Chapter 4: And the Boy was happy

Once there was a Family who lived in a nice house in a nice neighborhood.

The Father, the Mother, the Boy and his Sister, they all lived happily in that house.

The Father worked as police officer while the Mother worked as a teacher in the local school.

The Boy and his Sister went to the school where the Mother worked.

The Boy could only smile for their life was blessed. Their life was full colors.

The others were unfortunate for not having a loving family, the Boy was thankful and the Boy was happy…

Every night, the family would eat supper together. They would talk about school, Father would often give sermons, sometimes about the cases he handled, the Mother cooked their delicious meals, and they laughed at the Boy’s jokes.

The Boy was thankful and the Boy was happy…

Every year, The Boy’s birthday would come. The Father would bring him presents and the Boy would be excited to open it as they share the cake that the Mother baked. It was the same for his Sister’s birthday.

The Boy was thankful and the Boy was happy…

Every year, Christmas would come. The snow fell as the Boy looked at the windows with anticipation for good things to come. Christmas carols can be heard everywhere. The Boy and his Sister would drink hot chocolate near the fireplace. They would put milk and cookies near the Tree. When they wake up next morning, they would open their presents. The Sister would receive a doll and The Boy would receive a homemade sweater. He wished for a toy robot or a car. In the Boy’s mind, at least he still received a present and it was better than nothing.

The Boy was thankful and the Boy was happy…

Many years seemed to past and the Boy was no longer a ‘boy’. He would always complain to the Mother about how she still treated him like a boy. Sure, he grew taller and his voice deepened but to his Mother’s eyes, he was still the Boy he was once before.

His Mother loved him, and for that he was thankful and the Boy was happy…

The Boy no longer went the school where his Mother worked. He was too old for that. He was in high school and every one acts like an adult thus he also act like one. After a few years, his Sister would also go to high school. Although, the Boy quickly adapted to the new environment, his Sister did not do so well. The Boy protected his Sister from the bullies like all big brothers do. He loved his Sister dearly. He would not let anyone hurt her.

The Sister was thankful and the Boy was happy.

The Boy will soon graduate from high school. The Boy fell in love with a girl and the girl seemed to fall for him too. They were together since junior high. They promised that they would still contact each other even after high school. The graduation came and the girl broke up with him. The Boy was sad and he cried. He never cried since he was a ‘boy’. He made a firm promise that he will never ever cry since only little boys cry. He never told his parents about it because he thought that they would never understand. The Father would tell him that he was too young for a serious relationship. His heart was broken when he saw the girl he once loved in the hands of another. The Boy thought he would never stop crying. Even the thought of suicide came to his mind. His Sister came and consoled him. The Sister gave him a hug and the weight in his heart was lifted.

The Boy was thankful and the Boy was happy…

The Boy went to college and he had to leave home. He said his goodbye to his family. They were all sad that he had to leave. The Sister was sad. It was through the Boy’s protection that she survived. She was weak but her brother was strong. The Sister feared for what about to happen when her brother leaves. The Boy knew that he could not protect his Sister forever. She has to stand at her own feet and become strong. The Father was proud to have raised such amazing children. He saw nothing but good future for his children. He felt somehow contented that he raised them well and the morals that He imparted to them would be used for their future. Every time the Father sees his Boy, he was seeing his own legacy. The Mother was proud too. Being a teacher, she was proud for her students whenever they succeed but being a mother and a teacher to his Boy, she was much prouder. The Mother was thankful to see her Boy grew up well.

The Boy saw her family teary smiles as he left and the Boy was happy…

The Boy went college and studied. He focused on studying and thought nothing but his career. He would become a certified public accountant. He envisions himself as one and perhaps, he will build a firm that will carry his name and it will stand as his own legacy. Here and there, he encountered women that caught his interest but his focused mind didn’t falter. His dream was at stake and his dream would be realized.

He lost his friends and his precious social life but still the Boy was happy…

As the time went on, the Boy was still in college. He received a phone call. It was his Mother. She was crying. The Boy’s heart was broken once again. He quickly went home as he received the terrible news. The Boy saw his Mother and his Sister crying. As the Boy went closer to his Father’s coffin, his legs weakened and he knelt in grief. He cried.

His grief was felt by everyone who attended the wake. His Mother and Sister hugged him as he cried fiercely. The Boy’s Father was murdered.

