Adult Teenager's Matters (YOUNG ADULT SERIES #1)

Chapter 19

Umiwas ako ng tingin. Hindi ko na alam ang relationship namin ni Dad. He ain't like before, demanding, controlling, and other things that is negative. He was just... There, silent. And that makes me angry kasi bakit? Bakit ngayon lang? He should be doing that before, right? He let me suffered for decade and now, ganun nalang? He act like he didn't makes me mad?

"Gabrielle, help your mom."

Napatingin ako kay dad nung bigla niya tinawag ang pangalan ko.

"Narinig mo ba ako?"

Umiwas ako ng tingin. "Y-yes, dad," I said and walk towards my mom who's cooking dinner for us. My mom pat my shoulder when I approach her.

"Are you okay?" She asked, worriedly. "Why are you shaking?"

Umiling ako at pilit na ngumiti. "I'm fine." I muttered and tried to distract her. Shit, pull yourself together, Gab. You aren't like before anymore, why are you still scared of him?

"What else can I do, mom?" Tanong ko habang tinitignan siyang naghihiwa ng bawang.

"Uh, slice this for me please?"

Tumango lang ako. "Why don't you ask some of the maid for help?" Tanong ko ulit.

"I just missed cooking, plus, I wanna cook something for us."

Tumango lang ako. Tahimik ko hinihiwa ang bawang at tahimik rin ang paligid. I keep sighing as my hands slowly cutting faster. Hindi ko alam basta ang tanging pumapasok sa isip ko ay si dad. I just don't know what I'm thinking but all I know was... I'm still scared of him. Yes, I'm angry at him pero... Hindi ko pa rin maiwasan na matakot sa kaniya.

"Hija, may naghahanap sa 'yo."

"Shit," I cursed under my breath when I accidentally slice some part of my finger. Agad na napatingin sa 'kin si Manang Wenda at Mom nung narinig nila ako.

"Manang, bring me—"

"Oks lang ako, mom. Ako nalang kukuha ng first aid kit at gagamot. Sorry if I made a mess," I said.

She just smiled and told me it's okay. Nagpasama ako kay Manang Wenda papuntang sala para gamutin ang sugat ko pero bago pa niya mabuksan ang kit ay nagtanong na ako.

"May naghahanap pala sa 'kin. Sino po?" I asked and lean in to her baka marinig kami ni dad. "Si Gwin ba or si Raign?"

Umiling siya. "Isang binata ito."

Binata? I thought. Kunot noo ako lumabas papuntang gate para tignan kung sino ito. Rinig ko pa yung tawag sa 'kin ni Manang Wenda kasi hindi pa nagagamot ang sugat ko.

As I opened the gate, my eyes widened.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I asked in suprise. Lumabas ako at sinira ang gate kasi baka makita ako nila mom.

"I'm here to give you this," may inabot siyang paper bag sa 'kin. "It's about the chess competition—"

"Sinabi ko na sa 'yo, 'di ba? I'm backing out," sabi ko at binalik sa kaniya ang paper bag. Babalik na sana ako sa loob nung bigla itong bumukas. Napaawang ang labi ko nung nakita ko si Mommy at Manang Wenda.

"Oh," my mom said and stepped out from the house. "Are you my daughter's boyfriend?" Tanong ni Mommy kay Yahwi. Napalaki ang mga mata ko at maging din si Yahwi, na bigla ata sa tanong ni Mommy.

"Mom!" I hissed.

"What? I'm just asking, sweetie," my mom cross her arms at tumingin ulit kay Yahwi. "So? Who are you?"