Final Farewell

8

I remember that I didn't go back after that. Nagpalipas ako ng gabi sa park. Kahit malamig ay tiniis ko ito. I need to tell Kuya Ex today. No matter what the consenquence may be.

He has the right to know.

It was a sunday morning. The temperature was dropping severely. Buti na lang at nagdala ako ng jacket. As I approach our house, the lights were off. Siguro kakadating pa lang ni Kuya.

Then I saw him sitting on the couch. Smiling happily while eating a pack of chips. .

"Hi Kuya." I said while kissing his cheek.

"Hailey, saan ka nanggaling? Bakit hindi ka umuwi?" He asked.

"Kuya, I need to tell you something."

"What is it baby?" As he motioned for meto sit down.

"What's going ong between Ate Des and Kuya Vin?"

Kumunot ang noo niya sa tanong ko.

"Wala, they're just friends. Why?" Sabihin ko ba or hindi? I might as well tell him. He deserves to know the truth.

"I saw them kissing." I mumbled. He didn't answer right away.

"Huwag ka ngang mag imbento ng kuwento Hail. Alam mo naman na mahal na mahal ako ni Des at bestfriend ko si Vin. They could never do that!"

"They're cheating behind your back." I said gently.

"I said don't invent nonsense stories Hail!"

"Its true! I saw them with my own eyes Kuya. Why can't you believe me?! Kapatid mo ako!"

"It's impossible!" Uh no it isn't it already happened. I wanted to say, pero nakita ko ang lungkot sa kanyang mga mata. Why can't he believe me.

"Go to your room Hail. Hindi ka makakalabas ng bahay hanggang next week."

"Kuya..."

"I said go to your room!" He shouted that I thought I was going deaf.

I just nodded and proceeded to my room. Nang nakapasok na ako ay umiyak ako ng umiyak. He never shouts. Tuwing galit lang siya. I guess he is enraged with me then. Hindi ako kumain buong magdamag. Sanay naman rin ako eh. I locked my self inside my room.

After a week, something has changed between us. He became cold and distant. He doesn't acknowledge my presence anymore.

Kahit anong gawin kong papansin, binabalewala niya lang ako.

A month came by, and I was turning 11 today. Hindi ako binati ni Kuya. Kaagad siyang umalis ng bahay. I tried to paint, but all those colorful paintings were gone, replaced by dull and grey ones.

Nang narinig kong bumukas ang pinto, I saw Kuya drunk. He was a mess.

"Putaninang mga babae! Mga walang kwenta!" He said.

"Kuya, anong nangyari?" I asked instead he hit me. Napaupo ako sa sahig.

"Huwag kang lumapit! Pare pareho lang kayo! Mga manloloko! Mga malandi! Useless piece of shit!"

I don't know kung anong mas masakit, yung suntok niya or yung nga salitang lumabas sa kanyang bibig. It doesn't matter because I got used to the pain.

Iniwan ko siya sa baba at nilock ko ang kwarto ko.

The only person who ought to protect me was gone. He changed and became the person he said he would never be.

Naglasing siya palagi. Nagwaldas ng pera. Hindi na ako kumakain. Then our father came home after my birthday. The same as ever.

And I still saw hatred in his eyes. Lumiwanag pa nga ang mata niya nung nakita niya ang itsura ni Kuya. He was glad that he was broke.

Then he continued to hit me. Ang dami kong pasa. I tried to hide them with my sweater. He came home loaded with cash. Hindi na kami mamorblema sa pera. But he brought the devil with him.

Every night I had a new scar and it doesn't look good. Si Kuya Ex laging lasing. Si Dad din parang demonyo na. And then Mom came into the picture and became the She Devil.

They made my life hell.

And my innocence was nowhere to be found. I didn't trust anyone. There was no escaping this hell hole. It was like a labyrinth. I couldn't find a way out.

My life was just getting worse every year.

And I don't know what to do. I got used to it when I was 15 and am still getting use to it when I'll turn 19. Atleast malapit na.

4 more months to go.

And I'm done.