It was the one of the case that his Father worked on.  The murderer was the henchman of a ruthless crime lord. The police caught the murderer. It was a good thing that the Father obtained enough evidence to make a solid case against the crime lord. His Father’s death was not in vain. 

Justice was served and the Boy was happy once again.

The Boy moved on and the focus on his studies intensified. His Mother could not afford the college tuition fees but thankfully, through the Boy’s hard work, he was included in the Dean’s List. The Boy finally obtained a scholarship. The Boy took a part time job to support his needs. He did not want to be a burden for his Mother while she provides for his Sister. He worked hard, and studied harder. His dream was no longer his dream anymore. It was the dream of his family. His Father’s death might be the darkest days in their life but the Boy persevered. He will carry on for the sake of his family.

It was Christmas. The Boy went home to celebrate with his Family. Although Christmas will never be the same again without his Father, the family celebrated. The Boy’s Mother introduced a Man to her family. The Mother declared that she will marry the Man. At first the Boy and his Sister did not like the idea that their Mother will marry again. Soon, the Boy realized that it was for the best. He could no longer stand the sight of his Mother being sad because of Father’s loss. The Man had a decent job and he seemed to love her and he promised that he will take a good care of the Boy’s Mother and Sister. The Boy gave his blessing to his Mother.

He went back to his studies and his work. All seemed to be going well until the Man blew up his job and he was fired. The Man could not find any work and sometimes the Man would come home drunk. The Man made it into a habit and he would always be drunk whenever he comes home. The Mother would always reprimand the Man but the drunk’s patience would not last long. For the first time, the Man hits the Mother. Although it was the first time, it did not end there. The Man would always hit the Boy’s Mother whenever he’s drunk. The Mother kept it a secret from the Boy. She doesn’t want the Boy to worry and to interrupt his studies for her. The Mother kept silent. The Sister was also afraid. She tried to fight back but when the Man threatens to kill her Mother. She kept silent. She was weak. She wished her brother was there to protect them.

The Boy did not know. After all, for him, everything was going well. Whenever he calls his Mother, the Mother would say that they’re fine.

One day, the Sister called the Boy. She was crying. The Boy could hear the pain through her voice. She told him everything. She told him how the Man hurts their Mother and how careful the Man was whenever he hurts her. He was careful not to leave marks on her face.

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She told him the worst thing he ever did to her. The Man raped the Boy’s Sister. The Mother did not know. The Sister never told her Mother what happened. The Sister was afraid that their Mother would just cover up the Man’s crime so she told the story to the person she trusts most, her brother.

The Boy was furious. The Man hurt the two most important persons in his life. He went home and caught the Man on the act of hurting his mother. The Boy’s fist curled and flew right into the Man’s face. The Man was too drunk to fight back. He coughed blood as the Boy continued sending fist in fury. The Mother stopped him. The Boy wanted to kill the Man so badly and he couldn’t understand why his Mother still protects the Man after what he has done. The Boy told his Mother about what happened to his Sister. The Mother couldn’t believe it. She unconsciously put her own daughter to harm. She kept silent all the time and it was the reason why her daughter didn’t trust her. She felt that she was a failure as a mother.

The Boy filed a case against the Man. Luckily, the Man was convicted. Once again, justice was served. This time the Boy wasn’t happy. The damage done was irreparable. The Boy wasn’t happy.

The guilt in the Mother’s heart weighed heavily. She couldn’t even speak with her daughter. She was ashamed to herself. She believed that silence would do well but instead, her own daughter was raped by the man she once loved. She needed escape. An escape from the shame, the failure as a mother, as a parent.

Not long after the Man was convicted, the Mother committed suicide.

The Boy wasn’t happy. Their parents were now gone and his Sister hurt. He failed to protect them. He failed as a son. He failed as a brother. He failed as a man.

His Sister was the only family left. He would do well to protect her. The siblings reconciled and they moved forward. They made a promise that they would be there for each other.

The Boy graduated from college and took the board exams. Not only did he pass, he also ranked 9th place in the exams. His dream would finally be realized. It was all for his Father, for his Mother and for his Sister.

The Boy and his Sister celebrated. Although they were only the ones left in the family, they were happy. The Boy found a job. It was one of the largest corporations in the country, Kepper Corporation. The experience he would obtain from the company would be his stepping stone to success. The Boy can finally afford his Sister’s college tuition fees.

