Midnight Killer (A Short Novel) COMPLETED

FIRST SHOCK

***

My name is Nina, I was born on December 24, 1997. I died in a tragic accident that occurred on...

Wednesday, August 16, 2013...

I was never a great daughter, not a spoiled brat either. It is just that there are aspects of my life that I do not particularly enjoy. Nah, more like, "Bakit pa ako nabuhay kung ganitong klase ng buhay ang meron ako?" and every now and then, I always wonder to myself, "Do I really want to live in this world?"

"In this pathetic, lonely, and hopeless world?"

I hated my life. Every second of it... every bit of it... because of my mother.

***

"Anak?" tawag niya sakin.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. I am playing video games with my online friends on my PC. Kakauwi niya lang ata from her work. Tsk! Mabuti naman naisipan niya pang umuwi.

"I called you, but hindi ka sumasagot. We need to talk."

"Bobo ng mga to! Steal nga! Dumiretso pa don patay tuloy!" reklamo ko sa mga kalaro. Mga bobo talaga!

"Nina?" She called again. "Totoo ba? You accepted the scholarship offer from abroad? Without even informing me about it?"

I can hear her, but pretend I don't.

"You did not even ask for my consent, and malalaman ko nalang na sign mo na yung contract? Nina, I'm your mother. You should tell me first before deciding things, anak."

Natigil ang laro ko nang bigla niyang hubarin ang headphone ko. "Ano ba!" asik ko sa kaniya. I glare at her, frustrated.

Kunot noo niya akong tiningnan. Sinusuri ang kalagayan ko, sabay tingin sa monitor tapos balik ulit sa akin. Na parang hindi siya makapaniwala na galit ako sa ginawa niya dahil lang sa isang stupid online games. Fuck! We lost. Nawala na ako sa mood dahil sa nangyari.

"Ito ba lagi ang inaatupag mo Ninz? Ganyang asal na ba ang natutunan mo sa pagbabarkada mo ha?! Imbes na mag-aral ka nang maayos dito mas inuuna mo pa ang mga ito?!"

"Ano bang pake mo wala ka naman lagi dito?" sagot ko agad at nagmartsa palayo.

Sinundan niya ako. "Nina!" tawag niya sa akin.

"I'm still talking to you!" Hinila niya ang braso ko para harapin ko siya. "I did not raise you to be this disrespectful to your mother," she said, emphasizing each word to let me know.

I rolled my eyes and forcefully pulled my arm back. Mother, huh? Big word. "Ngayon, sinasabi mo yan dahil ano? Dahil nabigyan ako ng scholarship sa isang sikat na school sa ibang bansa kaya proud ka na sakin? Ngayon pinagmamalaki mo na, na anak mo 'ko dahil don, ganun ba?" I crossed my arms. "Pwede ba Ma, stop pretending that you care when you're not even always present in this house, dahil mas inuuna mo pa ang ibang bagay kesa sarili mong anak!" I exclaimed. "Bakit hindi ka nalang bumalik sa trabaho mo?"

"Nina..." Hindi makapaniwalang aniya. Her lips trembled in a grim light. "Anong pinagsasabi mo... ganyan ba ang tingin mo sa'kin anak?"

I did not mind the tears that were forming in her eyes. Hindi niya ako madadala sa paawa effect niya! I pulled my sleeves up so that she could see the burns and rashes on my skin. Nagulat siya. Tuluyan nang pumatak ang mga luha niya.

"I got this five days ago, on Parents Day at school. If you can recall," I scoffed. "But I'm sure you already forgot about it since you're too occupied with many things." I let out a sigh of frustration and clicked my tongue. "See? Ni hindi mo nga alam na allergic ako sa bangus. But since it's the first time you prepared something for me... that you cooked a dish for me... kinain ko... kasi..." Hindi ko na rin mapigilan ang umiyak.