"Did you even know that I was sexually harassed on that video?" I confessed.

I heard a shattering glass together with my mother's loud gasp. Someone uttered a crisp curse, I don't know if it's Fritz or Romulus.

"How dare you!" Milena is now hysterical, tila susugurin ako ngunit agad na pumagitna ang asawa niya. I caught Draven clenching his fist. Ngisi lamang ang sinagot ko nang nagtama ang aming mga mata.

Everything around us is in chaos but my eyes were fixed at my father. "Did you even know that the man you wants me to marry raped me?"

"Did you even know that Milena Ynares blackmailed me after knowing what her son did to me? Sinabi niyang babaligtarin niya 'ko at siguradong hindi kayo maniniwala sa akin," mapati na sambit ko habang binabalikan ang mga sinabi niya noon.

I can still feel how I lose hope after she told me those. Dahil akala ko ay may maitutulong siya sa akin. Turns out, Draven is still her son. And a son is a son no matter what.

"Milena! Is that true?" Mom stride towards Milena with her demanding voice. Bahagya pa akong napapitlag, ganoon ang tono niya tuwing may ginagawa akong hindi niya nagugustuhan. Agad na nagtungo si Romulus sa likuran ni Mommy, para bang nakahanda sa kung ano man ang maaaring gawin niya.

I grimace upon tasting how bitter my smile is. One thing I'm glad is, there's no tears running down my cheeks. Dahil ayaw kong makita ng pamilyang ito na hanggang ngayon ay malaki pa rin ang epekto sa akin ng ginawa ng anak nila, pati na rin ang ginawa sa akin ni Milena.

Tila ubos na ang aking luha. But the pain and anger is still etched in my insides. As years passed by, slowly, I can say that I'm healing. But the scars brought by it, it will remain intact even after years.

"See? Iyan ba ang itinuturing mong pamilya, Dad?"

My father remained calm while a furrow is evident in his forehead. His jaw clenched a bit. Other than that, there's no emotion in his face.

Dismayado akong napailing at napabaling kay Milena nang nilapitan niya si Mommy. She even held my mother's hand. I glanced at her husband and saw him stopping his wife. Hindi mabakas ang pagkagulat sa mga mata niya na para bang alam na niya kung ano ang nangyari, dahilan kung bakit hindi na niya ikinabigla ang mga salitang lumabas sa aking bibig.

Look at these thick faced people. So even him knew it already. Of course he's the father. At ngayon may gana sila na pumunta sa aming mansyon na para bang hindi ako binaboy ng anak nila!

"No, D-Dahlia. Alam mo naman 'yang anak mo. Don't believe her--"

"Are you implying that my daughter is lying?" Mommy's voice rose.

My eyes enlarged as I was taken aback when she hastily removed Milena's hands that's holding hers.

Nabaling sa kanilang dalawa ang atensyon dahil sa pagtaas ng boses ni Mommy.

"You know your daughter--"

Mommy dismissively shook her head. She even waved her hand in front of Milena, telling her to stop. "Ako ang nagpalaki sa anak ko, Milena. Hindi man kami malapit sa isa't isa, kilala ko ang anak ko. My daughter won't lie when it comes to things like this," marahang sambit ni Mommy na para bang ipinaiintindi kay Milena ang bawat salita.

I bit my lower lip as I realized, Mom's taking my side. Naniniwala siya sa 'kin. My heart clenched at the thought of it. Tila ang luha na kanina ay hindi lumalabas, ngayon ay nagbabadya na sa gilid ng aking mga mata.

"How about you, Milena? Paano mo pinalaki ang anak mo? Do you even know how to chain your son or all you know is to tolerate even his wrong doings?"

Draven's nother shook her head. "Believe me, my son won't do it."

"Draven raped me," I interfered, enough for everyone in the dining table to hear as I adverted my eyes from my mother towards Draven.

Hinarap ko si Draven kaya't ngayon ay nasa likuran ko na si Maverick. Dad's beside me while in my other side is Spencer. Sa gilid ni Draven, naroon si Mommy pati na rin ang mga magulang niya. Habang ang mga kapatid ko ay pareho nang nasa likuran ni Mommy.

