Forty-Five

"Do you want to talk about it?" Harry asked softly.

Suminghot ako tapos marahang iniling ang ulo ko. He stared at me for a long time before he nodded in defeat. My hands were wrapped around my arms as I numbly strode through the neighborhood.

I couldn't be any more grateful for Harry's companion. Tahimik lang siya habang nakasakay kami ng taxi hanggang sa bumaba kami sa gate ng subdivision. He was the one who suggested I talk a short walk to clear my mind off things.

I exhaled a deep breath as our house came into view. I'm sure as hell I still looked like a mess right now and I could only hope na wala pa sina Mommy at Daddy sa bahay.

"Well," I came into a halt and turned towards Harry. I smile sadly at him. "Dito nalang ako,"

He nodded his head again and cupped my cheeks then he leaned in closer to kiss my forehead. Napapikit ako. Somehow, the feel of his warm lips against my cold forehead soothed me. My mind finally went quiet.

"Be good, eat a lot, and go to sleep early." He murmured against my skin. Then he pulled away. "You badly need it. And don't worry about this night. If you think you can't survive, all you need to do is call me, okay?"

Tumango ako habang pinipilit na pigilan ang pagpatak ng mga luha ko. I swallowed and bid goodbye as I mindlessly walked towards our house. I quickly wiped the tears away when I heard muffled laughters from inside the house. The door suddenly burst open, revealing Tito Emile. He smiled at me. He must've noticed that my face are streaked with ruined mascara and tears but decided not to say a thing about it.

"Your parents are waiting for you inside," He announced.

I frowned, trying to compose myself. Then I suddenly remembered that today is my parent's wedding anniversary. I nodded at him and continued walking towards the front porch.

"I'm a veterinarian, not a psychologist. But I can see that you're fucked up right now," napahinto ako sa sinabi ni Tito Emile. My hands went to my face unconsciously. Do I really look that bad right now? "I suggest you take the back door and wash yourself first. If you show up to your parents looking like that, I'm sure mag-aalala lang sila."

"Thank you." I murmured and backed away, heading towards the back part of the house where the kitchen door is located. Sumilip ako bago pumasok. Kaagad akong dumiretso sa sink at nanghilamos. I could hear several voices from the living room. Someone suddenly entered the kitchen.

"Oh, Mary Grace, hello." Rania bounced brightly as she clutched her swollen tummy. "I was hoping you'd come home sooner. Look, we have a lot to cook."

I observed the large bag of groceries and some vegetables laid carelessly on the kitchen countertop. "I suggested to cook instead of ordering food," Wika niya. "Your parents deserve a nice homecook meal."

I nodded my head again and cleared my throat. "Can I help?"

"Of course," She beamed. "I'm making curry. Would you mind cutting the vegetables for me?"

Tango lang ang isinagot ko. I need to keep my mind off things. Inilagay ko ang bag ko sa lamesa. I rolled up my sleeves and started helping Rania in the kitchen. My grandfather peeked into the kitchen to watch us for a while then rejoined the other relatives in the living room. Even Tito Alistair walked like a beauty queen inside the kitchen, laughing like an idiot, obviously drunk.

Nagkuwentuhan kami ni Rania habang nagluluto. If she noticed that I'm not in the mood because of my clipped tone and short answers, she didn't seem to mind it. My parents walked in the kitchen as well and praised me for helping out instead of locking myself inside the room as per usual.

People went in and out of the kitchen. I felt sick when I saw Uncle Thomas laughing along with Tito Emile and other male house members of the family. I saw him glanced at me but I ignored him. Soon, they all skimmed out the kitchen nang magreklamo si Rania na hindi na daw siya nakakapagtrabaho nang maayos.

"Dito ka lang muna ah," Rania said, washing her hands. "I need to take care of something." Then she strode out of the kitchen as well. I'm sure as hell she's a year younger than me but I didn't said a thing about her early pregnancy. I focus myself on cutting potatoes when I felt a heavy glare at the back of my head. Someone is inside the kitchen.

I ignored the uncomfortable feeling. My heart started hammering inside of my chest when he cleared his throat. I could hear his footsteps towards my direction. Mas hinigpitan ko pa ang hawak sa kutsilyo.

"Mary Grace, it's been a long time." Uncle Thomas greeted. I could even hear the evil smile on his tone even with my back to him.

I quivered, my knees suddenly wobbling. I cursed at myself when I noticed that my fingers started shaking at well, cutting potatoes suddenly became a difficult task to me.

"I supposed you miss this," I gasped when I felt his hardness on my back as he pressed his body towards me. I spun around and grabbed the knife, thrusting the tip towards his direction.

"Don't you ever touch me again." I said through gritted teeth. "Otherwise I'll scream. I'll fucking scream and let the entire family know what you did to me." Banta ko sa nanginginig na labi.

He stared at me for a while as shock overwhelmed him but after a few seconds, he threw his head back and laugh. His voice made me sick to my stomach. It took all my willpower not to melt down and remain standing. He must've noticed that my hands are trembling while holding the knife. We both snapped our heads when we heard loud howls of laughters outside the living room, as if they're having the time of their life.

Then he slowly turned his gaze towards me. I did not dare took a step back. Nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Mary Grace, Mary Grace." He sang. "You don't have the courage to tell them, sweetie." The he smiled at me as if I'm amusing him. "You don't know what I am capable of. I could send your entire family to grave if I wanted to." Then he mockingly place his hands on his chin as if he's in deep thought. "Hmm, how about I start with your mother, huh? Her screams of terror would be music to my ears."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig. My whole body trembled. He looked entirely a different person from the Uncle Thomas that he's showing whenever there are people around. I could've sworn I saw a real demon standing in front of me in that moment.

