Allison Corazon is a 23 year-old film student trying to find out her final short film project. Her assignment? To show what it means to be extraordinary. She didn't know what that meant, until she thought about her parents.
Allison and Tristan both know that it's not their fault. They aren't the reason their parents are fighting tonight. Or the reason why they were fighting last time. But, hearing their screams at one another was not helping.
"Vince pagod na ko." Veronica sounded defeated. "Almost fifteen years, pagod na ko."
"Ronnie." Vince tried to reason with her.
"Ano? Mag so sorry ka naman? May anak tayo Vince. May buhay tayo! At ano? Hindi ba tapat sayo?" She was yelling so loud tears started coming down her face. "Bakit ba? Sa lahat na bigay ko sayo. Bakit ba?"
His silence told her everything she needed to know. The two of them stood in silence that somehow was the loudest silence that their kids have felt.
Allison and Tristan didn't need to be close to the fight to hear what was being said. Their screams were loud enough to be heard around the house. They can hear their moms yelling and crying while their dad just repeatedly said sorry.
"Bunso," Tristan looked at his sister.
"Gusto ko sabihin sa kanila yung offer nabigay sakin for college. Pero, later na lang." Allison hid her college acceptance letter behind some books on her desk.
"Sabihin mo na." Tristan tried to encourage his sister to tell their parents the good news. "They will be so proud of you."
"Wag na. They are fighting again."
That night as Allison went downstairs to get a late night snack she saw Vince sleeping on the couch while Tristan went by Veronica's side to comfort her. It became a routine.
//
Tristan is usually the one comforting their mom after the late nights of fighting. But over the past few months Allison found comfort in her mom again. For the longest time she didn't understand why her mom pushed her dad away. As days pass she began to realize that it wasn't her mom that pushed her dad away but the other way around.
She had been beside her mom for a few hours now. Allison noticed how dark it was outside already. Looking down at her mom Allison felt her heart sink. Veronica has tried so hard to keep their family together. Tried to keep going regardless of what her children saw or heard. Veronica didn't want them to worry. Vince didn't want them to worry either. But at this point Allison didn't know where she fit in. Allison didn't know who she should be mad at, or if she should be at either of them.
Noticing how her mom has fallen asleep she moved quietly off the bed and put the blanket over her mom. Even the room felt heavy. It was dark and a mess. Nothing was in place and it mirrored what their life was now. Especially with Vince moving out. Allison just sighed and started cleaning up quietly making sure her mom's work belongings were all together un touched. After everything she still wondered how their lives ended up like this. With her thoughts being heavily occupied she left the room closing the door quietly behind her.
Walking down the stairs looking for her brother Allison heard their dads voice too. Following the voice she saw how Tristan was still talking to their dad through facetime.
"Ali halika dito!" Tristan waved his little sister towards him.
"O! Bunso, anak!" Vince smiled and waved at his daughter.
"Dad!" She couldn't help but smile big. "Miss na kita"
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