Whisper of Shadows (Higuera Series #3)

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

Truth

I always thought that maybe Kuya had the talent I lacked.

Perhaps I needed to improve and do my best to make Daddy proud.

Na baka may kulang sa akin na kailangan kong punan.

Na kailangan kong itama ang lahat ng mali sa akin.

But with every step I took toward improvement, I couldn't see any progress in our relationship. Daddy remained cold and indifferent toward me.

It was then that I realized something was truly wrong with me. Bakit kahit graduated ako ng with highest honor, he never even cared. May mali ba? Dapat ba mas mataas pa ang makuha kung mga marka?

Cumlaude, wala parin siyang pakielam. Siguro dapat naging Magna o naging suma cumlaude ako't baka mapansin ako ni Daddy?

I did everything he asked of me. I even worked for one of our company's rivals, spying on them and stealing documents and crucial information.

I had deceived one of the greatest prodigies of the Higuera family...Tobias Higuera!

All of this, just to finally earn daddy's praise!

Pero ito. Tumutulo ang luha ko dahil sa matinding sakit ng aking pisngi. 

"Binigyan ka ng dokumento ni Ash pero hindi mo tinignan ang laman!?" Dad yelled. "Napaka puntangina mo!"

Kuya shook his head, clearly disappointed in me as well.

I sobbed as his index finger pressed against my forehead repeatedly.

"Stupid! Stupid, stupida!"

I flinched when he grabbed my hair, forcing me to look up at him.

"I need you to find out about the manufacturing company they've recently collaborated with. Get the important documents. I want them on my desk by tomorrow morning! Kung wala! Makikita mo ang ina mo sa labas ng kalsada! Bangkay na!" He yelled.

Napalunok ako. Tumango tango ako habang umiiyak.

Lumaki akong ginagawa ang lahat para lang sa tatay ko. Para ma puri, para tratuhin rin niya ako ng mabuti katulad sa pag trato niya kay Kuya.

The night when everything I had kept inside for so long came crashing down on me. All the pain, all the sadness, all the tears, all the emotions I had buried deep within me erupted. I laid on the bathtub with red staining the water, waiting for the light to take my life, my soul...

Pinikit ko ang aking mata. Pagod na ako! Pagod na akong patunayan ang sarili ko sa lahat. Pagod na akong mahalin si daddy! Pagod na akong unawain si Kuya...pagod na akong lokohin ang lahat pati na rin ang aking sarili na ta-tratuhin niya na akong bilang anak niya. Na bilang isang pamilya.

Please, if someone can hear my plea, don't let me be reborn again, and experience another pain for a lifetime.

"Rhaella! Rhaella! Anak!"

No! Please just take me! Please! No! Take me! Take me already!

"Please don't leave mommy! Please don't leave me!"

I woke up laying on the tiles floor of my bathroom soaked with red water while mommy hugged me tight as she was crying. "Please! Someone, help me! My daughter! My daughter needs help!" She wailed helplessly as she hugged my almost lifeless body.

I open my eyes and saw her crying endlessly as she held me tight. She cupped my cheeks when she saw me awake.

"Rhaella!" Galit niyang tawag sa akin habang umaagos ang luha sa kanyang mga mata.