Past The Storm Clouds

Chapter 01

"Farizah!"

Saglit akong napalingon sa boses na 'yon at hilaw na ngumiti. Pumagitna si Mom sa amin ni Daena at sinubukang paghiwalayin kami. Even kuya is trying to pull my hand away from Daena's hair. Gusto kong bunutin ang buhok niya hanggang sa mag-mukha siyang lampaso. Even at this moment, I chuckled at my silent thoughts.

First time kong makipag-away na may kasamang physical attack kaya biglang bumigat ang pakiramdam ko sa nangyayari. I can't deny that it feels good to pull her hair, though, after making my blood boil.

"You little piece of shit!" I hissed, raising my voice with hatred.

Mom turned to me with an incredulous look on her face. "Where did you learn that? Nagmumura ka na?"

"Siya 'yung—"

Daena cut me off stupidly. "Ano? Ikaw 'tong kulang sa pansin so you're making a scene!"

Huh, that sounded rhyme. Nag-practice nga!

Marahas kong hinila ang buhok niya ngunit agad akong pinigilan ni Kuya Cajil. Matalim ko siyang tinitigan. I gritted my teeth and forcefully pulled my hand away from his grip. I smirked with no humor. Mabibigat na ang hininga ko at parang mag-uunahan na ang mga luha ko. There's no way I'll cry over this pathetic situation!

"Farizah!" sigaw na naman ni Mom.

Her raging shout didn't matter to me. Nagmartsa ako palayo sa kanila at tahimik na umakyat ng kwarto. I stood by my pride and no apologies left my mouth. Nagising na lang ako sa sunod-sunod na katok mula sa labas ng kwarto ko. Ramdam ko ang pamamanhid ng mukha ko.

"Fara," marahang tawag ni Dad.

Pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto. Alam ko na agad kung anong pinunta niya. I'm confident he's going to talk to me about my wonderful life and all that.

"Farizah, your mom told me what happened," Dad started.

Maayos ang samahan namin nila Mom noon. I enjoyed being around them. That was until I became a target. Bigla na lang ako ang may kasalanan ng lahat at mali na ang bawat ginagawa ko para sa kanila. Even if it really was Daena's fault, it'd be under my name. Then fine! I don't care if they keep on blaming everything on me. Sumabog pa ang bulkan, kasalanan ko na rin!

"Let me guess, Dad, sinabi niya na akong nagsimula ng away, blah, blah, blah," I muttered, imitating a line from a movie.

"Look at yourself. Nawawalan ka na ng respeto kaya sa tingin ko'y hindi nagsisinungaling ang mommy mo," aniya sabay hinga ng malalim. I turned to him when my comb got stuck on my hair.

"I always get blamed. Buti pa nga mag lawyer na lang ako at magkita kita na lang kami sa korte. I'll fight for myself!"

"Nagpipilosopo ka na naman." He watched me disappointedly. "Tell me what really happened."

I know Daena and Mom have talked to him already so I don't see any reason why I should explain my side. Ako pa rin naman ang mali sa huli. And for the record, that's merely a big deal to me. I got used to it kaya bakit pa ako masasaktan. Hurting because of petty reasons is seriously wearisome. Ayaw kong nasasaktan ako sa mabababaw na rason.

"I'm doing a film kasi, Dad. Sinabihan ko siya na 'wag munang mag-invite ng friends niya but she didn't listen. I'm the older one, 'di ba? Pero she acts as if siya ang mas matanda."

"You didn't ask nicely, did you? You demanded and she refused so you got mad?" he concluded.

Fine, medyo tama siya! I remained silent as he continued giving me life lessons. Sure, I made a mistake but so did Daena. So did Mom, and so did Kuya Cajil. My reason was also valid. I can't film with all the noises and Daena should've been considerate. I'm required to talk in my video and their noises will be included in my film then. Anong gagawin ko sa ingay nila? Background music?