Chapter 19
"Good morning, ma'am," bati ni manang Merryl kay Mommy.
Hindi siya pinansin ni Mommy at umupo lang siya sa couch, nakahalukipkip at nakatingin sa akin, her face says it all. She's furious.
"Sit," she ordered me.
Nqgkatinginan kami ni Manang and she gave me a sympathetic look bago lumabas ng front room. I sighed and moved to sit across from her.
"You know that I'm furious at you right now, right?"
I nodded. "But, Mom, Achi already explai--"
"I don't care what your sister told me!" she shouted. "You should have used your brain and didn't do something stupid!"
"I told you I was drugged! Did you think I can think properly?!"
"I didn't give you any right to shout at me, young lady!" she sneered. "And do you really think I believe you?"
I gaped at her. Nagsasabi ako ng totoo tapos hindi siya naniniwala na may naglagay ng droga sa iniinom ko? What a mother.
"I can't believe you," I said.
"Likewise," she answered. "If you're using that brain of yours, you wouldn't be at that party, acting like an animal! If you weren't acting stupid, you should've stayed here, in this house! If you were living with me in London, you shouldn't have done any of this! I don't know who you are anymore, Liezel! What the hell happened to you?"
Hindi ako nagsalita dahil galit na galit ako sa kanya.
"Myrtle won't do something so gormless! You should really follow your stepsister's footsteps," she huffed.
Tumayo ako at kinuha ang bag ko. Hindi ko na siya nilingon at umalis sa front room.
"Liezel Shin! Don't turn your back on me, I am not done talking!"
"Whatever," ang tanging sagot ko.
"See, see! I already told your Dad this will happen! You already lack manners! Sinabi ko na sa kanya na dapat pinayagan ka na niyang sumama sa akin, edi sana hindi ka nagkakaganito!"
Sinundan niya ako palabas ng bahay. Nakita ko yung kotse niya at yung pansamantalang driver niya kaya naglakad ako papunta doon.
"I'll talk to your Dad, Liz, hindi ko na kaya itong pinaggagagawa mo sa sarili mo at sa pamilya natin," she warned. "I'll make sure you'll be out of the country before the sun rises tomorrow."
Hindi ko pa rin siya sinagot at sumakay na sa kotse. The driver nodded at me bago siya magsimulang magdrive papuntang university. Nakita ko si Mommy sa wing mirror ng kotse na nakatingin pa rin sa papalayong sasakyan namin.
I shook my head. That wasn't my Mom. I really don't know who that person has become.
***
"I kind of hate you right now, you know," Sasha grumbled.
"Hala, anong ginawa ko sayo?" tanong ko sa kanya habang kumakagat sa burger ko.
"Bakit matalino ka?" Kayla whined.
I shrugged. "I'm not. Sadyang nag-aral lang talaga ako."
"Eesh," Chloe groaned tapos naglumpasay sa mesa.
Nakatingin lang ako sa tatlo habang busyng-busy sila sa pag-aaral. Habang ako, eto, pakain-kain lang. Dahil sa outburst ng nanay ko kanina, hindi tuloy ako nakapagbreakfast. Aba naman, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. And she just stole that. Kaya eto ako, kumakain ng burger, fries and umiinom ng extra large coke. Oh, diba ang healthy?
