Gleaming Part

....04

This chapter is quite triggering.
WARNING: There are scenes that can be triggering for you. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Chapter 4

Nakarating na kami sa bahay and I just want to go inside so badly.

Palabas na sana ako nang hatakin ako pabalik ni Thomas. He secretly handed me a phone where my friends and I communicate.

"Balik mo sa'kin tomorrow. Don't misplace this in your room or just anywhere inside your house. Please." He looked at me pleading. I nodded and hid it inside my pocket.

He kissed my forehead and let me go. I went inside and Mamang immediately went to me. She looked at me with worried eyes.

"Wala sa mood ang daddy mo, maaga siya uuwi ngayon." Namilog ang mata ko at mabilis na umakyat papunta sa kwarto ko. Kinuha ko ang susi at mabilis na pumasok doon. Nanginginig akong ilabas ang phone na ibinigay sa'kin ni Thomas.

I rang his number and he immediately answered it.

"Hindi pa ako nakakalabas ng village, do you want me to come back for you?" I breathed. Trying to calm myself.

"Huwag kang dadaan sa main gate ng village. S-Si papa. Maaga uuwi. Alam kong pauwi na siya any time soon. Please, huwag kang magpapakita." I immediately heard him telling our driver to turn around and go out the other way.

"Cadie, is he not in a good mood today?" I hear his worried tone, him wanting to go back, for me.

"Don't go back here, please. Don't." Pinatay ko na iyong tawag.

Humikbi ako at mabilis na pumasok sa bathroom. Nag palit ako ng leggings at long sleeves na shirt. I bought this anti-rape leggings at pinareceive ko to kay Ashley. She even asked bakit ko binili iyon. I just answered her that it's way comfortable than any other leggings.

Nilugay ko ang buhok ko at umupo sa tabi ng bathtub.

Mommy, I am so scared. Kuya Kane....

It all started when...

I woke up because of people shouting outside. Bigla na lang ako bumangon at lumabas. Nakikita ko na tinutulak tulak ni mommy si papa.

"Lumayo ka sa'kin! Hindi na kita kilala! Asshole!" Mommy cried and keep on pushing papa away from her.

"Huwag kang sumigaw. Maririnig ka ng anak natin." Nanggigigil na sabi ni papa at sinubukan hilahin palapit sakaniya si mommy.

Umiling iling si mommy at humikbi. Papa wiped the hair covering her sweaty face and he smirked.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya, "Patikim lang ulit." At hinalikan sa leeg si mommy.

Mom cried and shouted. I don't know what to do.

Nagulat ako nang biglang lumabas si kuya sa kwarto niya at pinagsusuntok si papa.

"Tangina mo ha! Ilang beses mo na pinagtangka ang nanay ko! Alam kong asawa ka pero kapag sinabing ayaw, AYAW!" My brother gave papa one last punch before hugging mom and pulling her out of the house.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin or reaksyon ko sa nangyari. Everything feels unreal. Panaginip lang 'to diba?

Nakita kong tumayo si Papa at napatingin sa gawi ko, nag tago kaagad ako at mabilis na pumasok sa kwarto ko.

I don't know, I was scared.

I stiffened when somebody knocked on my door.

"Millicent. Are you awake?" Papa continued on knocking.

I breathed, wala naman siguro iyong nangyari diba? Just a simple misunderstanding.

Dahan-dahan akong pumunta sa pintuan upang pagbuksan si Papa.

He looked up to me and I saw his lips bleeding.

"P-Pa?" I stuttered.

"Papa doesn't feel well, would you mind if I sleep beside you?" Lumunok ako and I immediately felt something.

"Where's mama?" I asked trying to avoid his gaze. His expressions are different from where I am used to.

Umiling siya, "Your mama went outside. Can I sleep beside you? I miss sleeping beside my princess." That statement sent shivers to me. I am feeling really uncomfortable.

"Papa, I am tired na po. Pahinga ka na rin po." I was about to close my door when he grabbed me by the neck and pinned me down.

Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil hindi ako makahinga.

His lips went to my ear, "Don't make me more upset, Millicent." He kicked my door closed and he cupped my face with his other hand.

I couldn't speak, all I was feeling was fear. This is not the papa I knew.

"I'll be fast." He stated that made me move. Nakita ko ang panggigigil niya sa'kin at sinampal ako.

"Huwag kang makulit, Millicent." That's where he touched my sensitive parts. He even inserted his fingers to the place where it shouldn't be.

I lost my innocence to someone I look up as my dad. Someone I trusted the most.

Nagulat ako nang biglang nag ring ang phone na bigay ni Thomas. I looked at the caller ID and it was Eugene.

"Hello?" My voice was shaking.

"Are you okay?" I heard our other friends laughing at the background.

"Y-Yeah. Nagulat lang ako na napatawag ka. Sorry." I held my other hand to stop from shaking.

"I told you to contact me when you've arrived home. It's been 45 minutes and you haven't called me yet." I laughed a little.

"I'm sorry, may ginawa pa kasi ako kaya that went out of my mind." I lied.

I heard him sigh, "You never forget to notify me. What's bothering you?"

I felt a tear escaped my eyes and my vision started to get really blurry.

"I am so scared, Eugene. I want to get out of this." I badly want to say that to him. But I don't want him to worry.

"I'm just feeling tired. Na-drain ako sa dami ng quizzes today." Lying to him is something I always feel guilty about. I know everything about him. But, he doesn't know every single thing about me.

"Oh, okay. You rest first! I'll text you." I nodded even if he doesn't see it.

"Okay." I said almost a whisper.

"Cadie..." he called.

"Hmm?"

"I value you." He said with such a genuine tone that made me calm a little.

"And I do too." I heard him sigh.

"I am hanging up now." He hanged up and I immediately dropped the phone.

Humikbi ako. I can't really calm myself right now. Takot na takot ako. It doesn't happen often but, it happens. He's my dad. My dad. Bakit kaya niya gawin iyon sa sarili niyang anak? Bakit kinaya niya babuyin ako? He was the one who should stand as someone that will protect me. Siya dapat iyon eh. Bakit siya iyong gumagawa ng mga bagay na hindi dapat ginagawa ni kahit nino man? He should be my comfort, my security. Pero bakit siya pa gumawa sa'kin nun? Sarili kong ama?

"Millicent, are you home?" Napaangat ang tingin ko at nakitang kanina pa pala ako nakaupo sa tabi ng bathtub.

"Millicent." Just him calling my name made me shiver.