TOXIC (Dark Mafia Romance)

Chapter 1 (1 of 2)

WARNING: SCENES CONTAINING ATTEMPT TO S*LF-HARM. 

THEY said death came in threes, and the scythe of death started with my baby sister.

I stared at the smiling face of a six-year-old girl on the screen of my phone. She had two front teeth missing, and memories of her sweet giggles as she told me how she didn't cry when the dentist pulled out her baby teeth burned in my mind. She had been so happy that day, so proud, so excited.

My throat closed up, and my fingers gently traced her chubby little cheeks on the screen.

Sweet Amelia. Our brave little angel.

She had laughed so prettily during our video call that day, showing me the two hundred Peso bill she got from the tooth fairy the night before. She wanted to buy three Kiddie Meals with her money.

Did she get those Kiddie Meals?

I looked around her room, my eyes hurriedly scanning the dolls and other toys carefully displayed on the pink toy shelves near the door. Amelia had been such a precocious child. Always wanting to keep things neat, tidy, and pretty.

Umupo ako sa princess bed ni Amelia habang nakatitig sa eskaparate ng mga laruan.

Barbies. They were having barbie toys that month. She already had the princess and ballerina barbies. She had wanted the dentist, the mermaid, and the car racer, too. She had wanted to be a lot of things, our precious little darling. Had she gotten them all? Had Yaya Poleng made sure she had gotten them all?

I should have been the one who made sure she had gotten all of them. I should have been the one who made sure she had gotten everything she had needed all the time. I should have–

My phone vibrated in my hand, and I shut my eyes tight. Should haves. So many should haves.

Tinitigan ko ang aking telepono.

Danica's name lit up the screen.

Ayokong makausap ang kahit na sino ng mga oras na 'yon, pero alam kong hindi iyon maaari. I forced my thumb to press the answer icon and put the phone to my ear. "Yes?" My voice sounded as brittle as I felt.

"I'm ready to leave, but I want to attend the gala this weekend, Antonia."

Muli kong ipinikit ang mga mata. The gala this weekend. Para iyon sa mga scholars ng Sola Foundation. That was two days from now. Amelia had been so excited for that gala and had even helped me choose my dress months before. But in the end, baby Amelia never got to see the finished dress.

Tears burned my eyes, and I curled my fingers on the flowy skirt of my black dress. Stupid tears. They couldn't do anything now. "It's dangerous, Nica," pilit kong saad. "You should leave tonight. You should have left yesterday."

"I know, but I really want to attend. I want to check on Riza. I'm worried about her. No'ng isang araw no'ng kausap ko siya, parang may problema 'yong bata. I've been calling her since the other day, but she wouldn't pick up. I think something's wrong with her and her mom, Antonia."

Nahilot ko ang noo. "I'll check on her."

"I'm so sorry, Antonia, for adding to your worries. Natatakot lang talaga ako na may nangyari sa kanila. You know she has problems with her father."

"I know. I'll personally check on her–"

"No!" putol ni Danica. "That's not what I mean! Hindi ka rin p'wede umalis basta-basta. Alam mong delikado. 'Wag kang aalis ng bahay n'yo nang ganun-ganun lang. Ask someone else–"