Her Simple Life (THE COMEBACK)

CHAPTER VI (HSL: Slowly Breaking)

CHAPTER VI (HSL: Slowly Breaking)

Arse.

May naririnig akong mga boses. Tsk. Ang ingay. Unti-unti kong idinilat ang aking mata at napadako ito sa mga taong nasa paahan ng kamang aking kinalalagyan.

"Dad, we're totally fine here. There's no need to do th--", my brother was cut-off by a voice coming from my Dad? I thought next New Year pa sila ni Mom bibisita ulit dito.

"Fine? What happened yesterday night is not fine! You know that."

Yesterday night? What are they talking about-- Arse. Yeah. I remember it now. I ran and was lost in the road with so many trees, and slept.

Hm, so si Kuya nga talaga ang nagmamay-ari ng boses ng tumawag sa'kin kagabi, though I saw two silhouettes or -- it is just my imagination? Yeah, I guess it's only my imagination since I was so sleepy that time. But, what exactly is not fine about it? I was just lost and nothing serious happened to me.

I checked myself for bruises or wounds and there's none. I massaged my temples. Headache. Psh.

"Hush boys, our princess is awake.", sabi ni Mom sa kanila Dad at Kuya.

She's also here, huh. May nangyari ba kagabi na 'di ko alam? Natigilan naman bigla ang dalawa at sabay na tumingin sa kinaroroonan ko. Hm, bakit kaya? Bago ko pa matanong sa kanila ay niyakap na nila ako. 'No warmth?'

Habang nakayakap sila sa akin ay tiningnan ko ang kabuuan ng silid na kinaroroonan namin. Not familiar. Walang bintana. Maliban sa normal na pinto ay mayroon pang dalawang pintuan na parang sa comfort room ata patungo at 'yong isa pa ay connected to another room. May nakita akong mga papel na nakadikit sa pader. Iba't-ibang kulay at hugis. May mga nakasulat dito ngunit hindi ko naman mabasa kasi malayo ang mga ito sa'kin. Tsk. I want to read those.

"Hey Sis, how are you feeling?" my brother asked, not removing his hands that are still wrapped around me.

"You alright, Daughter?" si Dad.

"Feeling better, Dear?" si Mom na bumitiw na sa yakap at hinaplos ang buhok ko.

"Fine. Got a little headache though." I said with a nod. Convincing them that I'm really fine which is true, minus the headache, that is.

Sabay na kumalas si Dad at Kuya nang tawagin sila ni Mommy para umupo na sa sofa bed kung saan nauna na s'yang umupo. Nasa gilid ko lang naman ito, bandang kanan. Pinagitnaan nila si Mom.

Then, I continued on massaging my temples. Parang mabibiyak ang ulo ko. It really hurts! Arse.

"Sis, are you really alright? Should I call a doctor or run you to the hospital? Or bring--" I cut him off. He's over-acting again.

"Nah. It's just a headache, alright? Nothing serious." I know he's just worried about me. I gave him an assuring smile and he smiled back though it looks likes he's nervous. Gaaah. They're making me paranoid. What's with them? Arse. But geezer, it really hurts like hell and it's like I'm going to faint any moment. Bago ko pa makalimutan ay tinanong ko na sila,

"What are the two of you doing here?" I asked my parents seriously. Straight to the eye. I want them to feel that I'm asking for a serious and honest answer. Nagkatinginan silang tatlo at parang naging uneasy si Kuya. Is he hiding something from me?

Tumayo si Dad at napagpag, "Daughter, hindi na'ko magpapaligoy-ligoy pa. You are ..."

•••

I can't believe it.

"I-I don't understand." I sighed at pinaglaruan na lamang ang batong nasa kamay ko.

The serenity of the place I was once had, had vanished. I look around and for a second I saw the green grass turned pale, the trees so mighty and strong wobbled and the wind blows coldly giving no sense of comfort but distress. The place is so gloomy and dim. Just like what I'm feeling right now.

