Be the First

44 : A Man's Word

AIRÉN's POV
9 Months Ago

"TWO SCHOOLS! Two expulsions in the same school year, Mei! That punk is sure testing me! I'm at my wit's end, I don't know what to do with that kid!"

Every time I would hear my father yell, I'd be quick to snatch the headphones from my bag and play the loudest song on my playlist. That's what I always do whenever Dad needs to let off his steam.

But this time, I didn't bother putting my headphones on. I want to listen.

"Cam," I could hear my mother's soothing voice, calming my father down. She always does this. Palagi siyang nakasalo kapag may tension sa bahay. She'd always try to save the day. "There's no use for yelling. Kumalma ka, please."

"We tried the calm before, obviously it didn't work out! He didn't just skip his classes, this time he hurt someone real bad. How can I calm down? Not this time, Mei! Not this time!"

The reason why he's yelling? Simple. It's because Mom and I had to visit the Headmaster's office again. I got into trouble yet again. For the fourth time this month.

I punched another senior student in school. Bakit ko sinuntok? It's because I wanted him to punch me back so it could turn into another chaos. Because I don't want to go to that school again. I broke the dude's nose so bad he was hospitalized, and the headmaster was left with no choice but to have me expelled.

"I don't know where he got this attitude, in all honesty. We never taught him violence. We... we raised him well, didn't we? I thought we did it well raising him." Dad said in a resigned voice. Or maybe Mom was able to ease him. She's the only one who calms him down, no doubt.

Even I didn't know my potential at fucking things up until I put my mind into it.

"If he does this on purpose just to ditch school, then so be it!" He thundered once again. "He might as well work at the vineyard! Where in the bloody hell is he?"

"Cam!" Mom shouted.

I heard loud footsteps approaching upstairs. Mabilis akong tumayo para buksan ang pinto ng kwarto ko. But Dad beat me to it as he slammed it open effortlessly. Mom's behind him.

Dad grabbed me by my shirt's collar. He eyed at me like I'm the biggest disappointment the world has ever seen. I challenged his gaze, and braved myself up to glare at my father.

I struggled to escape from his hold as he was buffer and heavier. So instead, I started to push him away. Pakiramdam ko nasalin na rin sa akin ang galit niya.

"Get away from me!" I yelled.

"You..." A deep growl escaped his lips as he tightened the hold on my collar. "You think you're so tough now, huh? Beating people up just because you feel like it?"

"Cameron, please, stop this!" I glanced over at my Mom, looking so devastated that the men in her life are at each other's throats. "For heaven's sake, stop this!" Nanikip ang dibdib ko sa hitsura ni Mom. She looked so fragile, so weak. But instead of getting rest, she gets this shit instead.