Flickers

Chapter 7

Today won't ever come again, right?
Of course, it won't
I don't wanna remember from this moment on

- Black out, IU

That afternoon I returned home, I saw my father with his head hung, his bloated stomach the first sight I see and boisterous laughter running on him. He was with his friends, drinking beer on the side of the sari-sari store, it was a common sight to see. A lot of men, sometimes women, were seen drinking beers even if the sun was high up. No doubt my mother would run off here again and take him home.

(AN: Sari- Sari store is a small store usually seen in the streets)

"Pa, you're drinking again"

He was holding a beer in his hand along with his kumpares and a slight grin on his face. I knew that his happiness would vanish in an instant and he would certainly cry out his grievances and then wreak havoc again.

Three out of five times, every time there's a group of people drinking in these narrow streets, they would go into a fight and of course, a lot of people with nothing to do in their life would just watch it like they're watching a boxing competition in their homes.

"Oh, you're unica iha is here pare!" One of his friends says, his face blushing from the alcohol.

(AN: Unica Iha means the only daughter and Pare is an appellation for a male friend, derived from kumpare or kumpadre)

"Oh, it's my daughter eh? Hahaha" I can only shake my head, he's wasted for sure. I waved my father goodbye and went inside our house where I see my mother washing clothes.

She washes clothes for a living and she seldom sells fishes, sometimes my brothers would be the ones selling it or they'll just give it to those vendors.

"Mano po ma" I took her hand and pressed my forehead to her hand before going inside to cook for our meal today.

(AN: Mano Po. Mano or Pagmamano is a gesture used in Filipino culture performed as a sign of respect to elders and as a way of accepting a blessing from the elder)

I changed my clothes and went to the listen to wash the rice. Then I went to the side to take the refrigerated fish in the freezer and let it thaw before cooking, it's not ideal to fry anything that still has some water or ice on it.

The rice was already simmering at the time I finished doing my homework, my friends and I created a group chat together, and now the focus is on me.

Faith-fully beautiful: Ange thank your jowa for treating us earlier!

Alyssa: What do you mean jowa? They're still not together (crying smiley face)

I snuggle on the couch as I tap my phone for a reply, it's just hours after he treated us to fries and RC. He was indeed sweet and caring but I still wanted to have time to know him, I mean I have a year to do that.

Airplane: I will, by the way, he's not my jowa!

Meryl: But he will be in a year!

I told them the details, my mother told me that I have to be eighteen before I get myself a boyfriend and now, I'm just sixteen and I'm already letting myself lose because of him. Ah! I really hope that he'll be worth the time and effort, after all, I'm not allowed to have a boyfriend and I'm taking the risk because of him.

After chatting with them over some funny stories and due works and activities, I stood up and turn the fire off. I was about to sweep the floors when I heard one of our neighbors calling for my mother.

I went out to see what was happening and saw my mother running off to a familiar figure hunched over the cemented seat outside of one of the stores.

"Ma, what happened?" I happen to see my mother slapping that hunched figure with her hands, her eyes burning in anger as she shouted at him.

"You troublemaker! You were always fighting outside! Do you have a death wish, huh?!"

Looking down, I saw my fourth brother, Jhonrie, with his face bruised and sporting a black eye on the right side of his face.

I knew that peace was nothing but an illusion.

***
Chapter 7 is up!

Fun fact: Her father is a drunkard but he changed, her fourth brother is indeed a trouble maker, he's like a gangster

Have a great day everyone! Stay safe and happy!

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