Rough Roads Ahead (COTABATO SERIES#2)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1- Before

Sabi nila, kaya ko daw'ng hulaan ang mga magaganap sa hinaharap. My Dad blamed me for my mother's death, bakit daw kasi di ko sinabing maaksidente siya.

I was ten when that accident happened. 'Di ko alam at 'di ko maintindihan ang lahat. Why are they blaming me? Why do they hate me?

"That kid is a curse! Sa una lang swerte!" It was my grandmother from my mother's side.

Wala naman akong ginagawa. Wala din naman akong nakita gaya ng sinasabi nila. Kasi kung totoo lang? Kung totoong nakikita ko ang mga mangyayari? I would've stopped my mom from going, I should've begged her to stay, pero hindi... wala akong nakita kahit isang clue lang na maaksidente siya.

Siguro may mali din ako, dahil ako ang nag-request na bilhan niya ako ng chocolates, pero ako ba ang sumagasa sa sasakyan ng mommy ko? Ako ba ang pumatay sa kaniya? Hanggang kailan ko pagbabayaran ang kasalanang hindi ko naman ginawa.

I don't even know why they call me a fortune teller, eh hindi naman ako manghuhula. I observed things and conclude, at kadalasan ay tama ang nabubuo kong konklusyon.

"You think this is for the better? Sending her back to Philippines will only make Mama stress again... you know how she hates your daughter, Kuya."

I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I am actually going to drink my milk, pero nakakatatlong hakbang palang ako sa hagdan ay narinig ko na ang pamilyar na boses ng aking ama at ng kapatid niya, si Tita Gracia.

Napalunok ako, I didn't dare to look down on them, nakatitig lang ako sa chandelier ng living room namin at nanatiling nakikinig sa kanila. I know my Grandmother hates me, she blames me for her daughter's death, lahat naman sila... even my Dad. Pero nagpapasalamat parin ako dahil kahit na sinisisi niya ako, ay hindi niya ako pinabayaan ng tuluyan.

He still provides me a good life and let me go to school, though he often got drunk and shout at me when he gets a chance. I am still thankful.

"I know, but still... I can't focus working here while having her, she really looks like her Arabela and I always... I tried... to stop my anger everytime Gracia, pero baka masaktan ko siya kapag nanatili siya dito sa puder ko." Dad frustratingly said.

Napakuyom ako ng aking kamao at napatiim bagang, pigil luhang huminga ako ng malalim.

T-this is not true... I-I'm just hearing things wrong, I should listen more to understand.

"Pero Kuya, alangan namang sa akin? I... you know I don't like her that much, and my daughters are not in good terms with her either." She even sounded disgusted.

Her daughters... galit ang mga iyon sa akin dahil hindi ko binigay sa kanila ang mga bago kong damit. But then, they are good stroy makers. They proclaimed to be the victim and made a scenario to make everyone hate me even more.

Huminga ng malalim si Dad. "She's too old for adaption, wala naman atang mag-a-adopt sa batang iyan."

Adoption? Does he really hates me that much? Ipapa-adopt nila ako?

Dad is not like this to me before... he used to call me his princess, he loved me, he cared for me, he never made me feel unworthy. Pero ngayon? Para nalang akong bagay para sa kaniya na pwede niyang ipamigay.

I can't stop myself from crying, napa-iling ako at kaagad na tumakbo, hindi pabalik sa kwarto ko kundi pababa, I stopped in front of my Dad and Tita Gracia. Their eyes widened. Na para bang nahuli ko silang gumagawa ng isang krimen. But then Dad's expression turned into a grimace immediately.