"Mommy!" hinabol ko si Mommy hanggang sa kwarto niya.
She's avoiding questions from the car. Hindi ako mapakali hanggang makauwi. My night is ruined. And I'm sure, Hugo's night, too. Hindi ako nakapagpaalam ng maayos sa kaniya dahil kay Mommy.
She placed her bag on the side table. Hinilot niya ang sentido.
"What was that, Mom? Bakit mo pa ako dinidikit sa lalaking iyon? You know I have Hugo!"
"Can we talk about this tomorrow, Nichoella? Can't you see I'm stressed, too?"
"Stressed from what? You seem okay! Binugaw mo ako sa isa pang lalaki! Ilan ba ang gusto mo?"
"Goodness! Sinisigawan mo ba ako?"
I pursed my lips. Kumalma ako kasabay ng pagpasok ni Dad. He tapped my shoulders.
"Hernan, can you tell her? I can't do this today. I am so disrespected!" madramang sabi niya at umirap pa sa akin.
I turned to father, confused. Tinikom niya ang bibig niya at bumuntong hininga.
"Hija, your mother doesn't think that Carvajal is good for you anymore."
"What? Why!" bulalas ko.
"Well, we don't want to hurt you, hija…"
"Goodness!" Mommy exclaimed like she was tired of dramas and looked at me. "His family is facing bankruptcy."
Nanlaki ang mata ko.
"No! That's not true..."
Tinapik ni Dad ang balikat ko. "I'm afraid they are, hija. It was just rumor at first. But it turned out to be true. Investors are pulling out from them. At nagsisimula na din silang mabaon sa utang."
"The Manzanilla confirmed it. Ang kapal ng mukha nilang magpakita pa sa party. Goodness, kung ako siguro'y hindi na ako magpapakita sa tao!"
"Mommy!"
I didn't know how to react.
Ang unang iniisip ko ay si Hugo. I'm sure he's not well. He wasn't saying anything to me at all. Hindi ko naisip na may ganitong problema ang pamilya niya. This is huge.
Tumalikod ako, akmang tatawagan si Hugo para kumustahin nang magsalita muli si Mommy.
"Nichoella, you can stop seeing that man from now on. Atlas is a better pick, anyway."
Nilingon ko siya. Nakakunot ang noo at hindi kaagad nakabawi sa nais niyang sabihin sa akin.
I watched her massage her temple as Dad just nodded at me.
Hindi ako makapaniwala.
She's making me stop seeing Hugo because his family is in the middle of bankruptcy. I can't believe it. Money is really what she thought about all this time! Bakit nga ba ako magugulat? My mother is cruel. Her world revolves around money and power. Mas mabuting masira na ang lahat, h'wag lang ang pangalan niya. She made her own children into a business, an investment. It's tiring.
I tried to reach Hugo the whole night. Ngunit nakapatay ang cellphone niya at hindi siya online sa social media. I couldn't sleep, thinking about him. Hindi ako pinatulog ng konsensya at kuryosidad.
I woke up with a heavy head. I must had a lot of alcohol last night and I slept really late. Binuksan ko ang cellphone ko habang sapo-sapo ang ulo. Nadatnan ko ang ilang text galing kay Hugo, madaling araw, kanina. Hindi ko na naabutan.
Hugo : Trouble sleeping, my love?
Hugo : Something's up but I'm handling it. It's not a big deal.
Hugo : I'm sorry, I'll see you when everything's alright. I don't want to bother you.
