Chiara
"They looked.. so happy," rinig kong bulong ni Kallie while the both of us are eating lunch, rather ako lang ang kumakain kasi kanina pa siya busy sa iPad niya.
"Hey Kall, mind sharing it?" wika ko, tumingin siya sa 'kin at kaagad na umiling sabay lapag ng iPad niya sa mesa namin.
"Ha? Nako, wala 'yon! Kain na lang tayo!" she said as she opened her lunchbox, trying to avoid eye contact with me. She's hiding something...
Without saying a word, kaagad kong kinuha ang iPad niya as I turned it on, my brows automatically furrowed upon seeing Lea's instagram account.
"You're stalking her? She's not even worth the time, sinasayang mo lang ang oras mo." I commented, I was about to turn it off but one photo caught my attention. Before I can see it clearly, kaagad na inagaw ni Kallie ang iPad niya sa 'kin, causing her to receive a glare from me.
"Invasion of privacy, Chiara!" aniya, I rolled my eyes at akmang babawiin na sana ang iPad niya but she immediately hid it inside her bag.
"Pahiram nga muna!" Kallie shook her head at sinimulan niya na ang pagkain ng lunch niya.
"No. No, and no." she replied, still shrugging her head. Selfish brat.
I sighed in defeat as I fished for my phone inside my pocket, kaagad ko itong nilabas as I turned the power on.
"You're not stalking her, kakasabi mo lang na she's not even worth the time so don't do that!" Kallie exclaimed, mimicking my words earlier.
"Shut up." sabi ko as I opened my IG account and look for Lea's. Nang makita ko ito, I clicked the last photo she posted at napangiti na lang ako nang mapakla upon seeing it clearly.
It's Dad and Alysse wearing matchy shirts, smiling widely at the camera. Nakaakbay si Dad kay Alysse while the latter's wearing her goofy face.
msleasalonga: Absolutely greatful to have these two in my life ❤
Now that Alysse is here, nagawa na nilang maipag-sigawan sa buong mundo na they're back with each others arms. Na sila na ulit and that, the King and Queen are happily living together with their angelic Princess.
Eh sila na masaya. I turned my phone off at kaagad na binalik ito sa bulsa ko, upon seeing the picture, I lost my appetite, nasira na ang araw ko.
"I told you... mapilit ka, kita mo na?" Kallie said, hindi ko na lang pinansin ang sinabi niya.
It has been a week after that heartbreaking moment at sa isang linggo na iyon, marami ang nagbago.
Palaging wala si Daddy sa bahay, he's either at Lea's place or at work. I'm no longer Mamita's favorite apo, she now have Alysse. Tita Kate's starting to like her also at kahit na si Eros, bukambibig na rin ngayon si Alysse.
Alysse. Alysse. Alysse.
Nakakarindi na! Nakakairita! Simula nang dumating siya, mas lalong gumulo ang magulo kong buhay. Siya na lang ba palagi? Alysse na lang ba palagi? 'Di ba pwedeng, Chiara naman?
Nagseselos ako sa atensyong binibigay sa kanya na dapat ay sa 'kin. She and Lea are no doubt, the worst calamity in my life.
"Palagi tayong magkasama but I seldom ask you this, in your current situation, kumusta ka na Chia?" napaangat ako ng tingin when Kallie spoke again, she's asking me that? Ano sa tingin niya ang kalagayan ko ngayon?
"Sometimes.. I consider living alone now." I said nonchalantly.
She sighed, "I know you're not the type of person who will cry like a baby when dilemmas arise but always keep in mind na when you feel like it, I'm just here. I'm always here by your side."
Napangiti na lang ako ng matipid sa sinabi niya, wala man akong pamilya sa ngayon, at least I have Kallie to count on.
My classes finally ended and I can't wait to throw myself at bed. This is indeed a tiring day.
"Looks like wala pa ang sundo mo, sama ka sa amin? We can drop you home." Kallie offered while roaming her eyes around, sasagot pa sana ako when my phone vibrated, I turned it on and for the first time, I felt a hint of excitement upon seeing that I received a message from Dad.
From: Daddy
Still at school? Mang Jerome can't come and fetch you there, wait for me at isasabay na kita pauwi.
"No need na Kall, Dad's going to fetch me." nakangiting wika ko.
Kallie nudged at me with a grin on her face, "Finally, ngumiti ka rin ng hindi pilit!"
"Shut up." I hurled back, still smiling.
Nagpaalam na si Kallie while me on the other hand, made my way to the waiting area upang hintayin si Daddy.
To: Daddy
Okay, I'll be waiting.
And that's the final straw, my phone automatically turned off, lowbatt na! Ugh, seriously? Mabuti na lang at nakapag-reply ako sa text ni Daddy kaagad na I'll wait for him here.
Ito ang unang beses na makakasama ko siya, 'yong kami lang at walang Lea, Mamita, o Alysse na nakabuntot.
I may hate him but you can't blame me, he's still my father.
