SCARLET AND THE SEVEN PRINCES

1: THE SCAR IN SCARLET

S C A R L E T :

Hindi ko napigilang lumuha nang nakita kong humahagulgol si papa. My stepmother left him. Pabigat na nga ako, dumagdag pa si Queeny.

Lalapit na sana ako kay papa kaso nauna si Snow. "Enough, pa. She's not even worth it!" Papa clenched on the sofa's back rest. "I just want a mother for you and Scarlet!"

I covered my mouth and felt my tears flow down my cheeks. "Accept it, papa. Hindi nila habol maging ina... They only want our money." Snow hugged him and she noticed me staring.

Her eyes softened, parang naaawa sa akin. Tch! This is what I hate about her, she always looks down on me, as if I'm a poor child...

I glared at her at pumasok sa kwarto ko. Another crappy day. Pumasok si Snow sa kwarto ko at umupo sa tabi ko. "Scarlet..." I rolled my eyes.

"Magkano binayad mo kay Queeny? Para mapaalis siya?" Nagulat si Snow sa sinabi ko. "Ano bang sinasabi mo?" I scoffed at tinignan siya sa mata.

"I know you hate Queeny, because she's strict on you yet she gives me the care that I need, the care I deserve." Umiling si Snow. "Mali ka... Hindi ko yun ginawa." I faked a smile.

"Talaga ba? Oh c'mon, sis! Wala namang point kung isusumbong kita kay papa eh. Hindi naman yun maniniwala sa akin. Just admit it to me." She sighed and held my hands.

"Wala akong ibinayad sa kanya. But yes, I made her leave... Dahil ayokong maging close ka sa kanya... You deserve more than just her." I pulled my hands away. "What do you mean? Queeny is already enough for me!"

"Hindi si Queeny ang kailangan mo, Scarlet! The truth is what you need!" Ano? Anong katotohanan?

"Anong... Pinagsasasabi mo—"

Crash!

We heard a shatter from outside. Agad kaming lumabas at nakita naming nakahiga si papa sa kitchen floor, namimilipit sa sakit, with the shattered pieces of his glass beside him.

"Papa!" Sabay naming sigaw ni Snow.

Six months later...

The sound of police sirens became louder and louder. May sumipa ng pinto at itinutok niya ang baril sa akin. I looked down and raised both of my hands.

"Wait, don't arrest her. 16 lang siya." Sabi nung lalaki sa likod ng isang pulis. Pinababa nila yung mga kamay ko saka dinala sa labas.

Umupo ako sa harang ng plant box at uminom ng tubig. The guy from earlier sat beside me. "Scarlet Xi right?" I nodded. "I'm Spade Huang, sa iisang school tayo nag-aaral." Lumingon ako sa kanya.

"Why were you in that house?" Huminga ako ng malalim. "That's Doctor Liu, papa's doctor." Kumunot ang noo niya. "He's not a doctor..." Tumango ako. "I know. But he's good on making medicine—"

"Those aren't normal meds, Scarlet. Those are experimental drugs, they may be harmful." I smiled sadly. "They're not harmful, Spade... Magaling sana na doctor si tito kung hindi hinusgahan ng Greenstone University ang kakayahan niya dahil may mental disability siya."

Natahimik siya. "Tito has a rare disorder, Spade. He may look crazy and all but that is just because of his intelligence!" Napalingon sila sa akin. "At least he's doing something good para mapagaling si papa! At least ginagamit niya yung talino niya sa tamang paraan! Yung talagang tama!"