Fourteen

I stretched out from my bed. My room is still the same. The old posters are still hanging in one corner of the wall and my snow globe collection are still complete. Lots of books are scattered around, as if someone barged into my room to look for something and didn't bothered cleaning up after.

I padded out of my room silently, careful not to wake my mother who insisted on sleeping next to me last night. We were too engulfed with our own emotions last night that if it weren't for Harry, we wouldn't be able to fill our empty stomachs. Speaking of him, I found the poor boy sleeping on the living room with a sleeping bag laid carefully on the floor.

Who would've thought that a wealthy boy like him would endure so much just for me and my sister? I smiled despite myself and walked closer to him, then I sat next to him and crossed my knees.

Minutes after, I felt him stirring from his sleep. I glanced at him just as he was fluttering his eyes open, then his gaze landed on me. A small lazy smile tuged on his lips.

"How long have you been here?" he asked, his voice hoarse.

"Kakagising ko lang." I shrugged one shoulder, sweeping my eyes across our empty living room. Mom said she's planning to sell the house. She started cleaning up their room and the kitchen pero hindi pa niya nagagalaw ang kwarto naming dalawa ni Ate Annie in which I am grateful of.

"My mom is planning to sell this house..." I muttered, pulling my knees into my chest and resting my chin on it.

"Yeah, I overheard." Tumayo si Harry mula sa pagkakahiga at napangiwi nang bahagya. His back is probably hurting from the hard floor. Mom doesn't know about our relationship yet. There are lots of things we need to settle first. The last thing she probably wanted to hear right now is her daughter dating the boyfriend of her dead sister. "What're you gonna do?"

I shrugged again. "I don't know, Harry. I did and didn't want this house. I have so many memories here. Even the most painful ones."

Tumango-tango si Harry. "I understand."

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "I guess it's up to my mother if she would really get rid of this house for good. She said I can stay with her in a small apartment she got in Clark."

"So your mother wanted to start a new life, huh?" he wondered.

"It seems like it—"

"Mary Grace!"

Napalingon kaagad kaming dalawa ni Harry sa taas nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng kwarto ko. There is an alarmed expression flashing across my mother's face, her eyes filled with fear and anxiety.

I quickly stood up from the floor. "Relax, mommy. I'm just here."

She heaved a sigh of relief. "Oh, I'm so worried. I thought you were..." she trailed off, then hung her head low.

Guilt washed over me again. Look at what I've done to my mother.

"Come here, Mom." I said softly.

She went downstairs and engulfed me into a weak hug. "I'm sorry anak, I'm just... scared of losing you again."

"You won't lose me again." I patted her back. "I'm sorry."

Harry cleared his throat in a distance. Napakalas ako mula sa pagkakayakap kay mommy.

"I think you two have a visitor."

My eyes darted to the tall figure occupying the entire doorway. Both Mom and I froze into the ground as we watched my father in silence. He gaped at us, then his eyes traveled to Harry and before I knew it, he is punching him in the face.

I shrieked. "Dad!"

"Where did you fucking took my daughter?!" he roared in his face.

My mother immediately pulled him away from Harry as he continued to curse him to death.

"Daddy, stop!" I shouted, my voice trembling. "Harry didn't do anything!"

"He was the one who took you away from us!" he roared.

"No, he isn't." I shook my head and blink back the tears that had been welling inside my eyes.

"Then what?!" he barked.

"Thunder, shut the fuck up." My mother clenched her teeth, trying to contain her anger. "Why are you acting like this?" We all could hear the hurt and sorrow in her voice. She pointed at me. "Your daughter had been gone for two years. Last week, we thought she was dead. And now that she's back, you're acting like a madman?"

Dad softened at my mother's words. Inalis niya ang pagkakahawak ni Mommy sa braso niya at lumapit sa akin. Before I knew it, he was on his knees, crying silently. My eyes widen in surprise.

"I'm sorry..." he said in a weak voice. "I know what the demon did to you. I could've killed him with my both hands if your mother didn't stopped me."

Nanigas ulit ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Harry averted his gaze, so as my mother. They already knew?

"Alistair turned him in." My mother said quietly. "All this time..." she closed her eyes as if she's trying to restrain herself. "All this time she knew the wrongdoings of his partner. Ginawa niya akong tanga."

"Tito Alistair?" I echoed. I didn't have any idea he knew something of what had happened to me.

"Thomas is rotting in jail for a year now." She said, sucking in a deep breath. "Alistair flee and did not dared show his face again."

I swallowed. My Dad keep on crying on his knees. He clutched my hands tightly, bringing it to his chest as he sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Mary Grace... Please, please forgive me. I failed you as a father."

"Dad... no..."I whimpered.

