That Girl Pristine Madrigal

Prologue

Prologue

I nearly choke when my father tell me the good news he wants to confess, the reason why he wants me to join him in this dinner.

Biglang lahat ng mga kinain ko ay gusto kong isuka sa sinabi niya. I look at him with disbeliefc and anger.

My mom passed away a year ago, I haven't even sleep comfortably because the memory of my mother haunts me day by day; her smudged make-up face full of tears while drinking some drugs.

Hindi pa rin naalis sa sistema ko ang pakiramdam nung bumagsak ang katawan niya sa sahig habang nagsisigulong ang mga tabletas ng gamot na halos lunukin niya lahat.

Isama pa ang letratong hawak niya hanggang sa huling hininga niya.
A picture of my father with his mistress.

"You're not doing this. You're not keeping that woman! Ganoon na ba kadali sayo na kalimutan si Mommy? She's your wife and I'm your son but you're choosing that woman over us? do you really treated us as your family or just a... responsibility that needs to be fulfilled."

Gusto kong matawa sa sarili ko dahil bakit pa nga ba ako nag-aaksaya ng oras para sabihin sa kanya ang totoo kong nararamdaman samantalang hindi naman siya nakikinig.
He's always like this.

Hindi sumagot si daddy as if I'm saying an unnecessary things that's not worth his time.

Matagal na akong sumuko para magka-ayos kami ni dad. Kahit na pinipilit ako ni mommy I still didn't want to.

But this time, I want to try, for the sake of her kaya lang hindi ko kaya.

"I respect your mother Trake, I really do. And I know she'll do the same."

Bullshit.

Itinapon ko ang table napkin na hawak sa lamesa. Why would my mother kill herself if it's ok to her?

Padabog akong tumayo sa lamesa at pinukulan ng masamang tingin si daddy.

"If you want to remain my respect to you, you'll not bringing her in our house. I swear, hindi mo magugustuhan ang gagawin ko sa babae mo. Dad."

The last word that I said taste bitter in my tongue. Hindi ko alam kung papaano niya pa ako nahaharap ng ganito sa kabila ng nangyari sa pamilya namin.

It's already broken, since I was young I know there's an invisible barrier between the two of them. Ako lang ang dahilan why they stay to be together . I'm the anchor of their relationship and without me, they will be nothing.

Pero hindi ko akalain na mas lalo niya lang itong sisirain.

I didn't even tried to say goodbye bago ko siya iwanan roon sa restaurant. If he can act like that as if everything is normal well I'm not like him.

Tinawagan ko ang buong gang. I told them to go straight in my house but i didn't tell them the reason why.

They are friends, but friends don't let their friend carry the burden they feel.

Tahimik ang bahay, not as lively noong narito pa si mom. The silence makes me sad even more and the hollow space in my heart... it became more deep.

Kapag umuuwi ako palagi akong sinasalubong ni Mommy, but now ni anino niya wala akong nakita. I still missed her the way I missed her the day she was gone.

Sumalampak ako sa couch without even bothering to remove my shoes. I'm tired and exhausted with everything in my messed up life and I don't know what to do anymore.

Day by day, I'm being drained.

The gang arrived 20 minutes ago and they are partying in my house which I don't bother. Sanay na ako sa mga loko na wala ng hiya na natitira sa katawan pag dating saakin.

I'm watching them while drinking my beer. Nag-dadalawang isip ako kung sasabihin ko sa kanila. Not the tragic story of my life but... the disease I just discovered.

Napapadalas ang paninikip ng dibdib ko sa hindi ko malamang dahilan, minsan naman parang nagpapalpitate ang puso ko even though I'm not doing anything.

Alam kong may mali dahil hindi ko naman ito nararamdaman noon.

My mother passed away not knowing I have a heart disease. Hindi ko gustong sabihin dahil alam kong mas lalo lang siyang malukungkot.

I begged her friend to not tell my mother yet, gusto ko ako mismo ang magsabi when the right time comes but I'm not given that time.

Somehow, I think it's the way of God to let me be with my mother.

Or maybe... to punish me for being like this.

Nilagok ko ang natirirang laman ng beer na hawak. Kumuha ako ng panibago.

As I'm drinking my second for today someone interrupt me.

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pag-inom hanggang sa mangalhati ang bote saka iyon ibinaba sa lamesa kong puno ng sitsirya at alak.

It's Lay.

"Anong balita?" tanong ko.

I saw how his expression change, from calm to serious. Sa lahat ng mga kaibigan ko, Lay maybe the soft-hearted guy but deep inside he's as cruel as I am.

Umupo siya sa tabi ko at kumuha rin ng isang lata ng beer and drink it straight bago niyupi ang lata.

"Iyong pinahahanap mo saakin, I already know where to find her and who is she."

I gritted my teeth when he said that. Hindi ko tuloy napigilan ang sariling lagukin ang natirirang laman ng iniinom ko.

"Details."

"Do you really want to do this? She's not at fault in here, she's innocent Trake."

I almost laugh out loud when he said that. Nararamdaman ko na ang tama ng alak.

He looks so guilty, well, I'm not surprise. He has two sisters to begin with. His heart is fragile when it comes to girls.

"But I'm too."

I only heard Lay's frustrated sigh before he spill everything I need to know.

"Her name is Pristine Madrigal, 18 years old. Nag-aaral sa Lancaster Academy, she's the President of the student body. Iyon lang ang nakalap kong impormasyon na importante."

Tumango ako ng ilang ulit.

Ako lang at si Lay ang nakakaalam ng tungkol rito. I didn't intend to let others know dahil magiging kumplikado lang ang lahat.

"If that's what you want, wala naman akong magagawa. Basta, when things gets complicated, don't make me clean this mess you're going into."

Hindi ako sumagot dahil alam ko naman hindi iyon mangyayari. Never will I fail in this one.

"We need to transfer to that school."