I thought for a second there, when I was running I asked myself if I could survive running all the way here. And for the first time, I am so proud of myself that I managed to remember the path that leads all the way here. 'Heh. In the end, I made it as my safe haven-- after all...'

And so, it came into my mind why can't I feel any warmth when they hug me is for that reason. Heh.

I look at myself. Dirty clothes, ragged feet, bruised body and messy hair. I can't even see clearly though I can still manage on walking. Hindi man lang nila pinalampas ang eyeglasses ko. It's not that even cost-worthy. What a petty.

"Uyy Ezra, dito tayo oh. Bilisan mo!"

"Ssshhh... Maririnig tayo ni Kuya JL, Earl."

"Argh. Basta bilisan mo na dyan!"

Funny. How I saw these children playing hide and seek which I just heard from Brother when we were still young. Nakakaramdam ako ng pamilyar na kasiyahan na nagmumula sa mga batang ito. They're irritated and at the same time, excited and thrilled. Really funny, wherein I didn't even played anything during my childhood.

*poke*

*poke*

"Yeah?" I asked the kid poking my back, not giving the child a glance. Baka matakot s'ya ng makita ang itsura ko. I may be hard on most people but not with kids.

"Ate, nakakita ka ng dalawang batang lalaki dito?"

"Hrm. Bakit?"

"Nasaan po sila?"

I pointed the trees using my hands and as quick as flash, I took them back. Muntik ko ng makalimutan. Bruises. Geezer.

Tumakbo naman agad ang bata doon at napagpasyahan kong lisanin na ang lugar habang wala pang nakakakita sa'kin na mga taga-rito aside from that kid at nakatalikod din naman ako sa kanya.

Iba talaga kapag naglalaro ka na at ng dahil sa excitement ay hindi mo na maiisipan pang pakialaman ang ibang bagay maliban na lang kung kasama ito sa laro. Double-meaning. Tsk.

"Huli kayo! Hahahaha~"

"WAAAHHHH! Ezra! Takbo na tayo!"

"Saved! Haha. Ikaw na taya, Earl!"

How good could it be if I am still a child...

"Sis..." I look at my brother. Since when did he get here? "We're going." He said flatly. Can't look at my face, eh? Heh. Coward.

I just nod and followed. Before I entered the vehicle I took one final glance at the kids and the place which I will surely miss even I only knew it by chance and visited for a short span of time.

'Live freely, kids.' I said at the back of my head and we drove off.

•••

Dale's POV

Nalulungkot ako para kay Marie. Hindi man s'ya gaanong ngumingiti noon pero kapag magkasama kami ay alam kong masaya s'ya sapagkat madalas s'yang nakangiti kahit na matipid ay makikita mo sa kanyang mga mata ang kaligayahan. Hindi tulad ngayon, hindi ko man lang s'ya makitaan ng emosyon. Para bang nilagyan n'ya ng malaking pader ang pagitan namin.

I can't look at her. I feel so worthless. Seeing those bruises and wounds, I want to hug her and tell her that she'd be fine but who am I kidding? I knew it would never be fine. I can't even save my precious sister in the hands of our sinister parents. Ugh. By now, she should have hated me and I can't blame her for that.

For now, I will just let fate do what it needs to do...

•••

Chapter 6? Done!

Salamat sa mga patuloy na nagbabasa kahit hindi masyadong maganda. Hihi. Kahit papaano nagagandahan din naman kasi ako (pinaghirapan eh!~ ❤).

Salamat ulit sa lahat, lalong-lalo na sa best friend kong grabi maka-push na dapat makapag-update na'ko. Nag-load pa talaga s'ya para makapag'wi-fi ako. Haha. Thank you and I love you too, angelgernesto  .Don't worry, malapit ng matupad ang promise ko sa'yo.

Keep smiling, Simples!~ ☺