Beyond The Pale (Montavilla Series #2)

Prologue

TRIGGER WARNING: The following chapter may contain sensitive themes that are not suitable for audiences. Self-harm and suicide are some content mentioned.

"Umiwas ka na sa babaeng 'yon, Teresa!"

Isang malakas na pagkabasag na naman ng vase ang aking narinig. Ilan pa ba ang mababasag nila tuwing nag aaway sila? Araw-araw nalang ba ganito? Araw-araw nalang ba ako magigising dahil sa sigawan at pag aaway nila?

"Kaibigan ko siya, Salve! Dahil sa kanya, nabuhay pa kami ng anak mo!"

I rubbed my eyes as I took a glance on my alarm clock, alas sais pa lang. I only had five hours of sleep because I finished all my requirements and it stressed the whole part of me, idagdag pa ang problema lagi sa bahay na 'to.

The people in your life should be the source of reducing stress. But here? It is not, instead, they're causing more of it. Sa paulit ulit na ganito ay nasanay na ako, ngunit meron pa rin pag kirot sa puso ko tuwing naaalala ko kung gaano kasaya ang pamilya namin noon.

I miss watching the sun sets while we're at the beach. I adore sunsets and beach because of them-but now, it tears me apart whenever I go there.

"Wala siyang madudulot na maganda, simula nang dumating 'yang Alicia na 'yan ay nagkanda leche leche na ang pamilyang 'to!"

"Ikaw ang mas walang maidudulot na maganda sa'min, Salve! Pamilya mo kami, pero anong ginagawa mo? Ama ka na! Pero nasaan ka lagi? Nakikipag inuman sa ka-negosyo mo! Mas mabuti pang maghiwalay na tayo!"

I immediately covered my mouth when I heard that she slapped my mom again. Tears started to roll down to my cheeks, impit akong napahikbi. I badly want to go there, to defend her. But my mom don't want me to interfere when they're fighting, dahil ayaw niyang pati ako ay saktan ng aking sariling ama, lagi niyang pinapaalala sa'kin 'yon.

She's my mom, she have a huge part in me, at sobrang sakit sa akin makitang naging ganto ka-miserable ang buhay niya bilang asawa. Even though he's my father, my mother deserve someone who will cherish her, who will love her, who will not hurt her, who will treat her like a Queen. Hindi ganito.

My dad changed since our company started to fall down. Napabayaan niya ito ng husto, he became addicted to gambling. Halos lahat ng pera namin ay nalustay na niya. Until one day, he managed to hurt my mom, na dati ay hindi. Sa'min niya nailalabas ang galit niya na siya naman ang gumawa ng dahilan.

He should be the one we lean on, but he made our foundation weaker. I'm so worn out by this situation. Sometimes, It really made me think to end it all. But being miserable is a choice. I know something awaits me in the future, and that keeps me going.

Even the darkest night will end, when the sun started to rise.

I wiped my tears using my own hand when my phone vibrated on the side table of my bed. I grabbed it to check who messaged me, hindi na ako nagulat nang makita ang pangalan ni Alliah doon, our leader on our pep squad.

AliGiselle: Practice, 8am sharp.

I checked the time, I didn't notice that I cried for an hour again. Sabagay, ano ba'ng bago?

Agad ako umalis sa kama ko upang maligo na. I wore a black leggings and just a dry-fit shirt, this is where I feel comfortable when we have a practice. Ang mga kasama ko sa team ay sanay mag sports bra lang, hindi ako sanay mag show ng skin. And somehow, I hate my pale skin, sobrang putla ko tignan, tapos natural blonde pa ang buhok ko. Maybe because mana ako kay mommy, she's half American.