Affairs and Affection

-5th, 𝐎𝐡, 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞?!

Haliya

"The whole week?" I spat out as I shove the spoonful of rice in my mouth. Aalis sila kasama sina Kuya Sandro and Simon papuntang Norte for some "business-politics" shenanigans, and they only bothered to tell me just now, 2 hours before their flight?

"We have to run meetings with the investors, and having Sandro and Simon there will make the process of settlements faster... We'll be back before you know it." Dad replied. They'll go with Simon, but never with me. Hindi ko maintindihan, they never let me get involved with business matters, i'm at the right age and intellect to deal with that stuff.

It's always Kuya Sandro. Sure, he's the eldest, it's fine. But bakit si Simon pwede, pero kapag ako hindi? We're twins for God's sake!

Compared to him, I know more about business-politics matters. And Simon doesn't even want to go with them, he's forced to go. It pains me to see him being dragged with them when he'd rather rot in bed than be exposed to Dad's business partners uncomfortably.

"Why don't I get to come?" Is it because of the toxic office misogyny, am I not safe?-

"Haliya-"

- or is it because they oath to keep me hidden from the face of earth, as their daughter?

"Oh, it's because I'm supposed to be a secret... Yeah, of course." I chuckled bitterly. What a life.

"You know we're doing this to protect you, anak" Mom. Napayuko naman ako at humigpit ang kapit sa kutsara na hawak ko.

"I don't need you protecting me. I'm not a kid anymore, I can protect myself." The room fell silent. Too silent you can feel the tension.

I can tell that their eyes are on me like I just said something obnoxious. I just shrugged it off. I'm already an adult, they can't keep treating me like this.

"I--" Naramdaman ko na may humawak sa kamay ko na nakapatong sa hita ko. Paglingon ko ay si Tita Irene pala habang nakatingin siya kay Dad na ngayon ay nasa akin ang tingin.

"Am I not a part of this family?" Pagpatuloy ko sa sasabihin ko. Naramdaman ko ang pagpisil ni Tita Irene sa kamay ko upang pakalmahin ako, at ang matalim na titig ni Dad na parang kahit anong oras ay mauubos na ang pasensya niya.

"Of course you're part of this family. Why would you think otherwise?" I heard mom's soothing voice. She wasn't asking me why, she was telling me not to feel otherwise.

"Then why..." I took a deep breath. "Why do you need to hide me as your daughter?"

"Just drop it, Haliya." pag-awat ni Kuya Sandro. I shook my head.

"No. I want my ans-" natigilan ako nang kumalabog ang lamesa dahil sa paghampas ni Dad na ngayon ay nagtitimpi nalang.

"We're not having this conversation." simula niya pa. "You will respect the food as much as you will respect our words. Stop acting like a brat and settle down, young lady."

"Warren." awat pa ni Mom.

I stood up and met his gaze. Respect their words? How about they respect me as a person? They can't manhandle me and just control my life.

"This is bullshit." I spat as I took my eyes off of his. I met Tita Irene's empathetic eyes before heading to my room. I heard Tita Imee stopping Dad's rage as I slammed my door.

I jumped on my bed as I screamed all my frustrations out of my pillow. I won't cry, I'm used to this. I've been asking them that question since god knows when, and until now, they won't give me a rational reason.