The Girl Who's Losing Control
Natigilan si Charity habang nakatayo sa kusina. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, trying to suppress her rising frustration—trying to calm her mind.
"Freelancing is fine for now," Charlotte said with the same disapproval that Charity had grown used to.
The kitchen was too small for her, too crowded with tension for them, just like it always had been. Ramdam niya ang pataas na pataas na pader na nabubuo sa loob niya dahil sa masasakit na salitang nanggagaling sa kaniyang panganay na kapatid, si Charlotte.
"But what about in five years? Ten? Kailangan mo ng something stable, Charity. You're not getting any younger. Don't you want some security? Freelancing doesn't offer stability. You need something secure, something that can last."
Something that can last.
Tumagos ang mga salitang iyon sa kaniya. Nothing in her life had ever lasted—not stability, not love, not even them.
Security. The word tasted bitter in Charity's mouth. Pinigilan niya ang kagustuhang sumagot pa dahil alam naman niyang wala rin namang magbabago kahit ano pa ang sabihin niya.
Her older sister, Charlotte, never understood—or never tried to understand. In her world, security meant working a dull, nine-to-five job, pushing papers, and collecting benefits. It meant living in a box.
Hindi pa ito tapos sa pagsesermon. "Tigilan mo na ang pag-iisip na everything works out just because you're creative," dagdag nito habang padabog na nililigpitan ang mga pinggan, nakatalikod sa kaniya.
"Stable naman ang kinikita ko," aniya, ngunit tila para lamang niyang kinukumbinsi ang sarili. It didn't sound convincing, even to her.
"At some point, you need to face reality. Hindi ka na bata, Charity." May diin ang bawat salitang binitawan nito.
"And what's your reality, huh?" Hindi niya napigilang sumagot dahil sa frustration.
Hindi niya alam kung saan nanggagaling ang kapatid. Pare-pareho lang naman silang gumagastos sa bahay na iyon, ngunit para bang mas nakabababa siya sa kaniyang mga kapatid dahil lang sa pagiging freelancer niya.
"Working for some soul-crushing company that doesn't even care about you? Just so you can say you have a pension when you're sixty-five?" she added.
Huminto si Charlotte sa pagliligpit. Pinunasan nito ang kaniyang mga kamay at hinarap siya, nangingilid sa galit ang mga mata nito.
"Hindi ito tungkol lamang sa pension, Charity. It's about being responsible. You're twenty-five. Don't you think it's time for you to stop pretending life is a game?"
Tumakas ang pilit na tawa sa mga labi niya. Hindi na niya mapigilang maging sarkastiko dito.
"Pretending? What do you think I'm doing, ate? Playing house? I'm working just as hard as you, only I'm not stuck in a job that drains every bit of joy out of me."
"Hindi mo pa rin ba naiintindihan?" Charlotte's voice was quieter now, but no less sharp. "Hindi ako ang mahihirapan kapag wala nang kliyenteng gustong kumuha sa'yo. You can't rely on this gig economy forever! You're making it harder on yourself!"
Harder. Charity wanted to scream. She had been making things easier for everyone else her entire life, and no one ever seemed to notice. Not her sisters, not her father, and certainly not Charlotte. They had no idea what it was like to constantly be told that everything would fall apart unless you were the one to fix it.
"I'm not asking for your approval," Charity finally said in a cold tone. "I'm fine with what I'm doing. Stop telling me—"
Charlene, her little sister, cleared her throat.
BINABASA MO ANG
Why We Fear The Storm
Romance"The strongest storms aren't those in the sky, but the ones we carry inside." *** Rhea Charity Villanueva has mastered the art of running-running from her broken family, her deepest wounds, and the painful reminder that love has always let her down...
