Enlightened The Dark (Escape Series #1)

02

Living feels tough when you feel incomplete, like you're just there, surrounded by silent battles that no one else can understand. I lost a part of myself when my mom passed away, and since that day, life hasn't felt the same.

I have two sisters who try their best to make me feel whole again, and I appreciate their efforts, but I still feel so incomplete. I miss my mom so much.

It's been 13 years, but the feeling hasn't changed. I miss her so much, and I feel like I'm not the same person anymore. I was too young back then, but after losing her, I started to realize a lot of things, and I feel like I failed.

I always blame my dad for putting my mom through so much pain; he made her life so hard, and I can't even express how much I hate him for it. I don't know if I'll ever be able to forgive him or accept him in my life.

Si Mama ang naging ina at ama namin, and after she passed away, I didn't know what to do. But Ate Maia stepped up as our parent even though she was still so young. She became both a mother and father figure to us, doing her best to take care of us, just like she promised to our mom.

I can't blame Ate Maia if she doesn't spend as much time with me and Ate Selene, because I know she's going through a lot, working hard to earn money for us so we can study.

She even stopped her own studies to let us go first. I'm so grateful that she never gets tired of looking after me and Ate Selene.

"Ate Maia! Aalis na po ako!" sigaw ko mula sa sala dahil nasa kusina siya. Wala akong narinig na sagot kaya lumapit ako kay Ate Selene.

"Ate Selene, sabihin mo na lang kay Ate Maia na umalis na ako, ah," sabi ko. Tumango lang siya at balik sa panonood ng TV.

Lumabas na ako ng bahay at nagsimulang maglakad. Hindi ko kasabay si Dia kasi sabi niya mauuna raw siya at may dadaanan.

Naglakad ako hanggang makarating ako sa gate ng school. Binati ko ang guard, tulad ng nakasanayan namin. Pagdating ko sa classroom, hindi ko nakita si Dia. Nagtanong ako sa ibang kaklase namin, pero sabi nila hindi pa raw siya dumadating, kaya hindi ko mapigilang mag-alala. Nag-iwan ako ng message sa kanya para tanungin kung nasaan na siya.

Sabi ng iba naming kaklase, nakita raw nila si Dia sa labas ng school naka-uniform pero hindi siya pumasok at sumakay na lang bigla ng jeep.

Napaisip tuloy ako-saan kaya pupunta si Dia?

Dumating ang teacher namin at nakita ako ni Reiko.

"O, where's Dia? Hindi mo siya kasabay ngayon?" tanong ni Reiko habang inilalapag ang bag niya sa tabi ko.

"Nauna siya sa akin, pero wala pa rin siya," sagot ko.

"Saan naman kaya pupunta 'yon?" tanong niya habang tumingin sa relo. "Late na siya, ah."

Nagsimula ang klase, pero habang tumatagal, lalo lang akong nag-aalala kay Dia.

Pagkatapos ng klase, sunod na subject namin ay P.E., kaya pumunta kami sa court. Pagdating namin doon, busy pa si sir sa kabilang strand na naghahanda para sa intrams. Pinaupo muna kami habang inaasikaso niya ang iba. Nang matapos, pinapila niya kami, hiwalay ang babae at lalaki, at pinapanood kami ng three-minute dance na kailangan naming gawin mamaya.