The Redemption of Lady Cosette

MATAMIS na napangiti ang anim na taong gulang na si Alica nang matanaw ang batang si Xander sa playground ng Village na tinitirhan nito. It was Sunday morning and this is the only day where she can go to whatever places she would love to. Dati ay sa mga parke siya nagre-request sa daddy niya na gumala. But now, she wants here, to Westville where she can see Xander– her crush. Unang kita niya palang dito ay may nabuo ng pakiramdam sa puso niya. Sa murang edad ay alam na niyang may pagtingin siya sa lalaki. It was not hard to have an attraction and be drawn to the little boy, for his physical appearance will tell you that he came from a good looking family and was created by both great genes. At the age of seven, little Alexander Vandreik Del Luca already possessed an intimidating presence that even adults will find it difficult to look into his gray eyes. And those characteristics worsen Alica's attraction towards the little boy even more. She really adores him very much! “Hi Xander!” Alica beamed happily but Xander just ignored her and continued reading a Science Fiction book bought by his father, Xavier Dreik Del Luca— a famous business tycoon. Alica pouted towards Xander's cold treatment. Argh! He's always like that! But she will never give up! Mabilis siyang tumabi ng upo sa bench na inuupuan ni Xander. Nakatanaw lang 'di kalayuan sa kanila ang mga bantay nila. She smiled at Xander again kahit hindi ito nakatingin sa kanya. “What are you reading?” she asked him. Even though she already knew the title of the book Xander was reading, it was Harry Potter. “What happened in that part, Xander?” She asked again but Xander acted like he didn't hear her at all, like she wasn't there. “Can I join to your reading? Pretty please?” But still no response from Xander. Bagama't nakakaramdam na si Alica ng pagkainis dahil sa inaasal ni Xander sa kanya ay ngumiti parin siya. Kapagkuwa'y may naisip siyang paraan upang pansinin na talaga siya ng lalaki. She know that what she will about to do will annoy Xander but what can she do? He won't notice her like she was just an air! “Look—he murmured, holding out his arm to stop Malfoy. Something bright white was gleaming on the ground. They inched closer. It was the unicorn all right, and it was dead!” She read loudly as she could and glanced at Xander whose brows are now furrowed but still didn't take even just a short glance at her. So she continued reading loudly, her head almost bang against Xander's. “Harry had never seen anything so beautiful and sad. Its long, slender legs were stuck out at odd angles where it had fallen and its mane was spread pearly-white on the dark leave—” “Will you stop bothering me? Your voice is so disturbing, Alica. When will you leave, huh?” Xander's cold voice startled Alica, making her cut her words. Bigla ay nag-init ang dalawang sulok ng mga mata niya. She wants to cry but she doesn't want Xander to see her crying. The last time she cried in front of him, the little boy just said she's a weakling and overreacting and Xander doesn't want to be friends with a weakling. That's why even though her tears badly want to fall down, she strongly holds them back. It was always like this, Xander pushing her away from him. Hindi niya maintindihan, wala naman kasi siyang maalalang ginawang kasalanan kay Xander. He is so hard to please. She just wanted to be friends with him, but it seems like Xander doesn’t feel the same way. Even so, hindi niya pa rin mapigilan ang sarili niyang lapitan ito. There is something that Alica couldn’t explain, something that pushes her towards Xander, something that urges her to approach him. It was something she couldn’t name. “I-I just got here, why do you want me to leave that fast?” she said in a tiny voice making Xander sighed in disgust. He doesn't want pabebe and OA, she knows that alright. But she just can't help it anymore, it feels like there's a stone in her throat making it hard for her to talk normally. “Don't cry, will you? I hate seeing you cry.” Xander said when he noticed Alica’s teary eyes. ‘Was he concerned about her? Oh, that's so sweet of him!’ Alica’s mind commented. So in hope, Alica asked, “Why? Because you feel sad too when you see me cry? You're concerned about me aren't you?” She's holding her smile but instantly feels dumped when Xander answers her assuming question. “Because your face looks so ugly when you cry, and I don't want to see ugly things, I hate them.” ani Xander at walang lingon-likod itong umalis at naglakad palayo. Doon ay napaiyak na talaga si Alica. How could he say that? Her? Ugly? “Ma'am Alica? Pinapauwi na raw po kayo ng Lola niyo.” Alica stopped crying and immediately wiped her tears away when she heard Mang Anton's voice, her personal driver hired by her father. She just answered 'okay po' and smiled at the old man. Mang Anton is in his fifties. Kahit na pinunasan na niya ang mga luha ay nahalata pa rin ng matanda ang pamumugto niyon, at alam na nito ang dahilan. Mang Anton smiled at her and held her little hands, he treated her like his own granddaughter. “Huwag ka ng umiyak, papansinin ka rin 'non. Baka may pinagdaraanan lang si sir kaya ayaw makipag-usap.” Alo ng matanda na ikinasimangot naman ng bata. “But he's always like that. So he's always may pinagdaraanan po? That's way too much! And he called me ugly a while ago Tatay Anton. I want to be mad at him po!” naiiyak na saad ng bata, hindi niya kasi matanggap na sinabihan siyang pangit ng mismong crush niya. “Kuuu, masamang maging mad sa ibang tao. Ano ba’ng itinuro ng mommy mo? 'Di ba bad ang maging mad? Nakalimutan mo na 'ga iyon?” ani matanda na napakamot pa ng ulo. “Huwag ka ng maging mad, kalimutan mo nalang muna ‘yon. Kung huminto na lang kaya tayo sandali doon sa parke na may maraming mga santan? ‘Di ba gusto mo doon?” saad ng matanda na siyang ikinaliwanag ng mukha ni Alica. Tatay Anton knows how much Alica loves santans, for it reminds her of her late mother, Alexa– who died in a bombing incident in Palawan two years ago. ____ “NAKAUWI na pala ang palamunin.” Nakataas ang kilay na saad ni Madisson nang makita ang papasok na si Alica. Lihim siyang napangiti nang makita ang malungkot na ekspresyon ng mukha nito. Bagama't iginala na ni Mang Anton si Alica sa parke na may maraming santan kanina ay pansamantala lamang ang kasiyahang naramdaman nito, pag-uwi ng bata ay mas lalo lamang itong nalungkot dahil muli nitong naalala ang pambabalewala ni Xander at pangungulila naman para sa namayapa na nitong ina. Madisson loves to see Alica sad and suffering. Ayaw niya kay Alica sapagkat malimit itong maikumpara sa anak niyang si Malia, na maitim daw ang anak niyang negra, na mas maganda, mabait at matalino daw ang batang si Alica kaysa sa anak niya. And she can't bear that! Plus the fact that Alica is the daughter of her stupid brother Marcus who stole millions in their family’s assets and business just for his gold digger– conniving b***h lover. “Good evening po, Tita.” Alica neglected the disgusted look from Madisson, instead, she greeted her politely. Mas lalong nainis si Madisson dahil parang na balewala lang ang pagtataray niya sa pamangkin. “Alam mo bang nalulungkot ako ngayon? Nalulungkot akong makita na bumalik ka pa. Sana hindi ka nalang umuwi rito, parehas lang naman kayo ng tatay mong pabigat sa pamilyang 'to!” galit na saad ni Madisson at nagmamartsang umakyat sa magarang hagdanan ng mansyon ng mga Ramos. At a young age, Alica already felt so many hurtful emotions. Being neglected, unwanted, disgusted, and unloved. And the only person she can run and cry to is her loving father. Kaya agad siyang tumakbo papasok sa kwarto niya at mabilis na dinial ang numero ng ama. Nakakadalawang ring pa lang ay sinagot na agad ng ama niya ang tawag. [ Hello there, my beautiful and lovely princess. ] Kahit hindi niya nakikita ang mukha ng ama ay alam niyang nakangiti ito kaya napangiti na rin siya. [ Hello too to my very handsome dad. ] Alica heard her father chuckle on the other line and that made her smile widened even more. [ Oh, you really know how to make me happy, you beautiful daughter of mine. You don't actually need to state the obvious, I'm really handsome you know. Kaya nga mahal na mahal ako ng mommy mo. ] Her dad said. She knew that at that moment, her dad misses her mom, and she felt the same way too. Her father always says that she's the second most beautiful in the world, because the first on the list of the most beautiful according to her dad is her mother. And she agreed, her mother is the most beautiful for her and for her dad. Ah, she missed her mom badly! [ When are you going home, daddy? ] [ I'm on my way home now princess, wait for me okay? Be good there. I love you. ] Her father said lovingly and those words were enough for Alica to feel better and happy again. Even though she's already motherless ay ramdam niya pa rin na buo siya, na walang kulang sa kanya. Laging pinaparamdam ng daddy niya na kumpleto pa rin sila. Her father always told her that she doesn't have to be sad towards her mother's death, instead, she