Now and Forever |순키| Finished

04

Gabriel

After a long tiring day, I finally arrived at my mother's house. It's been weeks since the last time I visited her.

"Hello my baby, How are you?" She said as she welcomed me with a big and comforting hug. I hugged her back and took a deep breath before letting go of her.

"I'm good, Doing good. How about you?" I asked her and she just smiled at me. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa kusina.

When we got closer I can already smell the food she cooked, caldereta, my all time favorite. She used to cook this for us when we are still complete and a happy family.

"Let's eat na" She excitedly said. I nod and sat next to where her seat is.

We are happily talking to each other about how our days went these past few days. Puno ng tawa at pakikipag-usap ang bahay nila. Not until someone came making me and my Mom stop.

"Hi honey! Jaze is here, hindi na kita nahintay. Sorry, i just want Jaze to eat before he leave eh." And there... Muli nanamang nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko.

I stood up and put my dish into the sink. Hindi ko pa ito nauubos at wala na akong balak pang ubusin dahil nawalan na ako ng ganang kumain.

"Jaze! Good thing you're here! I have a gift for you, hindi ko lang magawang ibigay sayo dahil tuwing bibisita ka hindi naman kita naaabutan. Here!" My step dad said. He handed me a box, i took a glance of it and my eyes lit up seeing the picture of a camera outside the box.

"Thank you, Tito." I said. He smiled at me before giving my Mom a kiss on her forehead. I felt my tummy swirl. Hindi ko kayang makita to.

We all sat down on the couch, patuloy lang siya sa paguusap habang ako ay nakatingin pa rin sa camerang hawak hawak ko. I felt my phone vibrate kaya agad ko itong kinuha only to see his messages.

From Papa:
Uwi.

Mariin kong ipinikit ang mga mata ko at tumayo. Both of them looked at me and I did the same, I looked at them without any expressions.

"He's asking me to go home already, Mom." Mom smiled at me and hugged me. I hugged her back.

"Mag-iingat ka, Jaze. I love you!" Tumango ako at hindi na pinansin pa ang mga susunod pa niyang sasabihin.

I got into my car and placed his gift sa passenger seat. I know I wouldn't be using it. Hindi ko naman kailangan niyan. Kaya kong bilhin yan para sa sarili ko.

After a few hours of driving. I finally arrived at my house. All the lights are off. Hindi pa ganon kagabi pero bakit sobrang dilim na?

I didn't think much of it anymore and just walked inside only to see my father waiting for me sitting in his huge ass sofa. I stopped walking and faced him, alam kong pagagalitan nanaman ako.

"Where have you been?" He asked, I remained silent and choose not to answer his question.

"Sa nanay mo nanaman?" He asked again, and yet I didn't answered him. Tumayo siya at agad na napunta ang atensyon sa kahong hawak hawak ko.

"What's that and who gave it to you?" Still no answer. He's looking so pissed but I didn't care, Hindi pa rin pumasok sa isip ko na sagutin siya.

"Answer me right now or sa labas ka nanaman matutulog." I looked at him with a frown. Huminga ako ng malalim bago sumagot sakanya.

"It's a gift, from Tito... a gift from Tito Ian." I answered. Ngumisi lang siya saakin bago kinuha ang hawak hawak ko at malakas na ibinato sa sahig.

I didn't complain nor fought back. I was looking at him the moment he took the box from me and slamming it hard to the ground.

"Never... Never accept any of his gifts!" He said furious. Sumimangot ako tska siya inirapan.

"He's only giving me gifts. He's doing the things you were supposed to do, Papa." I said. Tumingin siya sakin ng masama.

"You don't deserve anything with that shitty attitude of yours, Gabriel. Itatak mo yan sa kokote mo!" I smiled at him.

"This shitty attitude was just the same as yours, the only difference is mas malala ka." I said. Galit pa rin ang tingin niya saakin. Agad niyang tinuro ang hagdan. I rolled my eyes and answered with a mocking smile and a nod.

I ran up to my bedroom. I looked the door before turning off all the lights. Hindi ako matutulog, I don't want to sleep after drinking a lot of coffee earlier.

I quietly opened the window bago ko kuhain ang skateboard kong nakatago sa ilalim ng kama. I got my phone and jumped out of the window. I'll go to a place where no one can hurt my feelings. A place i hope no one would know.