Never Stopped Loving You ✓

chapter 3

Chapter Three

I was appreciated by many. Maraming nagsabi na anak daw ako ng araw, sapagkat palagi nalang daw ako nagpapasaya at nagbibigay liwanag sa mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong. Ngunit, bakit hindi ko ito makita?

Masakit man isipin, ngunit kailan man hindi ko nakikita na ako, bilang isang babaeng lumaki sa puder ng pang aabuso at kahihiyaan ay meroong liwanag na tinataglay. Kay sakit isipin, hindi ba? Nagkukulong nalang ako sa kuwarto ko habang ang aking magulang ay patuloy na nag-aaway.

Hindi ko parin makakalimutan noong ako ay bata, tinutukan ng sarili kong Ina ng baril ang aking Ama dahil ang aking tatay ay isang sugarol at lasingero. Uuwi tuwing hating gabi kaya naman palaging nag-aaway ang aking Ina at Ama, dahil din sa mga ginagawa nito.

At ako? Kailan man hindi nila inisip 'yung dumadaloy na sakit sa aking dibdib. Noon sa Australia, ganito din sila. Away, sigawan, at baka mamaya nagkasakitan na.

Kahit gusto ko silang awatin, Hindi ko magawa.

"Lasing ka na naman?" tanong ng aking ina at ako ay nanginig sa kaba.

"Hay nako! Uuwi ka na nga laang at lahat, lasing ka pa! Hesusmeryusep, Ricardo!"

Sigaw niya ulit at naramdaman ko na tumirik ang aking balahibo.

"Wala ka naman pating inaabot na pera!" sigaw niya ulit at tumingin ang aking Ama sakanya,

"Manahimik ka, Carmella!"

My mom's brows were furrowed.

"Anong manahimik?! Jusko! Ricardo!"

"Apaka lasingero at sugarol mo! Napapariwara na ang buhay mo!"

My father pointed his finger at my mother.

"You think you're any better?" My father roared, his voice laced with bitterness.

"Always pointing fingers, but you're no saint yourself!"

I saw on how my mother's eyes were blazed with fury as she retorded,

"At least I'm not drowning in my problems every night!"

"Well you're a failure!" my father bellowed, his face contorted with rage. "Can't even hold a job, let alone keep this family together!"

My mother's response was swift and sharp. "And you're no better! Always disappearing, leaving me to pick up the pieces while you drown yourself in alcohol!"

The air crackled with tension as accusations flew like daggers, each one finding its mark in the wounds of their past. I felt as though I were trapped in a nightmare, the walls closing in around me with every venomous word exchanged between my parents.

But I refused to be silenced. With tears streaming down my face, I stepped forward, my voice trembling but resolute.

"S-Stop it! Stop tearing each other apart!"

"Mom, Dad! P-Please.. T-Tama na! 'Wag niyo na lunurin sa sakit ang inyong anak!"

For a moment, there was a flicker of recognition in my parents' eyes, a glimmer of regret. But it was quickly extinguished by the fire of their anger.

"Stay out of this, Arianne!" My mother snapped, her voice a whip-crack of authority.

My pleas for peace fell on deaf ears as my parents continued to hurl insults at each other with unrestrained ferocity.

"You're just like your mother!" My father spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "Always nagging, always criticizing!"

My mother's eyes flashed with indignation as she shot back, "And you're just like your father! A spineless drunk who can't face reality!"