Cray
"That's ridiculous!" Hindi makapaniwalang halos pasigaw na sabi ko. "I will never marry someone like Emb-"
Bago ko pa maituloy lahat ng protesta ko ay nakaramdam na lang ako bigla ng panlalamig. In an instant, all of the Silvas are right beside me. Pinaliligiran ako.
No, I fear for my life.
Hawak ni Essex yung kanang kamay ko na tila anumang oras ay handa na nito ako na balian ng buto. Si Eris naman ay nakahawak sa kaliwang kamay ko habang nakatukod yung tuhod sa likod ng binti ko. Yung binti ko na may injury pa yung pinuntirya nito. Mukhang sisiguraduhin nito na hindi na ako makakatuntong pa ng court kahit kailan kung sakaling matritrigger na naman ang mga ito sa sasabihin ko.
Pero ang mas ikinatatakot ko ay yung nasa harap ko. Nakatutok na sa tapat ng leeg ko yung matalim na dulo ng handknife ni Ate Grant. I can even see my reflection in it. It mirrors fear.
Such cowardice, Cray. You're nothing but a mere coward that's good in running away.
"Let her go. Gosh! What are you all? Barbarians?" Awat ni Tita Jen sa mga anak at asawa nito na nagtatangka sa buhay ko.
"She's just a spec of dirt, Princess. How dare her to look down upon my first born!?"
"With all due respect, Ate Grant." Huminga ako ulit ng malalim. "But what crime am I convicted of?"
"This brat!"
"Grant."
Kung nakakatakot yung aura ni Ate Grant, mas nakakatakot yung mababang boses ni Tita Jen. Kahit ako yata ay kinilabutan doon.
"Fucks!"
Gigil na ibinalya ako nito pasandal sa pader bago tuluyang binitawan. Dama ko pa yung marahas na pagtama ng likod ko doon.
"Kids?" Namaywang pa si Tita Jen habang nakaangat yung kilay na tinitigan yung magkapatid na may hawak pa din sakin. "Let her go, unharmed. She's still your Ate Cray."
"Tsk." Palatak ni Eris saka tuluyang umayos ng tayo at binitawan ako. "She should face just a grave punishment for her vileness. And an additional one for denying us. How dare her to turn down, Ember."
"Well, kid. Guess what?" Lumapit dito si Jen at saka tinapik yung pisngi nito. "That's not your problem. That's ours to figure out."
"But Mom." Kontra din ni Essex sa tabi ko. I can even feel the way he's twitching my arm.
"Essex? Let her go."
"She deserves it. How dare her to-"
"X, just do it. You don't hurt a woman. That's against our principle." Di nakatiis na umawat na din si Ate Grant. "Unless you want to face your mother's wrath?"
"Tch." Palatak din ni Essex at saka tuluyan na akong binitawan.
Nang tuluyan na akong makawala sa mga ito ay tumakbo papunta sa tabi ko si Elle. She's acting as if she's about to take the next blow incase na mabaliw na naman itong pamilya nitong si Ember.
Goodness, gracious. What's really going on?
"Okay, Cray. Speak your truth." Kalmanteng tinitigan ako ni Tita Jen. Yung titig na akala mo binabasa nito kung anuman yung nasa isip ko. Napalunok naman ako sa kaba.
"What truth po?"
"Have you for-" Napatikhim ito na para bang iniisip kung tama yung term na ginagamit nito. "Is there anything going on between you and Ember? Did you really slept with her?"
Napaangat yung tingin ko kay Ember. Hindi ko mabasa kung anong tumatakbo sa utak nito ngayon. O kung bakit ito gumagawa ng ganitong scenario. But it is really ridiculous. We're cousins. We're part of the same family. At least by name. If not by blood. So why is she doing this to me?
BINABASA MO ANG
Mamihlapinatapai
ChickLit"You may not want to be in my head. You might find someone other than myself that you won't be able to forget. It'll haunt you like a nightmare you can't tell. " "Silly. What's in that tough demeanor, ate Cray?" tumawa lang si Ember at kumapit ulit...
