Intrepid

Chapter 8

Periphernalia

"Mommy, you know its not suicide!" Giit ko kay Mommy.

"Pack your things, Fajline!" She snapped. "We will leave this hellhole, right away!"

Napailing ako. "Mom, ipaglaban natin si Daddy. Namayapa na siya. He deserves justice!"

"Ano'ng ipaglalaban natin, Fajline? Your father left us because he wants to run away from all of these. Iyan ang isaksak mo sa kokote mo!" My mother was hysterical. If she could lash out everything in her way, she would. She looked pathetic and bewailed.

"So, you're buying it, too?" I said. I cannot believe my Mother! Siya ang unang nagsabing hindi kailanman si Daddy gagawa ng ganoon ka mortal na kasalanan ngunit parang bumaliktad ang mundo.

"Did you even know what your father told me, Fajline?" Nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Ang kanyang mga mata ay namumugto at namumula. Ginulo niya ang kanyang buhok. "He told me to start anew. Ayaw niya na tayong pahirapan. He said he will admit all the accusations so that we can start anew. Pero..."

Napaupo si Mama sa kama. Gamit ang dalawang palad ay tinakpan niya ang kanyang mukha at humikbi nang humikbi.

"Mommy..."

Tumingin sa akin ang aking ina. Namumula at namumugto ang kanyang mga mata. Ang mukha niya namumula sa kaiiyak. Alam kong napapagod na siya sa sitwasyon namin. Naiintindihan ko ang pakiramdam nang walang sinasandigan. Napayakap ako sa kanya. Kami na lang dalawa ang dapat magsilbing sandigan ng isa't isa.

"I never expected him to do this in this way. Suicide? His a rational person but I never expected him to be absurd!"

"Mommy." My voice was quivering. I could feel the lump in my throat. Ang hirap magsalita. My voice sounded very hoarse. "I don't believe that Daddy killed himself."

"All the evidences are laid-out, Fajline. We cannot do anything about it and we will forever be stuck in this situation while life should go on. Siguro, tama para sa atin ang magsimula muli. We are leaving for Negros. Doon tayo sa bahay natin doon. I will take-over the hacienda there na ipapamana sa akin ng Lola mo. We could start over."

"Mommy..." Ani ko sabay iling. Masyadong masakit at halos hindi ako makapagsalita.

"Look at you, hija." She gently caressed my cheeks. "Dahil nabu-bully ka at pumupunta ka sa trials ng Daddy mo, palagi kang liban sa klase. You missed a lot and you were expelled from school."

Yes. Isang linggo na akong na-kick out.

I don't mind, though. Honestly, I do not really care about life right now!

"Anak, uuwi tayo sa Negros. Magsisimula tayo ulit. No one can judge us there," pakiusap ni Mommy. Tumutulo ang kanyang luha at hinahaplos ang aking pisngi.

"Si Daddy, Mommy..."

"We can bring his urn to Negros..."

"Mom!" I cut her off. "It's not that. Paano na ang hustisya para kay Daddy?"

"Fajline, I know you're still young kaya hindi mo ito naiintindihan. There are things we need to give up. We can't win all the battles, Fajline!" Mommy said.

That time, maybe it was what my mother think was the best decision. Sa tingin niya ay mas mabuting isuko na lamang ang kaso ni Daddy dahil ayaw niyang isuko ang normal na buhay namin.

Ngunit, sa mura kong isip, sa tingin ko ay maling-mali na isuko ang hustisya para kay Daddy. Maling tumakbo palayo sa mga problema. Maling-mali!

I stomped my way out from my parents room. I stormed my way out of the house while my mother was shouting at me to come back.