GAYLE stood outside her parent's house pulling a deep breathe as she holds the strap of her back pack. It's weekend so she needed to pay a visit. She's out of excuses to not come. Alam niya kasing isang awkward na family dinner na naman lang ang araw na ito sa kanila. No one would be pleased.

"May kailangan po ba kayo?" Alangang lumapit sa kaniya ang isang ale na akmang bubuksan ang gate at papasok na sana but saw her. Hindi niya kilala ang ale. Hindi niya alam kung katulong ito. Maybe another newly hired. Madalas magpalit ng katulong ang mommy niya kesa sa dalas ng paguwi ng daddy niya.

Her dad spent all the time he could to stay at his work. And when he couldn't, he often go home at midnight and left early in the morning. Her father barely had formal communication with her mom. Yung doubt na may babae ang daddy niya nandun pa din sa pamilya niya.

"Ahm, a-anak po ako ng nakatira diyan." Nahihiyang tinaggal ni Gayle ang shades sa mata to let the woman see her face.

"Ah, ganun po ba? Pasensya na po ma'am. Magiisang linggo pa lang ho ako dito kaya hindi ko alam na may anak pala sila madam. Wala din po kasing nagbabanggit eh. Nakazipper lang kasi lagi ang bibig naming mga katulong lalo na pag nandito si sir. Halika ho, pasok kayo." Magiliw na inaya siya nito sa loob nang mabuksan nito ang gate.

Wouldn't a week be enough to learn that there is another member of this family? Even their helpers didn't mention about her, not even her parents. "Nasa salas po si madam. Diretso na ko ma'am sa kusina." Gayle just nodded and the maid left her there carrying a bag of ingredients from the market.

She's always nervous to face her parents whenever she comes home. They do try their best to keep up for her but it just gets awkward and always ended with them arguing. Ayaw niyang umuwi ngayon na nagtatalo ulit ang mga magulang niya so she's still hoping this day will be, if not okay, atleast no fights and-- She now heard noises from the living room.

"I'm staying at home today because I need a rest pero heto ka na naman, accusing me! Kailan ba mabubura sa tutok mo na may babae ako? Kung may babae ako, I should have left you long ago! Goddammit!" Gayle silently leaned behind the round pillar to hide herself.

"Kung napapagod ka na sa pagbibintang ko, then leave me! Sumama ka sa babae mo! Mga walanghiya kayo!" Gayle shut her eyes nang marinig na may nabasag sa floor. Her chest tightened. "Siguro mas mabuti pang totohanin ko na yang ibinibintang mo sa akin! I'll just fuck someone in the bar if that's what you want! I'm tired of this argument!"

"Ano? Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo! Babaero! Walanghiya! Lumayas ka! Wag ka nang magpapakita sa'kin! Layas!" Another glass was thrown and this time umabot ito sa may puwesto ni Gayle. She stared emotionless to the shards on the floor. Narinig niya din ang footsteps of her dad approaching to her spot. Agad naman itong napahinto nang mapansin siya roon sa likod ng pillar.

"Gayle, anak. Y-You're home? Kanina ka pa ba dyan?" Biglang nagbago ang madilim na ekspresyon ng daddy niya nang bumaling sa kaniya. Sinulyapan pa nito ang asawa saka tuloy-tuloy na kinuwestiyon siya.

"K-Kakarating ko lang po. Good morning d-dad, mom." She steps out from the pillar to greet her mom who was also flustered learning she's there. "You've been there the whole time?" Her mom speaks to her too. Isang tahimik na tango lang ang sinagot niya kasunod ng pormal na paglahad ng dahilan niya.

"It's weekend. I couldn't come last week so I thought I-- should come today." Nakayukong pagsasalita niya sa magasawa.

"You see that? Hindi ka na nahiya na hanggang ngayon ito pa din ang pinagtatalunan natin! Gayle is a woman now and we're still fighting over this nonesense accusations from long ago!"

"So ako pa talaga ang may kasalanan? Sino ba ang nagwalanghiya dito, diba ikaw? Kung may pwedeng mahiya dito, ikaw dapat yun!" The argument was starting again and Gayle was stuck between her parents.

"I'm sorry about this. God, you're really a big girl now. Did you had a breakfast? I'll tell Manang Belen to prepare you food. Ikaw na'ng bahala sa mommy mo ha." Her dad patted her head and leave. She wanted to ask him to stay but her words were trapped on her lungs.

