Whatever We Had

Sixteen

#WWH16
16
_____

Abuse

With beads of sweat still streaming down my face and neck, I rung the door bell.

"Wraia? Babe, what happened?" Ari asked as she found me knocking on their door, with tears streaming down on my face looking like a complete mess. She looked shocked at the sight of me.

I immediately hugged and cried to her. "Dad almost hit me." I said in a shaky voice, my body still trembling out of fear. I held unto her tight, afraid that I might faint right here.

I felt her body stiffened a little against mine. "Oh my god. This is already a serious case. Sa taas tayo." Aya niya at marahan akong hinila papunta sa kaniyang kwarto.

She gave me a glass of water and wiped me with a wet and warm towel. "You can tell me everything when you're ready. For now, take some rest." She said as she put the towel back on the stainless basin. Somehow, it made me calm.

I nodded. Humiga ako sa kama ni Ari. Agad naman siyang tumabi sa akin. "Gusto mong kumain?" She asked.

"Yes, please. Pero... pwedeng dito na lang sa kwarto mo?" I pleaded. Ayaw niya kasing may kumakain dito sa kwarto niya. Baka langgamin daw siya o kung ano man.

She paused and looked at me as if she's debating with her thoughts whether she will allow it not. In the end, she shrugged. "Alright. Dito ka lang. Don't do anything stupid, please."

With a calm voice, I spoke. "Mas stupid ka pa sa kung ano mang gagawin ko." She just rolled her eyes on me as a response.

She gave me clothes to change on before leaving the room. I ate as soon as she went back with the food. Hindi kasi ako nakakain sa bahay dahil sa nangyari. Makes me wonder kung natuloy kaya yung dinner sa bahay?

"Babe..." I called Ari.

"Why? You need anything?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya.

I shook my head. "Dad... almost slapped me..." Pagkekwento ko. Tears start to pool in my eyes again.

Lumamlam ang kanyang tingin sa akin. "Wraia..." pagpapatahan niya, bahagyang inaayos ang maalon kong buhok.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home po! I have a great news for you guys!" Masayang sabi ko pagkabukas ko ng aming pinto.

Well it's not that much to brag because I only won 2nd place in that competition but atleast I got in, right? Someone from Arts and Design won the competition. Ang sabi sabi'y sila talaga ang palaging nananalo dahil hindi maganda tignan kung matatalo sila ng ibang strand. Pero maganda din naman ang gawa niya at mas malinis kaysa sa akin. I think he deserved it.

Dad suddenly appeared from the dining area. "Bakit ngayon ka lang? Ang sabi ko umuwi ka nang maaga at may dinner mamaya diba? Anong oras na?" Dad's voice welcomed me as I entered the double doors of our house. Luminga-linga ako para hanapin kung andito na ba ang mga pinsan ko.

"7pm po." Wala sa sariling sagot ko. "Uh, dad, I won-"

Dad brisk-walked to come near me. He grabbed me by my elbow and pulled me near him. "Sumagot ka nang maayos!" He shouted infront of my face.