End of the Endless Void

Chapter 2

His

"I feel so excited to join you for dinner. It's been a while, family."

Dumaan ako sa likod ng kapatid ko para makapunta sa upuan sa tabi ng ama ko. Kaharap ko si Lucia sa hapagkainan, at nasa tabi niya si lola. Nasa gitna ng kabisera si Silvestre. "Bumabastos na yata ang pananalita mo, Erebus." Puna niya. I can hear the anger in his voice.

I rolled my eyes. I sat down on my chair and held the knife and fork. Steak for tonight, well. Sana lang hindi masira ang hapunan ko.

"Why? You will hit me again?" I asked with a hint of sarcasm in my voice. I said those words without looking at him.Well, I am busy enjoying my food. Pft.

Padabog niyang ibinagsak ang kutsilyo at tinidor na hawak niya. Nagulat ang mga nandito, maliban saakin. Sanay na ako e. I saw how Lucia touched his hand on the table to calm him. "So romantic." I said and leaned on my table. I took a sip on my juice to hide my smile because of disgust.

"Bata ka pa noon, Erebus. Kailangan ng disiplina ng mga bata." He said. Is that even an explanation? I dropped the goblet on the table and looked at him.

"Did you hit Duncan too?" I asked directly. I saw in my peripheral vision how Duncan looked at me and then to our father.

Duncan cleared his throat. "They never hurt me, Kuya." I turned my gaze at him. What did he call me? Damn. I am so much more disgusted now.

"Did you just call me, Kuya?" I asked him while confusion and disgust are written all over my face. He was about to answer but Lucia poke. Eto nanaman ang pabida.

"Tumigil na kayo. Nandito tayo para sa isang tahimik na hapunan at hindi para magkainitan." Aniya sa kalmadong boses. Sus, napakapeke. Alam ko namang mas gusto niyang nag kakagulo kami.

Tumingin ako sakanya. "Are you crazy? Simula nung dumating ka sa buhay namin, everything were ruined!" Napataas ang boses ko sa huling mga salita dahil lumabas ng kaunti ang galit ko sakanya. Kasabay noon ang paglagapak ko sa sahig. I touched my lips and I saw blood. My cheek is painful too. Someone punched me.

I looked up to find who's the culprit of this goddamn punch. It's Silvestre. Nagulat ang lahat, maski ang lola ko na nasa tabi ko upang tulungan akong tumayo.

"Are you okay, apo?" She asked as soon as I stood up. I ignored her. My eyes are blazing, my fist are so furious, wanting to punch the man who's entitled to be my father. "Get the first aid kit now." Narinig ko si lola na nagutos sa mga maid na kasalukuyang nakatulala sa nangyari ngunit sumunod din.

Silvestre is now a few inches from me. Duncan stood up from his chair at pa-salit salit ng tingin saamin ni Silvestre. Of course, Lucia is stading beside my father. She is trying to calm him, napakalandi.

"You! Bastos ka na talaga! How dare you disrespect my wife!" I felt a pain on my heart for my mother. Wife? I thought my mom was his wife. I mean, he can address Lucia as his second wife but nawala na ba talaga si Mom sa sistema niya?

Anger took over my body. "No! You all disrespected Mom! She was the daughter of my grandparents but you took over anything for what?! Money! At ang lakas ng loob mo pagsabihan ako na hindi ko nirespeto 'yang pangalawa mong asawa pero siya naman ang hindi rumespeto sa nanay ko, na asawa mo! Kung sana hindi ka lumandi, hindi pa sana patay si mommy!"

"Your mom is a bitch----"

I punched him. Sinuntok ko ang ama ko.

"You can disrespect me. Kahit gutumin, apiin, gawing alipin, saktan at gulpuhin niyo ako, tatanggapin ko. But don't you ever call my mom that word. Kahit makulong ako, isa pang tawag mo sa nanay mo ng ganoon, papatayin kita!" I said while looking at Silvestre who's now on the floor. His cheek was covered with blood because of my punch. Goddamn him.

Lucia came fast beside him and checked his face. "Erebus, ano ba!" She shouted.

"Isa ka ding malandi ka, kayo ng anak mo! Wait 'til I find out about the truth of mother's death. Magbabayad kayo." I turned my back to them. Duncan was still on shock due to what happened. I faced my lola who is crying.

I wiped her tears and kissed her forehead. "Grandma, I'll be back tomorrow or, I don't know. Stop crying, okay? Magpahinga na kayo sa kwarto niyo." I signalled a maid to accompany her and they did.

I immediately went to my room and took my motorbike keys. I drove and drove until I reached a dark lot, the best place to hide my sadness. It seems familiar, though. This place, pakiramdam ko nakapunta na ako dito.

I sat down on the grass and surveyed the surrounding. Dark trees, the air is sad, the dance of the leaves are so slow, and sorrowful. Kahit may ahas na, wag lang mga pagmumukha nila.

I stared at the dark.

"Erebus." The voice of my mother called me. Lumingon ako, pero wala akong nakita but the dark surrounding. I closed my eyes and shook my head. "Ah, hallucination." Napatingala ako sa madilim na kalangitan at mapaklang tumawa.

"When can I escape from this darkness?" I asked despite the fact that I am alone. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata kasabay ng pagagos ng mga luha sa aking mga pisngi.

A soft hand touched my cheeks. My eyes opened widely out of shock and a face of a beautiful lady welcomed my sight. The lady smiled.

"It's hard to find a way out, right?" Tanong ng babae. Hindi ako makasagot dahil kagagaling ko lamang sa pagkagulat, may tao pa pala akong kasama sa napakadilim na lugar na 'to.

The lady smiled. Napatingin ako sa mga labi nitong nakangiti. That time, I saw light on her smile and hope in her eyes.

"I'm drowning but no one saw me struggle. I feel like I'm losing myself. I'm so lost." Sa wakas ay nakapagsalita na din ako. I felt something on my heart when her thumb softly caressed my cheeks. Damn.

"But I saw you. Nakita and narinig kita. "Ani ng babae habang nakangiti, parang sinasabi ng mga ngiti niya na hindi niya ako bibitawan, at tutulungan niya akong makaahon.

"Before you can appreciate the light, you have to know the darkness."

I smiled back. First time again, in my 25 years of existence because I saw light, genuine light.

"Maybe, there is still a way out."

The lady smiled and sat beside me. Sinusundan ko padin ng tingin ang mga galaw niya. Maganda siya, sobrang ganda. "Anong pangalan mo?" The lady asked.

"Erebus." I answered. Ngayon lang ako sumagot na nakatingin sa kausap ko. Anong nangyayari saakin?

I cleared my throat. "How about you?"

"Ay englishero." She laughed and it sounded very fine and calming for me. Ang gandang pakinggan ng mga tawa niya. Nakakakalma. It's like a music to my ears.

"Charot lang. I'm Nyx." She answered and smiled.

A thought came into my mind when she said her name. I read mythology before and...

"Nyx is Light." I said. She smiled and turned her face to look at the dark and blank surrounding in front of us.

She chuckled. "And Erebus is Dark."