tw: abuse
"Dad can i ask?"
He look at me waiting for my question. "Why does tito Antonio hate Andrea so much?" i asked.
Andrea is my bestfriend and also my sister....I'm sad if she's sad....I'm in pain if she's in pain...i don't want her to be hurt. I want her to be happy.
He put the gun down, tapos na nyang punasan. I am here inside of his office to asked him that question.
"Come here,"
I walked towards him and i sat down beside him, waiting for his answer. "Antonio...is a manipulative person. Since you're already 9 years old i'll tell you the truth. You already have enough knowledge since you're smart at such a young age and i know you already have answer in your mind but you don't want to believe it."
Actually yes, that's true. Pero ayaw kong mag isip ng kung ano ano kung hindi sakanya mismo nanggaling ang mga salitang yon.
"Me, Antonio and Clark are bestfriend...the three of us joined the same gang since college, we do some things...yeah i killed people but only the people that are murderer...they discovered our gang and this mafia thingy...i joined it because of what happened since my childhood. You already know what your grand father did to me right?"
He showed me his pointer finger in right arm hand....putol yon...he doesn't have pointer finger anymore.
I nodded.
"I don't want my future kids to suffer like that...i want them to learn how to fight, how to defend theirselves the reason why i trained you in combat...but i don't want you to join that mafia thingy,"
"So why did tito Antonio..."
"Because Shein never loved him"
Shock.
Tita Shein never loved him? Why? They already had 3 kids.
I don't know what to say so i just remain silent and wait for him to talk again.
"It's so complicated....when Antonio saw Shein fort the first time in the battle field....sa ring, he felt love at first sight....he confessed but Shein rejected him instantly...she said that she doesn't have any attention to any guys around...that was also the first time that Anotnio got rejected...natapakan ang ego niya," napabuntong hininga siya at tumingin sa kawalan, inaalala ang panahon na yon. "Nasanay kasi syang nakukuha lahat ng gusto niya. He's spoiled."
"But when he found out that Shein had a boyfriend he confronted her...telling her that she's a manipulative bitch...malandi, gago, walang hiya, maarte at kung ano ano pa.I was there that time...we were there. We're stopping him from throwing harsh words to her but he did not listen." Napabuntong hininga siya.
He's....he's crazy hell.
"Shein's boyfriend, Chester, nalaman niya yon kaya kinompronta niya si Antonio, sinugod niya si Antonio at sinuntok of course...of course Antonio fought back...i understood why he barged in...ako din ganon ang gagawin ko pag nalaman kong pinagsabihan ng kung sinong lalaki ng ganon ang mommy mo. Gagawin ko din ang ginawa ni Chester kung binastos ang mga mahal ko sa buhay,"
"Antonio had an obsession on Shein...i told him to stop but he didn't...he's still trying to pester her over and over again....until.." he let out a breath.
"Until what Dad?" i asked. He suddenly stopped talking like there's a lump in his throat.
"Antonio, killed Chester. I don't know how he did it i really don't know." He shook his head na parang inaalis sa isipan niya ang ala alang yon. "And when Shein know that the man she loved is dead, she was in pain....she's crying....and Antonio took that advantage to get Shein...but Shein never loved him...she didn't....She never."
"But they had 3 kids...how come tita Shein never loved him?" i asked.
"Antonio...raped Shein resulting Asher's presence to this world,"
Shock is in my face right now. What the. Tita Shein was raped? Tito Antonio did that? Asher's existence to this world is not because of love but because of a....rape?
"Shein hated herself but not the child in her stomach...i only know everything what happened when i saw Shein's stomach...i asked her who's the father and she said it's Antonio's. She did not tell me it's all because of raped....i thought she developed feelings for Antonio....like what Antonio said to us that they love each other, we believed him of course he's our bestfriend kaya dapat lang na maniwala kami sakanya,"
"Pero maliban sainyo wala na bang may alam na ginahasa siya?"
