To What Cost

Chapter 9

Hello Regalias! So sorry for the super duper long hiatus. Just Graduated nung June <333 so I've been busy prior and took a break for a month or two. So here we are!

TW: Violence and Sexual Harassment

"Wala talaga akong aasahan sa'yo!" My ears ringed sa sakit as a slap landed on my cheek. "Sinabi ko sayo bantayan mo yung pinsan mo, anong ginawa mo?!" 

His crying only made the pain worst. My brother only watched from a far.

"Pinakiusapan kita kagaya ng pakikiusap sakin ng mama mo na dito ka tumira pero simpleng bantayan yung pinsan mo hindi mo magawa!" 

A smirk formed on my lips and I soon winced nang maramdaman ang hapdi sa labi ko. Hindi nako umimik. Nakatayo lang ako, nakatingin sa mata niya habang siya nagwawala.

Nahulog lang naman sa upuan yung pinakamamahal niyang bunso dahil inaabot yung cellphone niyang nakalagay sa upper shelf. Bakit kamo nasa upper shelf ang phone niya? It's conficated because he did something naughty.. why does a teenager need that weird of a punishment? Cause he's not a teenager, he's 8yrs old.

It was a weekend, kahapon natapos yung Buwan ng Wika at nanalo kami as Champions. Aalis dapat kami para magcelebrate but I got stuck at home dahil walang magbabantay kay Joseph, bunsong anak nila tita, while his sisters ay mga gumala. 

Hindi ko alam kung nabalian ba si Joseph, dahil pagkakita ko palang sakanya, nahatak nako't nasampal.

After a few more sermons, tinigilan na niya ko at sinilip ang anak niyang tumahan na. My brother tried to reach me pero I walked pass him, leaving the house. Guess I'm sleeping sa Condo.

Walang phone, walang card, only a bit of cash and galit sa mundo ang meron ako as I walk. I decided to walk hanggang Gatchalian, which is a good 2km from where I was. I used to walk further when I stayed in Japan, the good days.

Ang init sa Pinas, especially being outside where all the car exhaust pipes just strike your face with the pollution it carries... but despite the honking, the people shouting, talking, it's peaceful walking along the road.

Ang mahirap lang, sexual harassment. I have been sensing this guy following me mula pa kanina. As long as hindi niya ko hahawakan, wala naman akong problema kung gusto niya magpaka-pagod kasusunod sakin. 

Hindi ko narin namalayan na nakarating na 'kong Gatchalian. 

"Sia?"

Napalingon ako. It was someone from school, probably Grade 11 or 12? Ewan ko basta hindi ko kabatch.

"Hi Sia." He walked towards me, napansin ko ring may iba siyang kasama. As soon as he did, the guy following me walked pass us, giving me a glance.  Sinundan pa ng tingin nung mga kasama ko.

"Ok ka lang? May ginawa ba sayo? Sinabi sayo?" He soon asked nang makalayo na yung lalaki kanina. I looked at him in confusion, his eyes widened when he saw the wound on my lip and cheek. "Gagi sinaktan ka non?!"

Two of the guys looked at the guy na nilagpasan ako, nakatingin pa pala saamin. The one I'm talking to was about to lunge with the other guy when I pulled them both back. What the hell?

"Relax. Wala siyang ginawa. Sino ka ba?"

"Ouch. Grabe Sia hindi mo 'ko kilala." 

My forehead creased. "Ruel, kaibigan ni Jax." He pulled out his hand to shake mine. "Nice to meet you Sia."

"Nice to meet you too." 

"Gusto mo ba sumama samin? This is Ash, Ethan, Aliah, and Joshua."

I waved, smiling. Why is he introducing them to me? Ni hindi nga kami close mismo ni Ruel... I didn't even remember his name.