Sky University: Kings & Queens

Chapter 8- Stranger

Alya POV

Did I heard it right? I know our business is falling again because grandpa is not here to help us, he's sick! Dad can't handle everything that's why it's slowly falling but they can't just take my happiness for it!

"Alya... " dad said and took a deep breath. "We decided—" he stopped when I slammed my hand on the table. 

"You all decided without me?!" I burst out because of so much anger. What the heck is wrong with this people?

"Well..." I cut Lela off.

"And you agreed to it, Lela?!" she looked down because of that. I'm sorry Lela if I shouted at you, I just can't help it. You're all being too much!

"Alya! Don't shout at your grandma!" dad is fuming mad, if he's mad well I am too!

"I'm sorry, Lela..." I said in low voice but she just nodded. I bit my lower lip to stifle a sob. "Dad, this business isn't only ours. Pati na din sa mga kapatid mo! They have also daughters, why of all the girls in this family, why me?"

I'm panicking! They're being unfair at me. They can't just take away my happiness just like how they took my parents happiness. Tumatak na sa isip ko na hinding hindi ako magpapakasal sa taong hindi ko mahal!

"Calm down, Alya." I heard Carlos said and he held my hand but I took it away.

"Carlos, pabayaan mo siya," I heard Tita Carla said, Carlos mother.

"You need to understand, Alya. Katelyn is already engaged and the rest are only sixteen, they're not yet allowed to marry!" dad said that's why my I closed my fist. Right.

I envy Katelyn so much. He's engage to then man she loves.

"You're telling me to understand you when you can't even understand me?" tumawa naman ako ng pagak. "Dad, how could you?! What kind of dad are you? Dapat nga hindi ka pumayag dahil alam mo kung gaano kasakit ang makasal sa taong hindi mo mahal but why does it seems na ikaw pa ang pasimuno?!"

"I'm doing this for your own good—"

"That's bullshit! What's good in marrying a man I don't love? You're all doing this for business not for my own good!"

"Your grandpa is sick. No one can make our business to rise again except you, you're our only hope, dear," Lela said.

I pushed my tongue inside my cheeks.

"I know nothing about business, how come ako lang ang pag- asa ng business na 'yan?! I hate this, feeling ko ako nalang palagi e. Kung nandito lang si Kuya, maybe he can save me from this. Kung nandito lang si mommy maybe she won't let this happen."

"Don't ever mention that woman again, Alya," Tita Carla said but I didn't bother giving her a glance, I know how much she hates my mom. I don't know why.

Ang bigat bigat pa ng loob ko parang gusto ko nalang sumabog!

"I hate it when someone controls me like a robot! Well, I am not a robot. I'm human, I have feelings, nasasaktan din ako sana naman minsan iconsider niyo ang nararamdaman ko hindi yung puro business nalang. Napakaunfair niyo naman," I said, naninikip na dibdib ko kakapigil sa pag-iyak. I will never let them see me cry. "I have my own life for Pete sake. Happiness is the only thing I treasured the most and just a blink of eye, you're taking it away from me? If taking your happiness is easy for you to give up, well, ibahin niyo ako!"

With that, silence filled the dining area. No one dared to speak, masyado ba silang natamaan? Pake ko naman?

"If you have nothing to say, excuse me," I said and stood up, I can feel their stares.

I can't stop my tears anymore, so as early as possible, I need to get out from this place. Crying makes me weak, I don't want them to see me this weak.

I walked out as if nothing happen, and I'm glad no one stops me. As soon as I enter my room, I locked it and sat on the floor beside my bed.

Kasabay ng pag- upo ko sa sahig ay ang pagtulo ng luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan. I covered my mouth to prevent my self from making sound.

For ten years, my mom and Kuya without me, I feel empty. I graduated in elementary without my parents by my side, I'm glad that my friends were there and Manang is also there. Kahit no'ng moving up namin last year, father didn't attend the ceremony, his excuse? Business.

He only leave a presents to my birthday or Christmas. That's how sad I am if that time comes, I'm so lucky that my friends is there to cheer me up.

I reached my favorite stuffed toys, it's a bear. She's color pink and I named her Aly. I hugged her tight, sa ganitong sitwasyon siya lang palagi ang nasasandalan ko, although she can't talk, kinukwentuhan ko siya.

"Aly, can't you believe it? I guess my father wants to take my happiness too," my voice cracked. "Kahit anong pagsasalita ko kanina, kahit gaano pa katama ang sinabi ko, they won't let me saved from this arrangement. They're so awful, aren't they?"

I sighed heavily and put Aly back to the place where I took her. I lay down to my bed and cover my face with my pillow, I once again burst into tears.

Now Playing: Dynamite by BTS

I removed the pillow on my face and cleared my throat when I heard my phone rang. Someone's calling...

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at tiningnan kung sino ang tumawag, it's an Unknown Number. Who the heck is this? Since curiosity is bothering me, I answered it. Baka importante din e. 

"Hello?" I said,  I make sure that my voice didn't sound like I came from crying.

"Are you... okay?" I heard a deep voice of a guy from the phone, and his tone is like he's concern. My brows furrowed because of his question.

"Who are you?"

"Someone you can talk to."

I feel like crying again, so I did.

"Are you crying?"

"No, sore throat."

"I am not convince."

"Fine, I am. I-I am am not okay," I said, the voice from the call didn't speak, he just stayed silent but I can hear him breathing,so meaning to say he didn't hang up yet. "I'm in deep pain. Funny how I thought family is the first person you can run to when you're in pain pero hindi ko naman sila matakbuhan e. How... How, if they're the one gave me this kind of pain."

"What's your thoughts?"

"I'm thinking about dying. I just want to disappear from this world but everytime I tried to do that, my parents and Kuya's face just flashed to my mind."

I did tried to cut my arms back when I was 12, luckily I managed to stop myself from doing it. I hate my father for not attending from my graduation ceremony. Alam kong napakababaw ng rason ko pero graduation ko yun e!

"Don't... " I can feel the sincerity when he said don't.

"Yes, I won't," I said and wiped my tears. "As long as I can handle the pain, I won't."

"You can handle it, just remember I'm with you."

I chuckled. "I don't even know you."

"Let say, I'm your comfort zone."

"Cheesy."

"It isn't."

After that, we talked about random things. I opened some things to him, after all he's just a stranger. While I'm talking to him, I found my comfort. I don't know how that day end, but all my sorrow removed because of the guy from the phone.

Whoever that guy is... I'm super thankful. I wish the man that dad talking about is like him, he's warm, caring and a person who can listen to all my rants in life.