It was on the 5th day of April when everyone was to set aside all things. A day to observe great loss and pay respect and honor to their loved ones who departed in this world.
To everyone in the house especially JA, she could never forget the day, when she lost two important people in her life. The first one was her one great love Ryle, and the other one was her dad, Leandro Arcelo.
As she was looking at old photos of her dad and Ryle stored on her cellphone, she could not help herself but shed tears. The fifth of April eight years ago was the day when Ryle was taken away from her by death. And it was exactly the same date two years ago when her father had gone unexpectedly.
“Are you ready now sweetie? Our flight is at 9:00 0’ clock. So, we should go now, for us not to be caught by heavy traffic”, Jareed uttered when he went inside her room.
They planned to visit first Ryle’s grave in the province, and after that to her dad’s grave. They’re doing this every year in order to give honor and respect to their souls.
Jareed contacted their family driver to drive them to the airport since they would not be bringing with them their personal cars.
When everyone is already ready, they went inside the Ford raptor, with Mrs. Mercedez sitting in the passenger’s seat while the four of them, she, Jareed, Jungwon, and Nanny were sitting in the back seat.
******
At the airport, when they were boarding the plane, JA was in deep thought thinking about her past memories with Ryle. She could not forget him because he always had a very special place in her heart. She was thinking what her life would be if Ryle is still alive now.
“J.A yah, gwaenchana?”, Jungwon asked.
“Ne”, she responded. She looked at him and smiled. Jungwon is always like that to her, so sweet, caring, and gentle. Even before when they first met in Korea during the wedding of her mom, Jungwon treated her so nicely. But despite his good characteristics, she doesn’t have feelings for him because she just treated him as her brother and a friend.
Jungwon worked as an accountant in one of the advertising agencies in South Korea. Many women swooned over him because he has similarities with the Korean actor Park Hyung Sik. He had plenty of flings but he never had a serious relationship with any of them.
After some time of thinking, the plane started flying to its destination. It would take a one-hour travel from Manila to Mindanao province, so JA took a nap for her mind to rest for a while.
After an hour, the plane landed at Davao airport.
She’s here again to the place where she left plenty of memories. The place where she received hatred and rejection from the people around her. But she had to set aside all those sad thoughts because she is not here to reminisce those times but to visit Ryle.
First, they dropped by at a certain flower shop and bought some flowers. Then they headed towards Davao Memorial Park, where Ryle laid his rest.
“Ryle, I’m here again”, she whispered while tears were flowing from her eyes.
“I missed you so much Ryle. Please visit me in my dreams”, she uttered.
Her family as well were paying their respect to Ryle. And after some time, they departed the place. They had to catch the flight going back to Manila at 12:00 noon. But they need to take their lunch first, so they decided to go to a cozy restaurant in Davao.
Their time in the province only took two hours and then, they went back to Manila.
*******
Recuerdo Memorial Gardens, Quezon City-Philippines.
The place where her father was buried. She was getting emotional again as she headed her way first to her dad’s grave.
“Daddy, I missed you so much. I love you dad.”, she whispered and began to cry. She closed her eyes because she wanted to recall those moments she spent with her dad.
Two years back in time.
“What are you writing there sweetheart?” Mr. Leandro asked her one fine morning when she was on the rooftop sitting on a wooden bench while staring at the blue clear sky.
“I am writing a poem dad. I want to become a writer” she responded wearing a cute smile on her lips.
She was still 13 years old at that time when she discovered her talent in writing. She had three dreams in life. The first one is to become a psychologist, doing psychological counseling while teaching children. The second is to become a writer, particularly in poetry because she likes the idea of using figurative language. And the third one is to become a professional singer.
“Oh really! Let me see your work sweetheart”, her dad exclaimed in excitement.
“I hope you will like this dad”, she said happily. Then she handed down her writing to her dad.
