Twelve

I thought Ate Annie couldn't be more distant. I felt invisible whenever I am around with her. She wouldn't even hold my gaze. I guess I'm fine with it. It's not like we were the best of friends before this shit happened. And of course, siblings cat fight. It's totally normal, isn't it?

Hindi na rin masyadong bumibisita si Harry dito sa bahay namin. One time, Dad asked Ate Annie about him. She just threw me a look, then she shrugged and went inside her bedroom. Dad gave me a questioning look. I just shook my head and grabbed my bag before I head to the school. All the way to school I couldn't think of anything but Ate Annie's growing hatred for me.

Danielle gave me a smile and a nod when I spotted her waiting for me on gate 2.

"Our professor said one more absent and she'll automatically drop Mariah in Chem." Tiningnan niya ulit ako. "What should we do, Mary?"

I shrugged. "Hindi ko rin alam," Mahina kong sagot. "She doesn't want us."

"Mary," Danielle placed her hands firmly on my shoulders. Napatingin ako sa kanya. "I'm sure nasabi lang yun ni Mariah dahil nadala siya ng emosyon niya. Just like when I slapped her. Nadala lang din ako sa emosyon ko."

I pursed my lips. "I actually don't know what to do, Danielle." I admitted. "And it doesn't help that everything is going crazy in the house."

She frowned her eyebrows in confusion. "Like, what do you mean?"

"It's just Ate Annie and her boyfriend's drama. Pati ako nadadamay,"

"That Harry guy?" She asked out loud. "Nag-aaway pa pala sila? I mean, they're both matures, right? Kulang na nga lang ang kasal sa kanila eh," She chuckled.

Hindi ko sinagot si Danielle, so she continued on blabbering.

"Anyway, we gotta see Mariah later after class, okay? I just feel the need to talk to her after what I've done."

I nodded. "Sure."

She waved at me before turning right and into the hallway for her first period. I didn't attended mine. I went to the abandoned bathroom in 1-B building and spent the whole day smoking and just thinking out loud. Jeremy texted me for lunch but I didn't even bothered to reply. Nagpalipas ako nang oras hanggang sa mag-uwian na ang mga estyudante after their last period on the afternoon.

I jumped out from the sink I've been sitting on and went outside. Nagkita kami ni Danielle sa gate 4. We started walking to Mariah's house, each of us thinking silently of things we would say to her if she allows us to talk.

Pagdating namin sa bahay nila, sobrang tahimik. Danielle tried to knock but no one answered. Nagkatinginan lang kaming dalawa. Mayamaya pa, biglang lumabas ang tatay ni Mariah. His face is red with anger or he's just plain drunk. But Danielle did not hesitate to approach him. And so I followed her.

"Nandito po ba si Mariah?"

He squinted his eyes at us and then he broke into a smile. A creepy one. "Ikaw pala, Danielle. Wala si Mariah dito eh,"

"Please, we just need to talk to her—"

He grabbed my arms and I almost yelped when his grip tighten. "Wala siya dito, Mary Grace. Buti pa umuwi muna kayo. Pag nakauwi na siya ng bahay, sasabihin ko sa kanya na dinalaw siya ng mga kaibigan niya. How does it sound?" Mas hinigpitan niya pa ang hawak sa akin and gave me a knowing look.

I nodded my head. "Sounds great," I squeaked. Kaagad niyang binitawan ang braso ko. He walked past us, muttering something under his breath.

"Are you okay?" Danielle asked, concern and worry etched on her face.

I nodded. Pinagmasdan ko ang tatay niyang papalayo sa amin. When I looked back into their house, I caught glimpse of Mariah watching us by the window before she disappeared into the shadows of her room.

---

I took the long route to our house because I don't feel like seeing Ate Annie or even my parents right now. Gusto ko munang mapag-isa. So I crahsed into Karlo's coffee shop for awhile but then I have to leave because Karlo is not feeling well.

"Sorry," He gave me an apologetic smile. "Sometimes, it gets really worst."

