Back in Your Embrace

Chapter 7

Kristine

"Are you sure? There is still time to prepare."

Mom asked me for the thousandth time since January. And no there isn't enough time to prepare. My birthday is next week.

Back then I though how sad it was na hindi kami nag-uusap during dinner. I never imagined that it would be more awful kapag nag-uusap kami ng ganito. It's not us. Ang awkard.

"Yes, Mom. I don't want a big celebration for my birthday."

Para saan pa ang celebration? Para makita na naman ng mga tao how "perfect" our family is? I'm also certain that if we did throw a big party, I'd be in a sea of strangers. It'll be their guests. Not mine. I have very few friends here. All I want is to have a small, intimate get together with them. And if possible, if they'll grant me my wish, I would love to have Javi over as well.

"Sayang. Double celebration pa naman. You're graduating and you're turning 18." She's really not going to let this go.

"Hmmm... Ano ba ang plano mo sa birthday mo?" Kuya asked.

"Wala pa naman. Basta nothing big." At sosyalan. Please! Nakakasawa na! Kung gusto nila mag celebrate ng gagastos pa, edi sila na lang ang magcelebrate. Wag na nila akong idamay.

"Ok..."

"Saan nga pala kayo nagpunta kanina? Sabi ni Vernice lumabas daw kayong dalawa kanina." Dad asked. Vernice is my driver slash bodyguard that my parents hired para tulungan silang bantayan ako. Presidential daughter daw sabi ng mga kaibigan ko. Funny. I feel more like a prisoner.

"We went out to lunch. Namiss ko kasi si Tin so I asked for some quality Kuya and Kristine time." Kuya said.

Javi

"Where were you?"

I thought everyone was asleep. I was a bit startled when I was greeted by my father's anger pagpasok ko sa pinto.

"Dad. It's late. Why are you still up?"

"Exactly. Anong oras na pero bakit ngayon ka lang umuwi? Answer my question." He asked, looking as all hell intimidating. He walked towards me like a tiger stalking, about to pounce on his prey. He wasn't even that close to me but he was close enough for me to smell the alcohol. He's drunk.

"May group review po kami ng mga kaklase ko."

Honest. I really did come from a group review session.

"Sinong niloko mo?" I kept on reminding myself about what Tin wants me to do. But the temptation to stand up to his being unreasonable is starting to get the better of me. "Baka akala mo hindi ko alam na umalis ka kagabi at madaling-araw ka na umuwi."

"May inasikaso lang po ako kagabi. At wala din naman po akong magagawa kung hindi po kayo maniniwala sa akin." I answered calmly, well aware of the sarcasm in my tone. I tried. I tried to hide my anger.

It's way harder than I thought.

"Where were you last night? Ano yang inaasikaso mo? Anong klaseng bagay ba iyang dapat mong asikasuhin that you had to leave during that ungodly hour?" He's really not letting it go. I heard him scoff. "If I didn't know any better, I would think na nakipagkita ka nanaman sa babaeng iyon."

"Oo na Dad. Pinuntahan ko si Tin." I confessed. There's no point in lying anyway. Kumulo din kasi ang dugo ko ng biglaan noong narinig ko kung papaano niya i-address si Kristine.

"Javier, what did I tell you about that girl?!"

"She has a name. Wag mo naman siyang bastusin, Dad." Sorry Tin pero hindi ko mapigilan. "She has been nothing but kind and respectful to you. The least you can do is reciprocate that respect. Kahit hindi na bilang girlfriend ko eh. Kahit bilang tao na lang."