must be happy because her mother is already in heaven with Papa Jesus. Her daddy also tells her that her mother is watching the two of them from above, guiding them and that she's now happy in heaven and they must too, be happy for her. [ I love you too daddy ko, be safe po! ] She replied lovingly too. Marami pa itong ibinilin sa kanya bago nito ibinaba ang telopono. Inabala ni Alica ang sarili sa paggawa ng homeworks niya, isa 'yon sa bilin ng daddy niya. But minutes later, the Ramos residents were shocked by an unexpected news. Her father, Marcus Ramos, died in a car accident. The cause was later discovered and according to the investigation, Marcus died because of reckless driving. Lasing daw itong nagdrive at hindi daw nito namalayang makakasalubong na nito ang isang ten wheeler truck. Her father was dead on arrival. The autopsy shows that Marcus got so many fractures and cuts caused by the collision. And even if he got into the hospital, it's still impossible for him to survive. The damage was so much that he might lose his one arm and both legs. Nakita din sa autopsy na may malaking crack sa ulo ni Marcus. Young Alica tried to process that information, but she couldn’t understand. Kanina lang ay kausap niya pa ang daddy niya and he told her he was on his way home. And her father's voice didn't sound groggy and drunk at all. Never pang nakita ni Alica na lasing ang daddy niya, ayaw daw kasi ng mommy niyang nag-iinom ito ng alak at hindi naman iyon kinakalimutan ni Marcus. He loves her mother dearly that even when she's gone, he remains loyal and true to his promises. In Marcus' funeral, many came and showed their empathy and condolences to the Ramos Family. And for the first time, the cold and distant Xander comforted Alica. It was good to be comforted by Xander but it only lessened a small amount of sadness and longing she was feeling at that moment. And from that day on, Xander and its twin sister Alleah regularly visit Alica and ask her on a playdate. It was good and fun but after a couple of months, Xander came back to its old self, cold and distant. Time passes by and Alica doesn't have the chance to visit the Del Luca's anymore for she is already busy serving her Tita Madisson and her cousin Malia. They treat her like an outcast to the family, for them, she is just nothing but a mere servant. Alica also noticed that it was only her and her grandma who felt devastated towards her father’s death. Ngunit binalewala na lamang niya iyon sapagkat alam niya kung gaano kalaki ang galit ni Madisson sa ama niya. Madisson loathed her father very much to the extent that you will never see her shed a tear for losing her older brother. Her grandmother Amanda got sick because of sadness and regrets for treating her only son badly and unwanted. Her grandma became fond of her and started treating her nicely. Alica felt happy, because finally, someone in the family accepted her and treated her well ever since her father died. But one morning, she woke up to bad news. Her grandmother died due to a heart attack. Alica feels like her life was shattered into pieces. Losing her grandmother a year after her father’s death makes her feel so devastated and hopeless. Ulit, nawalan siya ng kakampi at taong nagmamahal sa kanya. She felt so alone–– and helpless. After her grandmother’s death, Madisson was in all control of the family business and other family assets. And her treatment towards Alica worsened even more. At a very young age, Alica knew that from that day on forward, her life would be much tougher and she had to be stronger. No one would be there for her, she only had herself. Because even the kindest person she can rely on and run to also dies. And that person was Xander's mom, Aleisha. Aleisha always comforted Alica. She made her feel love and helped her realize her worth. She motivated Alica and teach her a lot of life lessons and advice. She treated her like her own daughter. The cause of Aleisha and her husband’s death was also the same as her father's— car crash. And as the years go by, her feelings towards Xander grows too. At first, she thought it would disappear after a couple of years. But she was mistaken, it was the other way around. For her attraction became love and the circumstances in her life made it more difficult for her to chase and be with him. Why does every person who loved and cared for her needs to die? And how dare her heart fall for Xander even mo re when that man became more cold, distant and authoritative! He doesn't even recognize her now!