NOTE: Hello, dear Asychers! Please be informed that this story is currently under revision, so you may notice some changes in the first nine chapters. I hope you'll enjoy getting to know Fourth and Niezkha even more. Happy reading! 🫶🏻
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"My Family, My Treasure
They say that the best wealth is not money but having a happy family, and I believe that is true. For me, no toy or treasure can ever be better than having a complete and loving family. I feel so lucky because I was born into a family where our days are full of laughter, light, and love.
At my young age, my little brother and I don't need to worry about hard things in life because Mommy and Daddy are always there to take care of us. They work very hard so we can eat good food, have nice clothes, and live in a comfortable home. But what I love the most is the love and guidance they give me every day. They always remind me that real happiness comes from family, not from money or things.
That is why I treasure every moment I spend with them. I know that as I grow older, I will remember the lessons they teach me—kindness, love, and being together. For me, my family will always be the greatest gift in my life."
"Mommy! Daddy!" sigaw ko habang mabilis akong tumakbo pababa sa sala, sabik na ipakita ang essay na sinulat ko.
"Janine, careful! Baka mahulog ka sa hagdan, anak," nag-aalalang sabi ni Mommy habang sinalubong niya ako sa may hagdan.
"Look! I finished writing my essay na po!"
Napatingin sila pareho sa akin at ngumiti. Kinuha ni Mommy ang papel mula sa kamay ko at mabilis na sinulyapan.
"Wow! My eldest managed to write three paragraphs! I'm so proud of you, anak ko," sabi ni Mommy sabay yakap at halik sa akin.
Si Daddy naman ay tumingin din sa papel and had the same reaction as Mommy. "Wow! Ang galing-galing naman ng baby ko," sabi ni Daddy habang ginugulo pa ang buhok ko.
"Daddy, I'm not a baby anymore!" protesta ko. "I'm seven years old na po kaya!"
"Silly! You're still my baby, my princess," tugon ni Daddy na nakangiti.
"I feel like I'm going to cry because of this essay you wrote, my precious daughter," dagdag ni Mommy, halatang naiiyak habang nakatingin sa papel.
"Shh... it's okay, hon," sabi ni Daddy habang niyakap si Mommy. "Come on, my Queen and my Princess. Let's sit here on the couch so Mommy and Daddy can read the essay for you, our little princess, and of course, to our little prince, too."
Umupo kaming lahat sa couch—si Daddy, si Mommy, ako, at ang little brother kong si Nico, na dalawang taon pa lang. Hindi niya masyadong naiintindihan ang nangyayari, pero masaya siyang nakisiksik sa tabi namin habang hawak-hawak ang paborito niyang toy car.
Binasa ni Mommy nang dahan-dahan ang essay ko habang si Daddy ay nakangiti lang at paminsan-minsan ay pumapalakpak para kay Nico, na ginagaya rin ang ginagawa nila. Napuno ng tawanan at saya ang buong sala habang pinapakinggan namin ang bawat linya.
Pagkatapos basahin, hinawakan ni Mommy ang kamay ko at tiningnan ako nang diretso. "Janine, your essay was so beautiful. You wrote it with love, and that's what makes us very proud of you," sabi niya.
Tumango si Daddy, pero halata sa mukha niya na may gusto pa siyang idagdag. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Mommy at sabay silang ngumiti.
"Anak," Daddy finally spoke. "Since you wrote about family... Mommy and I think this is the perfect time to share something with you and Nico."
Napatitig ako sa kanila, curious. "What is it po?"
Hinawakan ni Mommy ang maliit na tiyan niya at ngumiti. "Janine... you're going to be a big sister again. Mommy is pregnant, and this time, it's a baby girl!"
Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sobrang tuwa. "Really, Mommy?! Daddy?! I'm going to have a baby sister?!"
Tumalon ako sa couch at niyakap silang dalawa nang mahigpit. "Yay! Ang saya-saya po!"
Si Nico naman, nakisama rin sa excitement—pumalakpak siya at sumigaw ng, "Baby! Baby sister! Yay!"
"Yes, Nico! You heard it right, ah?" sabi ko sa kapatid ko habang pinanggigilan ko ang magkabilang pisngi niya. "Kuya ka na, and Ate na ulit ako! Ang saya, right?"
Mommy and Daddy looked at us with big smiles on their faces. I reached out and hugged them both.
"Thank you po for this beautiful news, Mommy, Daddy," I said. "We'll really become a big happy family na po. I'm so happy!"
Siniksik naman ni Nico ang sarili niya at yumakap din sa amin. "Group hug! Yay!"
We embraced each other tightly and laughed together. At that moment, our home felt even warmer and happier.