"No," umiling si dad. "Shein came to me at nagmakaawa na wag kong ipagsabi kahit kanino dahil ang rules sa loob ng org ay...dapat kung mabuntis ka ay gawa dapat sa pagmamahal ang bata at hindi sa isang krimen...and if the higher ups will knew about it the child should be abort pero mahal ni Shein ang bata kaya nagsinungaling siya sa lahat para sa kapakanan ng batang nasa sinapupunan niya."
"Aside from you, who else.."
"Just me, Clark, Anotonio and Shein." Then tinignan niya ako ng seryoso. "You better not tell anyone about this. Kahit kanino kahit sino, naiintindihan mo ba Cold?"
I nod. "I promise i wont,"
He nod.
"Does tita Shein knew what happened to..."
"Up until now? She didn't....kamamatay lang ng anak nyang si Ashley and she's still hurting so bad...as much as i want to tell her...i couldn't....i don't know how, her position is higher than me...she will kill me--she will kill all of us if i did tell her,"
My heart doubled in bit. I swallowed hard.
"But she needs to know," i whisper....she have all the right to know. It's her lover who got murdered by her husband.
"Rules sa gang...na dapat pakasalan mo ang nabuntis mo...so wala ng choice si Shein kundi gawin yon at sabihin ang totoong identity niya...she's the bosses of the boss...she's the mafia boss....a queen and Chester is supposed to be the king...walang nakakaalam ng ginawa ni Antonio because he did it cleanly and perfect...paano ko nalaman? Sinabi niya samin....nung nalaman namin ang totoong identity ni Shein natakot ako...natakot kami ni Clark and Antonio too but...dahil manipulative siya naging madali na sakanya yon....galit si Antonio kay Andrea dahil babae siya... Ang rules na ginawa ni Shein, ibibigay niya lang yong posisyon ng mafia king kung may dalawa kang anak ng lalaki at dapat tatlo ang anak mo...just in case na babae yong isa,"
"His first born is a boy...he celebrated....if you're going to asked why Shein did not kill Antonio even after what he did to her...it's because she doesn't want her son to lose a father so she endured everything...kahit na siya ang queen kinaya niya lahat para sa mga anak niya. She wanted her son to have a complete family...yong nangyari sakanila kahit kaylan hindi niya nagustohan, dumating si Ashley at nainis si Antonio dahil babae ang second child niya...so he continued raping Shein even though Shein don't want it...but Antonio blackmailed her that he will hurt Asher and Ashley so even though she's hurting she endured all of it for her kids..."
"She could have told it to the org,"
Umiling siya, "They will kill Antonio and like what i said to you ayaw niyang mawalan nag ama ang mga anak niya at gusto niyang magkaroon ng kompletong pamilya ang mga anak niya," napabuntong hininga siya. "She's not a queen while thinking it, she's a mother. A mother Cold,"
"Why didn't you help her?"
"Cold, as much as i want to help her ayaw ko naman kayong mapahamak. Kung ano ang kinuha sakanya ganon din ang kapalit. Your mom died and i don't want you and your twin to lose a father,"
Napatingin ako sa sahig...it's very complicated.
"Andrea came to this world meaning he will never get the chance to have that position in mafia world anymore and the higher ups didn't question why Shein don't give the position to her husband it's because rules are rules and because he only had 1 son means Shein's position will be given to Asher soon...the reason why he hates Andrea the most...to him, Andrea is a mistake...i apologized to her because i can't stop Antonio's greedy...i can't control him...she said she will forgive me if.." he looked at me.
"If what?" i asked.
"If my first born will protect her daughters.."
I am his first born..so meaning...
He inhale a large air and exhale it slowly.. "Don't worry i won't let you enter that world i will ask Shein-"
I cut him off.. "Why did Ashley died?" i asked.
"I don't know," he shook his head. "Believe me i don't know,"
I feel a sad because of them...their presence in this world is not because of love....but because of a rape.
