My Mother and My Father's Cousin [ Mikhaiah ] Altered

CH1 "A FAMILY OF STRANGERS"

MAIN CHARACTERS

GWENETH LIM JAO

Born: August 8, 2030

Mother: Mikhaela Lim

Father: Daniel Tan Jao

Ninang: Mariloy Yves

"Aunt" Mariah Arceta

CHAPTER I

Gweneth POV

I woke up with the sound of my alarm clock beside me, '7:30am' I sighed and finger combed my hair, I already know this routine from the back of my hand.

I grabbed my phone, checked my messages and walked downstairs to eat breakfast as I replied to each of my friend's messages. As I walked to our long table, I knew my parents would already be there eating. The sound of the utensils were the only noise I heard, as usual they're silent in each other's company.

This is the reason I hate my family, If you can even call us that. Since I was a child all I heard from them was arguing and fighting over little things. 'How did they even have me?' 'Is this my fault?' 'Was I just the consequences of their teenage mistake?' At this point I don't care anymore.

Wala ng dahilan kung magtanong pa ko. Halata namang hindi nila mahal ang isat isa, paano naman ako? Si mommy may dahilan nito. Dad always told me na arranged marriage sila ni mommy, pero mahal daw talaga ni dad si mommy, bakit ba ganun mom ko?

she could have a different family in the states for all I know! I can't even remember the last time she smiled or laughed, like the genuine kind, she smiles at me but it feels like she doesn't mean it. I hate her for that, sometimes I wonder if she wants me in her life.

I can't even count how many times she drinks by herself in her room, yes you heard me right, my parents have two separate rooms, I used to think it was normal for married people but, now that I'm older? Fuck no. Parents sleeping in two separate rooms is far from a normal.

"Gwen, anak your mom asked yaya andy mo to cook your favorite langonisa, halika anak, eat with us ng mommy mo" banggit ni dad nung nakita nya ko.

"Wag na dad, malalate na ko, nandyan na ba si manong ben?"
"Anak, kailangan mo kumain" mom said in a concerned tone "It's your first day of school, and mamaya pang afternoon work ni mommy today so ako nalang maghahatid sayo sa school."
The dining room felt peaceful kaya umupo nalang ako, It's kind of rare to see my parents na hindi nagsisigawan for once.

"Ayoko kumain mom, dad, pwede bang si manong ben nalang maghahatid sakin? malalate na ko-"

"Knock knock!!! Tao po!!! Joke lang, were home!!!!ay bahay nyo pala toh! Oops"

patayo na sana ako nung biglang dumating si ninang Mariloy, may dala siyang  paper bags. As usual ninang Mariloy never enters our house before quietly. But I see my favorite tita tailing behind ninang!

"Tita Aiah! Wow pasalubong mo ba yan sakin?" Sabi ko habang nakangiti, 2 weeks silang nagbakasyon sa boracay. Tita Aiah gave me a big hug and laughed.

"Ako ang ninang pero puro tita aiah lang bukang bibig ng batang toh, Hay nako! Maypinagmanahan talaga..." ninang mariloy said,

"Ehemm" mom cleared her throat, ninang gave mom an apologetic smile and a peace sign, di ko gets si ninang minsan pero biglang umalis si dad.

Lagi ko na papansin na hindi close si dad kay tita, I don't know why, ang weird lang kasi, magcousins naman si tita Aiah and dad?, pero at the end of the day, I believe it's none of my business. Nakita kong hinampas ni mommy si ninang. "Aray naman mikhaela" ninang exclaimed
Tita Aiah gave me another tight hug and kissed my head.

"Kamusta baby gwenny ko! Miss mo ko noh!" Tita grabbed 3 paper bags and gave it to me. Napatayo ako sa tuwa.
"Wow! Omg tita! How did you get this?! Kala ko out of stock na lahat! We checked all the malls last time? Ang ganda! Thank you tita Aiah!" I gave her a hug and she patted my head. She got me a limited edition volleyball jersey merch from my favorite team.

Ninang chimed in, "jusko, ang tagal yang hinanap ng tita mo sa boracay! Halos lahat ng madadaanan namin pinagtatanong nyan! May nakita kasi ako sa resto nakasuot nyan, kaya tinuro ko sa tita mong makulet, aba! Na gulat si anteh! Sabay tayo sya, sabi ng girl maynagbebenta daw sa store dun eh nakalimutan nga lang kung saang store...so ako dapat pasalamatan mo baby gweneth, kung hindi ko yun nakita..."

"Thank you ninang!!!!i love you!!" Ninang screamed and pushed tita Aiah away and hugged me, " ahhhh yan ang gusto ko, mas love mo ko diba!"

Ninang helped me fold my new clothes.

"Uh, Mikhs...eto yung para sayo" I heard Tita Aiah, mom looked uncomfortable? and avoided eye contact with tita, she whispered a "thank you" I found their relationship weird sometimes kasi ang awkward nila with each other, i saw mom's old highschool pictures, she has lots of pictures with tita, . Ninang mariloy stepped in between them.

"Para sainyo yan ng asawa mo mikha!" Mom gave ninang a confused look with a hint of irritation. Mom replied, "alam ko...thank you, aiaks..." tita Aiah forced a smile.

"Okay! Anyways, alis na kami mikha, babuuuh magandang inaanak ko, tara na aiah....baka ano pa manyare pang tumagal ka pa dito" sabi ni ninang mariloy she muttered the last part, I couldn't understand it. Bumeso si ninang kay mommy. Tita gave me a kiss on the head before stepping out

"Anak, gusto mo bang ihatid kita or sabay ka nalang sa tita mo?" Sabi ni mommy. Napahinto sila ninang habang papalabas na sa dining room. "Umm, kay tita Aiah nalang ako mom" mukhang napaisip si mommy, nasaktan ko yata damdamin nya. Pero masmasaya kasi kasama si tita Aiah. My mom and I don't have much in common, It may sound weird but... i don't even know my mom that well, hell! I know more about tita Aiah's "great love" that my parent's "love story"

I still can't believe that weak man left my beautiful, kind, and did I mention...smart? Tita for a dumbass fixed marriage?? Like, he's such a coward, I bet he regrets his life choices after seeing tita now, but anyways I'm gonna be late!

Umalis na si ninang kasi nasa kabila lang yung house nya.

"Gwenny sa mommy mo nalang ikaw sumabay" sabi ni tita habana nakangiti.

"Hindi okay lang aiah-" mommy was interrupted by tita who held both my hands and said, "Youre finally grade 10 gwenny! youre 16 years old na rin! The same section as your mom pa! I swear you will need your mommy mikha for this new stage in your life...because I know I did..."

I didn't really understand the last part of what tita said but They looked at each other as if they had an inside joke that was not funny to both of them.

I agreed with tita nalang kasi I'm so done with this conversation na. " I'll shower na, I'll be down in 15" I hugged tita and said goodbye. As I was walking upstairs to have a quick shower I still heard them a little bit.

"...sige...mauna na ko mikhs..." tita spoke softly
"...thank you...aiks...for, you know...ang dami kong naging kasalanan sayo pero ikaw pa yung-" mom spoke but tita cut her off

"Forget about it mikha...you made the right choice...I'm...so happy for you"