The Rain in Summer (Summer Series #1)

41

"Dad, did you love my Mom?"

Our teacher told us that family is love. They are the people who will love us endlessly in this world. Even if everyone turns their back on us, they will stay. If that's true, then why is my mother not here with us? Why is she not here to take care of me?

Inalis ni Dad ang tingin sa laptop niya at inilipat ang tingin sa'kin na nakaupo rito sa upuan sa harap ng lamesa. "I loved you mother, Markien. But our love is not right so we had to separate."

"Why?" I asked, out of curiosity. As if a five-year-old me could understand.

"I have a wife. You know that. Your step-mom is my legal wife." Buntong-hininga na inalis ni Dad ang salamin niya sa mata at kinusot ang kanyang mata. "She wanted you to have a good life so she agreed that I will be the one raising you. That is why son, you have to grow up smart and obedient. You will be handling our company. Your mother gave you to me for this."

I nodded. I grew up being reminded that I have to grow up smart, good, obedient, and the best. I can't disappoint them. I want to reach their expectations. I want to reach their standards of being the best.

"Dad! I got stars!" I showed my father the stamp of stars my teacher gave me.

Tipid na ngumiti sa'kin si Dad. "Keep that up, Markien. You need to always keep it up and achieve more than what you have yesterday."

Even if I was a kid, I am not blind to not notice the silent expectations from our family. I am not blind to not notice how Ate looks at me like she is disgusted. I am not blind how my step-mom looks at me like she hates me so much. I didn't mind at all. Ang alam ko kasi sa isip ko, kapag lumaki ako na tulad ng sinabi ni Dad, they will finally love and accept me.

It became worse. I just grew up being someone who is afraid of being abandoned.

"Hindi ko ba alam kung bakit kailangan kasi nating tanggapin 'yan! Hindi mo nalang kasi ipaalaga sa kabit mo!"

She calls my mother 'kabit' every time.

"Hindi mo ba talaga pwedeng pabayaan nalang 'yang anak mo?! Kung kailangan mo ng tagapagmana, nandyan ang bunso mong anak! At kaya rin naman ng panganay mo! Why does it have to be him?!"

"Because I promised his mother that I will give him a good life, Jen. Also, I know that this child has the potential. He is not stupid."

Kahit walang sabihin sa'kin sila Ate, alam kong pare-parehas lang ang tingin nila sa aking lahat. If I will end up being useless or a disappointment to their family, if I will end up being a burden, all of them will abandon me. All of them will throw me away just like what my mother did. I was scared of people leaving me.

"Ito rin! Gawin mo assignment ko!"

I looked up and saw that my brother is being circled by three kids. "Sige na! Sagutan mo rin pala 'to. Nakalimutan ko! Atsaka gawa mo rin kaming project namin."

Kahit na marami rin siyang gagawin, he still managed to smile and nod. "Sure! Akin na mga notebooks niyo!"

Most of our classmates likes him. Mas palagi siyang nilalapitan kaysa sa'kin. Kahit alam nila na magkapatid kami, alam ng ibang magulang ng kaklase ko ay anak ako ng kabit ni Dad. Sikat si Dad dahil sa successful nitong kompanya. Maraming may alam sa lahat ng restaurants at hotels na hinahawakan niya kaya nung nagkaroon siya ng kabit, mabilis din kumalat ang balita.

"You have a new classmate."

He looks familiar, but I don't know why. I can't remember why he is familiar to me. I am sure that I don't know him personally. Is it on TV? Is he an actor?