Break Fresh Ground

43: FLESH OF THE GHOST

"Scarlett," that sweet and classy voice got totally drowned out when France and Paris started calling my name.

My hands are trembling and I don't know if I can turn around and face them. Parang napako ako sa kinatatayuan. A high-pitched tone is what I can hear and the sound in my surrounding is muted that I can only hear them calling my name. Thoughts are running through my mind like whirlwind and it's making me panic.

They once called me again, but that sweet voice is now stronger than my friend's voice.

"Bakit hindi mo napigilan kasi?" I heard Paris asked France, hissing.

"Ang daming tao kaya, alangan na habulin ko siya..."

I shut my eyes and turn away, unable to bear looking at her face. My hands won't stop trembling, and I feel my breath catching as a warm hand reaches for mine, trying to get me to stop.

"Scarlett," she says, her voice trembling too.

Matigas akong umiling. "No, you're not real. No, no, no," I panicky said, every inch of my body started trembling.

"My Storm," she called me like how she called me when I was a kid.

"No, you're dead!" I insist, thinking this has to be some messed-up dream.

Nagpumiglas ako sa pagkakahawak niya at hindi naman ako nahirapan makalayo sa kaniya. I can only look at her branded sandals, because I'm afraid that if I look at her eyes, I'm scared I'll revert back to that vulnerable kid yearning for her mother.

"France. Paris," I call out to my friends, and they come over, each grabbing one of my arms.

"I need to talk to my daughter, please," she pleads with them.

Paris softly rubs her thumb on my arm, while France holds me tight. "Um, it's better po siguro if we let Scarlett process this," France says politely.

"I'm scared that if she goes away, I'll never see her again," she admits, sounding vulnerable.

Hearing her words, I scoff internally. She left me. She left me when I needed her the most, when the only one I want was a mother. And now, she's going to say that? I clearly have the right to not see her after what she did. Gusto kong sabihin 'yan sa kaniya, gusto kong masaktan siya sa salita ko, but hindi ko alam kung anong pumipigil sa akin para hindi gawin.

"Ma'am, she's not going anywhere. Space is, we think, she needs right now after seeing you," Paris firmly yet politely said. "And---"

"Scarlett," I hear Dad and Mama's voices, and I rush over to them.

"Dad," my voice quivers, feeling small and fragile. Mama holds my hand, offering me some comforting support.

His forehead creased, and his jaw clenched so tightly that I feared it might break at any moment. He looked at the woman near my friends with an emotionless gaze.

"Are you okay?" he asked me softly. I shook my head and hugged him, seeking comfort. He gently stroked my back, trying to soothe me.

"Lawrence, I just want to---"

"No, Aurelia. Whatever you want to do with my daughter, that's not happening," his voice firm and frightening.

As the tension between them escalated, people around us started to take notice. Mabuti na lang ay dumating si Miss Villegas kasama sila Tito Nico at Artemis. I can see her worry in my eyes with how vulnerable and small I am right now. I gave her a faint smile to let her not worry about me.

Miss Villegas let us in her office. Mama Adelaide is on my side, while Dad and his ex-wife is arguing in front of me. Miss Villegas left with everyone to continue the event. I heard her said na siya na ang bahala if they started looking for Dad.