GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

38 CONFESSION

YVES

Nakarinig ako ng sunod-sunod na katok, followed by the creak of the door opening. It was Mom. She stood there for a moment.

I didn’t look at her. I couldn’t. My focus was on grabbing the few things that mattered, stuffing them into my suitcase with shaking hands.

"I'm leaving this hell, Mom." malamig kong sabi.

My hands didn’t stop moving, folding clothes, shoving them in.

"Where are you going, anak?" Malumanay na tanong niya, pero halata sa boses niya ang pag-aalala. Hindi ko siya sinagot agad, ramdam kong papalapit siya habang tinutuloy ko ang pag-iimpake.

"Somewhere far from here. Somewhere I don’t have to keep pretending anymore." I felt the tears sting my eyes, but I blinked them away, refusing to let them fall. Not yet.

Naramdaman ko ang paglapit ni Mom sa likod ko, at marahan niya akong hinawakan sa balikat. "Baka naman mapag-usapan niyo pa ito ng daddy mo. He's worried anak nong umalis ka kahapon, hindi siya mapakali."

Tumigil ako sa pag-impake, my hand frozen mid-air as I stared at the floor.

Worried? That’s a joke.

Nagawa niya nga akong sampalin kanina.

"My decision is final, Mom. Pagod na ako. Ayoko na." I said quietly, my voice breaking just a little, but I forced it to stay steady.

Lumingon ako sa kanya, meeting her eyes. "I’m tired. Tired of being his puppet. Of being the perfect daughter."

Ramdam ko ang bigat ng bawat salitang binitiwan ko. Para bang isang dekadang galit at hinanakit ang naipon at ngayon lang nailabas.

"Anak..." She reached for me, wrapping me in her arms, and I could feel her body shaking as she cried. "At least tell me where you’re going. Are you staying with Aiah? At least let me know you’ll be safe."

Umiling ako, biting my lip to keep from crying.

Kumalas siya sa yakap habang natahimik na sinusubukang intindihin ang sitwasyon.

"Is it... is it with that waitress na pinag-aawayan niyo ng daddy mo?" halos pabulong siyang nagtanong, like she was scared of the answer.

Tumango ako. I didn’t know if I’d even be able to face Uyab after everything. After she gave her word to Dad. But I’d try. I had to.

Mom cupping my face with trembling hands. "You know you can always come back here, anak. No matter what. This will always be your home. You’ll always be welcome here."

Huminga ako ng malalim. "I’m sorry, Mom." I whispered, my voice cracking.

"But I need to choose my own happiness this time. I can’t live like this anymore. I’m tired of trying to be the perfect daughter for Dad. I just... I just want to be free."

Tears filled her eyes, but she nodded, brushing my hair back gently. "I understand, anak." She kissed my forehead, lingering there for a moment.

Then she let go at tinulungan niya akong tapusin ang pag-iimpake.

When we were done, siya pa ang nagbuhat ng maleta pababa. As we walked down the stairs, I saw him—Dad—sitting on the couch, his eyes glued to the newspaper in his hands. He didn’t even look up when we entered the room.

"If she wants to leave Yve, then let her." his voice was cold, emotionless, as if I was just a stranger, someone he could cast aside without a second thought.

I glanced at Mom, seeing the pain in her eyes. She was crying again, her shoulders shaking. Kinuha ko ang maleta mula sa kanya habang nilalabanan ko ang pagpatak ng luha sa mata ko.