The Price Of A Sinner

Chapter 9

None of us, Mom, Dad, or I, said a word as we sat together at the dining table. We still hadn't started eating, all because we were waiting for the oh-so-important bastard. Tss. She acts like she's some kind of celebrity, making everyone wait.

I could feel and see Dad trying his best not to meet my eyes, while Mom just kept smiling at me as if we hadn't just had that heated conversation earlier.

She's really good at pretending that everything's fine...

A few minutes later, my ever-dramatic sister finally arrived.

"I'm sorry, I'm late—"

"Hindi masyado halata. Malamig na nga ang pagkain, e."

Napatigil siya sa pinto, halatang tinamaan sa sinabi ko. Dahan-dahan siyang umupo sa pwesto niya, parang napapahiya. Pareho namang nakatingin sa akin sina Mommy at Daddy.

"S-sorry..." mahina niyang sabi.

Naghalukipkip ako at tamad siyang tinitigan. "Pwede na bang kumain? Habang may kaunti pa akong gana," sabi ko. Rinig ko ang malalim na buntong hininga ni Daddy.

"Y-yeah..." sagot ni Mili.

Sinimulan ko nang kumain at hindi ko na sila muling pinansin. Nang marinig ko kanina na siya ang may "announcement," agad na nawala ang kahit anong interes ko. Halfway through our meal, she cleared her throat, clearly trying to get our attention. My parents stopped eating. I didn't. I kept chewing, uninterested.

"Ahm... Mom, Dad..." she began. I scoffed the moment I heard her call my mother "Mom," and all eyes shifted to me.

"What?" I asked flatly.

"Let her talk, Mifi. She has an announcement to make," Dad said.

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead. I'm busy with my food."

"Go ahead, Mili," Dad urged.

"Dad, Mom... I'm... I'm engaged!"

Masayang-masaya niyang sabi bago ipakita sa amin ang daliri niya. Napahinto ako sa pagkain.

"Wow! Really?!" Halatang excited si Daddy, hindi maitago sa boses at mukha niya.

"Yes, Dad. Look!" Mas lalo pa niyang ipinakita ang singsing.

"Wow! What a beautiful ring. It looks so expensive!"

"Congratulations, hija. I'm happy for you!" dagdag pa ni Mommy.

Kung gaano sila kasaya sa announcement niya, ako naman? Wala. Blanko. Pero nang makita ko ang mga ngiti sa mukha nila, mga ngiting sana ay para rin sa akin... doon ako nakaramdam ng kirot.

"When's the wedding?" Mom asked.

"Six months from now," Mili answered.

"Wow!"

"And who's the lucky guy?" Dad asked, smiling. I scoffed again at his words and suddenly stood up, making them stop.

"Lucky guy? Really?" I asked sarcastically, even letting out a fake laugh. "Is he really lucky? Tsk. Tsk. Poor guy." I laughed bitterly.

"Mifi!" Dad barked.

"What? I'm just concerned... for the guy. He's marrying the wrong girl."
I stepped away from my chair and stood behind it.

"Can you at least show some respect for your sister on this special day?!" Dad snapped again, his gaze sharp and furious.

"Fine!" sagot ko, may halong sama ng loob. "Even though she doesn't deserve my respect... fine. I'm leaving. Tutal, wala naman akong interes sa buhay niya." Tumitig ako kay Mili, na nakayuko na ngayon. "Sana lang naging ganito rin kayo kasaya sa mga achievements ko. Sana lang... naramdaman ko rin ang suporta n'yo." Huminga ako nang malalim. "Alam n'yo ba kung bakit ayaw ko sa bahay na 'to? Dahil pakiramdam ko ako ang anak sa labas. Dahil ako ang nakikihati sa lahat ng dapat ay akin sa simula pa lang!" sigaw ko.