Serenity's POV
I woke up with a heavy heart and a heavy head. What the heck naka ilan ba ako kahapon? Naka dalawang bote lang naman ako ng soju. I opened my phone and was bombarded with a lot of notifications.
100 calls from Mom
55 messages from Kuya Alfonso
30 missed calls from Mama Imee
20 messages from Dad
34 messages from Kuya Luis
I ignored all of it except for my TIta Imee's notifications. I messaged her. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. I am too devastated to talk to anyone. My heart aches so much.
"Tita Imee, I'm ok. Don't tell anyone except for my Dad that I messaged you. I want peace of mind. I am ok. Don't worry about me. Just let me be. I will come home once I fixed myself po. I am devastated but I'm ok."
Lucas also called me. I told him I'm ok and no need to worry. I also apologized for leaving him alone. Good thing I have him to understand me. I was about to stand when my phone rang again. It was her. The woman who destroyed me. I didn't want to answer but I felt that I needed to. I pressed the accept button and placed it on speaker phone and shut my mouth.
"Baby? Serenity? Are you there love?" she asked I prevent to make any sound.
"Baby, Mommy's so sorry." she started.
"M-Mommy is so sorry love. P-please let me explain anak." Fuck! I don't want to cry.
"Mommy wasn't prepared that night anak ko. I hope you understand." Ako ba laging kailangan umintindi?
"Uwi ka na anak. Uwi ka na kay Mommy." she said. And that's where my tears started to fall.
"Bye." Was the only thing I've said. I will go home when I want to, and that is not today.
..........
It has been Days, Weeks, Months since Serenity left Forbes and Irene became miserable day by day. Her daughter's graduation also has passed, she graduated valedictorian. She doesn't have any idea when will her daughter be home. She was currently in her room when she heard a scream.
"Serenity! Jusko salamat naman at umuwi ka na!" That's what she heard before going out of her room. She saw her daughter with a one length hairstyle carrying her bag. Her daughter got thinner and her eyes got sadder.
"Baby ko!" Irene uttered loudly before running down to hug her daughter. Serenity just stood still and did not mind hugging her back.
"Kamusta ka na hmm? Thank you for coming home anak. Pumayat ka oh. Kumain ka na hmm? I'll cook for you." Irene said as she caressed, kissed, and held her daughter. Serenity was just looking at her without any emotions.
"Don't act as if we were ok. Don't act as if you didn't hurt me." she coldly said as she removed her hand.
"Anak."
"Stop the crap, Mrs. Araneta. You don't know me right? Then you are also unknown to me." Serenity said as she left her mom to go upstairs.
The news that Serenity went back home spread as fast as the media that made her so annoyed.
It was 11 in the evening when Serenity got hungry and went down. She wanted to have some pasta that is why she cooked some spicy tuna aglio oglio pasta. A quick meal for a woman who didn't eat a proper meal since she left home. She also made a quick iced matcha latte for her to calm down.
After cooking she went to the garden to eat. She missed her alone time as she was bombarded for the past months. While she was eating a sudden flashback hit her.
.....
"Darling! Wakey wakey!" Irene gently woke her up.
"Hmm... Early Mommy." A seven year old Serenity groaned.
It's your first day class baby! Hatid ikaw ni mommy! Halika na anak!" Irene said she kissed her daughter. Serenity smiled and buried herself to her Mother's body as she hugged her.
"Aysus! Naglalambing baby ni Mommy. Come na, I cooked your favorite. Tapos Mommy will fix your hair. Halika na." Irene said while kissing her forhead.
"Really Mommy? They will see you."
"Mommy got this love."
It was Serenity's best day ever. Irene didn't even denied her, instead she covered herself up. It was the last time Serenity felt so happy.
.....
Serenity was startled when someone offered her tissues.
"That's clean, don't worry. Kuya wouldn't hurt you." There he saw his Kuya Alfonso. She accepted the tissue while Alfonso sat down beside her.
"How are you?"
"I don't know."
"Mind to share your thoughts, Buncho?" He asked.
Buncho. An endearment Irene made for her and her only.
"Buncho is so broken, she is vulnerable and hurting, she is in pain Afy." She said as she looks at the stars.
"Ang daming nawala saakin. My trust, my friends, my happiness, myself. Kuya, mga kaibigan ko, niloko ako. Yung tiwala ko sa lahat nawala din. Yung saya ko kuya hindi ko mahanap hanap. Pati sarili ko nawala ko na rin." She chuckled.
