Skeletons In Her Closet
Charlesʼs POV
Allora was an innocent shy girl. When I first met her, she was drenched in blood and sweat. Halos huboʼt hubad ito sa ilalim ng malaking tuwalyang nakapulupot sa kaniyang katawan. Her hair was messy and smelled burnt. I've never pitied someone in my entire life... As a kid back then, I would care less to know what happened. But to her, the thick wall of apathy that's isolating me from the society collapsed.
I could never forget how she looked so calm even the sirens of police car where all over her and she was drenched jn blood. I couldn't even imagine the trauma she had dealt with for her to lose all her sense of empathy. Even her eyes... They were lifeless.
Though through the help of my family, she slowly learned to move on. It happened way too fast. My father adopting her and my mother treating her like her own child. Hindi mo pagkakakitaan ng pagkakaiba sa pagtrato sa kaniya at sa akin. We were treated the same; with warmth and love. Mahirap sa una. Hindi mo halos siya makausap. Nasa isang sulok o minsan ay mahuhuli kong nasa loob ng aming aparador at hinahagkan ng mahigpit ang sarili. She would cry and talk to herself. Hinahayaan na lang namin as we thought that could help her cope past her trauma.
We were wrong. I was wrong. How could an innocent girl deceive us? Kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwala. Naninikip ang dibdib ko sa tuwing naaalala ko kung paano ko naabutang nag-aagaw-buhay si Mama sa loob mismo ng aming bahay. Allora didn't deny a single thing. All _she_ said was, “If she only didn't accept the flower.”
“Putangina, Al! Minahal ka namin ni Mama. Pinakain, binihisan, at inaruga na parang tunay na kapamilya. And instead... I was welcomed with her almost lifeless body.” I gritted my teeth in anger. But I guess I am just as crazy as she is because I'd still accept her reason, if she would just deny all of this.
Maybe I am still indenial. Putangina.
Ayoko lang na mawalan pa ng minamahal. _She_... Allora was special to me. Hindi ko man siya maintindihan ng husto, sa mga bagay na gusto niya o sa mundong siya lang ang nakakaalam, all I knew was I would still love her. Despite being the girl who she is; stubborn, independent, and reckless.
Napupuno ng luha ang mga mata ko at hindi ko magawang matitigan ng maayos ang mukha ng babaeng minahal ko.
Was she ever the woman I loved from before?
She scoffed, tilting her head a little with a mock on her face. “So, ano? Pinanunumbatan mo na yung mga bagay na binigay niyo sa akin? As if I pleaded you to give me those things.” Pumalakpak ito at para bang aliw na aliw pa sa mga naririnig. “If those were not only the means to live, hinding-hindi ko iyon tatanggapin.” She balled her fist. Inangat niya ang kaniyabg tingin at pumantay iyon sa akin.
“Have you ever wondered why I don't eat anything unless you force me to? Your mother mocks me for taking _your_ food. She said I don't deserve even a speck of it. Na ginawa niya lamang iyon dahil wala siyang magawa dahil sa tatay mo. Hindi ko hiningi yon! I would rather starve than to eat something from someone who doesn't like to give it to me wholeheartedly.”
“Do you still want me to say more? Tutal magsusumbatan rin naman tayo, why not reciprocate it?” Nanghahamon niyang asik.
“She would hurt me physically when I don't do something inside the house. She pinched me, hit me, and bled my wrists with knives. Hindi ka ba nagtataka na palagi akong nagsusuot ng mga longsleeves at palda na hindi naman bagay sa akin? Yes. It's because of your Mom. Ang dami kong pasa sa katawan. Kung hindi berde ay lila. You know what's worst? She told me to go and die. Hindi naman bago iyon sa akin. But the fact that she was treating me right from time to time, makes me feel confused. Is this the price that I had to pay in exchange for the food I eat, for the roof above my head and the life that I get to live? It was hell for me, Charles. It brings me back to where I was chained before. I never had the chance to move on. That mad house was no less than mine when I was still with my stepfather.”
BINABASA MO ANG
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