"Let's go back to the Philippines," i stood up and look at my Dad who have this confused look, "I want to see Andrea, she's in pain...she's my bestfriend i won't let her suffer alone," after knowing all of these... ayaw ko siyang iwan habang nasasaktan siya. Ayaw ko siyang nasasaktan. Ayaw ko siyang masaktan.
After knowing everything...after hearing it from my father....the reason why i agreed to him training me in combat is because i want to stop tito Antonio from hurting Andrea...I don't want her to be hurt...it will make me hurt too. And because i have a twin sister...i don't want her to hurt too.
"Cold-"
"Dad, i know i'm still a kid...but i already know what's rights and wrongs...comforting her is the least thing i can do,"
He let out a sigh before nodding "Okay, prepare your clothes, we're heading to the Philippines."
I nodded before turning my back on him and walking away....Tito Antonio is a bastard, asshole, a murderer and a manipulative freak.
Andrea, since we were kids Zach, Andrea and I are already bestfriends...i also have a sister...a twin sister....so this means Jasmin should protect Andrea since Ashley is already dead.
***
"I don't know what to say anymore rather than i am happy and i know we can do it. Congratulations to us, my friends, classmates and batch mates. I want to tell you all that i am so proud because we made it...i know we have long road ahead of us but always remember why we are studying...why are we suffering. If it's not challenge you it will not for you. I hope the courses you will take will gonna led you to success in the future!" Andrea said before stepping down and bow down a little.
Nagpalakpakan kami, grade 10 na kami at graduation namin ngayon at siya ang Valedictorian.
Sinabitan siya ni Amber ng medals niya, naka dress ng red si Amber at naka toga ng gold si Andrea.
I smile, she really deserved to be the valedictorian. Andami nyang medal dahil siya ang valedictorian, achiever, SSG president, Taekwando player-ace player to be exact, campus queen since she won the pageant and so on.
Ngumiti siya sa'kin ng magtama ang tingin namin."Proud of you," i mouthed. She smiled and replied "Thank you. Im proud of you too."
Bumaba na sila sa stage at nag tawag na ng mga last name. At nung tinawag na ang last name ko, tumayo na ako.
"Gomez, Samantha Lauren."
Umakyat ako ng stage at si Amber din ang nag sabit ng medals sakin. Madami din akong award like, with high honors, ace gymnastic player, achiever, and SSG Vice President at kung ano ano.
"Congrats" nakangiti ng proud si Amber saakin.
"Thank you," pasasalamat ko, humarap kami sa harapan para tumingin sa boyfriend niya na may hawak na camera.
Si kuya Eve.
"Isa pa!" sigaw niya samin dahil malakas ang music at mic. So we did, nag smile kami bago bumaba ng stage.
Si Soleil naman incoming grade 10, mas bata kasi siya samin.
The graduation went well.
"Gutom na ako!" reklamo ko.
"Hiyang hiya naman ako na taga picture niyo!" reklamo ni kuya Eve.
"Taga picture kalang naman ah, anong mahirap don?" tanong ko.
"Nakatayo ako magdamag, taga picture niyo at taga bantay ng gamit niyo!"
"Amber oh," sumbong ko, kunwari paiyak na.
"Stop na yan yawa kain na nga tayo at nagugutom na din ako!" reklamo din niya.
"Ikaw? Hindi ka pa ba gutom?" tanong ko kay Andrea na kanina pa tahimik, hawak niya ang medals nyang nakasabit sa leeg niya.
"Do you think mom and ate are proud of me?" she asked all of a sudden.
Hindi ako agad umimik....andami nyang na-achieved pero parang walang meaning sakanya yon...parang lahat baliwala.
Inakbayan ko siya para pagaanin ang loob niya. "Oo naman! Andami mong medals at ang tali-talino mo kaya! Puro line of 9 pa grades mo! Ano nga ulit average mo? 99.06! Ako nga 95.01 lang eh!"