"He left! He left again! Hindi na nagbago yang daddy mo, Gayle. I can't believe him!" Nagwalk-out naman ang mommy niya at umakyat sa kwarto. She's left alone on the living room, again. This was just another repeated scene. Nagsilabasan naman ang dalawang katulong para linisin ang mga piraso ng basag na baso.

"Ma'am! May sugat ka po." Her eyes lowered to the maid near her cleaning the shards that flew on her place. "Ikukuha po kita ng gamot at bandaid." Mabilis na umalis ulit ang babae. Tiningnan niya ang tinutukoy nito and there is a line of blood on her leg. She couldn't feel it, siguro dahil mas nangingibabaw ang sakit sa kalooban niya. Nang bumalik ang maid ay may dala na itong mga panlinis sa sugat. Too much for a little cut.

"I'm fine." She coldly left the concerned maid and headed to the yard. She occupied the hammock hanged in the mango tree sa tabi ng sementadong bakod nila. She dropped her backpack on the carpet of bermuda grass and lay her back to the swinging hammock to see the blue sky.

Such a clear sky for an endless fights. How long has it been since they had watched a view like this together? When she was newly adopted, they had a trip to Hawaii to see the waves of ocean. She swang by their grips on her little hands barefeet on the sand everyday. How long has it been when she felt their love since then? She can't help but misses it.

The warm breeze moves the strands of her hair and she's gently swinging herself to a short peaceful nap. This is the only spot she found quiet in this house.

She was there for a short moment until it reached half an hour before she got satisfied from her sleep. The maids had served her slices of apples and ripe mangoes from their yard and a glass of cucumber juice alongside a plate of breakfast while she's slumbering. Nakalatag ito sa glass table near the hammock. She leans to her side and tries to get another minute of sleep but her eyes had enough of it kaya tumuwid ulit siya ng higa still not opening an eye.

She's breathing peacefully until small twigs fell to her face kaya napamulat agad siya at inalis ang maliit na putol ng sanga na nahulog sa duyan. Her eyes settled above her and meet another pair looking at her too. A stranger was on the branch of their tree. Sa kaba ay napatayo agad siya sa kinahihigaan at tiningala ulit ang lalaki.

"Ahm, Hi lady? Pahingi nitong mangga niyo ha? Madami nang hinog. Hindi niyo naman siguro ito mauubos lahat kaya tinutulungan ko na kayo." The guy in a sando and a jersey short talks to her from the tree. Ang isang kamay nito ay nakahawak sa matibay na sanga habang ang isa salo-salo ang ilang piraso ng prutas sa mismong damit.

"Hindi mo naman ako isusumbong no? Mangga lang naman ito. You know, a nature's gift should be shared with everyone. Masamang maging madamot. Mapupunta sa hell." Patuloy na pagkausap sa kaniya nito habang pumipitas pa ng mga mangga. He's throwing it outside their yard. Maybe someone was there to catch those.

It's practically trespassing their property. Wala itong pahintulot na nangakyat ng puno ng may puno. Should she call someone to catch this guy?

"Nagsasalita ka ba?" Sinulyapan ulit siya ng lalaki but  she turned her back from him. She doesn't like socializing so she won't talk to this stranger. Wala siyang pakialam kung ubusin man nito ang mga mangga sa puno. Take whatever he could. She just doesn't care at all.

"You must be mute. Here, catch!" Hindi naman siya kumilos at sinundan niya lang ng tingin ang gumulong sa lupa na manggang hinagis nito.

"Ba't di mo sinalo? Hinog pa naman yun. Hindi ka din ba nakakarinig?" Gayle still kept her mouth shut. She clearly hears him and she's purposely ignoring him. Tahimik niyang dinampot ang backpack sa lupa at walang lingon na umalis ng bakuran.

Pagtayo niya sa likod ng sliding door ay tagong tinanaw niya ulit ang lalaki na tumalon pababa ng puno kung saan siya nakapuwesto kanina. Lumingon-lingon pa ito bago humugot ng plastik sa bulsa ng short at isinilid doon ang sandwich na nakahanda sa table para sa kaniya. Ininom pa nito ang juice niya saka muling umakyat ng puno at sa kabila naman tumalon palabas.

Nagpatay-malisya na lang siya at tumungo na sa kwarto niya para magbabad sa tubig. Her mom was still upstair. Alam niyang magkukulong lang ito doon because of their fight. After dinner she'll leave too or maybe attend a church mass tommorow with them if they feel like going.

A knock pulled her hands from the keyboard of her laptop. "Ma'am, nakahanda na po ang hapunan sa baba." A maid informed her outside the space of her door.