Draven clenched his fist. Nanlilisik na ang mga mata niya ngunit nakuha pa ring ngumisi sa akin. "That's not true. Ginusto mo 'yon--"

"Shut the fuck up," Maverick cutted his words. And even I'm not seeing him, I can perceive him clenching his jaw. Papunta pa lamang kami ay sagad na ang galit niya kay Draven kaya't nasisiguro kong sobra-sobra na ang pagtitimpi niya. At ngayon ay mukhang hindi na mapipigilan.

"D-did you see the video, Dahlia? A-Amaryllis is moving on t-top--"

"Don't go that far, Milena." Mommy stressed every word she's saying. And everytime she starts talking to me that way, my mouth would automatically shut up.

"He drugged me. I wasn't on my right mind on that video."

I glanced at Draven when he groaned. "Can't you just be thankful to me? Admit it, you enjoyed it too--"

Hindi niya natapos ang sinasabi niya nang tumilapon siya sa sahig. It happened too fast, shrieks and curses filled our mansion and the next thing I know, Maverick's already punching Draven on the floor.

"I told you to shut your mouth," he muttered coldly that it almost sent chills down my spine.

Draven's father tried to stop Maverick but Spencer immediately got him.

"I'm sorry, Sir but your son deserves some beating." Narinig kong sambit ni Spencer habang pinipigilan ang ama ni Draven na makalapit sa dalawa. Milena tried too but the only thing she can do is order Maverick to stop. Ngunit tila walang naririnig si Maverick.

Draven's trying to fight back but he can't do it, especially that Maverick's at the top of him while continuously punching his face like a punching bag.

Mom and Dad remained immobile from where they were standing. Si Mommy, mataman lang na nakatitig habang binubugbog ni Maverick si Draven. There's no signs of remorse in her eyes, it remained cold instead. Habang si Dad, seems like he's thinking about something deep.

Habang ako, a part of me want to stop him too because I'm thinking of his own sake and not Draven's.

Si Romulus at Fritz ang siyang pumigil kay Maverick. Ilang minuto pa ang inabot bago nila tuluyang napigilan si Maverick. Because he's livid.

Agad kong inabot ang braso niya nang tuluyan siyang nailayo ng aking mga kapatid mula kay Draven. I gripped his arm and the moment our eyes met, he instantly took a step back wrapped his arms around me. I can feel his body shaking as he shut his eyes closed. Tahimik niya akong niyakap mula sa aking tagiliran. He let his head leaned on me and tightened his arms encircled at my body.

Milena started walking towards her son while Draven in the other hand is struggling to get on his feet.

Ngunit naunahan ni Spencer ang ina ni Draven dahil sa malalaking hakbang nito.

"My turn," he muttered before grabbing Draven's collar. Napaupo siya dahil sa pwersahang paghila sa kanyang damit. And when he's already kneeling on the floor, Spence gave him one hard punch on the face. Kasabay ng pagbitaw ni Spencer sa damit ni Draven, dahilan kung bakit muli itong napahiga sa sahig.

"Fuck!" His curse echoed in our mansion, as well as Milena's shriek.
I watched him clenched his jaw while still trying to get up. Putok ang labi niya at halos masira ang damit sa rahas ng paghila ni Spencer doon.

Agad na dinaluhan ni Milena ang anak at tinulungan itong tumayo.

"I can't believe my son's treated like this! Inside a friend's mansion. Really, Felix?"

"Rodolfo, we can calmly talk about this--"

"No, Felix! What they did to my son, I can't forgive it! I'll see this two in court!" Draven's father stated, pertaining to Maverick and Spencer.

Maverick didn't even moved and remained hugging me, like he didn't give a fuck that Draven's father threatened to sue them.

"We're leaving!" pabalang na sambit ni Rodolfo habang ang anak niya ay nakahawak sa panga. Milena's guiding her son like a fragile glass.

"Draven, hijo," Mommy called when the Ynareses started turning their back on us.

Agad namang nilingon ni Draven si Mommy. "T-Tita."

Even Milena stopped and looked back at Mom.

