Wicked Wages

2

"What the hell is this, Aviel!"

I can feel my mom slapped my face for me to wake up. Napabalikwas ako ng bangon when I saw my parents inside my room, and they're both giving me an angry look.

"Hindi kita pinalaking ganito."

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko na sumasakit na. I looked around and stopped when I saw a woman who is now crying.

Nakabalot sa kaniya ang kalahati ng kumot na nakatakip din sa katawan ko. My mom is now comforting her.

She is the woman last night.

"Dad."

Gusto kong magpaliwanag but my tongue doesn't want to. Hindi ako makapagsalita sa harapan ng parents ko.

It's been a long time noong huling beses ko 'tong ginawa, maybe half of decade? I don't know.

"You took a pure woman, Aviel. Ayusin mo 'to if you still want your license, at hindi ka mabulok sa kulungan."

I knew it. My dad thought that I forced this woman to sleep with me but I'm not. I am jerk of doing this to her, I took advantage of her drunk state.

My dad left my room. I never though that this would happen. Bakit ko ba nakalimutan na birthday ko kahapon, at ngayon nila ako bibisitahin para mag celebrate?

Napahilamos ako ng mukha gamit ang palad nang makita si mom na nakayakap pa rin sa babae. Kaya naman tumayo na ako at dire diretsong pumunta sa banyo.

I was about to lock the door when I saw her long hair. Mukhang kinulayan lang 'yon ng black, dahil puti ang kulay ng mga bagong tubo. Wow.

Pilit kong inaalala ang mukha niya, but I can't remember anything. Hinintay ko pang tumayo siya to see her face, but she's not moving.

I took my bath and wear clothes. Paglabas ko, wala na akong kasama sa loob ng bahay. Even the woman I shared my bed last night.

Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at nagdala ako ng babae rito sa bahay. I didn't know how can I manage to go home after that night.

I sighed heavily when I saw the couch. May bahid ng dugo roon, and I know that the blood came for her purity that I took.

Tanga.

"Pumunta ka sa bahay."

I shut my eyes close when I saw my dad's message. Napailing na lang ako habang naglilinis ng bahay.

Alam ko ginawa ko talaga 'yon, siyempre hindi ko na itatanggi. My body told me about what happened, and the scratch of her nails at my back is the witness.

I went to my parents house. It's just two kilometers away from our village, so it was easy for me to come.

Alam kong papagalitan nila ako.

I was raised by my parents. Totoo naman na hindi ako lumaking lasinggero, at hindi rin ako humahawak ng babae na hindi ko naman karelasyon.

To be honest, I don't like seeing women cry. Kahit sino pa 'yan. Lalo na nang makita ko how fragile the woman my mom is comforting. There's something inside me that I can't explain.

Am I guilty?

Pumasok ako sa loob ng bahay, pagkatapos ay sinalubong ako ng mga kasambahay.

"Sir, nasa salas po sila."

Tinanguan ko na lang ang isa sa mga kasambahay, pagkatapo ay mabilis na naglakad papuntang salas.

I stopped walking when I heard my mom talking. She is talking with someone.