"Bakit hindi kayo kumuha ng katulong?" I said, then I leaned into the counter. I raised my hand and smiled. "Like me. I badly need a part-time job. I wanted to buy things using my own money,"

The old man laughed. "I'd really love to, Mary Grace. But you know, I don't want to give you a job you won't enjoy for as long as you can," He scanned the place affectionately. "I don't even know if my children are interested in running this business after I'm gone."

"Don't say that, Karlo." I frowned. "Para ka namang mawawala niyan eh,"

He just smiled at me and for a moment, I regretted coming to visit him. Mas lalo pa akong naging malungkot.

He jokingly shooed me away from his coffee shop. So I have no choice but to walk back home. It was raining a little. I pulled out my yellow umbrella and tried to enjoy the scenery of walking back to our house. The damp streets and flickering headlights somehow comforted me.

When I arrived home, I froze upon hearing his voice booming inside the house. I stared at my shoes for awhile, not being able to move. My heart thumped faster inside of my chest.

The door swung open. "Oh, Mary Grace. Anong ginagawa mo sa labas?" Mother frowned at me. Kinuha niya ang payong ko then she ushered me inside of the house. "Mababasa ka ng ulan. Come inside. Nandito ang Tito Alistair at Uncle Thomas mo,"

Mum practically dragged me inside of the house. Dad was laughing at something Uncle Thomas had said and Tito Alsitair was talking to Ate Annie. Napatingin silang lahat sa akin.

"Nandito na pala si Mary Grace," Tito Alistair approached me and gave me a quick hug. "Go to your bedroom. May iniwan kami ni Uncle Thomas mo para sa iyo galing Europe." He said, smiling widely.

I nodded my head silently.

"Mary Grace, they will be staying here for two days bago sila bumalik sa Davao Oriental. Would it be okay if we borrrow the couch in your room?" Dad asked.

"Sure," I said meekly. I headed into my room and make sure that my door is locked inside. Napatingin kaagad ako sa maliit na kahon sa gitna ng aking kama. I dropped my bag on the floor. I grabbed the box to see what's inside. It was carefully wrapped with a yellow ribbon on top. When I opened it, I recognized a small wooden music box was inside. My entire family knew about my obsession of music boxes and snow globes. Halos mapuno ko na ang kwarto ko ng mga music boxes—both brand new and secondhand's. These things helps me to calm down whenever my depression gets the worst out of me.

I chewed on my bottom lips and open the box. I was surprised when little red riding hood appeared inside the box and began rotating slowly while the melody of "Hello little girl" played. Nabitawan ko ang music box. It crashed on the floor but the music still played.

I put both my hands on my ears, trying to shut off everything. I collapsed on the floor as series of memories began flooding my mind again. I wanted to scream and cry but I couldn't. That night. That day. We were watching Little Red Riding Hood back then. Ate Annie and I were singing that song back then. Nagmamadali akong lumabas ng kwarto at bumaba.

"O, Mary Grace? Do you like it?" Tito Alistair called out. "Si Uncle Thomas mo ang pumili nun para sa iyo."

I glared at Uncle Thomas. How dare he! Alam niyang simula nang nangyari sa akin, ayaw ko nang makakita nang kahit ano mang associated sa Little Red Riding Hood.

I ignored them and went outside. Good thing my parents were both busy in the kitchen so it was only Tito Alistair, Uncle Thomas, and Ate Annie who witnessed my odd behavior.

Paglabas ko, nakasalubong ko si Harry. I smiled at him, feeling all the weight in the world lifting off from my chest. "Hi Harry! Would you like to—"

But he just walked past me. He ignored me and knocked softly before he stepped inside the house. Mas lalong lumakas ang ulan. I just stood outside my house while the heavy rain is mocking on me. I can still hear the melody of the music box inside of my head. Hindi ko namalayan na isa-isa na palang tumulo ang mga luha ko.

---

Click the video on top for Hello Little Girl music video : )