Minutes and hours passed at walang Daddy na dumating. Ni anino niya, hindi ko nakita. What took him so long? Asan na ba 'yon?
I took a glance at my wristwatch and it's already 6:42 pm, my dismissal time is around 4:00 pm so I've been sitting here for almost an hour and two?
Baka umuwi na? No, hindi niya gagawin iyon. Hindi niya naman siguro ako pababayaan dito 'di ba? Sabi niya hihintayin ko siya eh..
"Miss? Wala pa ba ang sundo mo? Anong oras na o?" one of the guards approach me, holding a flashlight.
"Wala pa po kuya." sagot ko at patingin-tingin sa kalsada, hoping na sana, dumating na rin siya sa wakas.
"Nako, anong oras na 'to. Siguro hindi na dadating ang sundo mo, umuwi ka na lang kaya?" he suggested, umiling ako. I will not go home. I'll wait for Dad to show up no matter what.
"Hindi po kuya, my Dad said na hintayin ko daw siya, magagalit naman 'yon 'pag hindi ko sinunod ang sinabi niya eh." I said while chuckling, napakamot na lang ng ulo niya si Kuya Guard as he took a last glance at me before disappearing from my sight.
6:52, 7:08, 7:24, 7:49, 8:04, 8:17, 8:35, 8:46, 9:03. I guess that's it, hindi niya na siguro ako susunduin!
I bit my lower lip to prevent tears from falling, ayan na naman, iiyak na naman ako. Not here please or it's way better kung huwag na lang kayong tumulo. I stood up at kaagad na pumara ng taxi.
I waited for him yet umasa lang ako sa wala. Promises are made to be broken after all.
I arrived home as my forehead automatically creased upon seeing a white familiar car parked outside.
Kaagad akong pumasok sa loob at halos matawa ako sa nadatnan ko, apparently, the King together with his Queen and Princess are busy, playing board games.
Ewan kung matatawa ba talaga ako o maiiyak sa nadatnan ko ngayon. I was there waiting for hours like a total idiot and there he is, having fun? Kaya pala hindi ako sinundo, may ibang pinagka-abalahan.
I was about to make my way upstairs, completely ignoring them but unfortunately, they noticed my presence.
"Chiara!" Dad called me in a loud manner kaya napatigil naman ako sa paglalakad at lumingon sa gawi nila without saying a word.
"Where have you been? Saang parte ng mundo ka naman gumala at ni hindi mo napansin ang oras? Kung uuwi ka rin lang naman sa gantong oras, mabuti pa sigurong 'wag ka na lang umuwi." he said and anger is evident in his voice. Really, nagawa niya pa talagang magalit?
"Ikaw pa talaga ang nagsabi niyan? Saan ako galing? Well, I was there at the waiting area, waiting for someone to fetch me up! Oras, ilang oras akong nag-antay sa wala and now, nagawa mo pa akong pagalitan ni ako nga ang dapat na magalit sa hindi mo pag-sulpot?" I replied with my voice shaking, anytime from now, I probably will burst out crying but that's something I won't do. Not in front of them.
"I sent you a text message!" wika nito, a little calm than earlier. Finally, he noticed that he should be the one to be blamed for!
"Sorry ha? Lowbatt kasi ang cellphone ko eh." I answered back.
"Then sana umuwi ka na lang, hindi mo na lang sana ako hinintay." napatawa naman ako ng mahina upon hearing that from him.
"I apologize for being a complete fool, umasa kasi ako na dadating ka eh. Na you'll fetch me up even tho it's really late. Ang tanga ko kasi hinintay pa rin kita kahit na pinagtitinginan at pinaguusapan na ako ng mga tao na dumaraan, kinagat na ako ng napakaraming lamok, sinita na ako ng guard na umuwi na lang pero 'di ko ginawa iyon dahil nga, hinihintay kita. I was there waiting for you saddened by the thought na ang tagal-tagal mong dumating but then, here you are, having fun with your family!" mahabang lintaya ko and after saying the last word, bumuhos na ng tuluyan ang mga luha ko.
Daddy didn't say a word, looks like he was frozen at his spot for a moment. Ngumiti ako ng mapakla at tinalikuran siya, I was about to go upstairs but I remembered one thing so I look back at his direction.
"Nga pala, kung ayaw niyo na sa 'kin. Kung pagod ka ng alagaan ako. Kung masaya at kuntento ka na sa buhay mo without me... just say it at hindi ako magdadalawang isip na umalis dito. Sabihin niyo lang, hindi 'yong pinapatay niyo ako at pinapamukha sa 'kin na masaya ka na kasama sila, ang bago mong pamilya. Just say it Dad dahil pagod na pagod na ako.." I wiped my tears away at patakbong umakyat sa taas, dumiretso ako sa kwarto ko, locking the door behind.
Tinapon ko kung saan ang backpack ko as I went inside my bathroom, I opened the cupboards as I breathe in relief upon seeing the thing I needed in order to finish this apocalypse I'm going through right now.
A blade.
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