Unrequited Love (under-revision)

15

“What’s wrong?” 

Ryan asked when he saw me sitting in front of the door. I didn't have the courage to open it when I saw Mom. Magulo ang buhok niya, at may sugat ang mukha. She’s desperately knocking as if she’s being chased dahil sa paglingon-lingon niya sa gilid niya. But all of the sudden, she stopped kaya I had the courage to look at the peephole again. She’s gone.

“Hey…”

Ryan nudged me by shaking my shoulder. Nilingon ko siya agad at tumayo bago yumakap nang mahigpit sakaniya. I felt him hesitating at first, wondering what was going on with me but he hugged me back afterwards.

“I saw Mo-mom.” I opened up, nanginginig ang boses.

He let go of me and stared deeply in my eyes, holding my hand. “She’s dead, baby.” 

“But I saw her outside, how can a ghost be able to knock aggressively on the door?” 

“We’ll check the CCTV footage later, okay?” Masuyong sabi niya sa akin and rubbed his thumb on my hand he’s holding. 

“What if she’s back?” I was so sad that I lost her pero bakit takot na takot ako ngayon nung nakita ko siya?

“Isn’t that what you want?”

I was about to answer him but I felt my head throbbing. I closed my eyes and held my head. Sobrang sakit. 

“MOM, STOP PLEASE!” I begged her on my knees while she was whipping me! I’m in so much pain that my blood, sweat and tears ay naghahalo na sa mukha ko. I couldn’t do anything. I was tied up, my little body was aching so bad and I could feel myself collapsing anytime.

“You’ve never learned your lesson! You are a shame in this family!” She whipped me once again, and I winced. Parang nasusunog ang balat ko sa bawat paghampas niya.

“Why are you holding your head? Does it hurt again?”

Napahawak ako sa braso niya when the pain didn’t stop. I can’t hear a thing Ryan is saying, bumubuka ang bibig niya pero wala akong marinig. What’s going on?

“AURELIA!” My heart dropped when I heard Mom calling me. 

“Ye-yes, Mom?” I asked her. Pagkalapit niya sa akin ay nagulat naman ako nung bigla niya akong sinampal dahilan para matumba ako sa upuan ko. Padabog niyang nilagay ang isang papel sa lamesa ko.

“You dare date at a younger age?!” She read the letter Ezo gave me. 

“I’m so-sorry, Mom…we’re just best friends.” 

“I’m telling you, I will kill him kung hindi kayo titigil sa kalokohan niyo!”

“Hey, talk to me.” 

I can feel my tears falling as I open my eyes slowly. The voices are fainting inside my head. Niyuyugyog na ni Ryan ang balikat ko when I wasn’t responding. I couldn’t say a word. I wanted to speak but I couldn’t.