Afraid of Falling in Love

Chapter 3

Bumuntong-huminga ako at kinuha ang ino-offer na ulam sa akin ni Caiden. Nasa harap na kami ng hapag-kainan. Kumpleto kami ngayon. Kauuwi lang ng Mommy ilang oras matapos ako pumanhik sa klase kaninang umaga.

I mouthed thanks to Caiden after getting a food. Mabuti nalang din na hindi maraminang tinanong niya about sa pinag-usapan namin ni Damian kanina dahil masama ang timpla ng mukha ko.

When we got home, the luggages are still in the hallway at hinayaan lang doon. It means Mommy only went home to get some clothes then babalik na siya ng Mindanao. Dad used to be a volunteer also pero mas nag-focus na siya sa pagiging surgeon sa isang malaking hospital sa Manila. While my siblings are old enough to start a family before I was born kaya ako nalang din ang mag-isang lumaki sa bahay na ito.

My siblings don't even talk that much. Ang mga napag-uusapan nalang namin ay school at dito lang aa bahay. Mabuti nalang at meron si Caiden na parang kapatid ko na dahil malapit ang age gap namin. We could literally talk about everything I couldn't say to my kuya and ate.

Caiden and I didn't engage to their conversation. Bawal sa pamilya na 'to ang magsalita kung hindi ikaw ang kausap. Nanatili kaming tahimik na kumakain. Minamadali ko na ang pag-nguya ko para makabalik na ako sa kwarto. I don't want to stay here longer.

"Caiden..." tawag ni Mommy kay Caiden. Napahinto ako sa pagkain ko at tumingin kay Mommy. "Kamusta ka naman dito? You've been gone for years. Naka adjust ka na ba dito sa Pilipinas?"

"Okay naman po. It's nice to be here again."

"Bakit hindi nalang mag-stay rito si Caiden kapag nasa Manila na kayo?" baling naman ni Mommy kay Kuya Eric. "The house is big. Ang layo pa ng inyo."

"May bahay naman kami, Ma. Hindi na kailangan."

"Hayaan mo si Eric ang magdecide para sa anak niya. May bahay tayong binigay sa kanila kaya kung doon nila gusto, doon sila." galit na sabi ni Dad. Sa akin naman niya tinuon ang kanyang atensyon. Sa mukha palang niya ay alam kong hindi maganda ang sasabihin niya, "Balita ko hindi ikaw ang top one ngayon. Is this another disappointment, Eunice?"

I bit my lips. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kutsara at tinidor. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko kay Daddy. 

"What is it to you? I'm already a living disappointment to you ever since." pabalang ko sinabi, "Now you're asking me again?"

Pabagsak na binaba ni Daddy ang kubyertos niya saka lumapit sa akin. He was already fuming mad. The sudden grab made Kuya Eric stood up. Dad aggressively dragged me out of the dining area. Nakita ko naman ang pagsunod nila Mommy. I'm already in the edge of crying. I'm so mad right now.

"Let go of Eunice, Dad! Nasasaktan siya!" sigaw ni Kuya pero hindi siya pinansin ni Daddy.

Nakipagtitigan lang ako kay Daddy. Those long looks was how he told me of his anger and how he hated me. I even hated the fact that we have the same eye features. I can feel his grip tighten that made me flinched in pain.

"Hindi kita pinalaking bastos sa'yo, Eunice!"

I scoffed in disbelief, "What? Do you think na kayo nagpalaki sa akin? Growing up you were absent and now you're saying that? Ang kapal naman—"

"Eunice, stop talking back! Pumu—" but before Kuya Eric finishes his word, a loud crack of slap echoed in the room as my neck jerks to the side.

I was taken aback for a moment. As I'm about to break down into tears, I regain my composure. Maluha-luha kong tinignan si Dad na nangagalaiti parin sa galit. I forcibly removed his hand's grip on my arms and walked out from there. I locked myself in my room at buong gabi ko pinilit ang sarili na huwag umiyak.