Happily Never After (Fairytale Series 1)

Special Chapter I

Hi, this Ria.

Before continuing to read this special chapter, please be aware that the timeline of this special chapter all happened from the past before Lucian died. 

The Special Chapter will be containing of three parts which is 1st. Adult Lucian, 2nd. College Lucian, and lastly, the high school Lucian. And all of it is from the past. 

Again, thank you for taking the time to read Selena and Lucian's story. I appreciate your bravery in making it to the end. I hope we'll live our lives to the fullest and not cage ourselves from our past mistakes. 

The world is bigger than we thought, so live your life.  Mahal ko kayong lahat.

 ____________________________________

Lucian

"First you need to practice in the mirror with the thought of happy memories in your mind, then you have to relax your facial muscles, then show your teeth, but you also need to get your angle right.'' Sinubukan kong gawin ang sinasabi ng lalaki sa video. Humarap ako sa salamin at unti-unting binuka ang aking bibig para bumuo ng ngiti sa aking mukha. Niluwagan ko rin ang aking necktie at pinatay ang telepono. Napapikit na lamang ako at napahawak sa aking sentido para masahiin iyon ng bahagya. Kalaunan ay narinig ko ang pagkatok ng aking sekretarya.

"Mister Vasco,'' panimula nya sabay lapag sa hawak nyang brown envelope sa aking mesa. Agad ko naman iyon kinuha at binuksan. Tumambad sa akin ang iba't ibang litrato ni Selena, ang aking asawa. Ang halos sa kanyang mga kuha ay halata mong masaya siya. Buhay na buhay ang kanyang mga ngiti na maski sa litrato ay mararamdaman mo ito.

I felt a sudden tightening pain in my chest. She's recovering... she's starting to be bubbly again... she's healing. I'm relieved.

My Selena is healing.

''That were some picture of Miss Gonzales that I've took in the past months,'' para kung may anong na pantig sa aking tenga. Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang aking sekretarya. ''Misis Vasco, she's a Vasco. She's my wife,'' tumango lamang ito sa aking sinabi.

''Bukas na ang hearing ni Amir.''

I clenched my jaw. That bastard. I won't ever forget him for all the things he did to my Selena. It has been two damn years, and tomorrow will be the last hearing for this case. I'll make sure Selena gets the justice she deserves. No matter what it takes. Kahit buhay ko pa ang kapalit.

Amir was sentenced to a lifetime of prison. I clenched my fist when his eyes drifted towards mine. His eyes filled with no regrets as he smirked. He mouthed those words. ''Akin lang si Selena. Akin siya! Akin'' nagtiim bagang ako sa kanyang sinabi. 

Mahigpit syang hinawakan ng mga pulis sa kanyang mga braso ng agresibo itong nagpupumiglas

Nang makalaya ako nalaman kong may anak na siya... may anak sa ibang lalaki. Pero hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa. Bumalik ulit ako sa therapy. At ngayon nahatulan na si Amir. Alam kong hindi pa sapat yon... hindi pa sapat para tuluyan ko siyang abutin ulit at magpakita ulit sa kanya. Hindi pa sapat... hindi pa pwede. Konting tiis na lang, Selena. Kapag maayos at magaling na ko... pangako, wala akong sasayangin na oras at panahon. Muli kitang aabutin.

My chest started to pump hard, as if it were being squeezed to death. My breath started to hitch. I could feel my heart racing in my ears, drowning out all other sounds. Panic began to set in as I struggled to catch my breath, the feeling of suffocation becoming overwhelming. Tears started to fill my eyes. Those memories of her started to haunt me. 

Those memories of the past—how I badly treated her—are haunting me every night. I could feel the weight of regret crushing down on me as I realized the pain I had caused. The guilt was suffocating, threatening to consume me whole.

''Nakausap ko na si Attorney. Bukas na bukas din ay makakalabas ka na.''

Umigting ang panga ko at umiling sa sinabi ni Zyair. ''Hindi. Dito lang ako. Hayaan niyo lang ako mabulok sa kulungan to! Dito lang ako.''

