Wreaking Havoc

vīgintī ūnus

I didn't even have the time to think twice—I knew I needed to come home. Why the fuck would my parents suddenly die?! I was just talking to my father just a while ago! Putangina, if this was some kind of sick joke by satire pages, it wasn't funny anymore.

"Therese... Therese!" Keith called because I was in so much panic that I didn't even know what I was packing. Mabilis niya akong hinigit at niyakap na hindi ko namalayan na humahagulgol na'ko at kanina ko pa pinipigilang mapaiyak. Fuck my life, why was this even happening to us?! "Kumalma ka nga... please lang," Keith whispered, caressing my hair as she tries to calm me down. My mind was on haywire... I couldn't even think straight, I just wanted to get my passport and leave immediately.

"Keith... Keith kailangan kong umuwi," bulong ko. I was heaving with so much anger and sadness. Isla needed me... I know Isla needs me right now more than the world. I gently pushed Keith away from me and sighed. "I need to go home. I don't need pity, Keith. I've had enough of it already... Gusto ko lang umuwi."

Keith nodded, "I already booked you a flight when I heard the news from my father. You'll be leaving in an hour."

Napaupo na lang ako at napatakip ng mukha. I couldn't process anything... it wasn't even sinking. Was this some kind of joke? Prank ba 'to? Do they just want me home?

"Therese..."

I took a deep breath in and sighed, "I'm okay... I'm okay, Keith."

Keith nodded and pulled me into a hug before handing me my passport, "I'll excuse you from class for the time being, although you might have a lot to catch up on, but I guess that's just far from your priorities now," she uttered, a faint, sad smile on her face. "Just call us when you're home, okay?"

I nodded.

And just like that, nasa Pilipinas na naman ako.

"Oh my god, Therese... I'm sorry," Astrid uttered the moment she saw me and pulled me into a crushing hug. Sobrang tagal ng flight kaya pagkadating ko nakaburol na raw sila sa Memorial Chapel.

"H-how's Isla?"

Astrid bit her lower lip, "Ayaw kumain... Hinihintay ka."

I sighed. Hindi na'ko umimik at dumiretso na kaagad kami kung saan sila nakaburol. Astrid was really careful with me because I was really sensitive with my condition... Alam ko rin naman kaya maingat din ako... I can't afford to lose my baby just when I just lost my parents in just a blink of an eye.

"Condolences, Therese," Ansel's mom uttered when she saw me entering the chapel. Tumango lang ako at hinanap agad si Isla na nakaupo lang sa may harapan at nakatitig sa kabaong nila daddy.

Napapikit na lang ako. It was finally sinking in.

My parents were really dead.

I feel so lost... Isla couldn't stop crying. There were people mourning my father's death... some were probably celebrating that my mom's finally gone... But I couldn't even feel anything, anymore.

When Dad told me he'd fix everything just so mom wouldn't get the chance to harm me anymore, was this it?

My legs felt weak that I almost fell down the floor pero mabilis akong nahawakan ni Astrid at tinulungang makaupo sa tabi ni Isla. I wasn't crying... I didn't know why I wasn't crying when everyone around me was mourning the sudden death of my parents. I know I should cry... I should be angry and sad.

But I felt... empty.

Kausap ko lang si daddy no'ng isang araw... He even told me he'd be there for my child's Christening... pero bakit hindi man lang niya hinintay?