The Gangster Princess

Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Things Left Unsaid

Aisha Fancy Lee

There’s something about silence in a home you grew up in that suddenly feels unfamiliar.

Tahimik ang buong bahay nang pumasok ako. Not because no one was around, but because my heart was pounding too loud to hear anything else. My hands were clammy. My legs felt weak. Every step felt heavier as I walked toward the living room—like the truth I was carrying was slowly eating me alive.

I didn’t know how long I had been standing there in the doorway, just looking at the familiar walls of our home. There was something unsettling about being here now—now, when everything had changed.

Our house was still the same—just the way I remembered. I could hear the soft hum of the air conditioner, the faint sound of traffic outside, the smell of Mom’s cooking wafting from the kitchen. But nothing felt the same anymore. Not with the weight of the secret I was about to share, not with the fear I was carrying in my chest.

I stepped inside, feeling the cool tiles under my feet. It was strange. I had spent my whole life here, surrounded by these walls, these rooms, these people who were everything to me. Yet now, every corner seemed to hold a memory that felt too heavy to carry.

I walked slowly through the hallway, my hands lightly brushing the frames of family photos that hung on the walls. Look at us back then, I thought. Younger. Innocent. We never knew the storms that were coming. Never knew how fragile life could be. The laughter that once echoed through these halls felt like a ghost now.

The family picture in the living room caught my eye. I was so small back then, tucked in between Ate Trinity and Kuya Spencer. We looked so happy, so carefree. I could almost hear our voices, teasing each other, arguing over the smallest things, laughing at our inside jokes.

I paused by the kitchen, where Mom and Ate Star used to bake together. The smell of freshly baked cookies always filled the house back then, a scent that still lingered in my mind. I could picture Mom standing by the stove, singing her favorite old songs, and Ate Star sitting at the counter, reading a book or doing homework. Those were the days when life felt simple, when everything was so normal.

But now, I felt like a stranger in my own home.

But now, I felt like a stranger in my own home.

I glanced at the couch, where Dad would always sit after a long day of work, wearing his old blue slippers. He’d ask us about our day, nodding and listening patiently. He’d always find time to make sure we were okay, even when he was tired.

I wish I could’ve held onto those moments forever. But now, I had to let go of the person I used to be—the carefree daughter, the one who didn’t have to worry about what was coming next.

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the living room, where everyone was already waiting for me. Their concerned eyes were focused on me, and I could feel the weight of their gazes. I wasn’t ready to say the words, but I had no choice. This was the moment.

“Aisha?” Ate Trinity raised a brow, arms crossed. “Why are you here? Don’t tell me nag-cutting ka na naman.”

I managed a small laugh. “Yeah, kinda. But not for fun this time. I need to tell you guys something important. Is everyone here?”

My voice trembled slightly as I asked. They nodded, sensing the shift in my tone. The usual teasing atmosphere turned quiet, serious.

“Sige na, upo ka na. Ano ba ‘yan?” Mom asked softly, worry already painting her voice.