DARK SIDE

FLASHBACK 5

"ateee" sigaw naman nila habang tumatakbo sila para yakapin ako.

"are you okay? namumutla ka ata!" irene worriedly asked while she's putting her palm on my cheeks. i just nood.

"what are you doing?" pangiiba ko naman ng usapan ng mapansin kong they arranging something in our backyard.

"halika ate, look the set up that we arrange for ate liza mamaya. because kua bonget want to propose on ate liza mamaya and that was so exciting right ate?" tumingin naman siya saakin.

"and the theme of the party is princess" she added. napalunok naman ako

dahil sa totoo lang i don't want this, masyado pang maaga para sa ganito.

"let yourself to be happy imee" tinakpan ko naman ang tenga ko ng marinig ko ang boses ni rio while he's saying that.

"manang is there any problem?" tanong naman ni bonget while he's checking me. i stop him.

"nah it's okay, anyway saan niyo kinuha yung pinang gastos niyo dito?" i asked narinig ko naman ang giggle ni irene.

i sarcastically chuckled.

"don't tell me you use your tution fee for this?" i asked on irene then she slowly nood, napasalo nalang ako ng noo ko when she use nga.

"don't worry manang babayaran ko rin naman eh, but no this time" bonget said then make a puffy eyes.

"are you out of your mind bong? you want to marry that girl without my consent? you want to have a family? eh wala ka ngang stable na trabaho eh! and even your monthly allowance ay galing saakin" i shout that get them shooked.

"mark my word bonget if you can't live with your own life, just stop this nonsense. kapag nagpakasal ka at pinilit mo ang gusto mo kalimutan mo  nalang na ate mo ako." galit na tono ko namang sigaw habang walang kurap naman akong nakatingin sakanya.

"so then, forget me as your brother manang." bonget said then left.

and irene was about to follow bonget when i stop him.

"just let him" i said then she grab my hand.

"please ate let kua bonget be happy and he promise me naman eh na babayaran niya" irene said while begging that i need to understand their situation.

"at naniwala ka naman?" i said she nood hays.

i sarcastically chuckled.

i just scratch my hair and left her alone, tsaka naman ako pumunta sa kwarto ko then i lock my door.

-
i woke up in the middle of the night it's already 11 in the evening, a  mumbling sounds and a shout from our backyard make me woke up.

sinilip ko naman sila sa bintana ko from my room, i see bonget kneeling infront of liza. i just shooked my head while the others shouting from nowhere.

after i done anything, after i sacrifice my life ito pa ang sukli sa lahat ng iyon?

"just let yourself be happy with me imee" i heard rio in my mind. why you bothering my soul.

pumunta naman ako sa closet ko, then i grab my bag and put my things inside of that.

while i was putting my things my tears keep falling in my eyes. this is the hard decision that i need to made.

sabay naman ng pagsara ko ng zipper ng bag ko sabay naman ng sigawan ng mga tao sa backyard  ng congratulations.

i wear a white shirt and a pants and jacket before i about to leave when i see our family picture na nagpaiyak naman saakin.

i wipe my tears and kiss that bago ko naman itinaob ang picture namin.

-
pagkababa ko naman, nakita ko naman ang napakadamimg tao. but i didn't bother myself to know who they are instead pumunta nalang ako sa main gate. then finally nakalabas na ako. papara na sana ako ng taxi when someone hold my arm.

"ate" para akong tinapunan ng malamig na tubig when i heard irene voice. i slowly look at her.

"where are you going" she added.

"i need to be me." i said then i see the tears in her eyes.

"what are you saying ate come on? ofcourse you can be you in our house. don't leave us. i begging you ate i need you" she uttered then she hug me.

i unclaped her body on mine.

"you will understand me irene kapag ikaw na ang nasa situation ko but for now let me to be myself hindi lang kayo ang nangangailangan. i'm so tired facing all the burdens and rejection in our family" i said then pumara na ako ng taxi.

"ate please i need you, you promise me right that you will never leave me, pati ba naman ikaw?" she holding my hands right now while she's still crying.

"sorry irene" i said then push her before i jumped inside of the taxi.

kinakalabog niya naman ang windshield.

"kua paandarin mo na bilis" i shout then pinaandar na nga ni kua, i see irene was about to run when someone hold her arms. then i see bonget holding her. a big sighed came out from me.

"st. rosa street po manong" i said before i yawned, i'm so sleepy pa.

-
pagkadating ko naman don napakadilim at napakatahimik. i admit i really kinda little bit scared in this place but mas nangingibabaw ang kapayapaan sa lugar na ito.

i sat on bench naman. i just staring on the star in the sky that keeps shining even they alone.

i was about to lay myself when someone put a hand on my eyes.

i was about to shout when he spoke.

"ang aga mo naman ata" i heard a familiar voice and i know it's rio

"i need this" i emitted while holding my tears.

he hug me that get my tears fall.

"don't worry, simula ngayon magkakaroon na tayo ng sarili nating pamilya" he said then wipe my tears, my head is on his chest na.

"i'm so sleepy" i whispered ng makaramdam naman ako pagod dahil sa pag iyak.

he hold my hand.

"you can sleep now." he whispered and kiss my forehead i just smile. even thought hindi niya nakikita.

then i close my eyes