Paper Stars (Self-Published)

Kabanata 5

KABANATA 5

Nasa loob kami ng library kung saan ako kasalukuyang naka-'detain'. Hindi pa tapos ang salo-salo pero nang dahil sa nangyari kanina ay baka mapaaga ang uwian ng lahat.

I stared at my broken sword at mariing napapikit sa naalalang pangyayari kanina when I got out of the CR to perform my sword skills in front of the headmaster.

I remembered how his eyes grew big when he saw me on my outfit with a sheathed sword in hand. I remembered how everyone erupted in panic seeing me perform my act in front of them. I remembered the stinging pain from Dice's hand on my cheek.

I remembered Mimi's protective arms around me soon after. I remembered seeing Gene's back in front of me as he defended me against all of them. I remembered the twins crying beside me, hugging each of my legs.

Sumisikip ang dibdib ko sa naalala pero ininda ko iyon. Masakit pa rin ang siguradong namumula ko ngayong pisngi pero ininda ko rin iyon.

"What an epic failure!" I thought as gripped my worn out sheath.

"How dare you let your curse of a daughter make a joke out of a samurai performance and call it a display of superior sword skills? What an insult to all our samurai fathers!" Dinig kong asik ni Dice.

Nandito ang mga anak ng upper branch line. Gene is here and is still defending me. Cute's also here to pacify his brother. Si Hans naman ay kasama sina Kyo at Kira na nakatayo di kalayuan sa kanilang mga ama. Nag-uusap sina Hans at Kira habang binibigyan ako ni Kyo nang matatalim na titig.

"Don't call my daughter a curse! Hindi siya sumpa and what she showed us out there is by far the most superior sword skills anyone has ever seen! Hindi mo lang maamin sa sarili mo that she could do better than any Cross in this sick of a family!"

"Yuujin!" Sabay na saway nina Cute at Hans dito.

Dice scoffed at his son's remarks.

"Superior? She's just a girl! No girl is ever superior to a man! She's weak! Kung ilalaban natin siya against the weakest of our clan, nilalangaw na siya ngayon!" Mas humigpit pa ang hawak ko sa sheath ng aking espada.

"I won't allow you to speak about her that way! She's still a Cross, baka nakakalimutan niyo! Apo niyo rin siya kasi anak ko siya!" Galit na sumbat ni Gene na ngayon ay inaawat ni Cute dahil akma na itong susugod sa kanilang ama.

Dice released another scoff.

"And I've never been so disappointed," sumbat nito sabay hagod ng tingin sa sariling anak bago sinulyapan ang kanyang kapatid. Tumikhim ito pagkatapos.

Napapikit ako habang iniinda pa rin ang sumisikip kong dibdib. Gene doesn't deserve any of this shit. This is enough.

"Do you see what you've done to this family, Kurozawa Ayana?" His voice was firm and hateful. I stared at him dead straight in the eyes.

"You're destroying it like a curse that you are! And you won't stop until you've completely destroyed my family the way you destroyed yours."

"Chichiue!"

"Aniue!" Magkasabay na alma nina Cute at Gene sa sinabi nito pero huli na ang lahat.

Tiim-bagang akong napayuko sa narinig.

"Make sure you don't let that curse out of this room and further ruin this already ruined party," pagkakuwan ay matulin at taas noo itong lumabas ng silid. Sumunod naman kaagad sa kanya si Hans matapos nagbigay galang kina Cute at Gene. Tinapik niya rin ang mga balikat ng kanyang mga pinsan bago lumabas.