Countless Mistakes

Chapter 1

"Happy sixteenth birthday to my beautiful niece!" My uncle, the former Vice President of the country greeted me and gave me a small red box. "My gift, open it."

Lihim akong napangiti. Akala ko talaga ay nakalimutan nya ang araw na 'to.

Nang matanggap ko ang regalo ay agad akong nagsalita. "Akala ko hindi ka makakapunta..." Medyo may pagtatampo sa boses ko. Busy sya nitong mga nagdaang buwan lalo pa't nagsisimula na ang kampanya sa eleksyon.

"Why would I even forget my beloved niece? Marami lang akong inaasikaso pero hindi ko naman makakaligtaan ang araw na 'to." Nakapamulsang sabi nito.

He's really so sweet when it comes to me.

"Thank you, Uncle." I smiled sweetly with a hint of sadness in my eyes. I wished my mother was here too, but NO. She was too busy right now. She would rather invest her time on more important things than to celebrate a mere birthday.

My birthday.

I sighed deeply.

"What's with the sigh?" My uncle looked at me, trying to read my emotions. "You okay, Heather?" He asked worriedly.

"It's nothing, Uncle." Tumingin-tingin ako sa paligid, nagbabakasakaling narito si Dale - ang kaibigan ko - saka muling nagsalita. "Ahm, salamat nga po ulit rito." Pagtukoy ko sa regalong binigay nya sakin.

I already received a lot of gifts today but this gift is so special for me. Kahit ano pa man ito, kapag talaga nanggagaling sa mga mahal ko sa buhay ay napakalaking bagay na para sa'kin.

"Why don't you open it right now at nang maisuot ko sa'yo? I'm sure magugustuhan mo 'yan." Wika nito.

"Ano po bang laman nito, Uncle?" I asked with full of curiosity. The box itself looks so, so expensive though.

"I told you, just open it." He chuckled.

Tiningnan ko muna ang kulay pulang box saka dahan-dahang binuksan ito.

I gasped when I saw a beautiful necklace with a flower-shaped topaz pendant. The outer design was studded with shining small diamonds around it.

Napakakinang at napakaganda. Indeed so special.

"I bought that last week..." Agad na sabi nito. "I'm sorry kung 'yan lang ang maibibigay ko sa'yo sa tagal ng panahong naging busy ako. Kinailangan ko pang tawagan si Monique para malaman kung anong gusto mo sa alahas. That's when I found out that you love collecting necklaces."

My mouth formed an 'O' in surprise.

"I want my gift to be as precious as the receiver that's why I picked that one, pure dia-"

Ang taong tumayong ama ko simula pagkabata ay hindi talaga nabigong pasayahin ako kahit kailan.

Lumapit ito upang kunin ang kwintas. Hinawi nito ang buhok ko sa likod habang patuloy parin sa pagsasalita.

"-I hope this necklace would be the most expensive in your collection-"

Maingat na ikinabit nito ang kwintas sa leeg ko.

"Uncle." Mahinang sambit ko. Yumuko ako upang titigan ang nakakasilaw na kwintas sa leeg ko. I love how beautiful it was, and if I were to ask, it really suits me!

Hindi ko na kailangan ng salamin para makita pa 'yon.

"-I was also planning to buy you a car, but your mom might get-"

"Uncle Alfred." I said a bit louder to cut him off. Agad namang nakuha nito ang atensyon nya.

Huminto ito sa pagsasalita kasabay naman ng pagharap ko rito. "Yes, my niece?"