Samantha's Marriage Proposal ★

Three

Chapter Three

pagkaligo ko nagbihis ako ng flower printed shorts saka spaghetti strap pink loose blouse. pagbaba ko nandun nga yung designer ni Mommy saka si Suzanne. gown pala namin ni Suzanne yung gagawin nya.

"Here's Samantha." nakangiting sabi ni Mommy.

i just shot her a cold stare and went out. sumunod naman sakin si Mommy.

"they need your measurement for your gown next week, Darling." she said when she grabbed my arms. i harshly shook my arms away from her grip.

"i'm not attending your party." mariing sabi ko saka naglakad palayo sa kanya.

"Samantha, are you still mad at me? its been eight years already Baby." Mahinang sabi nya. i can see sadness in her eyes when i faced her.

"eight years, eight long years and i still hate you and hating you even more. you, Senator and your loving perfect daughter Suzanne." i said softly with a voice laced with hatred.

"I'm so sorry Anak. we have no choice back then." naiiyak na sabi nya.

"and i have no choice but to hate you too, Senyora." sabi ko gamit yung tawag ng mga tao sa kanya. Senyora.

"maybe for the rest of my life." malamig na dagdag ko saka tinalikuran sya pero hinila nya ulit yung braso ko.

i shrugged her hand off my arms harshly.

"Dont touch me!"

"i-i'm sorry." nanginginig na boses na sabi nya. "is there anything can do to make it up to you? tell me and i'll do anything. everything."

"Kill Suzanne. i might reconsider. take note, MIGHT." mariing sabi ko saka tinalikuran na sya ng tuluyan. this time di na nya ko hinabol. narinig ko nalang yung impit na iyak nya.

"Stop crying Senyora. you look pathetic" mahinang sabi ko saka umalis dun.

malawak naman kasi yung likod ng Mansion nila. actually its an estate.

nakarating ako dun sa man made lake nila. a replica of the lake in Davao. pero yung nasa Davao totoo talaga yun hindi man made.

nandun si Ate Athena kasama yung anak nya na si Charlize na ten years old and Suzanne's daughter Francesca or Frances seven years old.

ngumiti agad sakin si Charlize pagkakita nya sakin.

"Tita!" she blurted out and hugged my waist.

"Hi Baby." i said softly and kissed her cheeks.

lumapit sakin si Ate Athena saka hinalikan ako sa pisngi. "Didnt had a chance to talk to you last night. didnt know you'll come"

"I didnt know about it either till those bunch of asshole dragged me out of the airport." ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"Si Papa talaga." naiiling na sabi nya.

si Frances nakatingin lang sakin. tinignan ko lang din sya at umarte na para bang wala din sya dito.

"Frances, Come." yaya ni Ate sa kanya. inakbayan ko si Charlize saka hinila papunta sa lake.

"You play with Tita Sam." sabi nya. hindi lumapit si Frances. i know. takot sya sakin malamig din kasi ako makitungo sa kanya.

Dumalaw sya sakin noon kasama sila Charlize pero pinauwi ko rin sila agad dahil kasama si Frances.

"I'm busy playing with Charlize." mariing sabi ko saka ngumisi kay Charlize at niyakap sya.

"Tita, i'll go back to the house na po." paalam ni Frances kay Athena saka umalis.

"Wait Frances. i'll accompany you." sabi ni Charlize saka tumakbo bitbit yung slippers nya. "i'll see you later Tita Sam." she shouted and ran after Frances.

tumabi sakin si Ate Athena. "wala syang kinalaman dun, Sam." mahinang sabi nya.

"Can you blame me?" i asked softly. umiling sya saka inakbayan ako. "i'm trying, Ate. i'm really trying to keep her out of this but everytime i see her? i just lose it." mahinang sabi ko.

"si Suzanne yung may kasalanan sayo, Sam. hindi si Frances. shes just a kid."mahinang sabi nya.

"Yeah." i whispered softly.

"i understand why you feel this way." mahinang sabi nya.

"good for you. si Kuya Seth lang naman ang kumampi sakin noon."

"and Mom and Dad are paying greatly for what they did."

pinili ko nalang na wag sumagot.

"You shut us out of your life Sam and thats all because of them. for that they're paying greatly. coz they lost you."

"can you blame me, Ate? tao lang ako. i have my limits." matabang na sabi ko.

"but we are family Samantha." tumingin ako sa kanya saka mapait na ngumiti.

"No, The only family i knew is those people i'm staying with eversince i moved out of this forsaken place." tumayo na ko saka iniwan syang nakaupo dun.

"Sam." sabi nya pa pero di na ko lumingon.

***

nagkalkal ako ng mga gamit ko sa kwarto dahil sa kawalan ng gagawin. isa pa wala akong balak mag pagala gala sa bahay na ito. its been eight years since i last saw this place. see? i'm really good at hiding from all of them. well except Grandma.

kinalkal ko yung mga cabinets and drawers ko nung may mahulog sa gilid.

i gave it a blank stare before i picked it up. its a bunch of key.

napatingin ako sa sulok ng kwarto ko.

particularly to the door at the corner.

humakbang ako palapit dun saka binuksan yun gamit ang susi na hawak ko. may nakalagay pa dun sa pinto.

ONLY SAMANTHA CAN ENTER THIS PLACE.

marahang kong sinuot yung susi saka pinihit yung seradura.

nandun lahat ng music instruments ko. its studio. actually. my Studio to the far right corner is another door.

napadako yung mata ko sa piano na puno na ng alikabok. may papel pang naiwan dun na parang nabasa saka natuyo kasi lukot na sya.

i pressed my lips tight when i recognized the paper.

ipinilig ko yung ulo ko para mawala sa isip ko yung ala ala tungkol sa piraso ng papel na yun.

tumuloy nalang ako sa isang pinto pa sa loob ng studio.

sinusian ko rin yun saka dahan dahan na pinihit.

this room is my photo studio. dito ako nagpriprint ng mga pictures na kinukuha ko noon.

i clenched my jaw when i saw the pictures.

its me and my first boyfriend way back in high school. our first picture when i got to college and he's graduating from college.

sinara ko agad yung pinto na yun saka nilock. pagpihit ko para lumabas sana ng Music room ko ng makita ko si Frances na nakatingin sakin. nasa loob ng music room.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" i hissed and went to her.

"Grandma wants to talk to you." she whispered.

"GET OUT!" i shouted. she cried and ran away. pabalibag kong sinara yung pinto ng music room.

nakaupo lang ako sa kama saka mariing napasabunot sa ulo ko.