CHAPTER 5
1133 Words
After the accident, Ivy’s life changed.
Her mother, who used to be quiet and distant, suddenly became more loving. She cooked for Ivy, took care of her, and always checked if she was okay. Her two older brothers—Russel and Kurt—also became protective.
"‘Wag ka nang umakyat ng kahit anong puno, Ivy, ha? Basta kailangan mo, tawagin mo lang ako," Russel would say.
"Tama si Kuya. Lagi kaming nandito para sa’yo," added Kurt.
Ivy smiled at their care. For once, she felt safe… even if her father was still the same.
"Sana hindi ka na lang nabuhay," her father said one night while drinking.
Maria shouted, "Papa! Tama na!"
But Ivy only stayed quiet. She didn’t cry anymore. She just stared at the stars.
---
But then, something unexpected happened.
One night, Ivy overheard her parents arguing. Loud voices, angry words.
Then she saw Russel walk out of the house, holding a small bag.
"Kuya?! Saan ka pupunta?!"
"Bakit? Anong nangyari?"
"Nahuli si Kuya ni Papa... gumagamit pala siya ng droga," Maria whispered, tears in her eyes.
"Papa kicked him out," Kurt added. "Ayaw na siyang makita rito."
Ivy wanted to scream. Her heart was heavy. She couldn’t believe it. Russel had always been there for her.
Now he was gone.
---
A few weeks passed.
Then came another heartbreak.
Kurt, her quiet, kind brother, sat them down one afternoon.
"Kailangan ko munang tumigil sa pag-aaral," he said.
"Bakit?!"
"May opportunity ako sa abroad. Makakatulong ako kay Mama. Mas kailangan natin ‘to ngayon."
Maria, Ivy, and Yvonne tried to stop him, but he had made up his mind. A week later, he left.
Another piece of Ivy’s heart broke.
---
One year passed.
Maria finally graduated from college.
They were all proud of her—especially Ivy. Maria had worked so hard. She dreamed of resting for a while before finding a job.
But their father had other plans.
"Hindi ka na bata. Gamitin mo ‘yang diploma mo. Maghanap ka ng trabaho sa Manila!"
"Pero Papa, kahit isang buwan lang na pahinga..."
"Hindi! Sayang oras. Kailangan natin ng pera."
Maria had no choice. A few days later, she left for Manila.
Now, only Ivy, Yvonne, and their parents were left in the house. But it didn’t feel like home anymore.
---
Their birthday came.
Ivy and Yvonne were born on the same day. They used to love celebrating it together.
But this year felt empty.
"Pa… puwede ba kaming maghanda kahit kaunti lang? Kahit pancit lang po," Yvonne asked shyly.
Their father looked at them coldly.
"Anong handa-handang sinasabi niyo? Sayang lang ‘yan. Wala namang silbi ‘yang birthday niyo."
No cake. No food. No celebration.
Just silence.
That night, Ivy cried in her room. Yvonne held her hand. They didn’t say anything. Their hearts felt too heavy.
---
That night… Ivy dreamed again.
She was back in the paradise.
The grass was green. The sky was golden. The air smelled like flowers. It was peaceful again.
She looked down—and saw she was barefoot, wearing the same white dress. And just a few steps away, he was there again.
The mysterious boy.
Still handsome. Still calm. Still quiet.
"Ikaw na naman," Ivy said softly, walking toward him.
He nodded slowly, not smiling, but not sad either.
"Pagod na ako," she whispered. "Ang dami nang nawala sa’kin. Si Kuya Russel, si Kuya Kurt, si Ate Maria... lahat sila umalis."
He didn’t reply.
"Bakit kailangan kong maramdaman ‘to? Bakit ako lang ang naiwan?"
He stepped closer. In his hand, there was something small—a necklace. Simple, with a glowing white stone.
He gently placed it around Ivy’s neck.
"Para saan ‘to?" she asked.
He finally spoke. "Protection. Strength. You’ll need it."
Ivy looked down at the necklace. It shimmered in the dreamlight.
When she looked up again, the boy was gone.
---
She woke up.
It was early morning. The house was quiet.
She sat up, wiping her eyes—and then paused.
Something was around her neck.
She gasped.
It was the same necklace from the dream.
She touched it with shaking hands. It was warm. Real.
Yvonne knocked and entered their room.
"Gising ka na pala, Ivy. Uy, saan mo nakuha ‘yang kwentas? Ang ganda naman niyan."
Ivy couldn’t answer. She just stared at it, confused and amazed.
----
Days passed after Ivy received the necklace in her dream.
Ivy kept it a secret.
"Alm mo ivy baka imagination mo lang ‘yan, Ivy. Baka may nagregalo lang sa’yo habang tulog ka."
"Pero sino? Wala naman tayong bisita. Wala ring pera si Papa para bumili ng kwintas."
"Ewan. Basta ‘wag mo masyadong isipin," Yvonne said.
But deep inside, Yvonne was wondering, too.
----
Ivy doesn't know why the unknown man in her dreams always give her a gift in her birthday.
-------
That night, Ivy fell into a deep sleep.
Just like every year… the dream came again.
She opened her eyes and found herself standing on soft grass, under a sky filled with stars. Flowers glowed like tiny lights around her feet. A calm breeze touched her face.
It was that place again. The paradise.
And then she saw him.
The mysterious boy stood near the lake, dressed in white, with soft brown hair that moved with the wind. His face was still the same—calm, gentle, and hard to forget.
Ivy walked slowly toward him.
"Ikaw na naman..." she said softly.
The boy smiled but didn’t speak.
She stood in front of him, holding the newest gift in her hands—a beautiful ring with the glowing white stone.
"Ikaw ang nagbibigay nito, di ba?"
Still, he only smiled.
"Bakit tuwing birthday ko binibigyan mo ko Ng regalo?" she asked.
The boy looked at her, his eyes shining.
" Ano bang ibig sabihin nito?"
She stepped closer, her voice trembling.
"Sino ka ba?
The boy still said nothing.
He just lifted his hand and gently tucked Ivy’s hair behind her ear. Then he looked at her necklace—the very first gift.
"Sino ka ba?" she whispered again. "Bakit mo ‘to ginagawa sa’kin? May koneksyon ba tayo?"
The boy smiled one more time. This time, a little sad.
"Malalaman mo rin balang araw," he said in a soft voice.
"Pero kailan? Gusto ko na malaman ngayon..."
But the boy stepped back.
The dream began to fade—the flowers, the stars, even the lake.
"Huwag ka munang umalis!" Ivy cried.
But his voice echoed gently before everything disappeared.
Then she woke up—with tears in her eyes, the gift still in her hand, glowing softly in the dark.
Ivy doesn't understand why, she always wondering who is the unknown man in her dreams?.
- Writer
