< Madison Alexis' POV >
"I-I am fine, s-sir." I managed to say.
Tuluyang tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo ang aking ama. Habang suot pa rin ang nakatatakot na ngiti nyang iyon, nilapitan niya ako.
"I heard you just came from a short vacation, child. On a school week?"
Liar. Hindi nya narinig yan from anyone. No one who knew the darkest secret of our family would tell him anything about me. Iniutos nya yan. He had me investigated.
Mom then entered the living room. "Go and change muna baby, we'll be having dinner soon."
Without further ado, agad kong kinuha yung mga dala ko and rushed to my room.
The last string of my strength left right after I got in my room. Agad akong napaupo pag-sara ko pa lang ng pinto.
This can't be happening. He shouldn't be here. Ayoko na. Ayoko nang maulit yung dati. Ayoko nang layuan ako ng mga tao. Why does he have to come back?
Tila may isang malakas na ulan sa loob ng mga mata ko dahil sa sunod sunod na paglabas ng mga luha mula dito.
Then I felt the phone in my pocket vibrated. Inilabas ko yun and saw Gene calling.
What should I do? If I answer his call, he might hear my crying. If I don't naman, he might do something crazy like checking me up here. And that's the last thing I should do right now. Hindi dapat makilala nung lalaki sa baba si Gene.
Kinalma ko muna ang sarili ko. Kailangang walang bahid ng kalungkutan ang boses ko when I answer Gene's call.
"Ayos ka lang ba, anak?" nag-aalalang tanong sa akin ni manang habang pababa kami.
Am I alright? Of course not! How can I be alright? "Yes Manang. Why wouldn't I be okay?" I know, I lied. I just don't want Manang to dwell further on the fact na I am far from being okay.
By the way, nakausap ko na kanina pa sa phone si Gene. Buti nga at sinagot ko yung tawag na yun kung hindi ay baka nakilala ang personified leader of hell. Kung hindi ko raw kasi sinagot yung tawag ni Gene ay pupunta na raw sya agad dito para alamin kung naka-uwi na ako.
"Bigla na lang siyang dumating dito kaninang umaga. Lahat nga kami nagulat eh." kwento sa akin ni Manang.
"Hindi ka pa sanay Manang? He's been like that since God made humans! By the way, why is he here daw? Business trip?" I asked. Not that I care, I just want him out of our lives as soon as possible.
"Ngayong dinner daw niya sasabihin eh. Para daw malaman mo agad."
Hindi ko na sinubukang sumagot pa. But see? I was right. Hindi sya masaya sa ibinigay na results nung hired investigator niya. That' s why he came back. He came back to end my happiness.