Totoo yon, nagulat din ako nung nalaman kong 99 ang average nya, antalino niya talaga!
"Palabok tayo," suggest ni Soleil.
"G! Libre ko na!" nag taas ng kamay si kuya Eve.
Pumalakpak ako. "Ayan! Yan ang gusto ko sayo kuya Eve eh! May silbi ka din!" tumatawang sabi ko.
"Eve nalang! Wag mo na akong i-kuya kala mo naman antanta tanda kona!"
"Magalang po kasi po ako po 'no? Opo opo," tumango tango pa ako.
"Plastik!" sigaw ng kung sino saakin at binatuka pa ako! Tinignan ko ng masama kung sino yon!
"Mas plastik ka Knight!" sigaw ko.
"Wag mo ng inisin yan, lalaki pa mata nyan lalo," bulong ni Kuya Eve sa pinsan nyang si Knight. Bulong na halatang pinarinig sakin.
"Gago ka Eve!" pagmura ko sakanya.
Sa totoo lang, Eve talaga tawag ko dyan hindi ako nag ku-kuya...wala trip ko lang eh.
"Sa'n nyo balak mag college?" tanong ni Amber.
"Nag apply kami ng scholarship ni Andrea sa DLSU!" bumaling ako kay Andrea.
"Oo, may dorm naman don eh" sagot niya.
"Sana college na din ako,"
Napalingon kami kay Soleil nang magsalita, nakabusangot.
"Ayus lang yan! Hindi ako nag enrol for 3rd year kasi sasamahan kita sa bahay, don't worry," si Amber at inakbayan si Soleil saka ngumiti.
"Huh?!" gulat kong baling sakanya.
"Ganyan din reaksyon ko eh pero naiintindihan ko naman, "Si Eve.
"Antagal nyo na ah? Ilang taon na? lagpas dalawang taon 'no?" tanong ko, nag iisip.
"Wag ka ng mag isip! Wala ka namang isip!" pang iinis sa'kin ni Knight.
Aba't gago 'to ah?!
"Tumigil na nga kayo dyan, mag rarambulan pa kayo dyan eh," saway ni Soleil.
I made a face para inisin pa lalo si Knight, pero ang gago sumublat din amp!
"Ikaw na nga ang mag drive ng sasakyan ng may silbi ka naman!" kinuha ko yong susi sa kamay ni Eve at binigay sakanya. "Tutal wala ka namang jowa at hindi ka gusto ng gusto mo mag drive ka nalang ng magkasilbi naman ang buhay mo sa mundong 'to!" padabog kong binigay sakanya yong susi. "Oh!"
"Coming from you eh no?! Kala mo naman gusto siya ni Cold pwe! Kung makabakod kay Cold kala mo pagmamaya ari niya eh hindi naman siya gusto yuck!" pang iinis niya sakin lalo. Umasta pa syang nasusuka siya.
Aba't tangina neto ah?!
"Huh!" sarkastiko akong tumawa at humarap sakanya, namaywang at tinaas ang isang kilay "Kahit na hindi niya ako gusto gusto ko pa din siya! Wala kang pake don!"
"Ampangit mo!"
Nag init lalo ang ulo ko dahil sa sinabi nya! No one call me pangit! Ambang susugudin ko na sana siya nang hilain ako ni Andrea, pinipigilan ako. Pero hindi ako nagpaawat at sinugod ko talaga kaso hindi niya pa din ako binibitawan para niya na nga akong kinakaladkad eh.
"Andrea bitawan mo ako mag tutuos lang kami netong supot na 'to!" inalis ko yong hawak niya sakin pero hinawakan naman ni Soleil yong isa kong braso.
"Kalmahan mo," bulong niya.
Kaya ang ginawa ko yong toga na nasa ulo ko hinagis ko sakanya! Ayun sapul sa mata tumama yong side non! Yong may tusok! Dasurb!
"Belat dasurb!" dumila pa ako.
