I'm In Hell With Him

Chapter Two

"Sige Manang, alis na kami. Kayo na muna yung bahala dito sa bahay. Mamayang gabi din kami uuwi or earlier than that." Bilin ni Liam kay Manang. Hindi ko alam kung itong si Liam eh pinaglihi sa sama ng loob o talagang nature na niya ang pagiging menopause.

"Sige po sir Liam."

Pinanood ko si Manang sa side mirror na papaliit nang papaliit sa pag-andar ng kotse.

"Was that the first time someone complimented you?" Tawa ni Liam yung nagpabalik ng tingin ko sa kanya. "Don't be so happy. You think she meant it?" Isa pang tawa niya at ang puso ko ay parang madudurog na sa mga sinasabi niya. "Digusting. You're an eyesore." He said coldly.

Remember what Daddy said, Aeicy... gagawa ng paraan si Daddy para mabayaran ang Monteveros. I will just have to wait. Don't lose your temper... be calm. You can do it, Aeicy.

Naalala ko yung mga classmates ko noong high school ako. They spend their free time bullying me. Just like always-- I would drop my head and stare at the floor while they laugh and throw things at me. At least, hindi nila ako sinabihan ng 'eyesore'.

The feeling was the same, pero ang pagkakaiba lang, mas malakas ang impact ni Liam sa akin. I don't know why, but I am praying that those words will be the last awful things he will tell me today. Ayoko nang makarinig pa.

Or else I don't know what I can do just to get out here.

____

I felt his arm around my waist. Bigla akong kinabahan at namula. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan ang gagawin ni Liam makumbinsi lang ang pamilya niya na masaya kami. Napapikit ako when he leaned near to me and whispered to my ear.

"Don't mess with anybody here, okay? Try to stick around with Mommy and smile. There's no room for any embarrassment. Remember, we are happy. Are we clear, Ace?" I gave him the best response he could get. I nodded and forced a smile.

Simula nung iniwan ako ni Liam, hindi na ako kumibo at umalis sa sulok. I just want this to be over. I want to go back to my room and just lay there... and cry and think about beautiful things. Hindi katulad dito na puro pagpapanggap lang ang ginagawa ko.

At least, wala si Liam sa tabi ko ngayon. I can feel peace.

"Hijah! Nice to see you again! Hi!" Napalingon ako at nakita ang mommy ni Liam.

"Hello po, tita!" I replied happily. Minsan hindi ako naniniwalang anak niya si Liam, dahil sobrang bait nitong mommy niya. Kanino kaya siya nagmana?

"Wow... you really look so pretty today Aeicy! How are you? Kamusta kayo ni Liam?" She asked.

Unti-unting nawala yung ngiti ko sa labi ko. Anong sasabihin ko? Na okay lang kami? Ayaw kong magsinungaling sa mommy ni Liam dahil napakabait sakin ni tita. Ayaw ko rin namang malagot kay Liam. Eh kung sabihin ko na lang kaya na sobrang sama ng pakikitungo sakin ng anak niya? Na hindi ko na kaya pang tumira sa iisang bahay kasama siya? Para namang kaya ko.

Pilit na ngumiti si Aeicy. Kailangan kong magsinungaling. For Daddy.

"...Okay po kami ng anak ninyo Tita! I'm.. I'm.. really happy with him po! Napaka... swerte ko po sa kanya... talaga." I tried not to cry pero mismong mga mata ko na yung bumibigay. Sobrang bigat na ng loob ko at apat na buwan kong tiniis yun at hindi ko na kayang hindi ilabas. 

God, I've been trying my best not to cry. Pero hindi talaga, I have always been weak. So I tried to smile, para naman mapagtakpan yung pag-iyak ko.

"S-sorry Tita... Naiiyak lang po ako sa sobrang saya. I mean, tears of joy lang po ito.." Pagpapalusot ko. Naku sana naman kagatin ni Tita yung dahilan ko kundi...

"Yes, yes, I know that... I'm really happy for the both of you... But what I don't understand right now is..."

Naputol ang pagmo-moment ko at nagpunas agad ako ng luha. "Ano po iyon, Tita?"

"Sinasabi mong sobrang saya mo sa anak ko yet all I can see in your eyes is sadness. Talaga bang wala kayong pinagdadaanang mag-asawa?"

____

Stupid, Aeicy. You've always been stupid.

Hiningal ako sa pagtakbo papasok ng comfort room after ng usapan namin ni tita. It's like running for my life dahil ilang sandali lang malalaman na ni Liam ang tungkol sa eksena na nagawa ko. That means, I will be in deep trouble.

Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin sakin ni Liam pag nagkataon. Will he hurt me this time?

The knock on the door stopped me from panicking. Right. Hindi ko pala sariling banyo ito. Bakit ko ni-lock? "S-sandali lang." Inayos ko ang sarili ko at binuksan yung pinto.

Only to find the man I wished never really existed at all.

"L-Liam..." I whispered, at tingin pa lang niya sakin alam ko nang nakarating na sa kanya ang nangyari. Here I stand, a poor weak woman who knows nothing but to cry.

"Didn't I tell you to avoid getting messed up?" He asked in a low and angry tone. Nagsitaasan lahat ng balahibo ko. He's the only person who could do this to me.

"W-wait... I.. I'll explain.. I don't think she---"

"What? You think she didn't notice it?" Natawa siya ng mahina, but it didn't sound like a laugh. "Of course she will. Mom's not stupid like you." Lumapit siya sakin, at automatic na napaatras ako. Para kaming incompatible magnet na hindi magkakadikit kahit kailan. He stopped when I've had my back pressed against the wall.

At pakiramdam ko ako na ang pinakawalang-kwentang tao sa mundo.

"I'm sorry... but I really didn't mean to do it on purpose.. I... I swear.. I... I'm very sorry." Daddy said I should be strong, but I don't think I could do that anymore. Nung tuluyan nang tumulo yung luha ko, napaatras siya konti-- it was like he was shocked. But then I wasted no time.

So I kneeled in front of him. Like he was a god I am praying for and been asking for mercy.

This is what he wants, right?

_____

~FL01