Living Dystopia

I.

I.

The sound of the slammed door echoed in the place. Halos mayanig ang buong bahay sa lakas ng pwersa noon. Kasabay ng pagbubukas ng matayog na pinto ay ang pagpasok ni Adrian sa sala. The light from the chandelier illuminated on his face, ngunit taliwas sa ekspresyon ng kanyang magulang ay tila ba wala itong pakialam. His face remained stoic as he sluggishly sat on their maroon sofa.

"Kung hindi sa Guidance Office ka namin makikita, sa presinto ka naman bumabagsak!" His father angrily shouted at him. Tila napigtas ang pasensyang dinadala nito. Kung sabagay ay hindi nito magawang patinuin ang anak. He's been a rebel, a hard-headed, and i-dont-care-fucking-­leave-me type of a person. Sa halip na magalit si Adrian ay napangisi pa ito dahilan kung bakit nadagdagan ang inis ng kanyang ama.

"I don't know what to do with you anymore! Mayroon ka naman ng lahat! I gave you money, I gave you my name! Ni pagtitino, hindi mo magawa!" His father added, his finger pointed towards his son. But that's not what he's asking for, if only they know.

Hindi iyon inalinta ni Adrian at patuloy sa pagtitig sa amang sumasabog sa galit. Tamad nitong inilabas ang isang stick ng sigarilyo mula sa kanyang bulsa at agad na sinindihan. The smoke puffed from his mouth as he do some tricks with it.

In one swift move, a fist landed on his face. Nahulog ito mula sa pagkakaupo sa sofa. His father immediately grabbed the collar of his shirt and angrily pulled him on his face.

"You son of a bitch!" The old man once again punched Adrian's face. Blood dripped from his mouth down to his clenched jaw. Hindi niya iyon inalintana, bagkus ay mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi nito sa ama, tila nangungutya.

"Anong nangyayari?" tanong ng isang boses mula sa hagdan. The old man turned his attention to him. Itinulak nito si Adrian at napahilamos sa mukha. Frustration is written all over his face as he walked back and forth. Tumigil lamang ito nang marating ng lalake ang sala.

"Pagsabihan mo ang kapatid mo, Aldrin." he instructed the man as he pointed his finger on Adrian who carelessly stood up.

Napatingin sa kanya ang kapatid na may halong pagtataka. Nang mapagtanto ang nangyari ay umiling na lamang ito, tila maging siya ay nawawalan na rin ng pag-asang mapatino ang kapatid.

"Hindi ko siya makakausap ngayon. I have something to do." aniya at itinupi ang manggas ng kanyang suot na tux hanggang siko. Muling nabaling ang paningin ni Adrian sa kapatid. He's all dressed up, with a black stunning suit that fits him well and makes him the perfect son of their well-known clan, while he's standing in front of him, dressed like a beggar.

"What? Office work?" tanong ng kanyang ama. Naging mausisa ang boses nito, taliwas sa tono nang makipag-usap ito sa isang anak.

Loneliness enveloped Adrian's heart. Thousands of questions rise from the back of his mind.

Bakit palagi siyang mali? Bakit palaging tama ang kanyang kapatid? Why does his parents hail his brother so much that they forget they have another son, too? Why can't he be the perfect son?

"I have a date with Gwen." his brother excitedly answered. The loneliness he felt vanished in a blink. Wrath fired himself. Gustuhin man niyang sumabog sa galit ay pinili niyang kimkimin iyon, alam niyang wala siyang magagawa at lalo lamang hahaba ang usapang iyon.

He saw his father nodded him with approval in his eyes. Ngunit nang bumaling muli ito sa kanya ay agad lumitaw ang malalim na pagkamuhi. He looked at him like a trash, a disgusting rotting trash. Umigting ang panga nito hindi dahil sa naging pagtitig ng ama kundi dahil sa narinig na pangalan ng babae.

One year had passed but he can't forget her. He can't forget the feeling of being insulted and being replaced by the only woman he had loved for almost five years. Ang malaman na may relasyon ito sa ibang lalake ang siyang bumasag sa kanya, ngunit ang katotohanang binilog siya ng dalawang taong importante sa buhay niya ay ang siyang pumutol sa tiwala niya sa lahat ng nasa paligid niya.

"Don't you ever try to insult my name again." his father warned him with a cold and deadly voice. Nauna itong naglakad palayo habang walang imik na umalis ang kanyang kapatid sa sala. Ilang sandali pa ay napatingin siya sa kanyang ina na nakatayo malapit sa kanya.

She's still in her sparkling red, long gown, all feisty and all. Kagagaling lang ng mag-asawa sa isang pagtitipon at napilitan lamang umalis dahil sa balitang nagnakaw ng pera ang isa nilang anak, balitang hindi sila makapaniwalang magagawa nito.

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Adrian ay umiling na ang kanyang ina. He knew from that point that he's all alone, alam niyang sarili niya lang ang kakampi niya. She shook her head with so much disappointment before leaving him, blood still dripping from the corner of his lips.

***