𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐋 | 𝟏𝟖+

Chapter 23

Eris

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon. "Where is she?! Tell me!"

"Wait! Eris! Give her time! She needs some alone time from you. Give her some space, okay?" I told my sister everything that happened between me and Angel.

"No! I already gave her an hour! I can't waste anymore time being away from her!"

"Eris! Can you just stop?! You're clinging into her like a sloth! Stop being so childish!"

"Cosa hai detto?! Riprendilo, cagna ! Riprendilo o altro!" [What did you say?! Take it back b*tch or else!]

"Oppure cosa? You're gonna kill me? Like you did to Mom and Dad?" Suddenly, I was stunned, glued in place. Tears threatening to fall but I manage to pull it back. I feel guilty, if only she knows the real reason. [Or what?]

"Eris, I know it's hard, I know it because I've experience it."

"I-I'm sorry, I just really need her. I want her in my life." By now, tears wetted my cheeks. "It's okay, sorellina." I was met by a warmed embrace. It feels so different if hugs came from someone you truly care about. [LIttle Sister]

"I can tell that you really love her." My eyes widened at what she said. Love? Am I capable of even doing that? Well, I did confess but...

"Che cosa? I-I do?" [What?]

"Yes, sorellina. And I also can tell that she loves you too."

"She didn't even hesitate to leave me. È tutta colpa mia! Le cose accadono a causa mia! Vorrei essere io quello che è morto al posto dei nostri genitori." [It's all my fault! Things happen because of me! I wish I was the one who died instead of our parents.]

"Hindi mo pa sinasabi sa 'kin kung ano talaga ang nangyari sa kanila. Ikaw ba talaga ang pumatay sa kanila?"

"What do you want to know?"

"I want the truth, Eris. The whole truth."

"Fine."

I sighed heavily before looking at her with full seriousness. "I didn't kill them. I mean—yes, I did kill them but they're not our parents."

"What do you mean? I don't get it."

"It's an impostor, both of them."

"How'd you know? Baka hindi ka pa nakakasiguro."

"I know it, Ate. Narinig ko silang nag-uusap noon."

6 years ago

"Manang, where's Mom and Dad? Hindi pa ba sila nakakauwi?" I asked our head maid, Manang Lorna.

"Nakauwi na sila, hija. Dinalan ko na sila ng pagkain. Kumain ka na ba? Baka gusto mong kumain na rin ng niluto ko?"

"Later na lang po. Pagkatapos ko silang kausapin, bababa ako rito mamaya."

"Nando'n sila sa office ng Dad mo. O siya sige mauna na ako, may aasikasuhin lang ako." I nodded at her in understanding.

Lately, napapansin ko na umaayos ang pananagalog ko. Maybe because of Manang Lorna, she teaches me how to properly say words Filipinos commonly say.

I walked upstairs, and casually go straight to my Dad's office. Napansin ko na nakabukas 'to ng kaonti. Baka hindi naisara ni Manang pagkaalis niya.

I was about to enter the room, when I heard something crushed inside. I took a peek and my eyes immediately widens.

Ang mamahalin na vase ni Mom! Pinakaiingatan pa naman niya 'to!

"Melinda! Bakit mo naman binasag 'yan?! Hindi mo ba alam na valuable ang vase na 'yan! Malaki ang halaga niyan!" Sigaw ni Dad. Bakit niya tinatawag na Melinda si Mom? Hindi naman 'yon ang pangalan niya.

"Parang vase lang, eh. Umiiyak ka na d'yan."

"Paano kung mapansin nina Elise at Eris na nawawala ang vase na 'yan? Ano ang idadahilan mo?"

"Ang dali naman ng tanong mo, Rey. Syempre sasabihin ko sinangla ko o kaya pinagbenta."

Rey? Sino si Rey? Hindi naman Rey ang pangalan ni Dad. Ano'ng nangyayari?

"Ang tanga-tanga mo talaga! Pinakaiingatan ni Elisa 'yang paso na 'yan! Gusto mo bang mabulyaso 'yong plano natin?" Tukoy niya sa pangalan ng Mom ko.

"Ito naman, syempre hindi. Kailan na ba matatapos ang pagpapanggap natin? Nabwibwisit na ako sa dalawang anak ni Romulo, kala mo naman mababait, mga spoiled brat naman." What the fvck did she just say?!

"Malapit na rin, kapag nakuha na natin ang pera galing sa kompanya, pwede na tayong makaalis ng bansa."

"Yes! Mabibili ko na 'yong mga gusto ko!"

Hindi ko na kaya ang mga naririnig ko, so I burst the door open, angrily. "Who the fvck are you two?! Nagpapanggap lang pala kayo! Where's my real Mother and Father?!" Tinutok ko ang baril, na nakalagay sa waist band ko kanina, sa kanila.

"W-Wait! Eris, anak. Kami 'to mommy and daddy mo. Ano'ng sinasabi mo d'yan?" Naguguluhang sabi ni Rey.

"Don't call me your daughter! I'm not your daughter and you're not my fvcking father! I heard you two talking! Now, where the fvck is my parents?! What did you do to them?!"

"Patay na sila! At wala ka nang magagawa!" Sigaw ni Melinda.

"Shut up! Shut the fvck up, you dirty old woman!"

"Ano—"

"Patay na sila, Eris. 'Yon ang totoo, pinatay na namin sila." Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Rey. What the fvck did he just say?! They didn't even dare to deny it. There's no trace of any sympathy in their faces.

Pathetic human beings.

Present

"W-What? Paano nangyari 'yon?" She asked completely confused.

"Apparently, sila ang secretary at driver nila Dad noon. And what that Rey guy said isn't true. I found our real parents in the basement, kaya pala hindi tayo pinapapunta roon. Those disguting rats! They got what they deserve!"

"Ano'ng nangyari sa totoo nating magulang?"

I gave her a frown. "After I saw them in the basement, hindi pa sila patay. Nag-aagaw buhay sila, I'm even surprise na kaya pa nila. But then I tried helping them, saving them, gusto ko silang dalhin sa ospital pero hindi ko magawa. I just sat there staring at them, I'm such a disappointment. Nakita ako ng isang kasambahay kaya napagkamalan ako na ako ang pumatay sa kanila."

"Oh my God, akala ko ikaw talaga ang may kasalanan. I shouldn't have judge you in the first place. I'm so sorry, Eris." She hugged me tightly. "Bakit wala kang sinabi? Bakit hindi mo ipinaglaban ang sarili mo?"

"Maybe, because I'm scared... everything was too overwhelming and our parents died from my arms."

"I'm sorry, Eris. Wala ako no'ng araw na 'yon. Hindi kita natulungan."

"It's okay, Ate. Baka nga tama sila, tama ka, tama si Angel. I killed my own parents, I'm a fvcking murderer! It's my fault, it's my fvcking fault!" Sinuntok-suntok ko 'yung dibdib ko, kahit masakit pipilitin ko.

"No, shh. It's not, Eris. Hindi totoo 'yon. It's okay, it's not your fault."

I'm a mess. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko.

I really need Angel right now.