Trading Hearts: STRAND SERIES #2

CHAPTER 2

[II]

Maaga akong nakauwi dahil nag-cutting classes ako ngayon, pero bago iyon, dumaan muna ako sa hospital. May ilang subject pa akong naiwan, pero hindi ko na inintindi.

Payapa akong umupo at malalim ang pinakawalan kong buntong hininga dahil sa bigat ng dibdib ko. Pero laking gulat ko nang biglang sumulpot si Mom sa harapan at bigla akong sinampal, kaya kaagad akong napahawak sa pisngi sa sobrang sakit.

I stared at her, stunned.

"How dare you do this to us?!" she yelled, fury radiating off her.

Kumunot ang noo ko. I was too confused to respond.

Wala akong lakas, at para na akong nalalanta para umatake ngayon ang kayabangan ko. Matapos kasi ang usapan namin ni Fiore, mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng panghihina.

Tsk, sinungaling talaga ang doktor na iyon. Sabi niya asymptomatic ang sakit ko kaya hindi ko mararamdaman. But why do I feel like I am dying?

"Damn it, Hilla! What were you thinking?!" Dad shouted, his voice laced with contempt. "You cut classes on your first day and just sat here like a lazy fool? Do you have any idea how humiliating this is for us? You think this is a joke?! At akala mo ba hindi namin malalaman ang ginawa mo? Ikaw ang topic ng mga anak ng kasosyo namin," sabi niya habang nakaduro sa'kin at nakapamewang.

Tsk, I really hate this old man!

"You’ve embarrassed us beyond belief! We’ve sacrificed everything to send you to that school, and this is how you repay us? Huh, Hilla? You sit here like some worthless piece of trash while we work our asses off for you! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Itinaas ko ang ulo ko at sinalubong ang tingin niya.
How could they be this harsh? Anak nila ako, pero kung umasta ay para akong sampid lang. Tsk! Oo nga pala, kailan ba naging anak ang turing sa akin?

"P-paano n’yo nasasabi sa’kin ‘yan?" Matalim ang tingin ko sa kanila.

"Because it’s the truth!" Mom snapped. "You think life is just a game? That it's a playground? Na kapag gusto mong maglaro ay basta-basta ka na lang pupunta roon at aalis kapag kailan mo gusto? You're already the laughingstock of your class, Hilla! If you don’t get your act together, I swear I’ll throw you out! No more support, no more school. You’ll be living on the streets!"

"Tsk!"

Kung pwede ko lang sanang sabihing umalis na sila sa harapan ko dahil hindi ko naman sila kailangan.

I felt dizzy at the thought, pero mas lumamang ang inis ko, and for me, this was too much to handle. Anong pinagsasabi nila? My God!

"Hilla!" Dad barked, his voice cold as ice. "You better apologize and make yourself better. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you regret every single moment of your pathetic existence under this roof!"

I laughed bitterly; this was the first time they had ever spoken to me so cruelly compared to the usual things they said.

But if disregarding their command is a sin, I'd rather be a sinner than apologising for the things that's not a big deal. Ano sila swerte?

I forced a sarcastic smile. "Oh, edi sorry for being such a disappointment to you then. Clearly, my whole existence was meant to bring shame upon this family, naman ‘di ba? I should just disappear, right? Wouldn’t that make your lives easier? Especially for the both of you," nakataas ang kilay ko.

Letcheng buhay! Wala ako sa wisyo makipagtalo ngayon, pero pinupuno nila ako. Hindi ba pwedeng huwag na lang nila akong pakialaman? Huwag nila pakialaman ang buhay ko tulad ng dati? Dahil kahit anong sabihin nila, there's nothing that will change because they will always be the worst parents I’ve ever known. Impiyerno dito sa bahay, impiyerno sa eskwelahan. Saan ba ang lugar na pwede kong puntahan para naman tahimik ang buhay ko?