Once again, for what it seemed a long time, the Boy was happy…

He focused on his work as an accountant in Kepper Corp. Although it was hard at first, the Boy adapted to the new environment and excelled. He needed to work hard to be promoted. He needed money to support his Sister. There was a spark and a fire was lit in the Boy’s heart. A burning desire fired up the Boy as he worked. The pain of his past served as a fuel to his desire. The love and the responsibility to his Sister became the only reason in his mind. His boss’ soon noticed his dedication and he was rewarded with a raise.

Everything was going well again. His Sister also obtained scholarship. Every day, the Boy would cook breakfast and the siblings would eat together. Every evening, the Boy would cook again for dinner. Every night, they would sleep together with a smile knowing that everything’s going to be fine and they would always be there for each other.

The Boy’s Sister was doing well in college. As a matter of fact, she ranked 5th in the Dean’s List. The Boy smiled as he saw that her Sister would surpass him. The Sister thought that she needed to show her brother that his sacrifice for her would bore a fruit. She knew the pain and the burden. She knew the sacrifice that his brother made for her. She told her brother that she wanted to take a part time job to help him but his brother strongly disagreed with her and told her to focus on her studies. Since then, she studied harder. She would almost have an all-nighter a month before the exams. His brother would always warn her to take care of her health but her study habits were almost becoming an obsession.

She felt a sharp pain on her head. She ignored it and thought it was just a simple migraine and the cause was her intense studying. While she was studying in the library, she felt the pain again. When could no longer withstand the pain, she decided to go to the clinic. She stood up but she felt that her consciousness was fading. She fell on the floor.

The Boy’s Sister was taken to the hospital. The doctors examined her and came with the results. The Boy was terrified when he learned that his Sister would not live long. His Sister was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Although the brain tumor grew slow, she had it long ago but she was diagnosed late.

The Boy took his Sister to other doctors in order to cure her but they get the same results. The Boy held his Sister’s hand and told her that he would find a way. They both knew that there was no hope but the Boy will never give up on his Sister. He took his Sister to the best hospital with the best doctors in the country. He doesn’t care if he ended up swimming in debt. The Boy believed that his Sister can be cured. After all, the field of medicine wasn’t exactly a perfect science and the doctors could be wrong.

Soon, the Boy’s Sister lost her sight. She could only recognize him by his voice and touch. The Sister already accepted her fate but the Boy still believed. His belief was unwavering. His research about the cure only became more intense. The Boy took his Sister to everyone that could cure her. He took her to faith healers, therapists and he even tried herbal medicines.

One night when the Boy was busy in his research, there was a call from the hospital. It was the nurse. She told him that his Sister wanted his brother to be there for her. The Boy rushed to the hospital. As he marched through the hallways of the hospital, the nurse looked at him with sadness. The Boy hoped that his Sister was still alive.

The Boy called her name. “Elise…”

His Sister answered. “Ben…”

The Boy sighed in relief.

His Sister reached her hand to him. “Ben…” She called once again.

“I’m right here, Elise…” The Boy held her hand. It was warm. “I’m right here…”

The Sister smiled and a tear fell from her eyes. It was the most beautiful smile he ever saw. He kissed her warm hands as tears rained from the Boy’s eyes. Although his Sister would not see it, he tried his best to give her the best smile he have.

“I love you, Ben… I love you… so much.” She said. For the last time.

The Boy answered. “I love you too…. Elise.”

The Sister closed her eyes and breathes out the last air in her lungs as if sighing with relief. Her hands lost grip from the Boy’s hand but the Boy didn’t release it.

“I love you… I love you… I love you…” The Boy kept saying as he held her lifeless hand.  “I love you, Elise…”

The Boy kept holding as he felt the warmth slowly leave his Sister’s body. The colors of his life faded the moment his Sister’s hand lost its warmth. The Boy saw his own world as colorless and lifeless world.

The Boy cried.

He kept crying until his tears ran dry.

Even after his tears dried, he still kept crying inside.

The Boy cried his heart out.

The smile of his proud Father…

The smile of his loving Mother…

The smile of his sweet Sister...

All of it was playing on the Boy’s mind.

The memories of a loving family. A happy family…

The memories of their hardship…

All of the happy memories they had together.

He will never see their smiles again.

The Boy never smiled after his Sister’s death.

The Boy….

Will never be happy again…