When Everything Falls (De Chaves #1)

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

The sharp stab of the searing sun sent a bearable twinge on my skin. With the rapid intakes of breath, I tried my best to accustom myself from the usual feeling I felt every time my sister spits those venomous remarks and hard-to-swallow verdict at me.

I am hurt, so is she. I understand the reasons that lurk beneath the surface of her anger.

"Halika at doon na tayo! Ang init dito, oh!" Tamara ushered me to the shade of a tree that quietly rose beside the Library.

"Ano na naman ang sinabi ng kapatid mo?"

I shook my head. The attempts to stop the falling of my tears were useless. The emotions that lodged within me cannot be stopped, nor can be impeded. Naiintindihan ko ang kapatid ko. Si mama ang dahilan kung bakit nadepress ang kanyang mama. Papa was an asshole for doing that. Pero wala na bang puwang ang isang taong tulad ko na walang muwang sa mga kasalanan ng nagluwal sa akin?

Life is hard and cruel, indeed. The sin of the person who brought you to life will also be the sin you will carry in your entire life.

Kahit wala kang kasalanan; kahit wala kang alam sa nangyari, ikaw at ikaw pa rin ang masisisi. Na parang ikaw ang nagbulong sa mga magulang mo na gumawa ng mali. That you are the devil who lured your parents to commit the sin of infidelity. You will be perceived as the alluring demon who sought for help through breaking the sacred matrimony.

Wala akong kasalanan pero bakit gano'n nalang ang galit nila sa akin?

"Minsan gusto na kitang sabunotan, e. Bakit mo hinahayaan na apihin ka no'ng bruhang iyon?!" Tamara hissed, the unyielding annoyance on her voice is audible.

"She has the right to do so,"

"Ano?! Hindi tama iyon, Cornelia! Sabihin mo kaya sa papa mo ang ginagawa niya? Ang bait bait pag nakaharap ang papa niyo pero nasa loob rin pala ang kulo!"

Huminga ako ng malalim, "May karapatan siyang magalit sa akin."

"Dahil?" She challenged me.

"Dahil nasasaktan siya sa realidad na may anak sa ibang babae ang kanyang ama, Tamara. Her mom suffered depression that almost pushed her to commit suicide."

Huminga ng malalim si Tamara, "Pero hindi naman kailangang saktan mo ang ibang tao dahil lang nasaktan ka."

I smiled and wiped the tears I shed, "We have different ways to cope with our wounded heart. In Lilith's case, she opted to inflict pain."

"And that's okay with you?"

I nodded, "She's my sister, after all. I will help her no matter what just for her to defeat her demon that I brought in her life."

Huminga ng malalim si Tamara at tinignan ako ng masama. Ngumiti na lamang ako at hindi na siya pinansin. Gusto ko lang ay ang tahimik na buhay, walang gulo at pasakit. Pero palagay ko ay walang gano'n sa totoong buhay. You cannot have a life with plain peace.

Saturday pushed Friday into its end. The sun inched away from the bank of clouds, pouring a  golden glow below. With cluster of dry leaves rattled, the wind started to blow. As the wind danced carelessly, dust started to whirl around.

Sinakop ko ang aking buhok ang naglakad ng diretso. Papunta ako ngayon sa Provincial Library. It's my part time job tuwing weekends. Magaan lang naman itong trabaho at hindi gaanong toxic. Kakaunti rin ang mga studyanteng pumupunta. Ngunit minsan sa Provincial Library rin sinasagawa ang pagtitipon ng mga elected officials.

"Psst. Miss!"

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon sa pagtawag ng kung sino. Hindi ko alam ko ako ba iyong tinatawag. Hindi nalang ako tumingin at naglakad nalang nang diretso papunta sa terminal ng tricycle.