Family

All those times when they needed him. He wasn’t there.

And to think, he may have been enjoying his time with that woman’s family instead of taking care of her and her then-dying mother.

It was as if she tasted bile in her mouth and her heart being squeezed at this moment.

She had believed that her father had to try his best and work hard so he could continue to pay for her mother’s medical bills and to send her to school too.

She had been so understanding of their circumstances, that even with her own little salary from her part-time jobs, she would even contribute to help her father. So his burden would ease a little and he would have time to visit her mother more often.

She and her father are all what her mother had.

Hera thought that it would make Helayna happy to see them together.

But here he was, already with a new woman and her children are already calling him ‘Dad’.

‘Since when? Are those kids so accepting that they would call him Dad so quickly? It has only been a month since mom died.’

At this time, Hera believed that Leonard started seeing the woman, Rebekah Webb after Helayna died.

She’s already almost fifteen years old after all. Even those younger than her already know about relationships, though could not understand it in depth as much as adults do.

Hera thought that after her mother died, her father found a woman as he was grieving the loss of his mother. And perhaps, the idea of her already having her own children meant Hera would have instant siblings. And she wouldn’t be alone. That it would fill up the void and more in the family.

‘But I don’t need this to feel okay!’ She thought.

She remembered what her mother had said while she was still in the hospital.

She had said that if her time would come, that Hera should keep herself safe and summon her strength every time she feels down. That her mother would always be in her heart no matter what, that she’s never truly alone since she’ll be watching from above.

She also mentioned that if a time came after she’s gone that her father would meet someone to fall in love with, that she would respect his decision and be open-minded with it. To not close her doors to others.

Hera had told her mother that time that her father would always have her mother in his heart. That he would never replace her and find another woman.

But Helayna told her that she would not be hurt if he ever meets someone new after she’s gone. That she would want him to be happy.

They would still have a long life ahead, they couldn’t keep wallowing in misery all their lives.

‘Live fully and be happy.’ That’s what Helayna said to her the night before she died.

Hera recalled her mother’s words, her heart ached at the thought.

‘If mom could see this, would she still be happy for him? It’s too soon.. Can’t he at least wait a year? And they’re even moving in with us already?’

She was already devastated at the thought of selling this house where she had made memories with her mother. But to think that instead of losing this house, strangers would come in and call themselves her new family?

Hera’s head was aching as tears continued to stream down her face. Her nose started to get all clogged up.

Her father didn’t even give her a heads-up of this happening.

It’s simply unimaginable.

“It's almost noon, let me check if she’s already up.” Leonard could be heard talking to Rebekah outside Hera’s door.

“Okay. I’ll order some food then so it gets here on time for lunch.” She said to him.

“Sure, Hon.” Leonard said.

Hera could even hear the smacking sound of the two adults kissing outside her door.

Shivers ran down her spine.

It had been a long time since the last time she even saw her father kiss her mother on the lips. Not even heard him through the door like this.

She realized just now that her father had not called Helayna using an endearment.

There was a time when they used to call each other Love.

But Hera couldn’t recall anymore since when they stopped.

Leonard would call Helayna by her name instead while Helayna still called him Love.

Now that she thought about it, back then, the two would say ‘I love you’ to each other.

But during these years, she had not heard it as often or that Helayna would say it first and instead of Leonard’s reply of ‘I love you too’, he would say ‘Same’ or ‘Me too’ and even just a nod as a reply.

Hera heard footsteps get closer.

She scrambled up from the floor and jumped into her bed, wrapping herself with the blanket, covering her face so only the top of her head could be seen.

Just enough for Leonard to know that she was in her room but that she’s still asleep.

She couldn’t pretend to snore just to say she was sleeping. She never snored loudly.

So she could only steady her breathing.

Leonard knocked on her door but received no answer.

Seeing as the door was locked, he knocked again.

Still no answer.

Alarm bells blared inside his head.

‘She better not.’ His eyes widened.

He quickly took out the spare key from his pocket and unlocked the door.

There, he saw her sleeping.

He sighed heavily.

He thought that Hera would act irrationally and suddenly commit suicide out of depression from losing her mother.

It would certainly traumatize him to see his daughter’s dead body.

And it would also traumatize the children who were excited to be in their new home.

Rebekah might even insist on quickly selling this house for having gone through so much bad luck.

Leonard couldn’t deal with that. He had already spent so much money on Helayna when she was still alive. He thought that he could finally relax now that he won’t have to pay for two separate houses.

But if they would have to buy a new one and move out so quickly, and even to pay for another funeral, it would certainly be too much for him.

And well, he would also need to grieve for his daughter.

It would also be such a loss to lose a daughter so smart and outstanding.

He had even told Leon and Rica that Hera could help them with their homeworks. They would be like Hera, getting such high grades at school and be part of the honor roll.

Rebekah had even agreed with him that this was a good idea.

That is why Leonard thought that Hera and Rica sharing a room is a good arrangement so the two could bond as sisters and Hera could check on Rica’s school work as well.

“Hera. It’s almost noon. You should get up now..” No answer.

Leonard moved forward.

Hera’s heart thumped hard.

For some reason, the thought of her father nudging her to wake her up suddenly alarmed her.

She moved slightly, exposing her face.

Her shut eyes slowly opened as if she had just woken up.

“Dad?” She said in a hoarse voice.

“Ah.. good that you’re up. Come on. Go get cleaned up. Lunch will be here soon. And I need you to meet some people.” His smile even shook.

Hera had wanted to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about and pretend to be curious.

But she just couldn’t make herself act at this moment.

It’s already hard to keep looking at her father like this without screaming out in frustration and disappointment.

So she just stared at him blankly.

Leonard cleared his throat. “Hera.”