Under the Shades of Sky

Chapter 14

TW: Blood, Suicide

Patuloy na inaalis ni Kuya Arlo ang yakap ko. Nanghihina na ang katawan ko... patuloy ang pagagos ng dugo mula sa noo ko...hanggang sa hindi ko namalayan na nahiwalay na pala ako kay Mommy.

Nagpupumiglas si Mommy habang inilalabas sya ni Kuya Arlo. "Arianna, anak ko. Sumama ka kay Mommy sige na. Wag kang sumama kay Aidan." sabi ni Mommy kay Aria. My sister froze with eyes full of fear and shame.

Niyakap ako ni Mama Claire para pigilan ako. I was crying so hard that I can't breath properly. "Bitawan mo ko! I need my Mom! Hindi kita kailangan!"sigaw ko at patuloy na nagpupumiglas.

"Anak tama na..." sabi ni Mama.

Anak? Talaga ba? May lakas pa siya mg loob na tawagin akong anak pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa niya? 

I looked at her with bloodshot eyes full of disgust. "Kailan mo pa ako naging anak?"

I love my Mama Claire but now, I hate her embrace. I always thanked her for being a mother figure to me at school, but now with the truth in my hands...I hated seeing her. I hated the fact that I came from her. 

Mom glared at Kuya Arlo, "Bitawan mo'ko!" sigaw nya.

Paulit-ulit na umuling si Aria habang umaagos ang luha niya at tumakbo kay Daddy. Daddy hugged Aria tightly, giving her reassurance. "Hush, Ari. It's done already. I'm sorry, please forgive Daddy."

"D-daddy, s-sayo lang ako p-please. A-ayaw ko kay M-mommy. A-ayaw ko s-sa b-biological father ko." humihikbing sabi ni Aria.

"You are mine, Arianna. Hindi ko hahayaang kunin ka nila samin. " he kissed Aria's forehead.

Magulo. Ang daming sigawan sa kahit saang parte. Bakit umabot sa ganito ang pamilya namin? Masaya naman kami dati. Sana totoong anak na lang ako ni Mommy Celestia at si Aria ay anak ni Dad. Everything confused the hell out of me. May tinatago pa ba sila sa akin? Sa amin ni Arianna?

"Anak, sa labas na tayo. Nandito na ang ambulance at mga pulis. We are going to stay at the rest house ng Mama and Papa okay?" sabi ni Tita Alvina kay Aria at inalalayan ito. Alexa looked at me, she looked like she didn't expect seeing me soaking in my own blood.

Agad tumakbo sakin si Alexa, may hawak siyang panyo na agad inilagay sa noo ko. Nanlabo na ang paningin ko kasabay ng pagbilis ng aking paghinga. Nalambot ang tuhod ko dahilan para mapaupo ako pati si Mama. Huli kong nakita ang mga nagaalalang mukha nila bago tuluyang dumilim ang lahat.

I woke up in a hospital...may swero at may benda ang ulo. Daddy and Ma'am Claire was the first ones I saw the moment I opened my eyes and they were arguing.

"No, Aidan. Celestia was kind and you will put her in jail? Why?" Ma'am Clara asked, anger lurking on her voice.

Daddy's forehead knotted. "Bakit ba ayaw mong ipakulong si Celestia? Sinaktan yung bata." he asked irritatingly. "Palibhasa hindi ikaw ang nagpalaki kay Celestine—"

Ma'am slapped him. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya at puno ng galit ang mata niya. "You...   w-wala kang alam sa pinagdaanan ko, Aidan! The moment you forced me to sign the unknown paper, that was the time I regret falling for you! If only I have the chance, I will keep Celestine on my own. Yes, Celestine grew up with you pero nakita mo ba kung gaano mo siya pinepressure sa pag-aaral?!" Ma'am Clara burst out of anger, now chasing her breath.

I saw how Ma'am Clara's tears fell into her eyes and how Dad froze. "Halos hindi kumakain yung bata...aral dito, aral doon! Sali sa organizations mapa-academic man yan o mapa-extracuricular just to prove her worth to you! Celestine can't even have proper sleep! She was tortured physically, emotionally, and mentally!"