Hues of an Abstract Mind (Arte del Amor #4)

PROLOGUE

It's too loud.

"You cheated on me?"

"I was never in love with you, David! You know that!"

No covering of my ears could drown their screams.

Aren't they supposed to love each other? Bakit sasabihin ni Mama iyon? Para saan pa na nandito ako, bakit nandito pa ako kung hindi niya mahal si Dada?

"So, you cheated on me?"

Hindi naman nagsisigawan dapat na ganito, 'di ba?

"We're not even married! I only stayed in this because I do not want my daughter to grow up without a father!" sigaw ni Mama.

Sumilip ako mula sa siwang ng pintuan ng kwarto ko. Nakita ko na umiiyak si Dada habang ganoon rin si Mama, pero mas kalmado.

The fairytales I watch are far from this. I do not see butterflies and sparkles floating around, and my parents are obviously not looking at each other's eyes lovingly.

"If you want to leave, Eliza, you can leave. You do not have to worry about her not having a father. I love Arthemisia with all my life and I'll make sure that she has me."

Natigilan ako nang marinig ko ang pangalan ko. I do not know how I'm going to feel about it. It's a good thing that he loves me, right?

Why do I feel nervous?

Why am I not liking where this is going?

"I'll leave then. I can't do this anymore, David. I feel suffocated, and every passing hour, I feel like I'm dying." mahinang sabi ni Mama kumpara sa sigaw niya kanina pero narinig ko pa rin iyon.

Leave...

Who's leaving?

I don't understand.

Palagi naman silang nag-aaway at maraming beses ko na silang narinig na ganito. Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses pa silang nag-away nang hindi ko alam... pero kahit kailan ay wala namang nagsabi na aalis sila.

Not once did I ever hear this from them.

Mahabang katahimikan ang bumalot sa buong paligid bago nagsalita si Dada. "Tell Missy to pack her clothes. We're leaving tomorrow."

Nanlaki ang mata ko doon. Aalis kami ni Dada?

Saan naman kami pupunta?

Isasama ba namin si Ate Sydney? Si Mama?

"W-What? Are you taking her?"

"Yes." sagot niya.

Kumalabog ang puso ko. "No, David. No. My daughter stays with me."

"You have Sydney. You have two daughters and I only have one, Eliza. Missy goes with me."

"I said no, and that is final! It's better that she has a mother with her all the time! Kami ang aalis, David. Hindi mo kailangang umalis sa bahay na 'to! You bought this anyway!"

"I bought this house in hopes that I could live with you and our daughter, Eliza. That makes no sense if I libe here alone! You stay here. I'm giving this place to you."

I could hear their choked sobs, they both couldn't contain it.

"... but please, let me take Missy with me. You can do this much for me, my daughter doesn't even have my last name, Eliza."

"No!" I flinched at Mommy's shout once again.

Are they fighting because of me?

Ilang beses nang nabanggit ang pangalan ko simula kanina. Parang... parang... ako ang problema.