kinagat ko pang ibabang labi ko upang pigilan ang emosyon pero hindi ko magawa let alone to smile dahil sobrang sakit.
I cried my hearts out hanggang sa madama kong umuulan na rin ng malakas at halos basa nako ng may mag payong sakin.
"Anak.. You might get sick." Nilingon ko si daddy at agad akong napatayo at yakap sa kanya ng mahigpit.
"Daddy... s-si Mommy Rainny... s-she loves me.. mahal na mahal ako ni mommy.."
Dad caressed my back at dama ko pangangatal rin nya, he's crying too for me.. for us because I know that just like me he missed her too, he missed her and his brother so much and still blaming himself.
"She do.. she really do.. your mom is the most amazing woman I ever met.. she loves you and cares for you and no one can even compare to that, not even me.. She loves you Trisha unconditionally till the very end." Sabi ni daddy at mas napa hagulgol ako dahil sa bigat ng nararamdaman ko kasabay ng matinding regrets.
"Trish.." I heard at dahan-dahan napahiwalay ng yakap kay dad at nakita ko si Tita Jade na nakahawak sa tyan nya kasama si Tito Raven na pinapayungan asawa nya.
"Tita Jade!" I called at lapit agad sa kanya at yumakap.
"I missed you sweetie.." She said at yakap sakin pabalik at napangiti na rin ako because seeing her feels like I saw Tita Phoenix once again since my mom used her face before para makalapit sakin ng madalian.
Humiwalay ako ng yakap at punas sa mga luha ko at nag bend unti.
"Hey little one.." I said at haplos sa tiyan ni tita at lingon kay tito Raven.
"Kamusta po kayo tito?" I asked then he smiled.
"Doing good.. gonna be a father soon.." He proudly said at napangiti naman si tita Jade dahil roon habang mag katinginan sila sa isa't-isa at at halik sa ulunan ni tita Jade.
They really looked like a happy couple and the story they have is unusual but still the sweetest story if ever dahil si mommy pa raw pinaka naging tulay nila para magkalapit which is tita Jade's first love dahil second lang daw si tito.
Nilingon ko si Daddy Vlad na nilalagyan na ng bulaklak yung dalawang nitso.
"Oyy Vlad, saan mo na naman kinuha yang bulaklak na yan?" Tanong ni tita Jade sabay lingon ni daddy at may nginuso sa sulok na mga tanim sabay pokerface ni tita at lingon kay tito Raven.
"My beloved Emperor.. alam mo na." Sabi pa nya and before I know it, hinabol na ni tito Raven si daddy na tawa lang ng tawa habang basang-basa na sila sa ulan na parang mga bata.
Napailing nalang ako at hinayaan na sila dahil ganyan naman sila palagi ni tito Raven. They are frenemies because I think mas ok yon na description pero they are in good terms naman at parang magkapatid na rin ang turingan lalo na when it comes to me. Lahat sila magkatuwang lahat para gabayan ako dahil siguro habilin ni mommy sa kanila.
Lumapit si tita Jade sa nitso at ako na nag presintang humawak ng payong nya at mag lapag ng bulaklak since she can't bend anyway.
"Hi my beloved Queen.. kamusta na kayo ni Lovey at baby mo dyn?" She asked at napatingin naman muli ako sa lapida at akbay sakin ni tita.
"You know what Trisha.. your mom is full of surprises." Sabi nya na kinalingon ko pero mga mata nya ay may mga luha na at nakatingin lang sa harapan.
"This place is your mom's favorite place dahil dito sya unang dinala ng tito Grey mo and that statue, si tito Grey mo naman nagpa ukit nyan to surprised your mom if ever they visit again dahil dyn sa lilim na yan umamin mommy mo na mahal nya na si tito Grey mo." Kwento ni tita at napangiti ako dahil doon.
"Mahal na mahal talaga ni tito daddy si mommy." Sabi ko at tumango si tita dahil doon.
"No doubt.. Grey love's my Queen more than much but sadly, hindi na sila nakabalik pa rito na magkasama and my Queen is the only one who saw the finished statue kasi hindi na rin ito nakita ni tito Grey mo."
"Si mommy na lang? Why?"
"Because maybe your tito is too hurt to even reminisce this place since marami silang memories sa lugar nato ng mommy mo nung sila pa.. Your tito bought this whole place for your mom, he works hard for this not relying to anyone kasi dito nya gustong mag tayo ng bahay nila pag kinasal na sila ni mommy mo but then now, here they are.. dito na sila pero hindi sa bahay gaya ng pangarap nila." Mapait na napangiti si tita at buntong hininga.
