Us Against the World (Louisiana Series #5)

Kabanata 22

22 – Drown

"Don't tell me she's going to be a disgrace, too?" 

"Don't say that, honey. She learned her lesson." 

Tears kept on falling from my eyes as I silently crumbled on my bed. The door was locked and I could hear Lolo, Lola, and Mommy talking outside. Parang punyal na tumarak sa dibdib ko ang sinabi ni Lolo. A disgrace? I did everything to make them proud. 

"Make sure she learned it. Kung kinakailangan kong saktan ang batang iyan para magtanda ay gagawin ko!" 

"Dad!" awat ni Mommy. 

I glanced at the window, thinking of a plan to escape this house to see Zachary. Ngunit masyadong mataas ang bahay namin upang makalabas ako mula sa bintana. I sniffed and hugged my knees. Zachary isn't at the gate anymore. They sent him away. 

"Ayusin mo itong gulo, Juliette. Don't make me fix this myself." 

Mabibigat na mga yapak ang narinig ko mula sa labas ng kuwarto. I heard muffles too, but it wasn't that clear to me. Nang tumahimik ang paligid ay napagtanto kong tuluyan na nilang nilisan ang tapat ng silid ko. Dali-dali akong tumayo upang subukang buksan ang pinto, ngunit bigo ako. They really locked me in here. 

I wiped my tears away and sat down the bed. Nanghihina akong bumalik sa pagkakahiga at ipinikit ang mga mata. I didn't think we would come to this point this fast. Akala ko ay mayroon pa kaming oras para magsaya at sulitin ang panahong mayroon kami. But it was immediately taken away from us. By someone I don't know who.. Who took those pictures? 

But isn't that the biggest lie everybody believes? You think you still got time, but you don't. You think you can still do everything you wanted in this life, but you can't. Sometimes, the chance is being snatched away from you even before it falls into your lap. 

"Ito po ang lunch niyo, Miss Julie." 

I was still locked up the next day. Hindi ko pinansin ang kasambahay na pumasok at naglapag ng tray sa bedside table. I continued staring at the window. Pumapasok doon ang liwanag na gusto kong tanawin mula sa labas. 

"Kumain ka at magpalakas. Kailangan mo iyan." 

I glanced at her when the door shut. Namuo ang luha ko nang makitang nakatitig lamang siya sa akin. She gently shook her head like she couldn't believe I come up to this point. She was disappointed. 

"How could you do this to me?" puno ng hinanakit kong tanong. 

"I only wish to protect you, Julianna. You will understand me someday." 

Ako naman ang umiling. You don't protect someone by locking them up, forcing them to realize something invalid. Bumagsak ang luha ko. I knew she had the tendency to be cold, but not this much. It's hurting me. 

"I will never understand why we should suffer because of the past. It doesn't matter anymore." 

"It matters.." sagot niya. "Eat your food now." 

I wiped my tear out of my cheek and shifted my sight at the window again. Bumuntong-hininga si Mommy bago pumikit nang mariin. My lips were dry. Yumuko ako at pinaglaruan ang mga daliri ko. 

"I don't want to eat." mahina kong sabi. 

"Do you want to starve to death?" 

Matalim ko siyang tinignan. Ni hindi ako makaramdam ng gutom sa ngayon. All I want is to get out of this house. I want to see Zachary. Gusto kong bumalik ng Maynila at makasama sina Rihann. I don't want to be here. 

"Dad's coming home tonight. Siguradong magagalit siya sa ginagawa niyo sa akin." 

"He will understand me. He's a parent. I'm sure he will."