Paper Stars (Self-Published)

Kabanata 13

KABANATA 13

Just as I expected, the brothers were really bent on making my life difficult.

Two hours after the whole family left to start their daily activities, Kyo would rape the doorbell just so he could get me out of bed even if he's got a spare key. Tuwang-tuwa pa ang mokong habang pinapanood akong nahihirapang kumain ng lugaw dahil sa mga nakabendahe kong mga daliri. Sa tuwing bumabalik ako sa aking silid ay nag-iingay naman siya sa sala by playing heavy metal.

Kapag oras na sa pag-inom ko ng gamot ay kakalampugin niya ang pinto ng aking silid para lang gisingin ako. Napapahinto lang siya sa tuwing bubuksan ko na ang pinto at makikita niya ang loob nito. Wala itong imik na ibibigay ang gamot at tubig bago mabilis na umaalis.

Tuwing hapon nama'y pumupunta si Kira. Wala siyang ginawa kung hindi ang manood ng palabas buong maghapon. He wouldn't wake me up kapag oras ng kumain o uminom ng gamot. He was there but it's like he wasn't there at all! Hindi naman problema sa akin iyon dahil alam ko naman kung papaano alagaan ang sarili ko. I know they're just there to annoy me and laugh at my misfortune.

Hans was a gentle one. Hindi siya palasalita pero tinutulungan niya ako whenever I need help. He'd setup alarms for me para gisingin ako kapag oras ng kumain at uminom ng gamot. He'd play comforting classics which helped me relax and rest well.

It was Friday night when Gene told me that they need to fly to Japan. Mimi's father got sick and he asked for her to visit. Ayaw sanang umalis ni Gene nang hindi ako kasama but I convinced him that I'll be fine. Hindi na rin naman ganoon kasama ang pakiramdam ko para ipag-alala nila. That same night, their entire family went as planned.

It was Sunday afternoon nang maramdaman kong bumubuti na ang aking lagay. I've even managed to submit my final reports to my professors in Harvard and Yale.

Since that fateful day, I've decided to use whatever I can to prepare myself in the fight for my right to be acknowledged in this family. I've taken examinations to determine how far my intelligence could go. International academe bodies have acknowledged that my brain was somewhat above the average. That same year, I was given a piece of paper signifying my qualification for tertiary education. Also, it was on that same year I've received my letters of acceptance from those two universities. I took Law in Harvard and then Business in Yale.

Today, I've completed one of them.

"This settles it then, Miss Cross. We'll just send you your diploma as soon as it becomes available," said my professor as she smiled on the screen.

"Thank you, Professor."

"It's such a shame you won't be able to receive your honorary medal on our graduation exercises considering you're the valedictorian of this year's class. Would you like us to send that as well?"

Napakamot ako sa aking batok as I considered her words.

"Uh, I think that won't be necessary Amelia. I'm fine with just the diploma."

Tumango-tango naman ito sa kabilang linya.

"Very well, Arianne. Now that everything's done, you go and enjoy your summer like normal twelve year olds do."

Hindi ko napigilang matawa sa sinabi nito.

"I'll try, Amelia, although I'm not so sure about the normal part. I don't think graduating Harvard Law at twelve qualifies as normal."

"True that..." Natatawa nitong tugon habang tumatango.

"Well normal or not, still you should enjoy summer. Youth is a limited gift that shouldn't be wasted on books alone. Go out, have fun! Soak those feet under the sands! Put some color on that pale skin of yours!" Anito habang pino-point out sa sarili ang kanyang pinaparating.