"We're the one who sent her here that day.. We know that she wants to go here kaya dito namin sya dinala at yun ang unang beses na dinala namin mommy mo rito sa himlayan ng tito daddy mo kung saan nag plano si Grey na dito rin gaganapin yung proposal sana nya kay My Queen. Your tito daddy want to propose then get married the same day dahil ayaw nyang mawala pa sa buhay nya si mommy mo. He really love your mom so much even ignoring the fact na malala na sakit ng mommy mo." Sabay lingon sakin ni Tita, "Your tito Karsen told me that story, that's what Grey's plan ng tawagan daw sya before na surpresahin si mommy mo para sabay nila makita yan statue kaso may mga nangyari kaya hindi na nya nagawa.."
Pumatak luha ko dahil doon at nakinig pa rin.
"Kami ni tito mo nagdala sa mommy mo rito, your tito carried My Queen because she can't walk, halos hindi ko na rin makilala si My Queen.. the experiments and suffering became too much for her body to handle." She said then she sobbed at alo ko sa kanya kahit ganun na rin ako.
"W-we felt it already.. Dama namin na yung araw na yon na once we let her see this place, she'll finally be at peace and we can't bear it anymore to see her like that... So.. So we took her here, to let her go kahit sobrang sakit.. Para kaming dinudurog." Sabi pa nya at napaiyak pa lalo.
I just cried with her in silent at pahid sa luha ko.
"Tita.. when mommy died, what she looks like? Is she... in pain?" I asked then tita shook her head at medyo humigpit hawak sa balikat ko dahil sa tahimik na pag iyak nya pero nagawa pa rin ngumiti at tingin sa lapida.
"She's smiling... she has the most beautiful smile that day, napaka ganda ni My Queen.. napaka ganda ng ngiti ni My Queen ng mga sandaling unti-unti na syang binabawian ng buhay katabi si tito daddy mo."
I bite my lower lip to stop my sobbed dahil for some reason naiimagine ko ngiti nya sa mga sandaling yon.
"She loves your tito Grey so much so maybe that's why in the end, she's smiling like that as if she never been in pain kasi kasama nya na finally yung taong sobrang mahal nya at kapatid mo." Sabi ni tita at sandal ko naman ng ulo ko sa balikat nya.
"If your mom can, she still gonna choose to spend more time with you if possible kasi mahal na mahal ka rin ni My Queen but maybe God's plans for her are different.. He wants her to take a break for all the pain that this world throwing at her.." Napaluha ako roon at yakap kay tita.
"I know tita and I don't feel upset kay mommy because till now she's doing her best to make me feel loved. That she loves me more than her life and that's why I'm living like this.. no war, no pain... I'm just enjoying my life to the fullest and thinking that everyday is a gift that I should treasure dahil buhay nila yung naging sacrificed para maranasan ko to." Nakangiti habang naluhang sabi ko at kasabay naman non ang unti-unti muling pag sikat ng araw at ang unang tinamaan ng sinag ng liwanag ay ang statue nila.
"Trisha.. I want to give you something." Tita Jade said na kinahiwalay ko ng yakap sa kanya.
"This is the letter that she gave before on your 8th birthday na tito Raven mo pa inutusan but I think it got misplaced kaya si tito Raven mo pa naka kuha muli since it says that don't open till you're 18 so he kept it and that is today so we want you to have this.." She explained and handed me an unopened letter na parang pamilyar sakin.
My heart was pounding fast because I remembered this..
My tears fell once again at mas napaiyak.
"Tita.. i-it didn't got misplaced." I said at dama kong napatingin muli sakin si tita Jade. "Tita... I was the one who thrown it. Ako po mismo nag tapon nito dahil hindi laruan and also, the waiting is too long for just a letter to open... I was too impatient." Pag amin ko at tingin kay tita.
She sighed and saw the sadness na kinatungo ko but she just tapped my shoulder.
"Don't be sad Trish.. I understand and even my Queen for sure understand.. But time.... it's precious because once the time passes, you won't be able to return it back." She said and just smiled halfway.
"I let you read it alone for now anak, I'll just walked around the area since naninigas tiyan ko pag nakatayo lang ako ng matagal." Sabi ni tita then I nod at abot ko sa kanya ng payong kahit hindi na rin naman naulan.
Pinagmasdan ko lang sya na umalis at lapit naman agad ni tito Raven sa kanya para umalalay and saw that tito Chase and tito Karsen together with their wife na kakarating lang para bumisita na rin rito pero nag sama-sama na muna sila sa may gazebo because maybe tita Jade's telling them to let me be alone for now.