"Aba't gago 'to ah!" ambang susugod din si Knight pero pinigilan siya ni Eve sa braso, sa isang braso. "Eve, bitawan mo ako wag mo akong pigilan mag uusap lang kami pramis usap lang,"
"Kalmahan mo pare yong puso mo walang sasalo," pang aasar niya sa pinsan niya.
"Gago kala ko ba ako kakampihan mo?!" humarap siya kay Eve. "Kala ko ba mahal mo ako? Sige ganyan na pala ayus lang pasensya na ako lang 'to hindi ko deserve mahalin at kampihan ayus lang ayus lang talaga tanggap ko naman eh ayus lang ayus lang talaga sana naging tokwa nalang ako," pag dadrama niya, pinunasan niya pa yong pisngi niya na akala mo naman may luha.
"Sana nga naging tokwa ka nalang," pang aasar ko pa lalo.
"Gago 'to ah-HOY BITAW!" susugudin niya na sana ako ulit kaso kinaladlad na siya ni Eve papuntang sasakyan.
Parang bata e college na, jusmiyo buti pa ako umaasta sa taon ko.
Nasa likod kami ng sasakyan papunta sa mall, ansabi namin palabok nalang pero itong si Eve manlilibre nalang daw yawa, buti nalang talaga naka dress kami kaya ayus lang. Inalis na namin yong toga namin at nilagay namin sa sarili naming paper bag.
"Sine nadin!" pangangantyaw ni Knight.
"Oo bah basta ba libre mo!"
"Ikaw itong mayaman Eve ah bakit ako?!" reklamo niya.
"Eh sa ikaw nag su-suggest eh edi ikaw na sa entrace,"
"Sige basta hindi kasama si Samantha!"
Hinila ko ang buhok niya kaya nag sisisigaw na siya, pinagtitinginan na nga kami ng mga tao pero wala akong pakielam papatayin ko 'tong gagong 'to!
"Gago ka talaga!"
"Supot!" sigaw ko at tinulak siya ayun, muntikang madapa. Bakit hindi palang nadapa? Deserve niya naman yon sa sobrang sama ba naman ng ugali eh.
"Stop na yan. Can you please have at least little na kahiyaan? Pinagtitinginan na tayo oh," si Andrea. Tinatakpan ang mukha. Hiyang hiya na talaga.
"Wow conya" sabay na sabi namin ni Knight, tinignan niya naman ako, nang aakusa. Problema nitong gagong 'to?!
"Ginagaya mo ako! Ha! Crush mo talaga ako eh!"
"Feelingero ang king ina, kala mo naman gwapo yuck! May putok pa!" pang iinis ko.
Natawa sila sa sinabi ko.
"Putok?!" inamoy niya kili-kili nya. "Gago wala naman ah!"
"Uto-uto ka naman, tanga!" Kinusilapan ko siya saka pumasok na sa mang inasal. Mas maganda dito may unli-rice.
Sila ang nag order, i mean yung dalawang lalaki nag order, si Eve ang nanlibre samin pa blowout daw niya, iba din si kuya ah yayamanin.
Hindi namin alam kung naka ilang rice kami, basta madami yon especially sila Andrea at Amber, anlalakas kumain pero fit padin. Minsan nga nagseselos ako kay Andrea eh, kahit na kumain siya ng madami ang fit niya padin. Kahit hindi siya mag exercise fit padin pero ang gaga mahal ang body kaya ayun twice a week nag e-exercise sa bahay. Takbohin ba naman yong oval sa sports complex kapag 7 am.
Oo, 7am. Takot yan sa dilim eh tapos mag si-sine pa mga gago! Buti nalang talaga hindi sila seryoso sa mag si-sine daw, niloloko lang nila si Eve.
"Wow, sine! Please!" nagpuppy eyes ako. Binatukan tuloy ako ni Andrea.
"Abosado ka," pinanlakihan niya pa ako ng mata. Sabi ko nga eh.
