Dream

CHAPTER 3

A week passed after Russel’s conversation with their mother. Nothing changed in the house. Their father still drank almost every night. He would come home angry, shouting, sometimes hitting the wall, and sometimes worse.

Russel and Kurt became more protective of their younger sisters. Even Ivy, who usually kept her thoughts to herself, started noticing how tired and quiet everyone was.

But life outside their house moved on. People in the town began decorating the streets for the coming fiesta. Bright-colored flags hung from house to house. Music started playing in every corner. Children practiced dance steps, and the smell of delicious food filled the air. For a while, the sadness inside Ivy’s home felt like it disappeared whenever she stepped outside.

Maria, Ivy, and Yvonne helped their neighbors prepare for the celebration. They helped carry decorations, served food, and practiced singing for the town’s small stage program.

Ivy smiled a little more than usual during those days. It was like the energy of the fiesta gave her some peace.

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One Month Later

The day of the fiesta arrived. Ivy woke up early to the sound of drums. Outside, people were already dressed in colorful clothes. Vendors lined the streets with stands of cotton candy, barbecue, balloons, and toys. Children ran around laughing, chasing each other between the stalls.

Inside the house, their mother reminded them to stay together.

“Ivy, Maria, Yvonne, doon lang kayo sa plaza ha? Huwag na huwag kayong mawawala,” she said while fixing Ivy’s hair.

“Opo, Ma,” Ivy answered.

Russel and Kurt were helping set up the chairs for the town’s program. Their father was still asleep, and everyone hoped he wouldn’t cause trouble today.

By lunchtime, the whole town was celebrating. Loud music played from giant speakers near the stage. Ivy walked around with Maria and Yvonne, enjoying the festive mood. They played games, watched dancers perform, and ate street food until their stomachs were full.

-----

The sun was starting to set, casting a soft orange glow over the town. Ivy was walking back to their house to rest for a while before the evening program. Her legs were tired, and her hands smelled like the barbecue she helped prepare earlier. She turned the corner near their gate—and stopped.

There was a boy standing by the old tree across from their house.

He looked around thirteen or fourteen, tall and slim, with dark hair that gently moved with the wind. His skin was fair, and his eyes… his eyes were deep and serious, like they carried a secret. He was handsome—strangely handsome. But there was something about him that made her feel both calm and nervous at the same time.

He wasn’t doing anything. He was just standing there, looking directly at her.

Ivy blinked, confused. “Sino ka?” she called out.

The boy didn’t reply. He didn’t even move. His eyes stayed on her, quiet and steady.

“Anong ginagawa mo dito sa harap ng bahay namin?” she asked again, stepping closer.

Still no answer. His expression was soft, but unreadable. Ivy’s heart began to beat a little faster—not out of fear, but confusion.

She looked around. No one else was there.

“May kailangan ka ba? Nawawala ka ba?” she added.

The boy tilted his head slightly, like he was studying her. Then, in a low voice, barely above a whisper, he spoke.

“Ikaw.”

Ivy’s eyes widened. “Ha? Ako?”

But before she could ask what he meant—

“Ivy! Ivy!”

Yvonne came running toward her from the plaza, waving one hand and holding a banana cue in the other.

“Ivy, halika na! Magsisimula na ‘yung program!” she shouted, panting.

Ivy looked at her, then turned back to the tree.

The boy was gone.

She stared in shock. “W-Where did he go?” she whispered to herself.

“Ha? Anong sinabi mo?” Yvonne asked, reaching her side. “Bakit ganyan ka tumingin?”

“May lalaki dito kanina. Nakatayo lang sa tabi ng puno. Tinitingnan ako…”

“Ha? Wala naman akong nakitang tao dito,” Yvonne said, looking around.

Ivy searched the area again—behind the tree, down the street, even near the corner.

Nothing.

“I swear… he was just here,” Ivy murmured.

“Baka napagod ka lang,” Yvonne teased. “Gutom ka na no? Halika na!”

Still confused, Ivy let Yvonne take her hand and lead her back to the plaza. But as she walked away, she glanced over her shoulder once more.

-----

The celebration lasted until late evening. After the fireworks, everyone started going home. Ivy, Maria, and Yvonne returned home still talking about the day's events—except Ivy, who stayed quiet.

They opened the door and found their father already drunk again, even after the peaceful fiesta.

“Saan kayo galing?!” he barked. “Sarap ng buhay niyo ha!

“Pa, kakatapos lang ng fiesta,” Maria said carefully. “Wala po kaming ginagawa—”

“Sumasagot ka na ngayon, ha?!” He stood up and slapped a glass off the table. It shattered on the floor.

Their mother came rushing in. “Tama na, Pista ngayon. Huwag dito—”

But he pushed her hard against the wall.

“MA!”

Ivy screamed.

“KUYA!” Maria shouted, running outside for help. Russel and Kurt came rushing in from the neighbor’s house. They tried pulling their father away as he swung his arms and shouted louder.

“Tumigil ka na!” Russel shouted, trying to hold him back.

“Tumawag kayo ng barangay!” Kurt yelled to the neighbors.

But nobody came. People watched from their windows. Some peeked from behind doors. But no one stepped forward. No one helped.

The screams, the crying, the breaking things—it all felt normal to the neighbors. Like they’d seen it before. Like they were used to it.

After a long struggle, their father collapsed on the floor, too drunk to move. Their mother sat in the corner, bruised and crying, her head in her hands.

---

Later That Night

The house was silent again. Russel and Kurt were sweeping the broken glass. Ivy sat with Maria in the bedroom, holding a pillow close to her chest.

“Ate Maria…” Ivy whispered.

“Hmm?”

“Bakit ganon si Papa?”

Maria didn’t answer right away. She looked at her younger sister’s teary eyes and pulled her closer.

“Hindi ko rin alam, Ivy,” she said softly. “Baka dahil sa alak. Baka dahil sa problema. Ewan.”

“Pero… si Mama… mahal niya pa ba si Papa? Kung mahal niya tayo, bakit hindi niya tayo nilalayu kay Papa?”

Maria took a deep breath. “Mahal tayo ni Mama. Pero minsan, Ivy, kahit mahal mo ang pamilya mo, hindi mo alam kung paano ka lalaban. Hindi madaling umalis. Lalo na kung sanay ka na sa sakit.”

“Pero ayoko na. Ayokong ganito palagi.”

Maria nodded slowly. “Ako rin. Pero hindi tayo palaging ganito. Magbabago rin ang lahat, Ivy. Hindi lang ngayon.”

Ivy hugged her tightly, tears silently falling down her cheeks. For the first time, she said out loud what had been inside her for so long.

“Gusto kong maging masaya.”

Maria held her close and whispered, “Darating din ‘yan. Kapit lang tayo.”