My mother watched us, tears silently streaming down her face. I wanted to tell Dad to stand up and stop crying but I lost my voice. Harry is on the corner, clutching his throbbing cheeks. It hurts like hell to see your parents hurting because of you. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko, hoping that it would all disappear the moment I open my eyes.

But it didn't.

Their faces. How could I forget these sorrowful faces? They all share my agony. They all blame themselves for not being able to help me. How can I forget?

---

Inilapag ni mommy ang malaking bowl ng adobo sa lamesa before she slid down in her own chair. She cleared her throat, aware of the awkward atmosphere between the four of us.

"I know this sounds so weird," she started. "But let's enjoy our meal."

We all nodded our head reluctantly and we all ate in silence. Mom and Dad sat across each other. Harry is beside me. It's only Dad on the opposite side of the table.

"Mary Grace," My Dad started. "You need to tell me what this young man have done—"

"Thunder," my mother said in a warning tone. "Just drop it, please. Drop it. All I wanted is a normal dinner for all of us. Mary Grace had gone through a lot today. Let her be."

My father scoffed. "Fine. But I'm not leaving this house."

"Suit yourself. You are welcome to enjoy the floor in the living room together with Harry." my mother retorted.

"Actually..." Harry said in a quiet voice. "My father is looking for me. I need to go home." Then he glanced at me and smiled a little. "Besides, I think Mary Grace needs some time to settle things between you guys."

It is evident on my father's face that he wanted to shot back some negative comments to Harry's statement but I was grateful he decided not to talk. The rest of the dinner was spent in silence except for the clanking of fork every now and then against the plate.

When we were done eating, hinatid ko sa labas si Harry. His driver is already waiting in his black SUV just outside the gate.

"Dad knew you are already home and now he demands for my presence in our business." He started. "So I guess this will give you some time to sort things out with your parents."

We both stopped in the front porch of the house. Craning my neck, I watched the faint pulsing of the light that hungs low above us.

"Yeah, I guess."

Harry pulled me closer and kissed my temple. "Do not worry, Mary Grace. Everything is going to be fine."

I nodded my head. "I hope so, Harry. I hope so."

"I'm going to visit you this weekend. You need as much time as you can to make up for your parents. I don't want to interfere." He started walking towards the gate. Then he glanced at me and smiled. "I'm thinking of tagging Clarisse along with me. Maybe we could bake some cookies or something."

I smiled at him. "Just like old times?"

He nodded his head. "Just like old times."

I watched him climb inside the black SUV. Mayamaya pa ay umandar na ang sasakyan. I waved goodbye at Harry through the tinted windows of his car. Nanatili ako sa front porch, the vehicle disappearing in my line of vision.

"Mary Grace,"

Napatalon ako sa gulat. Nakatayo pala si Dad sa may pintuan. He stared at me for a long time before he sighed and took a step towards me. He open his arms wide for me. "Can I hug you, anak?"

"Of course, Dad." I said, stepping into his arms and letting his warmth embrace my body.

"I went here as soon as I heard that someone saw a young girl entered the house." He cleared his throat. "Your mother's house." He corrected. Then his eyes landed on my green-dyed hair. "Apparently, my daughter turned into a green-haired lady." He joked. "I was confused at first, thinking that the neighbor must have been playing a sick joke with me but I still went anyway. And I'm glad I did. I missed you so much, Mary Grace."

I chuckled a little. "I missed you too, Dad. I'm sorry for what I did."

"I'm just glad you're home again." He murmured into my hair.

I pulled out from his hug and searched for his eyes. "Are you and mom really breaking up?" lakas-loob kong tanong.

He laughed a little. "It's not a teenage relationship, Mary Grace. And it most certainly not 'breaking up'." Then he sighed, a pained look washed over his face. I also notice gray streaks of hair showing up. My daddy looked older than what he already is. "We just realized that it's for the best."

"But you still love mommy," I protested. "I can see it in your eyes. I know she feels the same way about you too. Nadala lang siguro kayo sa emosyon niyong dalawa."

He smiled sadly at me. "Sometimes, love isn't enough, Mary Grace." He swallowed. "It's the sad truth. We tried. Really. I was by her side when our world collapsed before our eyes. I never really wanted to leave your mother."

I could feel a pressure building up under my eyes. "But why?"

"I just love her so much." He whispered. "You may not understand it now, but you will later on. Your mother deserves more than this."

Hindi ako sumagot. I walked past him, clenching my teeth in anger. Dumiretso kaagad ako sa kwarto ko. My father did not try to ran and console me. Hinayaan niya ako. I went to the bed and grab a pillow to scream on it.

I screamed all of my frustration, my heartaches, and my sorrow. I screamed it all, hoping it would vacate my chest and leave me alone for good.

Then I went to sleep, knowing that both my parents are just behind the door, listening to my strangled cries of agony.