Find Your Way

Chapter Thirty

Until David shouted, "I'm sorry to tell you but there will be no engagement happening today. I can't marry Jade because I already have the woman I want to marry. Buntis siya at siya lang ang pakakasalan ko magalit man kayo sa'min." He said with all authority that left us all slack-jawed. Lahat ng tao sa venue natahimik with his sudden announcement. We were just standing, frozen to where our feet was. I glanced at his parents and saw disbelief written on their faces. Kahit ako hindi makapaniwala sa ginagawa niya.

What the fuck is he doing?! Ito ba ang plano niya?!

I was about to shout back but my father charged at him and punched him right on his face. "Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Paano mo nagawang hiyain ang pamilya ko?! Walang hiya ka!" He said in between punches that David welcomed open arms. Hindi siya nanlaban sa kahit anong suntok na ginawa ni Dada sa kanya.

Until Tito Mike came over in between them and stopped my father. Makikita sa mukha ni Tito ang pagkadismaya pero hindi rin niya maatim na binubugbog sa harap niya ang sarili niyang anak. David has always been a father's boy kaya naiintindihan ko kung bakit ganoon si Tito sa kanya kahit na mali ang ginawa nito.

David left the venue still dragging the girl. Hindi man lang ako nakapagsalita at nakapagreact. I didn't even notice I was crying the whole time. I didn't know what I'm feeling that time. Was it shame? Was I happy because finally, I'm free? Or is this really freedom? After ba nito, magiging malaya na kami ni Althea? So many questions pero ni isa, wala man lang akong kayang sagutin.

After that fated night, my father was gone berserk. He locked at us up inside the house, including my mother. Nagtataka din ako anong nangyari sa kanya bakit hindi siya nagrereact. I would caught her staring blankly then she would give me a small smile whenever I pulled her out of her thoughts. Nahihiya kaya siya sa'kin? But why? It's not her fault after all.

I tried reaching for Althea but my father confiscated all of our phones. Pinaputol din niya lahat ng landline. Lahat ng pwedeng maging source of communication, pinatanggal niya. Tanging siya lang ang nakakalabas sa impyernong bahay na ito. Kahit si Ahya Paul, wala ding magawa. He's been quiet all along pero alam kong namomroblema din siya kagaya ko. Si Ahya Gab naman, wala din magawa dahil takot din siya kay Dada. I totally understand dahil we know what he's capable of doing.

Isang buwan din kaming nakakulong sa bahay. Hindi ko alam ano ng nangyari kay Althea. Kahit kay David wala na akong balita kung anong nangyari after ng revelation niya. The last time I heard about him was he flew to New York kasama yung girl pero naiwan ang parents niya dito sa Pilipinas. Si Sally pa ang nagkwento sa'kin about dun nang mapadalaw siya dito sa bahay. Hiniling ko sa kanya na hanapin si Althea at sabihin ang kalagayan ko pero nahuli kami ni Dada na nag-uusap kaya pinagbawalan na din niya itong pumunta.

I really don't understand where is he coming from. Lahat kami nadamay sa kalokohan ni David. Akala mo siya yung naiwan sa ere. Akala mo sa kanyang reputasyon lang ang nasira. Akala mo siya lang ang napahiya. It was David who backed out, not me. Hindi kami makatakas dahil laging may mga gwardiya na nagbabantay sa mansion, 24/7. I was starting to feel hopeless that I might lose Althea forever. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula dahil wala akong mahingian ng tulong.

Not until one fated night came.

I saw Paul tip-toeing his way outside our gates. That was around 3 in the morning. Nagulat na lang ako pagsilip ko sa bintana, naglalakad na siya ng parang ninja. Mabuti na lang din at tulog ang gwardiya na naka-aassign sa may gate dahil tingin ko, yung natitirang dalawa ay nasa likod. Pinagmasdan ko paano siya nakalabas ng ligtas at hindi nahuhuli. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng makita ko siyang tumakbo palayo sa bahay na ito. Kasabay ng kasiyahan ko para sa kanya, ay lungkot naman ng puso ko.