Say My Name

Chapter 1

I was my dad's daughter to his second wife, my mom. Maybe that's why they don't like me and mom that much. My half-sisters are never cruel to me but I know they don't love me as one. Kahit na hindi sila malupit sa akin ay alam kong pinakikisamahan lang nila ako dahil kay papa.

At first, all of my dad's relatives couldn't accept me and my mom. They treat us like we're outsiders. But dad didn't give us up. He fought for us, and he made sure that mom will never be disregarded and so that I may not have to hide in the public.

Kinalaban niya ang sarili niyang pamilya para sa amin. Siguro ayun ang naging dahilan kung bakit ang ilan sa mga pinsan ko ay hindi pa 'rin ako tanggap. Dahil ang tingin nila sa akin mag mula pa noon ay dayuhan.

My step-sisters are living abroad. Ate Ylo was pursuing college in Cambridge, and Ate Lia decided to come with her. Before they left we rarely bonded as sisters. They were always out on their own, sometimes they would stay with our other relatives.

They don't hate us but they still find it hard to eat on the same table with us.

Nalulungkot ako sa tuwing nakikita ko ang pagsisikap ni mama na makuha ang loob nila at hindi nila ito binibigyan ng pansin. They don't ignore her, they just don't want to be with her. Sa huli ngi-ngiti lang sa akin si mama na parang ayos lang ang lahat kahit na nasasaktan na siya.

That's how she's always been. Always the giver. Sometimes I even think that the world doesn't deserve her. She's like an angel. But because of her kindness, people often mistreat her and take advantage of the things that she could give. And because she's dad's second wife, they perceive her as someone she's not. The worst one yet, a mistress.

"Mi amor. May gusto ka ba na ipabili sa amin bago kami umuwi?" tumingin si dad sa gawi ko bago ibinaba ang hawak niyang dyaryo.

"Wala naman po papa. Uwi na lang po kayo agad." malaki ang ngiti ko bago ako lumapit sa kaniya para yumakap.

Si mama ay nasa gilid lang namin, naka-ngiti at pinapanood kami ni papa. Marahan akong binigyan ng mababaw na mga halik sa pisngi ni papa bago nito hinila papalapit si mama.

Napa hiwalay ako sa kanila nang biglang kilitiin ni papa si mama. Napuno na ng ingay ang buong sala at ang iilang kasambahay na dumadaan sa likuran namin ay nakikita kong napapa-iling na lang dahil sa sobrang gulo naming tatlo.

I was smiling the whole time I was watching them.

In moments like this is where I feel secure about my dad's love for us. Whatever he does, and no matter how busy he is, he will always make sure that he will come home and spend time with me. Making sure that I won't ever have to be upset over him, being away for too long.

Kaya naman sa tuwing makaka-rinig ako ng mga sabi-sabi tungkol sa amin ay hindi ko 'yon binibigyan ng pansin dahil ako naman ang nakaka-alam at nakaka-kita ng pagmamahal na nakukuha ko sa mga magulang ko.

I knew they loved me so why would I need to listen to them?

"Mavi, make sure you come straight home after school," paalala ni mama bago ako sumakay sa sasakyan.

"Opo," I answered as I waved goodbye to her.

I'm in my third year in highschool now. It's only a matter of time before I finally finish highschool and start college.

I don't have many friends but I do have a few that I can say that are my friends from the get go. The ones I've been with all my life. Kaya kahit bago sa aking pakiramdam ang pinaroroonan ko ngayon ay kampante ako na hindi ako kailanman mag iisa.