The entire month of July went quite well. Although I have heard my parents curse on their phones a couple of times. I've also witnessed and heard them yelling at each other, but they would stop when they saw me enter the house. It was something I absolutely despise. I don't like it when they fight and shout at each other. However, it is maybe because they're overworked these days. Perhaps they have too much on their plate right now. As a result, I always work hard in school. I studied extensively and prepared for my quizzes and exams.
The monthly exam arrived once more, and I worked hard to ace it. When I received my test papers, I felt relieved.
Gargalicano, Rafaela Maxinne V.
Score: 100/100
I went home that day feeling relieved. I also practiced answering potential questions about my studies from my parents a few times. They were aware that today was the monthly exam. But when I got home and saw my Mom and Dad fighting again, it was as if my heart was ripped apart.
"How did we lose them?! I worked day and night to persuade them to give us more time, and now you're telling me they're leaving us?!" Mom's voice echoed across the entire house.
I was standing by the door, trying to figure out what they were on about. "Hindi sila umalis, pinaalis ko sila-"
"WHAT THE FUCK?!"
I gasped because of my mother's sudden curse. Her face was all red and her fists were clenched. Pabalik-balik lamang ang patingin ko sa kanilang dalawa ni Dad.
"They were stupid anyway. We don't need them-"
"Alam mo kung gaano tayo nahihirapan ngayon sa firm pero you always choose to be blind," Mom's voice was as cold as ice.
"Alam mo kung paano ako hindi nakakatulog dahil sa pag-iisip kung paano ko babayaran ang mga putanginang utang mo sa casino, Rafael."
In shock, my lips parted. I had no idea Dad was gambling. "Come on, Malory. We have savings-"
"Savings?! Rafael, alam mo kung saan natin gagamitin ang savings. Pero nasaan na ba ang saving natin? Hindi ba't tinaya mo na sa Las Vegas?!" Mom shouted again.
Napauwang ang bibig ni Dad at natahimik. Para akong sinaksak sa dibdib nang marinig ang lahat ng sinabi ni Mom. Sa tuwing wala ba si Dad ay naroon siya sa ibang bansa at nagka-casino lang? I don't know!
"I told you we just have to agree to-"
"We're not going to use our own daughter, Rafael!"
-
Mom's words from last week have stuck with me to this day. It never left my mind the moment I heard those words, which caused me to lose focus on what was happening to me the following days. Saan ako gagamitin? Bakit ako gagamitin?
"Raf, please eat your lunch na. I'm really bothered na talaga because you're always too preoccupied with something you're not telling me."
Nahinto ako sa pag-iisip nang hawakan ni Marga ang aking kamay. Narito kami ngayon sa cafeteria, kumakain ng lunch. Puno ng pag-aalala ang kaniyang mukha habang nakatingin sa akin.
"Do you have problems? You can tell me, I will listen!" ginalaw-galaw niya pa ang aking kamay. "But if you don't want to talk about it-"
I let out a heavy sigh. "Parang... parang may hindi sinasabi ang parents ko sa akin," I started.
Marga remained silent. She seemed to be signaling me to continue what I was saying, so I did.
"I've seen them fight a couple of times in the last month," I said, turning away. "And last week... my Mom told my Dad not to use me, so I was very curious as to what she was referring to. Gagamitin ako saan? Paano? Kanino? Kailan?" sunod-sunod kong tanong kay Marga.
BINABASA MO ANG
Secret Secret (Dès Vu Series #1)
General Fiction(NO PORTRAYER INTENDED) "Fallen shoulders and soaking clothes, even the blasting music sounds quiet to me. I let my frustrated voices out hoping that they'd be washed away in the rain..."
