chasing the summer hearts

Special Chapter: In Eighteen Years

SPECIAL CHAPTER: In Eighteen Years

REIGN HANDED his report card to his father at their private lounge in their home. He remained silent when his father read the report. He wasn't very satisfied with the result. Reign knew that his father would scold him to the fullest for having failed 4 subjects. But even after a while, Roscoe didn't say anything which was really unusual.

He wanted to say something, but he knew his father would silence him, so he remained silent. "So that explains enough." He said—full of coldness. That made him freeze in his own seat. "Your grades suck and you failed four subjects. Haven't we given our best and support you ever need? I'm not going to cuddle you or what because I know that you'll never listen. I don't give a fuck if you complain or not. It is not my problem to solve but yours. You're dismissed. Leave." He said.

"But Da—"

"I said leave." The coldness of his voice was astonishing. It was too hard to bear. He didn't like it. He wanted to cry. Wala siyang nagawa kundi lumabas sa kanilang private lounge. Gusto niyang lumayas sa bahay at magpakalayo dahil pakiramdam niya ay parang nawawalan na siya ng hininga dahil sa mga nangyayari, pero nang dahil sa galit ng kanyang Daddy, parang hindi na siguro yun mangyayari.

When he closed the sliding door, he felt a painful ache in his chest. It was so painful that soon escalated into something dreadfully. He found himself tearing up. His body started to tremble as his breath hitched very badly. He wanted to burst but he couldn't. Maybe his siblings could notice such act.

Pero hindi nga siya nagkamali.

"Kuya, are you okay?" Seth—his younger brother of about a year asked him with a hint of concern in his eyes. Reign brushed it off—chuckling. "Yes, I'm really fine." He lied. But Seth wasn't the type of person who'll easily believe such unlawful acts.

Seth just looked at him—an eye to eye.

At hindi nga matiis ni Reign ang titig ng kanyang kapatid.

"Fine, I'm not okay. Happy?" He said, nonchalantly. Pagkatapos nu'n ay napangisi ang kapatid niya sa kanya. "What are you smiling, young man?" He asked. "Well, I eavesdropped your conversation with Dad. He's not happy though. He even scolded you." He said.

"And what's the fuss all about?" Reign was even more cold.

"Nah, I don't have any problems with regards to you. You're just who you are. And you're driven by the forces of nature. Maybe next time you'll heed onto their pleas." Seth calmly said. Then he passed by him, completely leaving him out of his sight.

Mas sumakit ang dibdib niya.

Why do all people hate him? He's like that and he'll never excel in everything! Hindi naman siya basagulero o babaero pero hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nababagsak niya ang lahat ng mga subjects sa klase nila. He didn't know. But he's not determined to do anything about it. Napapagod na siya.

"Am I such a disgrace?" He said to himself.

Then suddenly a voice answered his question. "Kuya Calein?" He faced his beautiful and handsome brother. He was already 22 years old this time. "Yes babe?" He said. Sanay na siyang tawaging 'babe' ng kuya niya. Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya lang ang tinatawagang 'babe' ng kuya niya.

Is it because he's very important to him?

But come to think of it, everybody is important to him. So why does he call him that way? Its flustering and he liked it.

"K-Kuya..." Aniya.

Napayakap ang kuya niya sa kanya at hinalikan siya sa nuo. "Shh, don't be disappointed little Reign, my baby." He said while caressing his head. For the first time in his life, he shed painful tears down his eyes. Sobbing was quite painful and wailing was quite unprecedented.