All a Dream

Chapter 7: You'll be safe here

As I opened the door, they both looked at me directly in my eyes at the same time. They both look so problematic.

"Dad? Mom?" was all I said.. I was so speechless.

"Sweety? Why are you up? What are you doing here?" Dad asked in a serious tone

"Dad...? Are you hiding something from me?"

"What? No. Wala, Athena. Wala kaming tinatago sa'yo ng mommy mo." Dad responded trying to hold my hand. But I stepped backward...

"Mom? Wala po ba talaga?" I asked again

Nakita ko nalang ang luha ni mommy tumulo nung tinanong ko siya. Napaluha na lang din ako nung nakita ko si mommy na onti-onti nalang umiiyak.

"Mom? Bakit hindi ka po makapagsalita....? Ano po ba yun, mom?" I softly asked

"Sweety, go back to your room" mom responded while wiping her tears.

"Why? No! Hindi ako babalik sa room. What is it you're hiding??"

"Athena, as I've told you, wala kaming tinatago ng mommy mo. You're misunderstanding us. Away 'to ng matanda, so go back to your room, and take a good night sleep, young lady." Dad said angrily.

"Dad, TRY HARDER. Halata naman may tinatago kayo sa'kin. Ano po ba kasi 'yon??" I shouted

"Athena go back to your----"

"What? Na hindi talaga si mommy ang nag cheat, at ikaw? Ayun po ba tinatago niyo? Kaya nasira ang family natin?" I said in a serious tone with tears falling from my eyes.

"Nak, what are you talking about?! Stop thinking like that!" Dad shouted

"THEN WHAT IS IT, DAD? AT THIS POINT OF TIME, I FEEL LIKE MOM IS REALLY THE VICTIM HERE AND NOT YOU. I feel like you're the one to blame kung bakit our family is not like the other families who smile a lot, bond together, and live under the same roof!!"

" shouted so very loud while staring directly into his eyes, while mom was crying and wiping her tears away in the corner.

"NO. HINDI SA GANON, ATHENA!"

"THEN WHY CAN'T YOU FUCKING TELL ME, DAD?"

Slaps**

....................

This was the first time my dad hit me. As his palm touched my left cheek, I remembered how my mom did the same. The same slap she did..

Pag sampal niya sa kaliwang mukha ko, napahiga nalang ako sa sahig sa lakas nito. Hindi na'ko nakabangon pa, dahil hindi na rin kinaya pa ng katawan ko. Bago pumikit nang tuluyan ang aking mga mata, tear fell from my eye.

"What have you done?! Now ako naman magtatanong. ANO KLASENG TATAY KA?!" Mom shouted to dad.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Athena, sweety. I'm so sorry." Dad said with a worried tone, while his hand was on my arm.

I can still hear them kahit na nakapikit mga mata ko. Hindi ko na kaya pang bumangon.

............

"Athena? Athena, gising. Althea 'to"

Paggising ko, nasa mundo na ulit ako ni Althea.

"Athena? I know what happened..I'm sorry" Wika ni Althea paggising ko sabay yakap sa'kin.

Althea's hugging me softly while tapping my back and fixing my hair.

Wala na'kong masabi pa kundi sumandal nalang sa braso ni Althea habang lumuluha aking mga mata kahit na nakapikit na'ko. Hindi ko mapigilan pag-iyak ko sa braso ni Althea. Basang-basa na damit niya dahil sa'kin.

"Shhh, tahan na, Athena. I'm here"

Kanina pa'ko pinapatahan ni Althea, ngunit wala pa rin akong ginagawa nor sinasabi kundi sumandal sa braso niya habang nakapikit.

Hindi ko maiwasan hindi isipin ang nangyare kanina. Lalo na noong sinampal ako ng sarili kong tatay.

When my father slapped me, I no longer recognized him as my father. Tulad nalang din sa nangyare noong sinampal ako ni mommy. Pero mas masakit pa rin yung nangyare ngayon.

Ang sakit malaman na may tinatago sila sa'kin na ayaw na ayaw talaga nila malaman ko ito. Ang sakit malaman na sarili kong tatay, na pinagkatiwalaan, minahal ko pa ng sobra kesa kay mommy, ay kaya rin pala 'kong saktan ng sobra tulad ng ibang tao.

Hindi matanggal sa isip ko ang nangyare...Hindi ko namalayan nakatulog na pala ako sa braso ni Althea sa sobrang sakit ng ulo.

Few hours later....

Pagdilat ko, nasa braso pa rin ako ni Althea. Nakatingin siya sa mga bituin. Nagulat nalang ako dahil nandito pa rin ako sa mundo niya kahit na naggising na ako...

"Althea?"

Pagtingin niya sa'kin, she smiled. She immediately fixed my hair and wiped my tears off from my face.

Pag-ayos niya ng buhok ko at pag punas ng luha ko, I felt safe and secure once more. Bigla nalang lumuwag pakiramdam ko noong tumingin siya sa'kin at ngumiti.

Everytime na kasama ko siya, lalo na ngayon, I feel home. To me, she is the definition of "Family." Sakanya ko lang naramdaman ang tunay na saya. I feel like she's my sister, at the same time, best friend.

"Athena, gising kana. How are you feeling? You've been asleep for an hour" she said while looking directly into my eyes.

"I don't want to go back" was all I said because until now, I still feel numb or empty.

"Then stay here as long as you want, Athena." She said and then embraced me.

Ayoko nang bumalik pa sa mundo ko where I don't feel safe anymore. I no longer feel safe when I'm with my dad or mom. Even at school. Wala rin naman akong pwedeng matakbuhan sa oras ng pangangailangan because I don't have friends. All I have is......Althea

"I want to stay here forever" I said in a serious tone.

"Sure, Athena. You'll be safe here"