Sullies of Haunted Yesterday (Casa Fuego Series #4)

Chapter 35

Emeraude

Honestly, I can't recall when things went wrong with our family. My parents were inseparable and so in love, and so they raised me and my brother in the most loving way.

We were a complete and happy family... until we weren't.

"You don't listen to me, Fred! You always shut this conversation down!"

Kakauwi ko lang galing school nang nadatnan sila Mama at Papa na nagsisigawan sa living room. Mabilis ang lakad ni Papa paakyat habang nakasunod si Mama. Ni hindi nila napansing dumating ako. Tahimik lang akong nakatulala sa may hagdanan.

"We talked about this so many times already, Aquina! And no matter how many times we discuss this, I still won't allow it!"

My father never raised his voice on us. But maybe he's had enough. And honestly, for the past years with this kind of set-up at home, I think we've all had enough.

I had enough.

"I want an annulment! That's what I want, that's what I need!"

Ilang hakbang ang layo ni Papa kay Mama. Parang pumintig sa tainga ni Papa ang sinabi ni Mama kaya sa mabibilis na hakbang, bumaba siya para ilebel ang tingin kay Mama. I could only see my mother's back, but I could clearly see the pain... and frustration... etched on my father's face. He looked as if he couldn't believe she said that... or that he couldn't bear hearing that from her.

"You really want this, huh? Nagkaproblema lang ng ganito, annulment agad ang hinihingi mo?"

"You're acting like we're not going about this for so long! I didn't decide on this in a impulse!"

"So you thought about this for so long?" Papa gave her a wry smile before he walked upstairs.

"Will you please listen to me?!" Hinabol ulit siya ni Mama. Hanggang sa itaas, hanggang sa kuwarto nila, rinig ko ang sigawan nila mula rito.

Truth is, noong una, hindi nila pinapakita sa amin na nag-aaway sila. Nag-uusap sila nang maayos, mahinahon, sa pribadong lugar. Pero ngayon, umabot na sa ganitong punto.

Napabuntong hininga ako at napairap. Ang tagal kong nakatayo sa may living room na hindi ko napansin ang kapatid ko, nakaupo sa carpet sa sahig, gumagawa ng schoolworks sa center table. Nakita niya rin lahat ng nakita ko. Narinig niya rin lahat ng narinig ko.

Nagkatinginan kami. Agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin at bumaling sa sinusulat niya. Unti-unti ko siyang nilapitan.

"I didn't notice you were here," I said calmly as I sat down on the sofa.

"They've been going on and on for hours now. I need to finish my homework, and I can't focus upstairs."

I smiled small, looking at my ever so studious brother. Masipag din akong mag-aral pero ibang klase si Russel. He's the top of his class, consistent from kindergarten. He's juggling different school organizations and is still able to go out every weekend for his hobbies and sports.

We're close knit for as long as I can remember. But then, of course, we've grown. I have my friends, he's starting to form his own circle of friends. We've got different hobbies now, different preferences in sports. And honestly, I haven't been home often. I'd rather go out with my friends than spend the night at home, analyzing each footsteps... each scratch... each voice... scared that my parents are arguing again.

"Will you talk to them? Please? You're good at fixing things."

Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita.

As the eldest son and the heir to my family's empire, I was raised to look after my brother, and trained to one day look after our family and our conglomerate. Siguro nasabi iyon ni Russel dahil sa tuwing nagkakaproblema ang mga magulang namin, kinakausap ko. Nagkakaayos naman sila pero hindi iyon nagtatagal. At sa tuwing may aberya sa mga kompanya o problema sa pamilya, palaging hinihingi ni Lolo ang opinyon ko. I always have a say in everything, so maybe he thinks I have the power to fix this if I intervene.