Sandra felt a bit nervous. It's been eight years since she last visited her angel. Walong taon na rin nang magdesisyon siyang bumangon sa buhay at magsimulang muli matapos ang unos na pinagdaanan. Dumoble ang kabang naramdaman niya nang pumasok ang sinasakyang kotse sa loob ng sementeryo kung saan nakalibing ang kanyang anak.
"You want me to go with you?" tanong sa kanya ni Tito Robert.
Sandra showed off a sweet smile at him. "Kaya ko na po, Tito."
The old man just nodded. Bumaba siya ng sasakyan at naglakad ng ilang metro papunta sa malawak na hardin ng Rest My Heart Memorial Park. Until finally, she faced her daughter once again. Inilagay niya ang bulaklak sa tabi ng lapida. Umupo siya sa damuhan at nagsindi ng kandila para mag-offer ng prayer. At nang matapos magdasal ay mataman niyang pinagmasdan ang pangalang nakaukit sa lapida… Sandra Daniela Ferrer.
Kumusta ka na baby? I know you are always there for me since that day you became an angel. Naiintindihan ko na ngayon kung bakit ka binigay ni Lord sa akin noon. Gusto Niyang ayusin ko ang buhay ko.
She remembered a glimpse of her past. When she was still young, she thought that she's a big failure. Sa batang edad, nagpakasal siya sa boyfriend niya sa Prague Czech Republic, after being in a stable relationship for two years. Inakala niya noon na ito na ang bubuo sa broken pieces ng pagkatao niya. At young age, nawalan na siyang pamilya. Her father died when she was still in grade school. Her mother passed away after giving birth to her. And her sister died in a car accident just few months ago before she got married.
Nu'ng mga panahong iyon ay bumuo siya ng pangarap na magkaroon ng masaya at kumpletong pamilya kasama ang lalaking pinili niyang mahalin…which is something na hindi niya naranasan. Dahil makalipas lamang ang ilang linggo matapos ang kanilang kasal ay iniwan din siyang wasak ng kanyang asawa.
Ross, her current ex, didn't mind to tell her the real reason. Nagsawa lang daw talaga ito sa relasyon at nakakita na ng iba.They had a fight at umalis na lang ito nang walang paalam. From that day, hindi na niya ito nakita pa. That made her miserable. Hindi niya matanggap ang nangyari. She kept on asking why to no one in particular. And faith never answered her questions. After this, she went through a severe case of depression.
She went back to the Philippines broken. Tumira siya sa bahay ni Mr. Robert Pontez, ang tito niya na umaktong guardian niya. Kapatid ito ng kanyang yumaong ama. Ngunit hindi nakatulong ang pag-uwi niya sa bansa para makalimutan ang ginawa ni Ross sa kanya. Because she found out that Ross was also back in the Philippines. Nagkaroon si Sandra ng pagkakataong makita si Hansen Ferrer, her ex's twin, when the guy signed a commercial endorsement project under Pontez Media. Nalaman niya mula dito na umuwi din pala ng Pilipinas ang dating asawa after nilang maghiwalay. At sa kabila ng pagiging nasa iisang syudad nilang dalawa, Ross never showed up. And that killed her heart more. Nilunod niya ang sarili sa depression dahil sa paniniwalang wala ng taong mag-aalala pag nawala siya. Until she found herself a chance to end her own life.
Napailing na lang si Sandra nang maalala niya iyong araw na inisa-isa niyang inumin ang lahat ng laman ng bote ng sleeping pills hoping na hindi na siya magising. But soon enough to save her ay nakita siya ni Kuya Herald, ang isa sa mga pinsan niyang malapit sa kanya. She was so desperate that time. Kung alam lang niyang hindi pala mabilis makapatay 'yon, muriatic na lang sana ang ininom niya.
I will never do that again, anak. Because you made me stronger. Tears fell from her eyes when she remembered that day. Noong araw na dinala siya sa hospital ay saka rin niya nalaman na buntis pala siya. Iyak siya nang iyak noon. Natakot siya ng lubos dahil alam niyang magkakaroon ng epekto ang pag-overdose niya sa baby. That was also the day that she promise to herself and to the family who took good care of her that she will live. Nagkaroon siya ng bagong dahilan para mabuhay. The baby inside her womb became her inspiration. Ang magiging anak din nila ng dating asawa ang nagpatunay na kahit paano ay minahal din siya ni Ross.
She became tough and tougher habang pinagbubuntis niya sa komplikadong sitwasyon ang kanyang anak. Hanggang sa dumating ang araw na ipinanganak niya ito. She was one of the happiest mothers on earth when she heard her cried and finally got the chance to embrace and carry her daugther. But the doctor said, the baby was so weak. Marami itong complications and she was just given few days of being a mom. Then, her angel left her. Agad na inilibing ang anak niya isang araw matapos nitong mamatay.
Eight years na ang nakakalipas pero parang kahapon lang nang masaktan siya nang lubos sa nangyari. Ngunit di tulad ng dati, mas matatag na siya ngayon. Her baby taught her to be brave enough to face life. Nangako siya sa kanyang anak na hindi na niya muling sisirain ang kanyang buhay at babangon na siyang muli. She was determined to move on but the pain will never be easy to let go.
She was just nineteen way back then. Too young, too fragile, and broken. Since then, she had too much baggage in her heart. But despite of that, a braver Sandra was born.
After that short visit, dumiretso sila sa Pontez Building kung saan siya magtatrabaho. She will be part of the Pontez Group of Companies, ang negosyo ng angkan nila na pinamumunuan ngayon ng kanyang tito.
"Welcome back, Miss Sandra!"
She showed off a sweet smile to all the staff and crew of Pontez Media Productions, Theater Department. After spending years of studying abroad, bumalik siya ng Pilipinas to become a part of their family's business. Nakapag-aral siya ng film-making at theater arts and she's more excited to apply all her learnings in Philippine movie industry. Pangarap niyang maging isa sa mga kikilalaning director ng pelikula sa Pilipinas. But before she jump out of that dream, she needed to begin working at the bottom. Nagpa-assign siya sa Theater Department. As of now, ang tanging film director ng company ay si Herald. And all the aspiring film directors and script writers were dessiminated in that department bago ilipat sa movie production.
By looking at her, walang mag-aakalang may mabigat siyang pinagdaanan sa buhay. She was renewed, malayo sa Sandra noon na puro pagiging depressed lang ang alam. She became more independent. She had moved on. But still, falling in love again is not part of the picture. Tama na ang isang heartbreak. I'm done.
"Thank you so much!"
"Ms. Sandra will be your new Department Head, since Mr. Nemesio is taking his indefinite leave," her Kuya Herald announced. Ang tinutukoy nito ay ang long-term supervisor ng department na papalitan niya.
Nakita ni Sandra ang excitement sa mga mata ng mga taong iha-handle niya. And that made her more excited to start working. "It will be my honor to work with you, guys."
"That's good. So let's start working," sabi ni Herald. "All heads on board room, please," he announced.
She felt her adrenalin rush turned on.
After all, I'm Kahsandra Limien Pontez, the future multi-awarded film director.