Untying the Rope (Mujer Fuerte Series #1)

Chapter 15 : RISING

"Kendra! Iyong table number seven, kanina pa naghihintay!" sigaw ng katrabaho ko, si Marian.

"Ah, eto na ako. Sorry, naghuhugas pa kasi ako ng pinggan—" naputol ang paliwanag ko nang irapan niya ako.

I get it. They don't want me here. Pero ano ba ang magagawa ko? Kailangan kong magtrabaho para mabuhay ko ang sarili ko.

Marian is one of many people who hates me. Ayaw ng mga tao rito sa akin, lalo na sa canteen na pinagtatrabahuhan ko, dahil lagi raw ako ang pinapaburan ng mga customer dahil 'maganda' raw ako.

I think that reason is too petty. Akala ba nila natutuwa ako sa mga customer na hindi naman talaga ako pinapaburan? Gusto lang nila na ako lagi ang nagseserve para manyakin ako.

Hindi lang isang beses akong hinipuan dito sa lintik na canteen na 'to pero kahit anong sumbong ko sa may-ari ng canteen, hindi naman ako pinakikinggan. Aniya'y kasalanan ko raw dahil maitsura ako at gustuhin ng mga lalaki.

Nakakaputangina 'di ba?

Wala lang akong mahanap na ibang trabaho dahil maliit na lugar lang ang tinitirhan ko, pero sa totoo lang, ayaw ko talaga rito magtrabaho. Bukod sa toxic ang mga tao, toxic din ang paligid.

I seriously just want to live peacefully but it seems like no matter where I'd go, and no matter what I'd do, my father keeps on haunting me. He's just in another form of a human being.

I stopped schooling during my junior high school last year. That was my supposed last year from junior high but then my father took advantage of me and tried to ruin my life. I was lucky enough to escape.

I didn't know where they buried my mother but I always talk to the wind, and whisper to it my promises to my mother. That when the time comes that I am able, I will find her and visit her. I will find her along with the rightful justice we both deserved.

I enrolled myself to a national high school just a few meters away from my house. Isang taon lang naman akong huminto kaya medyo kaya ko pang pumick-up at halos ka-edad ko lang lahat ng mga kaklase ko.

Nahirapan pa akong mag-enroll dahil sa mga kinailangan na dokumento, mabuti at may iilan akong dala na papeles tungkol sa akin kaya napagbigyan din ako. Iyon nga lang, nalaman na nila ang buong pangalan ko. Pero ipinagbilin ko nang Kendra ang itawag sa akin dahil mas sanay ako roon kaysa sa Nina.

I can't bear to hear that name of mine again. All I could remember was my evil father, moaning that name out loud. Hindi ko na kayang pakinggan ulit dahil nabahiran na ng dumi ang pangalan ko.

I did well in school that is why I got the highest ranking in our class.

"Congratulations, Kendra! Well deserved!" Sambit ng adviser ko na siyang nagsabit ng medalya ko sa akin.

This is for you, Mommy. Wherever you are, I hope you are happy for me.

I whispered those to the wind when J felt them touching my skin. They would bring my message to my mother.

I celebrated my achievement alone in my small yet peaceful home.

Home.

Finally, I have something to call my home, after years of living in hell.

After junior high school, I entered senior high. I enrolled myself to the same school I finished my junior high. I took HUMSS as my strand.

I have a thing for writing, literature, books, psychology, and politics. I think... well, I am certain, that I am fit for my chosen strand.

I did well in school. I strived hard to achieve the highest ranking in our class once again. Hindi naging madali ang pagsabayin ang pagtatrabaho sa gabi sa canteen at ang pag-aaral sa eskwelahan sa araw pero dahil matayog ang pangarap ko para sa sarili ko, pinipilit kong kayanin.

Kinakaya ko, at kakayanin ko pa.

I grew as a person with those three years of living alone. Now that I am nineteen, I must say that I've lived hard but I am still grateful for the second chance that He gave me.

He gave me a chance to re-start my life. He gave me a chance to keep on hoping for the better days. He gave me a reason to rise up again.

I spent my birthdays alone. Those birthdays may not be grand like my previous birthdays in our mansion before, I felt a lot happier.

I felt more alive.

I may be alone but I know that my mother is still with me. She's celebrating with me because she's living healthy and happily inside my heart.

Dati, hindi ako sigurado sa kung anong gusto kong gawin sa buhay ko. Pinipilit ako ni Mommy dati na kumuha ng kursong related sa business dahil akala niya, ako ang magmamana ng mga kompanya at hotels namin.

I didn't care much back then. I thought that, that's what I wanted, too. But it turns out... I was completely wrong.

I graduated as a grade twelve student with an average of 96 which made me qualified to take my most wanted course, Political Science.

Since I started to notice how the justice system in our country works, I wanted to create a name for myself in the judicial field and become the voice of those who became victims of oppression.

I want to become a lawyer.

I want to fight for those who can't. I want to help those who are in need. I want to give hope for those who are in the midst of losing themselves.

I am once a victim of rape, violence,  and sexual abuse in the arms of my own father. I know that it's not just me who suffered from this horrible and traumatic experience.

Now, I have sworn to myself and to all the victims that are also seeking for justice... that I am Nina Kendra Arce, and I will make a difference in the country's fucked up justice system.

Mark my words. We will all rise up, altogether.