"Hazel." I stopped walking when suddenly someone called my name. I slowly tilted my head in her direction and gave her a blank look.
"Can we talk?" she said, and I saw how her eyes watered. I didn't say any words; I felt my roots were about to disown me, but I managed to compose myself and stand firmly.
"Sabi ni Mama wala na daw si Tita? Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin?" utal-utal n'yang tanong habang nakatitig sa akin at doon nakita ko ang pagpatak ng mga luha n'ya sa mata.
I didn't answer her question and remained quiet. Where the fuck does she get her thick face to talk about my mother's death?
"Hazel, naging mabait saakin si Tita, bakit hindi mo manlang sinabi sa akin?!" sigaw n'ya pa, and now she's revealing her true colour.
"For what?" I uttered as I fought my emotions. 'Tangina, mag-isa kong binurol ang nanay ko, mag-isa akong nagluksa dahil sa kagagawan n'ya at ng Tatay n'ya.
"Kasi tinuring n'ya din akong anak!" sigaw n'ya at astang lalapit saakin, pero ako na mismo ang lumapit sa kanya at tinignan s'ya ng masama.
"Ha! Tinuring ka nga n'yang anak pero pero naalala mo ba 'yan nung kinonsinti mo ang panloloko ni Papa kay Mama?! Naalala mo man lang ba s'ya habang nandoon ka at nagpapakasaya kayo ni Papa sa pera ng kabit n'ya?" I yelled and started to cry in front of her.
"Tangina, Ella, palibhasa anak ka rin sa kabit ni Papa kaya—" She tried to slap me, but I wouldn't allow this bitch to hurt me once again, so instead, I used her own hand to slap herself.
"Anak ka lang sa kabit anong kinakahiya mo roon, eh, totoo naman?" pagpapatuloy ko habang umiiyak.
"Tinanggap ka ni Mama, tinuring kitang kapatid pero anong ginawa mo? Sinira mo ang tiwala ko sayo!" I shouted and bit my lower lip to stop myself from sobbing. I walked inches away from her and faced her with anger.
"Umalis ka na, wala kang mapapala saakin." sabi ko at tinalikuran s'ya pero natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.
"Nagbago ka na," she whispered. I smiled bitterly and faced her once again.
"I didn't change; I just started treating people the way they treat me," I said, walking away.
When someone deserves your slap, punch them so they'll know who that beauty is that they turned into a wild beast.
