The Bad Girl's Resentment (Costillano #2)

Kabanata 6

Nothing much happened when Christmas came. I celebrated it with my dad, Tita Amara, and Ate Vaneza, but when the daylight came, I came to Dreasel's house. Nakasanayan ko na iyon simula noong naging close kami. At midnight on 25th, I was at the mansion, but when the daylight came, I would run away and go to their house to celebrate Christmas.

It suffocated me knowing that my father's relatives were there, and so Tita Amara's. Maingay sa mansiyon tuwing pasko, maraming ding handa, ngunit sa kabila niyon ay mas pinipili kong dumito kina Dreasel. I kind of felt more welcomed and happier.

My dad has nothing to say about it, especially Tita Amara. Kung may isang bagay man akong nagustuhan sa tatay ko, iyon ay ang pagiging maluwag niya sa akin. He's letting me do what I want, as long as I wouldn't put our surname into such mess; iyon naman ang parati niyang iniisip, ang hindi mabahiran ng kahit na ano'ng putik ang mga Villason.

Was I happy with that kind of treatment? Did it matter then? Gayong kahit ano naman ang gawin ko hinding-hindi ako makakukuha ng simpatya mula sa kaniya. I badly wanted to fix my relationship with my father, asked for his time, asked for our bonding... but everything wasn't just in the right place. He wasn't the father that everyone could wish, si Ate Vaneza siguro oo, pero para sa akin hindi.

"Daming text messages ah. Ba't hindi mo kaya buksan nang hindi ka nakatunganga r'yan?"

Umirap ako kay Dreasel at pinatay ang cellphone ko bago nagpatuloy sa pagkain ng salad. I am inside her room; kalalabas niya lang ng banyo at kanina ko pa siya hinihintay na matapos maligo dahil balak naming mag-movie marathon ngayon.

"Nothing much important."

"Bakit? Dahil galing sa mga boylet mo?"

I leered at her for the second time, but she only laughed. But then she was right.

Those messages were coming from them, hindi ko nga alam kung paano kumalat nang ganoon ang number ko. I sometimes give my number to someone, pero hindi naman sa lahat ng gustong makipagkilala sa akin. Paniguradong mga pagbati lang iyon mula sa kanila at sa iba pang kakilala.

"Speaking of messages, why don't you ask your sister for Horris's number?"

Sumubo ako ng salad mula sa kutsara. "I've tried that many times before, but she's not that type of girl who would give someone's number. Lalo pa't iniisip niya na baka kulitin ko lang si Horris. If I want his number, I should ask for it directly to him, not to her."

"O e bakit hindi mo hingin? Malay mo ibigay sa 'yo."

Tinapunan ko siya nang masamang tingin na ikinabilog ng kaniyang bibig.

"Oh right, may pride ka nga rin pala."

Itinapon ko sa kaniya ang unan na nasa aking gilid na kaniyang ikinatawa. Nakaiinis! Alam kong mukha na akong desperada pagdating kay Horris pero hinding-hindi ko iyon gagawin! No! Not ever! He should be the one to ask for that, not me.

That year ended peacefully. At katulad ng nakaraang bakasyon, ganoon pa rin ang ginawa ko nang natapos ang klase ng March. Dreasel didn't have a plan to go somewhere outside the town, one of the thing that made me happy.

"You're turning 17. What do you want for your birthday, Valerie?"

"Huh?" Napaangat ako ng tingin kay Dad. Nandito kaming apat sa hapagkainan at kumakain ng dinner nang bigla niya iyong banggitin. It was Sunday and he came home from work together with Tita Amara.

I was in awe and didn't know how I would answer his question. Because honestly speaking, this was the first time that he asked me what I wanted for my birthday. Ano'ng sumapi sa kaniya at bigla niya akong tinanong tungkol sa bagay na iyon?