CHAPTER 25
JOYCE POV
I’m here. Not like I want to be but I have to. It’s my first time to step back into the mansion after a few years. Take a deep breath Joyce. You’re not a child anymore. They can’t do anything to hurt you if you don’t let them.
Everyone was already waiting for me when I came in. As always, not one friendly smile from anyone except from my Tita Tracy.
Ye ye: Late ka na naman.
Joyce: Sorry po. Nag-commute lang po kasi ako papunta dito.
Anne: Ye ye, don’t be hard on Joyce. Alam mo naman, working student yan.
Ye ye: Isa pa yan! Wala ni isa sa mga apo ko ang pinapayagan ko magtrabaho. Pero ikaw, itinuloy mo pa din! Ano na lang ang sasabihin sa akin ng ibang tao? Na pinababayaan kita?
Joyce: Lolo, hindi naman po sa ganun.
Ye ye: I don’t want to hear anymore from you. Maupo ka na. Let’s just have dinner.
Joyce: Sorry po.
Ye ye: So Anne, how was your stay in the US? Did you have a good time?
Halata naman na si Anne ang favorite sa lahat ng apo. But I really don’t mind at all. I don’t feel even the slightest twinge of envy. Basta masaya kami nila mommy at daddy, ok na sa akin yun.
Tita Tracy: Joyce, pagpasensyahan mo na ang lolo mo ha? Intindihin mo na lang.
Joyce: Wala po yun..
Sa magkakapatid, si Tita Tracy ang pinaka-close sa daddy ko. Kahit nung nagkagulo ang pamilya dahil kay mommy, si Tita lang ang kumampi kay daddy noon.
Tita Tracy: How are your parents nga pala?
Joyce: Ok naman po. Ayaw na nga ata umuwi dito sa Pilipinas eh. Enjoy masyado sa buhay nila dun.
Tita Tracy: Eh ikaw? Bat ayaw mo sumama dun?
Joyce: Mas gusto ko po dito. I love my life here. Ok naman kina mommy and daddy. I just go there for a vacation every year.
Anne: May boyfriend na kasi yan Tita Trae.
Nakikinig pala si Anne sa conversation namin ni Tita. And she said it out loud for everyone to hear.
Ye ye: Boyfriend?! Sino? Bakit hindi mo ipinapakilala sa amin?
Joyce: Ho? Bakit po? Kasi po I didn’t think it would matter to you if may boyfriend ako or wala. We haven’t been in touch for the past few years.
Ye ye: Parehong pareho kayo ng daddy mo!
Tita Tracy: Papa, hayaan na lang natin si Joyce. She’s not doing anything wrong naman.
Ye ye: Yan din ang sinabi mo dati tungkol sa kapatid mo. Tignan mo ang nangyari. Haaay!!! Sino ang boyfriend mo?
Ano to? Do they really want to know? Do they really care kung may boyfriend ako or wala?
Joyce: Si…
Anne: Ang ex-boyfriend ko lang naman Lolo!
And just like that, Anne just dropped the biggest bomb of all. One lie after another.
Ye ye: What?! Are you out of your mind? Inagaw mo pa ang boyfriend ng pinsan mo?! What were you thinking? Kung disente kang babae hindi mo gagawin yun, lalo na sa kadugo mo!
Joyce: Lolo, hindi po ganun ang nangyari. Anne, tell them.
Anne: Tell them what?
Joyce: Anne please?
