College Series #1: Sculpting Tomorrow Together

EPILOGUE

"Samuel!" I shouted my younger brother's name when I caught him somewhere. He was about to put himself in danger. "Put that knife down!"

"Kuya," from the silent kitchen, he ran towards me and gave me a hug. I could feel his panting and hear his sobs. 

"Inaway ka na naman ni Dad?" I carefully caressed his back and snatched the knife on his hand. "Don't repeat this again, Samuel."

"Pero bakit si Daddy, paulit-ulit akong pinapagalitan? W-Wala naman akong ginagawa na bad."

I brought him inside my room to let him rest. Gusto ko muna siyang itago sa kapahamakan. Specially that Dad is here in the Philippines again. Kung pwede ko lang agad siya ibalik sa America, gagawin ko.

"But Mom, he's hurting Samuel." My tears started to fall when Mom keeps defending our new dad. Kahit ayaw kong pumasok sa kwarto nila ay nagawa ko pa rin dahil kami lang naman ang tao.

"May sugat ba si Sam? Bruises?" Malambing lang ang tono ni Mama pero alam kong kay Dad pa rin ang side niya.

They said it was because of love. That's gross.

"Yeah! Sam's heart is in pain!" I shouted when I saw Dad coming inside their room so he could hear it.

"Sev, go out. I'll talk to your Mom."

Dad is actually nice. He spoils us by buying everything we want and need. 

I grew up defending Samuel. Kapag wala ako, laging pinapagalitan ni Dad si Sam kapag mainit ang ulo niya. My younger brother was just a kid, hindi 'yon lalaban. 

So his way of escaping was trying to die.

Good thing, I removed that mindset from him. Before I left Quezon, I taught him some things. Kapag inaway siya ni Dad, just stay silent and hide in my room. 

"Kuya," I looked Samuel who called me. Lumabas siya ng bahay para magpaalam uli sa akin. "Babalik ka, 'di ba? Recognition ko na next month."

I painfully smiled. "I will."

I actually lied. Alam kong hindi ko kakayanin umuwi agad next month dahil mahal ang pamasahe. I was just starting my first year college journey and I was sure that I needed to work while studying. I started with nothing.

My Dad went to America with my sister Eliana. Eliana and I aren't that close enough dahil lagi lang siyang nakakulong sa kwarto o kaya kasama si Dad. Siya lang kasi ang tunay na anak. Kami ni Samuel, sa iba.

Papa died years ago. I can still remember him kahit bata pa kami noong nawala siya. Sadyang oras niya na talaga kaya hindi na kami nagkasama-sama. 

"Oh, umuwi ka pa." Halos hindi ko na makilala ang boses ng kapatid ko pagbalik ko ng Quezon.