You are the epitome of love and delight,
The sunshine of my life, the blessing from above,
Your loving and tender care touch my heart,
You’re my special someone, the apple of my eyes
You’re a gift from God, you’re beyond compare,
That could not easily be found anywhere,
Thank you so much for being my dad,
The real epitome of love and delight.
**********
Mr. Leandro smiled after reading the poem. He pulled her a hug and messed up her hair.
“Wow, I never thought that this poem is for me sweetheart! Amazing! Thank you”, her father exclaimed and kissed her forehead. Then they chuckled as she encircled her hand into her dad’s waist.
“Will you support me in my writing career dad?”, she asked tenderly.
“Of course, sweetheart! I will always be at your side no matter what. I am so proud of you”, her father’s words of encouragement really warmed her heart.
“Thank you so much dad, you’re my inspiration in writing”, she exclaimed.
“Oh, really? What about your mom and Jareed, are they not your inspirations as well?”
“Umm, they are also my inspirations dad. But you’re my no. 1”, she said and laughed.
“Promise me dad, you’ll not gonna leave me”
“Yes sweetheart, I promise”, her father responded and the two of them did the pinky promise. Afterwards, they chuckled and hugged each other.
She admits she was more closed to her dad than to her mom. That’s why she was called “daddy’s girl” in the house. It was always her dad who recognized and admired her in all aspects. It was always her dad who gave her advices on what to do, comforted her during times of loneliness and sadness. Even though her father was always busy at work, but he never forget to talk to her over the phone when he was away from home. She loved her father so much but she also loved her mom. It’s just that her mom was more attached to Jareed than to her. But she had no hurt feelings at all because at the end of the day, they are still her family.
Since that time, she was inspired to write stories until she went to college, she continued her passion in writing and her father was the first reader of all her works. She was encouraged by her family to publish her stories online, but she just said she would do that after she finished her studies. But unfortunately, it did not come to reality, because when she was still in her 3rd year, she experienced great trials in life.
One Saturday morning, her family had an outing to one of the pristine beaches in Quezon City. They usually had family outings during weekends for them to give a tiny break from their mundane life. And their favorite places to unwind were mostly beaches and resorts.
As soon as they reached their destination, JA ran towards the clear blue waters, cupped some of it into her hand, and splashed it all over Jareed’s face. Then she burst out into laughter. Her brother had nothing to do but laugh as well while chasing her until they plunged into the water.
After some time her mom and Nanny followed them but her dad remained in the cottage.
“Dad, come here! Dad! Let’s go swimming!”, she called him while waving her hand. But her dad just smiled and signaled her to just continue swimming.
But as she was looking at her dad from a distance, she felt there’s something wrong. Suddenly her dad was lying on the ground.
“Dad! dad! What happened to you?”, she shouted emotionally while running towards her father. Everyone followed her with their eyes full of worry.
She saw her father’s nose was bleeding and it seemed he was not anymore breathing. Jareed hurriedly carried his father into his arms and brought him inside the car. Everyone was at haste in packing things afterwards, they departed the place and rushed to the nearest hospital.
Jareed was the one driving the car while she and her mother were holding Leandro’s hand.
“Dad, please…” she sobbed.
“Leandro, please don’t give up!”, her mother cried.
But when they reached in the hospital, her father was declared Dead on Arrival (DOA) due to blood clots in the brain.
For JA, that was the saddest time in her life. No words could ever define the grief and sorrow she felt for losing her ideal man, her number one inspiration, fan and supporter.
“Daddy, daddy, why did you leave me?”, she cried and cried so hard.
She knew her life would never be the same, the moment her father was gone.
End of flashback
********
“Sweetie, are you okay?”, Jareed asked and pulled her a hug.
“Dear, it’s okay stop crying now”, Mrs. Mercedez comforted her and tapped her shoulder.
“J.A. yah…jebal keuman ul-eo (please stop crying JA)”, Jungwon said in a soft voice.
JA opened her eyes and looked around. Then she remembered, she was with her family in Recuerdo Memorial Gardens, and she was crying in front of her father’s grave.
How could she ever forget this day when she lost two important people in her life?