And just when I thought we would become a big, happy family, an accident happened that shattered everything.
It was my eighth birthday.
Mommy, Daddy, Nico, and I went to my favorite place—a small theme park in the city. I was so excited because Mommy said we could ride the carousel, and Daddy promised to buy me the biggest cotton candy. Nico, even though he was only two, kept pointing at the colorful balloons, laughing as he clapped his tiny hands.
Everything felt perfect. The sun was shining, music was playing, and I could feel how happy we all were together. Hawak-hawak ako ni Mommy habang karga ni Daddy si Nico sa balikat niya. We looked like the happiest family, just like in the essay I had written.
On our way back to the car, Daddy and little Nico had already crossed the street. Mommy and I followed behind. As we were walking, my hair clip suddenly slipped off and fell to the ground. I quickly bent down to pick it up.
Pag-angat ng tingin ko, sakto kong nakita si Mommy... at ang isang mabilis na kotse na humaharurot papunta sa amin. Nanlamig ako. Kita ko ang pagkabigla sa mga mata ni Mommy, at sa isang iglap, itinulak niya ako nang malakas palayo.
Nalaglag ako sa kalsada, hilo at nanginginig. Akala ko ligtas na ako. Pero biglang tumigil ang kotse, umatras, at dumiretso ulit sa direksyon ko. Hindi na ako nakagalaw. Ang huli kong naramdaman ay ang matinding sakit at narinig ko pa ang sigaw ni Daddy bago tuluyang dumilim ang lahat.
Pagdilat ko muli ng mga mata, I saw the walls were white.
"Doctor! Please! Save them! My wife... my child... please save them both! Do everything you can!"
It was Daddy's voice. I knew it anywhere. Pero iba siya ngayon—basag, desperado, halos parang hindi na siya humihinga habang sumisigaw.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Sebastian, but we all did our—"
"No! Please! No! My wife... Kahit 'yung asawa ko na lang, please..."
I wanted to stand. I wanted to run to him. Pero hindi ko kaya. Mabigat ang katawan ko. Masakit. Parang binuhusan ng yelo ang buong kaluluwa ko.
The lights flickered. Machines kept beeping. My chest tightened.
"Mommy... Daddy..." mahina kong tawag, halos hindi lumalabas ang boses ko. No one answered.
Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. Naiyak na rin ako. Daddy's cries made me cry too. Parang ramdam ko rin 'yung sakit na dinadala niya ngayon.
I turned my head slightly, kahit hirap. That's when I saw him.
A boy. Halos kaedad ko lang. Standing just outside the glass window of the room. His hair was messy, damp, and his eyes... his eyes were a strange, piercing gray.
He was just staring at me. Not blinking. Not moving.
Parang alam niya kung anong nangyayari. Parang matagal na niya akong kilala.
My chest tightened even more. I wanted to look away, pero hindi ko kaya. My tears blurred my vision, and when I blinked... he was gone.
Parang wala naman talagang tao kanina.
I shivered. Lalong lumakas ang kaba ko.
I tried to call my parents again, mas malakas this time. "Mommy! Daddy!"
Daddy appeared by the door, hawak-hawak si Nico na nakadikit sa balikat niya. His eyes were swollen, his face pale. When he saw me awake, he rushed forward, grabbed my hand, and kissed it again and again.
"Anak... Janine... thank God... thank God you're alive, my princess..." His voice cracked, trembling with every word.
"D-Daddy... where's M-Mommy? Is she o-okay? How about my baby s-sister? Nakita ko 'yung k-kotse..."
His lips trembled. His eyes filled again. He didn't answer. He just pulled me closer, hugging me so tight, like I would disappear too.
"Daddy..." my voice broke. "N-no... please..."
He shook his head slowly. Painfully. His tears finally fell.
"I'm sorry... I couldn't protect the three of you..." nanghihinang sabi niya habang tuloy-tuloy ang pagluha. "Your Mommy... and baby Dahlia... they're gone, anak. I'm sorry I failed to keep them safe..."
The world stopped.
No sound. No light. Nothing.
I screamed until my throat burned. I kicked, I hit, I cried. I wanted it to be a lie. I wanted her to walk in and hug me, tell me Daddy was wrong. But no matter how much I begged, no matter how much I cried—she never came.
Nico started crying too, small and confused. He didn't understand. He kept saying, "Mommy... Dahlia..." while reaching out to the door.
And that broke me more.
In that white, cold hospital room... I realized my world would never be the same again.
I was only eight.
And just when I thought we would become a big, happy family... everything was shattered.
I lost my mother...
My baby sister...
And a piece of myself I would never get back.
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j e e a s y c