"What do you think?"

"Don't you ever touch me, my mother, or my family. Hayop ka. Hindi ka na nahiya sa mga pinaggagawa mo." I tried to sound brave but my trembling voice betrayed me.

He laughed again that made my blood boil in anger. Then he advanced towards me and pressed me against the counter, the tip of my knife in his throat. The sliced potatoes came falling down the sink.

"You can't fight me, little girl." A devilish grin appeared on his lips as he tried to grind on me and that's when I lose it. I scream out loud, shoved him, and my hands automatically slashed across his right cheek using the knife. He stepped from me, eyes widening as the crimson blood seep out from the skin I had just cut.

The laughter eventually died down and several hurried footsteps came rushing towards the kitchen. I'm still holding the blood-stained kitchen knife while the demon clutched on his pulsing wound.

"Oh my god." Napatakip ng bibig si Rania sa nakita, dropping a bucket full of ice in the process.

I studied their faces. Shock expression bled on each one of them, even my parents.

"Mary Grace, what have you done?" My mom asked terrified.

"She just attacked me!" Uncle Thomas helped himself up and pointed a finger at me. "I don't know what the hell is wrong—"

Before he could even fabricate lies, I threw the dagger at him but this time he sidestepped it and it clank against the wall. Tears started streaming down my face as I ran to hide, using the back door. Maybe they were too stunned to speak nor move upon witnessing such a horrible scene because I got out of the house withone anyone tailing me after me.

May bahid ng kaunting dugo ang mga nanginginig kong kamay. I ran as fast as I could and when I finally got out of the subdivision, my body started shaking so bad. I didn't even realized I was sobbing loudly because people are throwing me weird looks. Kinuha ko ang phone mula sa back pocket ng pantalon ko. I searched for Harry's name through blurred vision and hit the message button a couple of times by mistake with my trembling fingers before I finally managed to dial his number.

He picked it up on the first ring. "Mary Grace—"

"I need you." I sobbed. "I badly need you right now."

"Hey, hey." I could feel the panic on his voice as some muffling sounds of opening and closing the door. "Anong nangyari?"

"Harry...I didn't.. I didn't mean to... It wasn't me..." Napahagulhol ako. I pulled myself down, clutching my knees and rocking back and forth as I continued to cry.

"Mary Grace, nasaan ka ngayon? Pupuntahan kita." Harry said.

"I.." nagpalinga-linga ako, my mind still in a mess. "N-Nasa labas ako ng subdivision."

"Just stay there. Stay there, okay? I'm coming for you."

"Harry...Uncle Thomas..." My throat thicken. "He did...I'm so lost... I didn't do it..." I could not even say the word he did to me nor describe the awful things he have done to ruin my childhood. But I badly wanted to tell it to him. Right now. Gusto ko nang sabihin sa kanya.

"Mary Grace, just please calm down. Huwag kang aalis diyan okay? I'm coming, Mary Grace."

"Uncle Thomas.." I trailed off, sobbing loudly again before I ended the call while Harry is still in mid-sentence. I remained like that for a few minutes before I mindlessly pulled myself up and started walking. I couldn't wait for Harry. I'll probably go insane. Pumara ako ng taxi, fishing for the remaining money I still have inside my pocket. I told him to drive me to Marterllini Estate as fast as he can.

Thankfully, we arrived there at no time. Bukas ang gate ng mansion. The red Honda is out of the garage as well but it seemed to stop moving. I spotted a pink-headed girl shouting something at the driver, banging the car's window before Harry came out, irritated. Ibinigay ko ang lahat ng pera ko sa driver bago ako dali-daling bumaba ng taxi.

"I told you I need to hurry!" Harry shouted back, obviously angry.

"Well save your epic love story for later! You can't take my car, young man. Come inside the house this moment—"

"Can't you understand, she's in fucking trouble!" Harry screamed, his chest rapidly rising up an down. I haven't seen him this angry before.

"Ano bang problema mo, Harry?!" Tumaas na din ang boses ni Pinky. "You've been fooling around this girl for a long time now and yet wala ka pa ring nakukuha sa kanya pertinent to the death of your girlfriend!"

I tensed.

"I'm not fooling around with her. I love her—"

"Fuck you!" Pinky shoved him. "Fuck you, Harry! Huwag ako ang niloloko mo punyeta ka—"

I placed my hands on my mouth as fresh fat tears came streaming down my face. Para akong nabingi. They were still shouting at each other. I hid myself behind a large brick wall. Clarisse came crying afterwards, clutching to her mother as they both watched Harry sped down the road.

Napatawa ako nang mapakla. So he's only fooling with me. This is all a show. A fucking show.

The gate automatically closed. Pinky's shoulder slumped as she carried Clarisse inside the grandiose house. Hindi ako makagalaw. I stayed there for a while. My phone started buzzing. I fished it from my pocket and saw Harry calling. I pressed the end call button with such force as my tears started streaming down my face again. Then I threw my phone away.

Naglakad ako paalis sa Martellini Estate. Nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko. But I forced myself to walk until I reached the highway. I'm so fucking lost. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta o kung may mapupuntahan pa ba ako.

I spotted a car racing towards my direction. The lights blinded me but nevertheless, I took a step towards the road para salubungin ito. Some people gasped and even screamed when the car continued speeding towards my direction. I closed my eyes.

Tonight, I decided to disappear.

-Mary Grace.