Cheer Up, Captain

Chapter 00

Chapter 00

"No..." I said, repeatedly shaking my head as Mommy explained to me what would happen in the next few months. No! Just no!

"Maia Celine—"

I harshly stood up. Nabigla sila Mommy. But so was I! What did they mean our bank accounts and properties were frozen?! Why?! Illegal ba ang businesses namin?! Oh, my god! Drug lords ba ang parents ko?!

I felt like I was getting lightheaded. Agad akong napa-balik sa inuupuan ko.

"Do you mean we have no money?" I asked, feeling fear creep into my system... Oh, my god... I was accustomed to a certain lifestyle! Hindi ako pwedeng maging mahirap! I needed to have the latest cloths and bags and shoes! Those things define me! Without them, I was just a nobody!

"I'm not sure yet, anak..." Mommy replied.

I looked at Daddy. "Dad..."

Agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. Oh, my god! Even my Daddy, who loves me the most, couldn't assure me that we still had money?! Paano na ako niyan?! Do we need to live in a smaller house? With no maids? And no aircon? Oh, my god!

"Don't panic, anak. We're doing everything we can."

"How can I not panic, Dad?" I asked, on the verge of crying.

"We need to leave first—"

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"No, anak... Kami lang ng Mommy mo."

My lips parted as my eyes widened. "What... do you mean? You'll leave me here?! Are you serious?! 17 lang ako, Mommy! Iiwan niyo talaga ako?!"

I stood up once again and started to pace back and forth. Was I having a nightmare? Sinampal ko ang sarili ko para sanna magising ako, but all I felt was a sting on my cheek. Gosh! This wasn't a dream! Totoo ngang nangyayari 'to!

I'm broke!

I'm poor!

I'm a nobody!

My parents tried to explain to me that they needed to go to some place to fix the mess that they got us all into. Kahit anong pilit ko ay ayaw nilang sabihin sa akin kung saan sila pupunta—it was for my own safety daw. As if living me all alone ni Manila was safe! Hindi ba nila naiisip na walang tutulong sa akin dito?! All our relatives despise us kasi simula raw nung yumaman sila Daddy, naging masama na ang ugali namin. As if! Sila nga ginawa kaming ATM kasi hingi nang hingi!

"If I die, just throw my body to the ocean," I said as I watched them put their bags in the car. It was 2am! I felt like my parents were criminal na tumatakas ng madaling araw! Gosh!

Daddy chuckled. "We'll be back before you even know it."

"I really can't even call?"

"No. It's better this way, Maia. Ayaw ka naming idamay ng Mommy mo sa problema namin."

"But I'm your daughter! Am I not automatically a part of this mess?"

Daddy sighed. "Just take care, okay? We left you enough money. You need to find a new place. I'm sorry hindi namin naasikaso 'to. Things happened quickly. But you're a smart girl—you'll figure it out... right?"

"How about my school?"

"Your tuition's fully paid. Sa SCA ka pa rin mag-aaral."

"Allowance?"

"Anak, the money we gave you is enough for a small apartment—"

"Apartment?! I'll live in a condo, Daddy!"