One Promise (Celestial Series #1)

Promise 1

#OnePromiseWp

Chapter 1

I glanced up the sky. Naghahati na ang kulay sa kalangitan. Unti-unti nang kinakain ang araw at napapalitan na ito ng dilim.

Ngumisi ako, knowing that day would probably be different from the usual days. Hoping that the good news I would bring home would change something to my family.

I happily entered the house, ready to tell Mom and Dad the good news. Nawala naman agad ang ngiti sa aking labi nang marinig na nagsisigawan na naman ang aking mga magulang. Itinikom ko na lang ang aking bibig bago pumasok sa loob.

Iniligid ko ang mga mata ko sa buong bahay. My heart felt heavy and scared. Kita ko ang mga bagong basag na baso at pinggan sa gilid. Magulo ang sala, nawala sa ayos ang iba't ibang gamit sa bahay.

Once again, I lost hope. It felt like my heart couldn't seem to hope for a better life anymore. I thought, until when do I have to experience that same shits of life? It was tiring. Very tiring. I wanted to scream and ask God, why? As if He'd answer that.

"Ayan ang mahirap sa 'yo e! Wala ka nang inintindi kundi ang hilig mo sa pag-iinom! Parang awa mo na, Theo! Ihinto mo na 'yan dahil hindi mo alam ang mga bagay na kaya mong gawin kapag lasing ka!" sigaw ng aking nanay.

Mariin kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Normal. Ganoon naman kami lagi e.

My dad snorted. Marahas niyang pinahiran ang kanyang ilong. He was leaning his back in the sink. Marahas din siyang dumura sa lababo.

Ngumiwi ako sa takot na baka madawit sa kanilang araw-araw na away.

I was eleven years old that time, and life was so tough for me. Gustong-gusto ko nang sumuko. There were times, I was so tempted to do so. But then, I couldn't. If I would give up that time, who would fight for us? No one. Not Mom. Not Dad. Simply no one.

"Ano ba ang pakialam mo, Chezka? Asawa lang kita. Hindi ka diyos para sambahin ko at sundin," Dad slurred as he shouted back to my mom.

Napapikit ulit ako nang mariin pagkatapos marinig ang sinabi niya. I may only be eleven that time, but I was literate. Alam ko kung gaano kasakit ang mga sinabi ni Daddy kay Mommy.

Tumahimik ang kapaligiran. Napadilat ako dahil doon at panandaliang nagulat nang magtama ang aming mga mata ni Daddy.

Ngumiwi siya at kumunot ang noo. Halatang-halata na lasing na naman siya. Dad was crazy when he's drunk. He had issues with his drunk side.

Tinalikuran ako ni daddyDat hinarap niya ang lababo. Nanatili ang mata ko sa kanya, pinagmamasdan ang bawat galaw niya. Nakita ko ang pagpilit niyang pakalmahin ang sarili.

"O, anak! Nandiyan ka na pala." Nakuha ni Mommy ang atensiyon ko. "Ano 'yang dala mo?"

Nilapitan ako ni Mommy. Pinipilit niyang ngumiti pero kitang-kita ko kung gaano siya nasaktan sa sinabi ni Daddy dahil sa nagbabadyang luha sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata.

My heart ached for my family. I thought, why am I the less fortunate ones who had to experience these shits? Why do God punished me with this? What did I ever do to Him anyway?

It hurt a lot, but I couldn't do anything about it. This was my family after all. Surely, God placed me here for a purpose. Maybe I was still young to figure it out, but I wouldn't lose hope in doing that.

"Mommy, I got a big A+ in my art class and exams today. I did really well and my teacher even praised me for my dreams!" Ipinakita ko kay Mommy ang lahat ng test papers ko, including my newly crafted furnitures using styro.