Mizpah: Jillian

Chapter 4

Inis kong ibinukas ang aking mga mata nang may narinig akong tawag mula sa cellphone ko. It's seven in the morning.

Agad namang nawala ang inis ko nang nakita kong si Cale ang tumawag sa akin.

"Cale."

"Fuck! Nasa La Uñion ka ba ngayon, Jillian!?" Galit na tanong niya.

Agad akong napabangon sa paghiga.

"How did you know? I clearly told you not to look for me, Cale!"

"Hindi kita pinahanap, Jill. Pumunta ako kahapon sa banko para mag-withdraw ng pera para sa tuition ko and then nakita ko na may transaction na pala ako diyan sa La Union."

What!?

"I thought ninakaw na ang credit card ko at iho-hold ko na sana pero ikaw agad ang pumasok sa isip ko. Iniwan ko lang naman sa kwarto ko ang credit card ko before ito nawala and before ka lumayas. Dad confiscated your card noong nag-away kayo, right? Kaya't tinawagan kita just to make sure and to my surprise, nandyan ka pala talaga sa La Uñion," he continued.

I face palmed. So stupid!

"I'm sorry, Cale. I'm gonna pay you back. I promise."

I heard Cale's heavy sigh.

"You returning home is enough to pay me back, Jill. Just tell me anything you need, okay?"

My eyes watered.

"I miss you, Kuya."

My voice cracked when I said that. He chuckled.

"It's been so long since the last time you called me that."

Tahimik lang ako.

"I missed you too, Jill. Let's keep in touch, okay?"

A tear fell from my eye. I breathed deeply.

"I'm sorry for shouting at you."

"It's okay. I gotta go," he said.

"Bye."

I ended the phone call and started crying because of home sickness. I missed Cale. Na-miss ko rin naman si Dad pero galit parin ako sa kanya. I want to go to my Mom right now but I don't where she is.

I tried calling her number but she didn't answer. This is all Dad's fault. If he didn't replaced her with another woman that has the same age as me, she wouldn't ran away. But I still want to know what is Dad doing without calling him. After all, he's still my father.

I wiped my tears and texted Cale.

To: Cale
Nasa bahay ka ba ngayon? What is Dad doing?

Maya-maya ay nagreply siya.

From: Cale
Nasa condo ako simula kahapon. His woman and I fought at nagsumbong kay Dad kaya't nag-away na din kami. I'm thinking of following you there in La Uñion but I just can't ditch my class here... Unlike you.

From: Cale
Don't text me. Nandito na ang prof namin.

Lumabas na ako sa kwarto at tumungo sa kusina para mag-agahan. I cooked scrambled egg and rice. Nang natapos na akong magluto ay nagsimula na akong kumain.

Being alone sucks. But I rather be alone than to be living under the same roof with my Dad with his woman or should I say mistress.

I can't eat peacefully there but I can here. I'd rather be here than to be with some pretentious witch na kapag nakatalikod si Dad ay parang lobo at kapag nakaharap ay parang tuta.

I have no trouble fighting with her because she's the same age as I and that's the reason why Dad hates me. I ran away from home since I don't know what to do with my anger anymore.