"Sila mom and dad?" She asks. She wanted to atleast have a proper dinner with them. It's been a while since she had it. "Yung mommy mo po naroon na. Si sir po-" The awkward look of the girl made her figure out the answer.

"Bababa na din ako." Gayle closed the door and sat for a moment infront of her mirror. Dinampot niya ang hairbrush and comb her long slightly curled hair. Hindi niya ito tinali at bumaba na para maghapunan. Kumakain na ang mommy niya nang makababa siya.

"Kakagising mo lang?" Bungad nito sa kaniya nang mapansin ang paglapit niya. "O-Opo. I.. overslept--" Her words were cut. Hindi siya nito pinatapos. She didn't slept actually. Gising siya kanina pa at maya-mayang sinisilip kung nakauwi na ba ang daddy niya o kung lumabas ng kwarto ang mommy niya.

"Sit down and eat. It's been a while since you came home. How's school?" Bumaba na ang paningin nito sa kinakain. Gayle took the seat infront of her mom's. Bakante ang upuan sa gitna and her dad isn't home yet. "O-Okay lang po. I'm doing fine." Her head is lowered and her hair covers the side of her face.

"You're graduating in three months right? Natutuwa akong ikaw ang napili namin na ampunin. You've been a good daughter to us. I'm proud of you, anak." Gayle lifted her eyes to her mother. Gusto niyang makita ang expression nito telling her those.

They're always been good to her despite their fights. Whenever they call her as a daughter, it's always a music to her ears. Mas nagd-dwell lang ang mga ito sa pagtatalo that they sounded less sincere everytime they compliment her.

"T-Thank you po. I'll do better pa po to make you prouder." Gayle pushed herself. Poker face pa din naman ang mommy niya despite her showing her best.

"You don't have to do that for us, Gayle. You've done enough. Do it for yourself this time. You're already an adult. I want you to take care of yourself from now on lalo na kapag nagkahiwalay na kami ng daddy mo." Nahahawakan pa lang ni Gayle ang kutsara nang mabahala siya sa sinabi ng ina.

"M-Maghihiwalay na po kayo?" She asked frightened. She doesn't want them get divorced. Hindi man siya iniluwal nito but she loves this family. All she repeatedly pray is for them to love each other again. She had a family because of them. They gave her a shelter she wished for. Hindi niya kayang mawala ang mga ito na bumuo sa pagkatao niya.

"I'm sure this time. I'm tired of this set up. I can't live with him anymore. Isa pa, we're barely living together. Kita mo ngayon, wala pa din ang daddy mo. He's still out there getting drunk with his workmates. Tell me anak, are you still happy with us? Dahil ako hindi na." Her mom finished eating when Gayle couldn't even touch her food because of what she's hearing. Mahigpit ang kapit niya sa hawak na kubyertos to keep herself look unbothered.

"Please respect my decision, anak. I'm sorry we let you down. You're always a daughter to me kahit na magkahiwalay kami ng daddy mo. Let's go to church tomorrow. I'll force your dad to come with us. Eat your food. Aakyat na ako." And just like that, Gayle was left alone sitting there.

They fought everyday but breaking their marriage was the least thing she expected. Ilang beses nang nagbanta ang mommy niya na magkikipaghiwalay but she never did it. Never niyang inasahang maghihiwalay ang mga ito dahil alam niyang deep inside they still love each other. If they get divorced, she'll be left alone again. She's always alone living in a dorm away her parents but loosing her parents now will be permanent.

Her silent tears fell through her cheeks. She lost appetite kaya bumalik na lang ulit siya sa silid niya without having a single bite and carrying a heavy heart. She felt heavier than normal. She buried her face on her pillow and cried there. Divorce isn't what they need. Forgiveness and trust is what they needed. They shouldn't break something they can still fix. The pain they had been accompanied with was just self-inflicted. Tamang-hinala. No proofs and just assumptions. Now it completely ruined this family.

Pinigil niya ang boses na kumawala sa pagiyak. Tahimik niyang kinoconsole ang sarili sa isipan that she can do this in the future. Living alone wasn't a big deal. Tumuntong siya ng pitong taon na walang ama at ina. She can do it now that she's already an adult.

But she got dependent to them for the past years. She gets dependent to her parents that still look out for her even they always fight. Naging sandalan niya ang pagmamahal ng mga ito na kahit malamig na ang trato nila sa isa't isa ay ito pa din ang lakas niya.

Ano na lang ang gagawin niya if they really get divorced? Paano na siya?

Shelovesrain❤