She's their Empress Jade Soleil Von Clyde after all.
Muli kong itinuon ang atensyon ko sa liham na hawak ko na maingat kong binuksan kasabay ng bigat muli sa dibdib ko at unang bungad palang ay nag unahan na muli tumulo luha ko.
~To my beloved daughter, Trisha Valery..~
It says... I felt a stabbing pain on my chest but I still chose na basahin na ito.
Anak.. pinakamamahal kong anak... Today is your 18th birthday. You're a grown up woman now. I wonder kung sino samin ni daddy mo pinaka kamukha mo.
I smiled at tingin sa lapida. "Ikaw po mommy.. they said I really looked like you." Sagot ko habang naluha at muling nag patuloy.
You're 18 now.. parang kelan lang ng unang mabuhat kita at marinig mula sayo ang pinaka magandang narinig na tinawag sakin.. 'Mommy Rainny..' you know what anak, I always smile everytime na maaalala ko yon dahil sobrang saya ko na meron akong ikaw.. That I was blessed to have a daughter who's bright, sweet and lovely and I can't believe na akin ka, na ako mommy mo at habang buhay kong ipagmamalaki yon kahit saan ako magpunta that I have a daughter named Trisha Valery..
Anak.. I want to say sorry.. I'm so sorry kung wala ako sa tabi mo, I'm so sorry dahil hindi ko man lang naalagaan ka. I should be the one na nagpapatahan sayo, nag hehele, nag aalaga at nagsisigurado na ayos pagtulog mo sa gabi. How I wished na sana nagawa ko man lang sayo yon anak. Kahit isang beses man lang para masabi kong naalagaan man lang kita, na nagampanan ko pagiging mommy ko sayo kahit isang araw lang pero ganun pa man, hindi ako galit kahit kanino kundi nagagalit ako sa sarili ko dahil naging mahina rin naman ako.
I was weak, mommy Aristia is weak and that's why I chose to hide and also thankful to your mommy Angel and daddy Vlad dahil napalaki ka nila ng ayos so if you can, please tell them na sobrang nag papasalamat ako and stop blaming themselves because I don't blame anyone so instead, tell them that I'm thankful for them.. for everything they both done for you na hindi ko magawa. Thank you for showering you the love that I can't show you sobrang thankful ako.
My baby is grown up now and maybe right at this very moment na binabasa mo na'to ay wala nako dyan sa tabi mo and for that, I'm sorry.. I'm so sorry anak kung wala na si mommy para ipag bake ka man lang ng cake at ihanda party mo pero anak sana madama mo pa rin na mahal na mahal na mahal kita at never yon mag pi fade and if ever you missed me tingin ka lang sa kalangitan.
If ever you miss me, just look up at the sky because I will always be there watching you behind the Clouds and at night, I will be your Star and when it Rain, I will be the Raindrops and after the Raindrops, I'll be your Rainbow.. never akong mawawala sayo dahil gaya ko, lagi kang nasa puso ko.. Happy birthday my dearest and I hope that you're enjoying your day with your loved ones and live your life to the fullest because you deserve all the best thing in this world.
Mahal na mahal kita anak, till we meet again... Love, Empress Aristia Rain Soleil, VonClyde.. Trisha Valery's mommy Rainny...
Matapos kong basahin ang liham ay nanghihina akong napaupo at napahagulgol.
"I love you too mommy.. s-sobra. I know na masaya kana dyn kasama kapatid ko at si tito Grey… M-mommy I'll do my best to treasure this life you've given me.. mahal na mahal na mahal rin kita... T-till we meet again and when that happen... I'll call you my mommy Rainny each time and that time, A-ako naman babawi sa pagkukulang ko bilang anak mo.." Sabi ko habang nahikbing napatingala sa kalangitan at gaya ng sabi nya, I saw the rainbow after the Raindrops just above me at sa mga sandaling to ay may nadama akong pumatak na tubig sa pisngi ko mula sa kalangitan kasabay ng marahang haplos ng hangin na para bang hinagkan ang pisngi ko at niyakap na mas kinapatak ng luha ko.
She's with me... she always is... inside my heart...
Till we meet again mommy Aristia Rain..
The most amazing Phoenix, the Legendary.
•••••••••••••
Pa request... 🥲🥲
Please leave comment for those who finish the whole story even emoticon so I know that someone did finish it. 🥹🥹🥹
(Ito po kasi talaga 1st story na nagawa ko, panganay sya sa lahat ng kathang isip na storya na nalikha ko, Reason bakit nagpatuloy pa kong mag sulat ng iba pa.)🥲
Once again, Thank you readers....
TTLA is officially signing off..