[ COMPLETED ] • [ EDITED ]
Nadia Valiente's disappearance has always been a mystery to her friend, Marina. By how her alleged suicide took place, up to the position that she was in whilst on that river, soaked to death, felt like an unsealed package...
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MARINA
He stares at me with his disappointed eyes. Pansin ko rin ang tensyon sa pagitan ng kaniyang mga labi na tila ba pinipigilan niya ang kaniyang sarili na makapagbitaw ng masasakit na mga salita.
“Go on. I deserve it,” I mumble before lowering my head.
“No,” he mutters. “Nobody wanted that to happen.”
“I did,” sagot ko. “I did push him on the building just because I was in rage.” I raise my head upward again with my now teary eyes. “D-dad... your daughter is a murderer...”
His eyes find mine. Hinawakan niya nang marahan ang magkabilang balikat ko. “Marina, I don't want to hear you say that ever again. Do you understand me?”
Tinitigan ko lang siya. I know he's just trying to ease the feelings of his killer daughter.
Muli siyang nagsalita. “I know it was never your intention to push him down on the ground. I know you wouldn't think of that.”
“You know nothing about me,” saad ko saka marahan ngunit may puwersang tinanggal ang kaniyang malalaking mga palad sa aking balikat. “I never grew up with you. You were busy with your business—”
“Okay, cut that now, Marina. Past is past. That happened a long time ago. I am trying my best now to become the father that I was not.”
“But the effects of what happened in the past may stay in the present. And even in the future, dad.”
Bigla siyang napaurong saka bumuntong hininga. “So are you trying to say that it was my fault? What happened in the university a while ago should be blamed on me because I was not enough as a father for you in the past?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I'm trying to say that I don't need your presence here. I grew up without you beside me except for the money. And I am fine living that way. So I don't really—”
“You are not fine, Marina. You clearly are not fine.”
Hindi na lang ako sumagot pa. He's right, tho.
I am not fine.
I don't want to admit it in front of dad's face, because I'll look like I'm playing the victim card, and I am not the victim here.
Blue was.
“You need to see a therapist, Marina,” saad muli niya.
“Can I just see mom instead?” I search for his eyes. “Where is she, anyway?”
Dad shifts his eyes from me. “Your mom...” he stares at me again with his hesitant eyes. “She was really disappointed to know about the issue.”
