Mi Familia

Triggered

This is a long one and oddly satisfying to write. Tell me what you think about it.

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"You are not going anywhere, Vincent!"

"Why not? You have her now!"

"When did you learn to speak that way?" Bongbong was in utter surprise. The youngest Marcos just raised his voice at them.

"Papa," Vincent's voice was shaking, obviously trying to stop himself from crying. "Why are you making it hard for us to accept her?"

His Papa tried to hold his arm but he stepped back. Bongbong heaved a defeated sigh. "I... Vinny, we're trying, anak but the three of you keep on rejecting our explanation."

"Pa, I was willing to accept her without any explanation coming from you. I believed that she's our sister until mama said those words. So, I'm sorry but what you want us to do won't happen anytime soon, not even in the near future." And Vinny immediately ran toward his room to pack his bag, leaving behind his whole family who were still in disbelief that he just had a burst out.

Bongbong was devastated but he still has two sons and a daughter left to talk to.

"Sandro, son, please. Help us with this one. Your mama and I just want this family to be whole again. You just got home from London and we haven't talk about anything yet, as the eldest please set an example to your brothers."

Masyado nang pagod si Bongbong sa mga nangyayari. Napakahaba ng gabing iyon at walang magandang kinahinatnan ang pagsisiskap nilang makausap ang mga anak nila. Si Sandro nalang ang huling pag-asa niya. Alam niyang makikinig sa kanilang kuya sina Simon at Vincent but Sandro was not yet over it.

"Last time I checked hindi na ako ang panganay."

"Sandro..." It was the crying Liza who once again tried and... failed.

"Mama, stop. Don't say anything anymore. You're words are more than enough to hurt us. Vinny is shattered and I know Simon is hurting too so please... please...enough."

Humagulgol si Liza at walang nagawa kundi yakapin si Bongbong na bakas ang lungkot sa mga mata.

"Tita Imee, can my brothers and I sleep over your house?"

Tumango lang ang kanina pang walang imik na panganay na kaptid ni Bongbong. Alam niyang hindi pa tapos ang usapan ngunit alam niya ring mas makabubuti kung bigyan muna nila ng sapat na oras ang mga bata.

Hindi tumigil ang mag-asawang Marcos na pigilan ang tatlong magkakapatid pero sadyang puno pa ng hinanakit ang mga puso ng tatlo kaya walang nagawa ang mag-asawa hanggang makaalis ang mga ito.

"Hayaan mo muna sila, anak." Imelda, who decided to stay to comfort her son and daughter-in-law, said. "Lalamig din ang mga ulo nila. Tutulungan ka ng ate mo para maliwanagan sila. Sa ngayon, si Eliz muna ang kausapin mo. I'm sure she's hurting as well."

Tumango lang si Bongbong ng pinuntahan ang kwarto ni Eliz. Kumatok siya kahit walang kasiguraduhan kung siya ay papapasukin o sagutin man lang ng anak.

He was a bit surprised when Eliz opened the door but didn't have the plan to let him in. She didn't even let him say anything.

"Pagod napo ako. Gusto ko na pong magpahinga, sir."

Gustong sumigaw at magwala ni Bongbong nang mga sandaling iyon pero wala siyang nagawa kundi tumango at pinagsaraduhan na siya ng pinto ng anak. He was always the mighty one in their family that even his eldest sister has no match to his creative mind and political knowledge and strategy. He was his father's successor. Minus all the negative issues the Marcos patriarch had when he was still alive, Bongbong led his province into success and made it know all over Asia. Everyone called him boss, Vice president, sir and he had no problem with it until Eliz called him the latter and it hurt him like hell. He wondered how a simple three-letter word almost shattered his determined heart.