Runaway's Liberation

Chapter 12

I just need a way out... Maybe I just need to get out.

"Putangina!"

It was never the same eversince Ma began bringing Nadia along with her in hotels and inns. They would stay there for days and weeks, leaving me alone in the house when I was sixteen because Pa had become a corporate monster in suits and striped ties.

His voice would roar in the living room, looking at me in disbelief after I just told him that I'd been alone in the house for four days now, simply because I wanted and I chose to stay there.

It was me who pushed Ma into that decision. Hindi ko na kayang panoorin na palagi na lang siyang sinasaktan ni Pa na parang iyon ang bumubuo ng araw niya. And hearing Nadia's cries—it was torturing me. It was pure hell. The agony that it left on me was excruciating.

I couldn't leave the house that time. Naaawa ako. Kasi ang lungkot. Iniwan na ito ng lahat—ng saya na andito noon, ng kapayapaan—pati na rin ang mga tao na dapat ay bumubuo nito ngayon pero walang nagawa dahil masyadong malaki ang bahagi na sakop ng haligi ng tahanan.

"Pa, babalik naman po sila. Ma just have this... this—uh—workshop... yeah. And it will take her days... T-That's why I told her to bring Nadia since I have school and I can't—"

"Pack your things. Pupunta tayo sa abuelo mo."

Agad na akong kinabahan sa narinig.

"No... Pa, I can't. I'll just stay here—"

"No buts! Mag-impake ka na right now kung ayaw mong kaladkarin ko pauwi rito ang mama mo!"

I was crying while packing my things that night. I just didn't like the people there in abuelo's place. I didn't like my cousins. I didn't like Pa's siblings. I hate all of them! I hate being with them!

I stared emptily at my backpack with my stuff in it looking crumpled, almost getting out because I couldn't close the zipper. And then I threw it on the floor. Nangalat lahat ng laman no'n sa carpeted floor.

I just found myself seating in the backseat of Pa's car that night going to abuelo's place. Kumukulo ang dugo ko na nagawa no'ng mabura lahat ng nararamdaman ko kanina. Hanggang sa makarating kami, tulala lang ako at ni hindi magawang tingnan ang mga mukha nilang lahat.

"What brings you here? Your mama left you again, huh?"

It was Ulysses, following me around the house as I made my way to my own room there. We have our rooms. It's not a big deal.

"Leave me alone." I avoided her, dismissing her questions.

"So totoo nga? Hah. I knew it. She's cheating—"

"Shut up!"

"Aino!"

Agad kong isinara ang pinto ng kwarto nang marinig ang boses ni Pa. It was followed by loud knocks, and I simply locked it, putting the cabinet against it afterwards so no one could enter.

I was hungry. The only thing I last ate was the macarons I had after class. But I didn't want to sit on the same table as my cousins and their parents at dinner.

Natigilan ako nang makaisip ng ideya.

I smiled, putting my backpack on as I created a makeshift human figure on my bed with pillows and covered it by a blanket. Then, I went near the window, slipped over it, and went outside. I climbed down the steep walls, holding on the protruding bricks until my feet landed on the grass.

Getting out through the gate at the back of the house was easy. Palaging tulog ang guard at gumigising lang kapag andiyan sina tito sa paligid. I really wonder kung paanong hindi pa siya nasisisante. But who cares? It's in my favor.