Sa Wakas

Chapter 9: Gray Clouds

A/N: happy 1k reads. thank you guys <3

tw//  death & family violence

Jillian's POV

Ate Aiks is making kwento of her day when naramdaman kong nag-vibrate ang cellphone ko sa aking bulsa at kaagad ko itong kinuha. I freeze at my spot sa bed and I think Ate Aika noticed since she looked at me worriedly.

"Jill? You okay?"

Hindi ko na siya napansin at kaagad kong tinapon ang cellphone sa bed nila Ate. Nagmamadali akong lumabas ng kwarto nila upang puntahan siya.

Lucian just texted me. And I knew the moment I read his text, that he needed me.

Lucifer

SOS.
8:39 PM

The name cannot be said is...here.
8:40 PM

Naramdaman kong sumunod sa akin si Ate Aiks dahil naririnig ko rin ang yabag nito sa likod ko. "Jill! Be careful!" She hissed at me quietly nang natataranta akong bumaba ng hagdanan pero hindi ko pinansin ang bilin niya dahil nakarating naman na ako ng sala nang hindi nalalaglag ng hagdan. That is one of my least of concerns right now, I prioritize Lucian's well-being rather than my own.

Napahinto ako sa baba ng hagdan nang makita ko sino ang kasama nila sa living room.

Ang Mommy ni Lucian ay nandito kasama ang Daddy niya. Lucian is standing behind Ate Trish. He is keeping a straight face but I knew behind those eyes. I know what he truly feels that no one knows about but me.

Bakit sila nandito?

Pero I knew from the moment I looked at Mama. She plastered an apologetic look on my way. I groaned silently at her. I already talk to Mama about it, yet here she is, trying to meddle in between Lucian's family that will never be stitched together. I did not spill all the beans when Mama pestered me since I respected Lucian's decision to not mention it to anyone it kahit kila Mama at Ate ko. Kahit na bata pa lamang ako noon, I made an oath to him na I will not tell anyone.

I washed my hands on the sink after I peed at Lucian's bathroom. Kakatapos lang namin mag lunch with Lucian's family dahil nag-aya sila Tita since it was Sunday. Namimiss na daw nila kami kumain sa isang hapagkainan.

I was washing my hands on the cloth near the bathroom door when I heard someone open Lucian's door to his room and it bangs loudly on the walls.

Nagulat ako sa lakas nito pero I put my hand on my mouth when I heard someone speaking inside Lucian's room.

I heard a loud slap on the skin and someone whimpering and crying.

"How dare you sneak in the kitchen to get brownies, Lucian?!" I heard another loud slap, at ang kasabay nito paglakas ng iyak ni Lucian. "I told you to not eat it unless you get your grades higher than your friends!"

"I-I'm sorry, D-dad. H-hindi na p-po mauulit. N-nagugutom na p-po kasi—"

"May gana ka pang sumagot? How dare you talk back to your parents?!" I gasped quitely when I heard a belt clattering and a constant whipping noise against the skin.

I am unaware of how my tears fall in my eyes as I heard Lucian continuously cries on the other side of the door.

"Don't cry, Lucian! Do what you're supposed to do!"