The Path Towards Greatness (Youth Series #2)

K.A.S (PART 4)

#TPTG_KEITH

"Mom. Why were you and dad fighting the other day?" I asked her as I sit on the stool. She's currently cooking lunch for us

She glanced at me. "Hmm? Ah, wala. Nagkaron lang kami ng maliit na tampuhan ng papa mo," she replied in a strain voice. I've noticed how puffy her eyes were. She must have cried the whole day yesterday.

"I've heard about dad and about the money he used to gamble. Is it...true?"

She stopped cutting the vegetables on the chopping board. Her lips parted as she lifted her eyes on me.

"Did dad do something again?"

She gave me a small smile. "No. Keith. Don't worry about it. Problema na namin yun. Ayaw na namin kayo idamay ng kapatid mo." She proceeded to cutting the vegetables

"But we're affected too mom. We're a family. We're suppose to tell each other's problems. Anak niyo rin kami. Kate and I have no clue of what's happening anymore. Nililihim niyo lagi sa'min."

"You still wouldn't understand Keith. Masyado ka pang-" she sighed. "Everything will be okay. What I want you is to focus on your studies. Ayokong maapektuhan pati ang pag-aaral mo."

"I know I'm still young but I'm mature enough to understand it mom. Why is it so hard for you to tell me? Is the problem getting worse? Is our family slowly falling apart?" my voice turned numb

She sniffed and lowered her head. "I'm sorry. Pangako na aayusin namin ito ng papa mo. Don't worry about it."

"But.."

Tinalikuran niya na ako at tinuon ang atensiyon sa pagluluto. Napailing nalang ako at umalis na ng kusina. I went upstairs to my room and finished my homework instead.

I didn't understand why she wouldn't tell me the reasons. It's just making me more anxious. My head is clouded with our problems and it was making me hard to study so I went out and met with Trisha to distract myself.

"Kai."

I looked at her beside me. We're sitting on a bench on a park. It's a Sunday afternoon and there were people strolling around, kids playing, and adults watching their children.

"Yeah? Sorry. What were you saying?"

"May problema ka ba?" she asked carefully

"May problema lang sa bahay. It's nothing," I smiled weakly

"You can tell me about it."

My gaze lowered down on the grass while thinking about my problems these past few weeks. Wala akong ibang mapagsabihan bukod sa kanya. I'm only comfortable with her. I also rarely open up to anyone but since we're close friends, it was okay for me to share perhaps a piece of me to her. Knowing Trisha, she's a good listener.

"I'm just tired. I'm tired with school and whenever I go home, lagi nalang may problema. My parents are always fighting. I feel like they're going to separate. I'm scared of the idea. I just have no idea what's going on with my life anymore. It has become too repetitive. Walang araw na hindi ako nag-alala. Our family's bond is not as strong and happy. It's becoming weaker as time goes by. I feel like we're slowly falling apart and I couldn't do anything but to watch.

"My mom told me not to worry so I just...I have no choice but to live on with my life. It's just hard to get everything together. I feel pressured being the eldest son. Of course, my parents have high expectations from me. I want to make them proud. I want to give back to them. I have a lot of responsibilities. Patong patong pa yung problema. My parents are constantly fighting. My sister needs to get an operation. We're suffering financially. I don't even know if I'll be able to go to college given our situation. I'm also having a hard time in school with all my problems. I can't cope it anymore. I don't know how to maintain my grades anymore. I feel like I'm not doing enough. I'm not doing my best. I'm constantly doubting myself. Will I ever be enough?