The Great Escape

03

"Shenaya be careful you little devil!"

My sister screamed at me as I ran towards our car. She got scolded yesterday when dad learned about her leaving her grade four sister here in school. Now she's being too protective not wanting me to get hurt because dad is still mad.

I smiled at her when she got inside the car and I immediately scooted near her. Ate Sharm is not much of a showy person but I still think she loves me. Well she should right? I'm her sister anyways. I hugged her as tight as I could but suddenly she pushed me too hard that I bumped my head at the window.

"Aw," I complained as I held my head and massaged it gently.

Our driver looked at me worried while ate's eyes grew wide. She didn't expected that, she doesn't mean to do that. She won't hurt me. That was what dad kept on telling me before.

"Ang kulit mo kasi! I don't like you so stay away from me!" she exclaimed.

I pouted before nodding my head. She might be mad at me because of dad, so she's like this. Yeah that's right Shenaya, your ate is mabait so don't get mad at her. Maybe she is naiinis pa na she got scolded dahil sa akin that's why she's being grumpy again. When we got home, I jumped down the car making me receive a glare from my sister. I just smiled awkwardly before pulling her inside the house, the mansion was big and it's actually too much for a family of four.

"You fucking cheated on me?!" I gasped when I heard dad's loud scream.

I ran towards our living room where all the noises came from. Mom is crying and dad's voice is furious, yet it is breaking. They're both in pain.

"Ngayon ano? Hindi ka makatingin sa akin?! Anong pagkukulang ko Sera?!" my body trembled as I looked at them.

I felt my sister behind me so I turned to look at her. "A-ate," I murmured.

She suddenly pulled me away from there and when we reached my room, she hugged me. I can hear her sobs together with mine but she's stroking my hair to make me calm. "Don't mind them Shen, just think of ate.. You want to play with me right? Come on," she said.

I wiped my tears using the back of my hand before sniffing. I smiled at her making her smile too, she pulled me towards my toys and we played na parang we didn't hear our parents na nag-aaway.

"Sera! Ilabas niyo si Sera!" my smile faded when I saw a man blocking our way inside the gate.

It had been weeks after that day when we heard our parents fight and that had been their breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes even midnight snack. It was getting our usual though it was really frustrating to hear. If it weren't for ate, I would probably be crying over and over.

My eyes widened when I saw dad going out of the house with his rifle while mom is following him with puffy eyes. Some of our helpers hurriedly opened the gate and dad welcomed the man with a hit on his face. It immediately bleeds.

I was about to go out and stop dad but I heard mom screamed. "No! Tama na Aren! Please, please.. No," she cried while kneeling in front of dad, blocking the man.

"S-sera, tumabi ka.. Ilalaban kita, isasama k-kita," the guy said and I stared at his face for too long.

I felt the sudden urge to cry again but ate Sharm told our driver to take us in our favorite ice cream shop. She was making me laugh the whole ride and I was so nadadala in those na hindi ko na-notice that we're already there. She brought me ice cream and we ate it inside the car. "Masarap?" she asked with a smile in her face.

"Yummy!" I screamed and nodded making her chuckle.

When we went back home, our parents are still fighting. I can't understand everything but I heard the word 'divorce'. I know what that means, it's separation right? I badly wanna ask ate Sharm about it but I saw her crying so I hugged her tight. She smiled and hugged me too.