Taming the Misandrist

Chapter 23

And I was right. I saw Papa on the veranda of the hotel. Dahan-dahan akong lumapit para pakinggan kung sino ang kausap niya.

"When I get home, we'll talk about it Martha.." he said on the phone.

Bumigat ulit ang dibdib ko. He's hiding his relationship well from everyone but me. Alam ko ang lahat tungkol sakanilang dalawa, but I chose to keep quiet because I didn't want our family to fall apart.

I was about to leave and stop listening when he said something over the phone.

"I'll come home to you and Martina once this is all over," he said. "I will figure everything out. Just.. give me time."

Doon ko nalaman na may balak na pala siyang iwan kami. He just brought us to this event because we are the legal family. I was hurt that night, hindi kaagad ako bumalik sa loob pag-tapos marinig ang pag-uusap nila. I didn't know what to say once I'm in front of him and Mommy again. Ayokong magpanggap nanaman kaming masaya sa harapan ng iba.

The rest of the night was blurry already, but I remember meeting a tall kid who was younger than me. He was smoking cigarettes that time and I asked him for some but he declined. Hindi ko na naitanong ang pangalan niya, but I remember that I ranted to him about my current situation. I doubt that he understood everything that I said. Mukha kasi siyang full chinese at hindi nakaka-intindi ng Tagalog.

Pag-tapos nun ay hindi ko na maalala kung ano ang nangyari. I was supposed to meet Marco Limjuaco that night, but my parents suddenly fought about something. They never told me about it and the reason behind, so we just went home without finishing the event.

"D, breakfast.." Mom knocked on my door.

Hindi madali umiwas kay Mommy. She was out yesterday kaya hindi kami nag-kita but now that she's here, hindi ko alam kung pano ako aalis ng bahay. Hindi ako sumagot sa tawag niya at hindi na rin naman siya nangulit.

After taking a bath, agad akong nag-bihis para maka-alis na. Before lunch pa ang meeting namin ni Marco but I'm going to leave early and just wait for him dahil ayokong maiwan dito sa bahay. Dane's in school, and I don't want to talk to Mom now that everything's still messy. I feel guilty for not telling her about what happened.

"Where are you going?"

Napatigil ako sa pag-bukas ng pinto ng biglang mag-salita si Mommy sa likod ko. I actually thought she was busy in the kitchen, pero eto nahuli niya ako habang palabas.

"S-school po," nauutal kong sabi.

I was about to open the door ng bigla siyang mag-salita ulit. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin kaagad kaya siguro naka-halata siya.

"Hindi ka na mag-breakfast? I cooked you something," she told me.

I instantly felt guilty. Binitawan ko ang door knob at humarap sakanya. When our eyes met, agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin dahil hindi ko kinaya. Mabigat sa pakiramdam ang lahat. I know she's aware that I'm acting weird around her, but I could not explain everything to her right now.

"Is there something wrong, D?"

Umiling ako at ngumiti sa gawi niya, kahit na hindi ko siya matignan sa mata. "Wala, Mom. Nag-mamadali lang talaga ako."

Lumakad siya papunta sa coach at ako naman ay tumingin lang sa sahig. I know my actions were already obvious, but what can I do?

"Alright. Go home early okay?" She smiled.

I nodded and rushed to get out of the house. Masyadong mabigat sa dibdib makita siyang ngumiti sakin, knowing too well that we're both hiding secrets from each other.