Agresibo akong kinuwelyuhan ni Lake, pero baliwala lang sa'kin iyon. ''Talaga bang nasisiraan ka na ng bait, huh, Lucian?! Baka dito ka pa sa kulungan mamatay! Tignan mo yan mukha mo! Kada dadalawin ka namin may mga pasa at galos ka! Ano ba! Stop blaming yourself! Hindi mo kasalanan kung ano man yung nangyari kay Selena! It was never your fault! Wag mo naman hayaan bugbugin ka ng paulit-ulit ng mga preso dito!''

I gritted my teeth. ''Kasalanan ko! Kung hindi ko siya... k-kung hindi ko siya iniwan nang gabing yon... hindi mangyayari sa kanya yon! S-Sana buhay pa ang anak namin! K-Kasalanan ko!'' nanginginig kong wika.

Binitawan ni Lake ang kwelyo ko at marahas na sinuntok ang lamesa. ''Bahala ka sa buhay mo,'' frustrated niyang sinabi at umalis na.

''Wag matigas ang ulo mo, Lucian. Nakausap na namin si Attorney. Bukas ay makakalabas ka na.''

''Tama si Lake, wala kang kasalanan. Hindi mo kailangan pahirapan ang sarili mo, Lucian. At kung may dapat man mabulok sa kulungan ay si Amir yon. Mauuna na kami. Pasensya ka na sa inasal ni Lake... He has just been so stressed lately,'' dagdag pa ni Zyair.

Sa bawat araw at buwan na nakakulong ako kailanman ay hindi ko inalintana ang bawat suntok at sipa ng mga preso sa akin. Hinayaan kong bugbugin nila ko nang paulit-ulit.

''Congrats, Lucian. I've seen a lot of improvement in you.''

''Ipagpatuloy mo lang ang session natin... mas lalo pang lalaki ang improvement mo,'' dagdag niya pa.

Gustong-gusto ko na siya puntahan. Pero alam ko sa sarili ko na hindi pa pwede... hindi pa sapat.

I need to make sure I am healed. I am free from my past. I've forgiven myself completely. I didn't know how to express my emotions. I remained stagnant. I had no idea what happiness feels like, how a scared person should act, or what these emotions are. I couldn't identify them all. I couldn't name them. It was like I was numb to everything around me, including my own emotions, but because of Selena, I started to feel something.

I started to feel alive again. I started to believe in the possibility of happiness and healing. Selena helped me break free from my emotional numbness and guided me towards self-discovery and growth.

Pinapangako ko, babawi ako sa babaeng mahal ko. Babawi ako sa asawa ko. Babawi ako sa'yo, Selena.

Okay lang kahit itaboy mo pa ako nang paulit-ulit... kahit saktan mo pa ko ng maraming beses, okay lang. Lahat ng sakit at galit mo ay tatanggapin ko. Okay lang, maramdaman mo lang sa pagkakataong ito na mahal kita... na mahal na mahal kita. At okay lang din kung may mahal ka ng iba. Okay lang, Selena... gusto ko lang maramdaman mong mahal kita. Gusto ko lang maramdaman mo yung pagmamahal ko sayo.

I've loved you since then until now—nothing has changed, and I'm still head over heels for you, and if I'd have a chance to choose whom I would marry, I still want to marry you regardless of business or what. I'll always choose you to be my wife.

Ikaw at ikaw palagi ang pipiliin ko, Selena. Ikaw at ikaw lang.

''Papa!''

''If ever Mama and I drown in that sea, who'd you save first? Me or mama?!'' mas lalo kong niyapos ang beywang ni Selena at ginulo naman ang buhok ng aming anak. Sumimangot ito saming dalawa ng kanyang mama.

Nag angat naman ng kilay sakin si Selena. I laughed a bit and kissed her right cheek before my eyes went to our son. ''If I have to drown myself in order to save you both, I'll do it in a heartbeat. I'd rather put myself in danger than lose you and your mama, Aziel. You are my life.''

''Kayo ng mama mo ang buhay ko, anak,''

My life has been black and white, not until I have Selena in it. She was the color—without her, I'll be lifeless and dull.