"You and Kuya Wui is lucky no? Hindi kayo tinatago, hindi kayo dinedeny, buti pa kayo. Sino ba naman ako? Wala mema lang dito sa mundong to." she bantered.
"Diyan ka magaling. Sa katarantaduhan."
"I know right, Kuya. Baka tagong anak to."
"Ang galing galing mong itago yung sakit na nararamdaman mo by your jokes. Ginagawa mong joke ang lahat para mag mukha kang strong." Alfy said. Serenity smirked.
"Wala. Kung hindi ko rin naman gagawin to sa sarili ko, baka matagal na akong patay. Sometimes, for us to not be a burden to others we will find ways to be happy parang BDO."
"Bagtit (baliw)! Hay ang buncho ko. But you are not alone ok? Hindi ikaw nag iisa kasi kasama mo si Kuya. I love you buncho, everything will be alright soon." Alfy said as he hugged his sister.
"Aba dapat lang. Kung hindi hello san pedro and his manok." She joked. Alfy just laughed and kissed her forehead.
....
A week after...
Everyone was so busy as Irene will be launching her new jewelries today at her new branch. Serenity will be attending as a representative of school. Being with a lot of people whom she isn't familiar with stresses her out. Her brothers keeps on glancing at her from time to time. She is alone and no one knows her. They were just waiting for Irene to go up in the stage. and Serenity is now in the verge of having an anxiety attack. She doesn't know anyone here except for her family and her ninangs.
"Hello, are you somehow a relative of Mrs. Beltran? You look like her." Someone approached her. She looked at him and saw that he is part of the local industry.
"H-hi. I-I'm not." She stuttered.
"Then why are you here? I assume you are too young."
"I am here to represent my school, Sir. I am from God's Angels University (fictional). I am their Chairman and Mrs. Beltran invited us, as we are the only school here in the Philippines who has a campaign and advocacy for the local products of our country." She flatly said but with a smile on her face.
"Bueno, nice to know that." The man said and left. She was relieved.
"Iba talaga si bunchuchoy." She heard. She was startled when she saw Luis and Alfonso at her back.
"Baka may makakita!" she panicked and left. She grabbed a drink and sat near the stage. Irene was looking at her from time to time.
The event already started and Irene was already called to the mini podium.
"Good evening everyone! Thank you for coming here tonight at my new branch for the launch of my new collection, Venice. This new piece of mine is inspired from the beauty of Venice, Italy. Classy and Chic. And can be worn anywhere, whatever your event is. Formal or Casual. Simple like Italy.
I would like to thank everyone here for giving support. Especially to my children, Alfonso and Luis, for giving some time in attending this event. My husband, Greggy, for always supporting me with whatever I do.
I would also like to thank the representatives of every school we invited for coming.
Again, thank you so much and enjoy the night!" Irene said.
Serenity just bitterly smiled. She saw her brothers looking at her while they are being called to go up in the podium for their family picture. She smiled.
"Go!" she mouthed.
She saw how her dad and brothers looked at her.
"Akala ko, mapapakilala na ko. Bakit kasi nag expect pa ako." Serene said in her mind and joined the crowd with clapping at her family.
When they went down, she escaped the event and went to Xylo. She just wants to breathe from everything. It's getting heavier and heavier and she knows she can explode.
On the other hand, Irene was searching for her daughter.
"Kuya, si Serene nasaan?" She asked Alfy.
"I don't know. Why do you care though?" he fired back.
"Anak, please wag ngayon."
"Kailan? Hanggang kailan mo papahirapan kapatid ko?" Alfy said. He was disappointed with Irene.
"Iniintindi kita Ma. Pero sobra ka na po." Alfonso said before leaving Irene alone.
The event already ended but still, there are no signs of Serenity. The Araneta family is now being chaotic as they are calling friends, families, and officials just to find their daughter.
"Kasi kung pinakilala na si Buncho hindi magiging ganito." Luis said as he kept on dialing numbers.
"Anak, magsisisihan pa ba tayo?" Irene asked
"Ikaw lang naman may kasalanan dito ma, ikaw lang." Luis said and answered a call.
"Shush! Hindi kayo nakakatulong!" Alfonso irritatedly said.
"Tatawag na ako ng poli-" Alfonso didn't had the chance to finish his words when the door opened revealing the person they are looking for.
A drunk Serenity.
Author's Note:
Sorry for the lame update! Magkasunod na chapters na to ha? Bawi na ko! Happy Holidays!!
- Rie