Wreaking Havoc

ūnus

They say when married couples have come to the point where they could settle down and build a family—children become their report cards for life. For them, children will be society's basis if you'll really succeed—by producing successful children. Maybe that's the reason why some parents strip off the freedom from their children and guilt-trip them to have achievements they never attained in their lifetime because they fed and dressed them.

I guess on my part, it wasn't a lie or a joke that I could just laugh over.

Because basically, I didn't have a choice to make—I wasn't just their daughter, I was an accessory they needed to brag about. Maybe because mom never graduated college even when she wanted to become a doctor back then.

Funny because even though I like medicine, it still feels like I'm being controlled.

Minsan gusto ko na lang kumawala.

"Therese," mom called me na parang hindi ko lang kauuwi galing school at hindi niya ako pinagmadali na makauwi para lang sa private party niya kasama ng mga "kaibigan" niya sa politika. From what I know, she'd usually trash these people after they leave the premises of our homes because that's usually the deal with politicians—mabait lang sila pag kaharap mo. And mom has mastered it very well. I guess being an A-lister actress paid off after running for a senatorial seat as her retirement plan.

"Don't ruin the party with that face."

Napairap ako, "You didn't have to tell me," sagot ko bago pumasok ng kwarto. I was supposed to meet my boyfriend after our moving exams dahil sinabi naman niya no'ng nakaraan na hindi naman required na kasama ako at si Isla, pero no'ng nalaman niyang sasama 'yung anak ni Senator Policarpio ay bigla na lang akong minessage na umuwi na'ko at mag-ayos pagkatapos ng klase. I didn't even have a choice on what to wear! Ultimo make-up look siya na ang nag-desisyon, fucking hell. Siya na rin kaya mag-desisyon ng damit ko araw-araw? Paladesisyon, nakakainis.

I sighed and looked at myself in front of the mirror, "Just few more years, Therese. You'd get out of this," I uttered to myself, probably looking stupid because I was practicing my smiles so they wouldn't look fake. Ayaw ko namang marinig na naman si mommy na nagbubunganga dahil pagod na pagod na'ko at gusto ko na talagang matulog.

I was about to message Elias that I was already missing him kahit nagkita naman kami kahapon, but I heard someone knocking on my door na agad ko namang pinagbuksan dahil alam kong si dad 'yung kumakatok. I never liked entertaining mom kaya madalas naka-lock lang 'yung kwarto ko, but dad was different kaya siya lang ang nakakapasok, so he told me he'd knock thrice—two fast knocks and a long pause before the other one—so I'd know it'd be him.

"Tired, princess?"

I frowned, "Mom's being a pain in the ass, again," I uttered, causing him to chuckle kaya niyakap na lang niya ako.

"Just don't mind her, she's probably stressed these days," he says. Tumango na lang ako. Dad was the kind one—I guess it was because he didn't have anything to dump on his kids because he was the successful one. Not that I was invalidating mom's struggles because lolo and lola made her into an actress because they were also actors instead of pursuing medicine, but I didn't like the way she was trauma dumping on me. I was just hoping Isla would be a different case, but I guess there are no exceptions.

"How can you even tolerate mom?"

Dad remained silent and broke the embrace.

I sighed.

I can't wait to marry Elias and leave this fucking hellhole.

***

The party sucked.