Takipsilim

Chapter 22: Warning

"Ang tigas ng ulo mong bata ka!"

Clara dragged a crying Katherina inside their home. Galit na galit ito sa anak.

She grabbed Katherina's bag and took the latter's phone and ipad out.

"Ma, those are mine--"

"How many times did I tell you to stay away from that guy? Tapos nawala lang ako ng ilang linggo, sinuway mo na ako? Katherina ano bang nangyaya--"

"MAHAL KO SIYA MA!" Katherina shouted.

Clara Hontiveros' jaw dropped. Then her lips formed a thin line.

"You do not know what you're saying." The older Hontiveros said.

"Mahal ko si Yael, ma. Mahal na mahal ko siya." Katherina said again.

"You will drop out of school tomorrow." Tumalikod na si Clara mula sa anak but the latter ran after her.

"Mom, why?" Katherina pleaded. "Ano bang meron kay Yael? He's been nothing but kind and caring to me. Ano bang masama doon, ma? Don't I deserve to be happy? Why do you want me to shut him out? Mahal namin ang isa't isa, ma."

"Mahal ninyo ang isa't isa." Clara said slowly, as if digesting the words. Nakatalikod pa rin ito kay Katherina. "Yun ang mali, Katherina. Ang mahalin ninyo ang isa't isa."

"Kailan pa naging mali ang magmahal, ma?"

Humarap si Clara sa anak. "There are things in this world that just cannot happen. Isa na kayo doon. I will not let you and Yael happen! Never!"

"Ma!" Katherina cried. Again, Clara dragged Katherina outside into their car. No matter how she tried to break free, higit na malakas ang ina sa kanya.

Clara drove off. Hindi alam ni Katherina kung saan sila tutungo. She just kept on crying inside their car. Gulung-gulo siya as to how her mother is taking all of this.

Tired from this day, she unconsciously drifted into sleep.

After about two hours, she woke up and found herself in front of a house. Tila nasa isang malamig na probinsya sila.

"Why are we here, ma?" Takang tanong niya sa ina.

"You will stay here for the mean time." Clara said without looking at her. "Kailangang putulin yang mga sungay mo."

Katherina cannot believe what she just heard. She started to cry again, but this time, she's angry.

"Did you hear just what you said, ma?" She said. "All my life I've been nothing but obedient to you. I followed all your orders with no questions asked. I grew up as if I'm alienated from our own family. Sina Lolo at Lola, hindi ako gaanong pinapansin. It's always Ced that they favored, pero walang kaso sa akin yun. Ikaw mismo, you've always been distant. Pero hindi ako nagreklamo ma, tinanggap ko. Tinanggap ko kasi mahal ko kayo. And now that someone else is giving me love, pipigilan ninyo? Why, ma? Wala na ba akong karapatang mahalin ng ibang tao?"

Humikbi ang dalaga. "Wala na ba akong karapatang maging masaya, ma?"

"Sa mga katulad natin, Katherina, walang puwang ang pagiging masaya." Makahulugang sagot ng ina ni Katherina.

"I don't understand..."

"May sasabihin ka pa ba?" Clara turned to look at her with a poker face.

Katherina's heart broke again when she heard her mother's response. Hindi siya makapaniwalang parang balewala lang dito ang nararamdaman niya. You are my mother after all, she thought.