Gone in Goroth: a Paranormal Odyssey

Chapter 4: Hostile Drawbacks

Chapter 4: Hostile Drawbacks

Miki

I walked silently in the empty hallways. Masiyado akong maaga para sa first period class.

Hindi ko namalayan na ang mahina kong paghakbang ay unti-unting bumilis hanggang sa natagpuan ko na lamang ang sarili na tumatakbo. My footsteps were the only noise heard from the hallways.

“Sorry po,” paumanhin ko nang makabangga ang isang janitress.

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakatumba at inayos ang nagusot na uniporme. Naiiling lamang ang babae habang nagsasalita.

“Bakit ka ba nagmamadali, hija? Ke aga-aga pa naman para ma late ka.”

Hindi ko na ito binigyang pansin pa at tumakbong muli.

It’s been a week. Hindi ko na nasubaybayan pa ang nangyari pagkatapos ng araw na ‘yon. I was locked in my room. Mrs. Ichida thought I would only meddle with the investigation. Ayaw niyang madiin pa si Liu sa kaso.

She thinks I would only make things worse. That I’m dumb for not following her simple orders and this is my punishment for failing to look after her daughter.

I deserve it right?

Because I won’t make it to this school when I couldn’t satisfy my stepmom’s bidding.

Bumilis ang takbo ko nang napagtantong nasa oval ako ng track and field. I ran as fast as I could habang nanlalabo ang paningin sa mga luhang isang linggo kong kinimkim.

Furious and irritated at the sight of me entering the mansion’s door, Mrs. Ichida’s heels echoed at the floor nang mabilis siyang naglakad papunta sa direksyon ko.

Nang makuntento sa distansya ay tumigil siya. Binati niya ako ng magkabilang sampal sa pisngi.

Napasinghap ang mga kasambahay sa pangyayari. Si Rosalie na mukhang kanina pa nagaabang sa akin sa sulok ng salas ay nanunubig ang mga mata at napahawak sa mga labi.

“Walang utang na loob! I told you to look after Liu! Unang araw ay pinababayaan mo na siya! Ano ‘to? Why murder? They really thought na magagawa ‘yan ng anak ko? Hah!” she slapped me for the third time.

I only lowered my head at tuluyan nang pinadulas ang strap ng bag mula sa mga braso.

Mrs. Ichida took a handful of my hair dahilan upang mapa angat ang tingin ko. Habang ang kabilang kamay ay nanggigigil na hinawakan ang magkabila kong pisngi.

“Hindi kita pinag aral at tinanggap nang libre kaya wala kang karapatan para suwayin ako! Don’t you act recklessly again kung ayaw mong palayasin kita dito. You are just a mere mistake of my husband! Know your place, bobita!” her last blow was a heavy push in my chest which made me lose my balance and fall hard unto the floor.

“Marco! Tingnan mo nga itong bastardo mo! Do you think I will let this pass that easily?  I told you! Letting her study in Gunoja won’t do good for Liu, what more trusting her our daughter’s life!” Galit na sabi ng ginang.

Mr. Ichida is siting still sa pang isahang sofa habang umiinom ng tsaa. I didn’t know he was there when I arrived.

Ang isiping nasaksihan niya ang ginawa ng madrasta at wala man lang ginawa upang pigilan ito ay nakakapanlumo. As if this realization is new to me and I was not used to it.

The place was covered with a minute of silence before Mr. Ichida finally spoke.

“Ah. Calm down, Liucil. You don’t need to remove her from the university. A punishment will do. She’ll eventually learn her lesson.” His baritone voice said with authority.