"Charot lang yun! No ba kayo joke joke lang" bawi ko, magagalit na yang mga yan. Abusado daw ako hindi naman, ang tawag lang dun wish na dapat matupad. Masama ba yon?
Pero dahil alam ko naman ang rason, ayus lang.
"Cold!" napalingon ako sa likoran ko ng biglang nag taas ng kamay ni Andrea.
Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko, bumagal ang galaw ng mga tao, at parang nabingi ako. Ano 'to k-drama? Pero totoo naman ganon naman kasi yon eh!
Naka white t-shirt, black pantalon and white shoes. May black na relo sa kanang kamay at fit na fit ang damit niya sakanya! Grabe ang bango neto! Bagong ligo pa dahil halata sa buhok, akalain mo yon may ganitong kagwapong nilalang pala? Kala ko wala na eh.
Naglakad siya palapit sakin--este kay Andrea pala.
"Hello Cold! I'm here oh hindi mo din ba ako ibebeso?" tanong ko nang pagkatapos nyang ibeso sa pisngi si Andrea, antanggkad neto sobra.
Nasa tabi ko lang siya pero hindi niya ako pinansin, may hawak syang paper bag na puti at binigay yon kay Andrea.
"Congrats," nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa tuktok ng ulo ni Andrea at marahang ginulo ang buhok niya. "You did well," he smiled a bit, totoo yong ngiti niya.
"What is this?" tanong ni Andrea ng kunin na niya yong paper bag at tinignan yong nasa loob. Tingin ko damit yon or jacket or whatever na hindi ko alam. "Woah, you don't have to give me this, sana si Samantha nalang ang binilhan mo," tumingin siya sakin.
Napakagat ako ng dila ko sa loob ng bibig ko, kinikilig na hindi ko alam kung bakit at paano.
"I bought that for you, not for her," cold nyang sagot, ang suplado neto.
Nawala tuloy bigla ang kilig sa loob ko. Grabe naman hindi manlang pinatagal.
"Oh walang aawat," si Knight.
"Iiyak na yan," si Eve.
Gago talaga 'tong mga 'to kala mo others ako sa kanila parang hindi tropa ang king ina.
"Stop saying that, matagal mo naman na syang kilala,"
True.
"Yeah but we're not friends," sagot niya.
Ay. Hindi friends kasi lovers.
Sapilitan ko syang pinaharap sakin. "Ah eh ano? Lovers lang ganon? Since crush naman kita hindi tayo friends kasi couple tayo diba diba?" niyuyugyog ko pa siya.
Inis nyang inalis yong kamay ko sa braso niya at tinignan ako ng masama. "Stop doing that,"
Narinig kong nagpigil ng tawa yong iba, mga gago talaga 'to.
"I'm not a psycho but for you i will be. Sure why not diba?" nakangiti kong sabi sakanya at kumindat pa. Matalaban ka sa charming ko please. Lord patulong okay? Anak mo naman din ako eh.
"I will never like you,"deretsong sabi niya sakin, mata pa sa mata.
Kung noon nasasaktan ako tuwing sinasabi niya yan pero nasanay nako kaya ayun ayus lang.
"Wag kang magsalita ng tapos, Ice cube mamaya ikaw pa maghabol sakin," kumpyansa kong sabi sakanya, naka cross arms at nakangiti na abot hanggang tenga.
"As if," he scoff and turned his back on me.
"Hoy! Totoo yon wag ka nga ganon yong napapanood ko sa k-drama eh pag napagod nang maghabol si girl, si boy naman ang maghahabol kasi narealized nyang mahal niya pala si girl kaso si girl inis na inis na sakanya kulang nalang ilibing siya ng buhay!"
Hindi niya ako tinignan ulit at nag paalam na kay Andrea pati kila Soleil na aalis na. Ansumplado talaga neto.
---------------------------------------------------------------
:)
Hindi ko sinali sa story na'to yung K-12 kasi ayaw ko. So meaning after grade 10 first year college na agad.