When Time Stands Still (Acosta Series #2)

Chapter 2

"Ma, kailangan na nga pong mag-bayad ng tuition fee ni Devon sa school," I said slowly, being as patient as I could and trying not to raise my voice even a little because I was telling her the same thing all over again.

"So?" she replied.

Napailing ako at ilang beses humugot ng buntong-hininga dahil sa sinagot niya. Really? That's all she could say?

Kailangan ko na talagang kumalma. Kailangan ko na rin bang magpa-therapy? Pakiramdam ko ay mababaliw ako rito sa nanay namin. God, puputok na nga ang ugat ko sa ulo sa kaniya.

Gusto ko nang sumabog. But for my brother's sake, I really, really need to calm my nerves. Anong mapapala ko kung sasabayan ko ang pagka-topak ng nanay ko?

"His teacher called me a while ago and told me that he can't take the exam if we don't pay them within this month," I added, clenching my fist as I was only hearing my mother curse and complain about my brother's education.

Para na akong sirang plaka rito kakaulit. I don't even understand why she can't understand the situation Devon is in-I'm not even sure if she's trying to put some effort into acknowledging this problem or if she just really doesn't care at all. On my brother. On us.

"Just stop, Eustacia Callia! I'm busy with my work, okay?! Ikaw na lang ang magbayad at 'wag mo kaming guluhin ng kapatid mo!" she shouted with a hint of anger in her voice.

May kung anong pumitik sa loob ko. Nagagalit na ako! God, I don't really like her way of parenting! Nakakagigil! I swear, I already wanted to shut her up, but I have to do this. Nagbabakasakali lang naman akong mabigyan niyang panustos ang kapatid ko. She said last time that she will pay for his tuition!

All I could hear was a swear from her. And I fucking wanted to cut off the line, but I knew it won't do any good. Instead, I just muttered a curse in French under my breath, not letting her hear it because I was sure that she would kill me.

Mahaba ang pasensya ko, pero pagdating sa kaniya, hindi ko na alam kung paanong kontrol ang dapat kong gawin para lang hindi ako tuluyang mainis sa kaniya. I'm frustrated. Ni hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi siya makausap nang maayos tungkol sa bagay na 'to, when in fact, it's her fault.

"Ma, nakakalimutan mo na po ba? You are the one who pushed to enroll him in a private school. Ako na nga ang nag-bayad ng tuition niya five months ago, and I'm sorry to say this, but just lend some money for my brother's tuition because he needs to take the exam," I told her, emphasizing every word to make sure that she could take this matter seriously.

I was almost begging, and on the verge of crying because I was already super frustrated and desperately wanted Devon to have everything.

Pero syempre dahil hindi niya magawang pagtuonan ng pansin si Devon, kahit ang paghingi ng tulong kay Ate Genesis at Kuya Isaiah ay hindi niya magagawa. She doesn't want them to be problematic about this matter. Even her salary when she was winning cases was a huge amount.

But why couldn't she provide for my brother's needs? Why do I feel like she's always acting like we are a burden to her? She's unfair. When it comes to my older siblings, it wouldn't take long for her to help them in every way. But then, when it's about Devon and me, she will always push us away.

May paki pa nga siya ro'n sa mahal niyang aso na si Mako. E, ano bang ginagawa no'n? Isa pa 'yon! All she did was poop and pee everywhere! Kahit mga libro ni Devong nasa kwarto, inihian, tapos si Mama pa ang ganang may galit sa 'min?

I seriously can't take this anymore.

"Ma, please, just help Devon..." I whispered.

Mama chuckled and cursed me three times.