Obnoxious Oxygen

Chapter Forty Two

We didn't go straight to see Oxygen, sa tapat ng hotel huminto ang sasakyan ni Tita Moana. Hanggang sa pagbaba ko ay naka-alalay siya sa akin. And I couldn't be more thankful, I won't lie I'm really heavy and I need a hand in everything I do.

Walking past the lobby all the way to the lift, I heard mom's voice calling me out. I immediately spun to see her walking towards me, with all the glamour and poise. I don't know what to feel when I caught her scanning me from head to toe with distaste in her eyes, do I really look that bad?

"Mom," I frowned. My hand automatically went down to the ball in my stomach, as if I'm protecting them from something.

"What have you done to my daughter?!" Matalim na tingin ang ibinigay niya kay Tita Moana, hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng tanong niya pero nainis ako doon. "I'm taking her with me."

Mom held my arm, frightened I did the same with Tita Moana's hand. "No, mom. I won't go with you."

"I am still your mother, Gabbana. Sasama ka sa akin, sa ayaw o sa gusto mo." Hinila niya ako, that's when I panicked.

Is she really gonna grab my arm without caring about me losing my balance?!

Tita Moana didn't let that happen, she held my waist to keep me steady, tinapik niya ang braso ni mommy kaya noon napakawalan ang akin.

"Putangina, bobo ka ba?" Matapang niya itong hinarap, pumagitna pa siya sa amin. "Ikaw ang magpapahamak kay Gabbana at sa mga bata sa katangahan mong yan, Camille."

"Oh, shut up, Moana Marie." Mom smirked. "Let go of my daughter, I'm taking her. Away from you and all the embarrassment of your shitty family."

"Mom!" Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko nang masigawan ko siya, Tita Moana didn't need to hear those nonsense right now. Everything that's been happening is already too much. "Stop that, I won't come with you. I'm okay here. Oxygen needs me and I need him, too."

"Enough with your stupidity, Gabbana Victoria. Can't you see? You've made a wrong choice with that man. He's a good for nothing son of a bastard and has proven it enough by being a convicted drug dealer." The disgust in mom's voice broke my heart even more. No, he's not that. And even if, I know, Oxygen was the best choice I've made in my life. "You're more than this, Gabby. Come with me and I'm gonna take you back to New York, goodness. Had I known that Philippines will ruin you, I shouldn't have let you leave."

"I reckon, it's New York that ruined you Camille."

My eyes went wide when I saw Tita Chi walking it, with her was Tita Nisha. Even mom froze just by hearing her voice, like she didn't expect her here.

"Chi," mom said, slowly turning to her.

"Leave." In a calm but dangerous tone, she ordered. "Make a graceful exit or I'll throw you out myself."

"Chiara, you're not doing this." Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni mommy, miski ako ay ganoon din. I don't agree with mom and everything she said, but I still don't want her to be treated this way.

"You made me do this. You're in my territory, it doesn't give you any right to speak ill of my family. Oxygen is a De Salvo, he is me. None of your words sounded appealing to my ears-"

"Oh, come on. I'm just stating facts. Well truth hurts!"

"Mom!" Muli kong suway, but she's not listening. She'd been friends with Tita Chi all her life, I don't wanna be the reason of its end.

"I'm not picking up a fight with you, Chiara. I'm just here to get my daughter to leave, take her away from all the mess and scandal. She doesn't deserve it." Patuloy pa rin ni mommy.