She elegantly stride towards Draven.
Everyone went silent while waiting for what she'll do next. And a gasped escaped from my mouth as Mom's palm landed on Draven's face.

It is still too good to be true seeing Mom like this. She used to like Draven a lot. Hindi ko inakala na agad niya akong paniniwalaan.

"I'll make sure you'll rot in jail, hijo," she stated in a calm way. And when she said something, I know it's always not just a mere threat.

Agad na lumipat ang mga mata niya kay Rodolfo Ynares. "And yes, Rodolfo. We'll see each other in court. The door is open..." Mommy pointed the way towards the door using her palm and continued. "widely. You all may now leave."

"Dahlia, we can still talk about this--"

"Leave!" Mommy shouted when Milena tried talking again.

"Come on, Dahlia. Our family--" Milena even went towards Mommy with her hopeful eyes. "We've been friends for so long already. Ipagpapalit mo ba 'yon para lang--"

"Ipagpapalit para saan? Are you hearing yourself, Milena? The moment you blackmailed my daughter, you should already knew that I'll cut our family ties!"

"Dahlia--" Daddy called mom and held her arms but mom immediately dodged it. Nanatili sa ina ni Draven ang mga mata niya.

"Your son is..." An emotion flickered in her eyes. "Disgusting! I can't believe I associate myself to your family! I can't believe I asked my daughter to marry your son!"

"Dahlia, they c-can still marry each other--"

"I won't marry a rapist," I interfered. Kung noon nga na walang masamang ginagawa sa akin si Draven ay hindi ko siya pinakasalan, ngayon pa kaya?

I disappointedly shook my head.

"And what? We'll just forget what your son did to my daughter? You can't fool me, Milena. Walang kasalang magaganap!"

"But, Dahlia--"

"Fritz." Mom turned to my brother. "Call the guards. Tell them to escort this family out of my mansion. At mula ngayon, wala kahit isang Ynares ang maaaring pumasok dito."

"Hindi na kailangan dahil kusa kaming aalis. Milena, let's go."

Rodolfo Ynares turned his back on us. Noong una ay tila ayaw pang sumunod ni Milena ngunit wala na ring nagawa nang akayin ito ng anak.

My eyes followed them as they walked out of our mansion. I felt Maverick's body relaxed the moment the Ynareses are out of our sight. He leaned for a quick kiss on my temple that made my eyes willingly shut closed for a second before he stood straight.

I shifted and met Spencer's eyes. Seryoso siyang nakatitig sa akin kaya naman agad ko siyang nginisihan, upang ipaalam na maayos ang aking lagay. But his eyes just narrowed like he's not believing me. I was about to chuckle when I heard Romulus' voice calling our mother.

"Mom!"

Shattering sounds from plates and glasses filled the whole mansion.

Napabaling ako sa direksyon ni Mommy at agad na namilog ang aking mga mata nang matantong hinawi niya mga nasa hapag, dahilan kung bakit bumagsak sa sahig ang mga naroon.

Nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin matapos ang ginawa ni Mommy. Seems like no one is brave enough to end this silence. Or maybe, they simply doesn't know how to.

Dinaluhan siya ng aking mga kapatid ngunit agad ding napahinto sa mga kinatatayuan nang matantong hindi magpapahawak si Mommy.

I'm facing her back as she's facing the table. Nasa gilid niya ang aking mga kapatid habang si Dad nanatili ring malayo kay Mommy. I even caught Daddy dismissing the househelpers.

Mom raised her hand like she wants to grasp her hair but ended up clenching it in the air. Her body slowly fell down on the chair. Habang ang mga palad niya ay napahilamos sa kanyang mukha.

She snorted while placing her elbow atop the table. Her head quietly rested on her wrist, near her palm.

"M-Mommy." My voice trembled as I called her. I started nibbling my lower lip and slowly walked near her.

Marahan kong hinawakan ang sandalan ng kinauupuan niya at mataman siyang tinitigan. I swallowed upon seeing her eyes tightly shut closed.

"M-Mom, are you alrig--" My words were cutted and I stilled when Mom's shoulders started shaking.

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