Trigger Warning: Strong Language, Violence

Chapter 4

NAKAHIGA ako ngayon sa kama ko habang patuloy akong binabagabag ng sinabi ng babae kanina. Pilit ko pa ring pino-proseso ang sinabi niya sa akin na hindi ko pa rin mapaniwalaan hanggang ngayon. Unti-unti ko nang natatanggap ang ginawa ni papa pero iyon pala ay isang kasinungalingan lang?

While thinking deeply, I remembered what the lady told me earlier.

"Soon, your mother will take Roger to this house. They plan on living together. They also plan on sabotaging your dad's other business to completely pull him down. Hindi ko alam kung ano pa ang ibang pina-plano nila, kaya't 'yan ang lang kaya kong sabihin sa iyo," paliwanag ng babae at hindi naman ako nakasagot agad.

They plan on living together? Here?

"B-but if what you said was true, why did my dad took the blame? Bakit nagsinungaling din siya sa akin?" Naguguluhanh tanong ko. I can still recall the time when dad told me 'he cheated' when I asked him about the truth. His voice sounded serious, too.

"He was threatened. Pinagbabantaan ni Andrea at Roger na sasaktan nila kayo kapag hindi siya sumunod, kaya wala siyang nagawa kundi ang magpaubaya na muna. Lumayo siya, bumalik siya sa lugar nila. Halos lahat ng ari-arian ng papa mo ay nakapangalan sa 'yong ina, maging ang ibang sasakyan, kung kaya't hindi makakilos si Manuel. Isang maling kilos ay babagsak lahat ng pinaghirapan niya," tuloy-tuloy na sambit niya na tila alam na alam niya ang istorya.

"How do you know this?" I asked, confused.

"Gaya ng sabi ko sa 'yo, tinatakot ako ni Andrea na sasaktan niya rin ang pamilya ko. Kung kaya't sumang-ayon akong ikulong sa warehouse, dahil doon naman ay naririnig ko ang kanilang mga plano. Doon sila madalas magkita ni Roger dahil halos lahat ng empleyado ay kakutsaba na nila. Pinalitan na nila ang ibang trabahador upang malaya silang makakilos," dagdag niya na tuluyang nakapagpatahimik sa akin.

So, they were planning it this whole time. Not just recently, but way back longer. They were in alliance even since then. And they were together even when dad and mom were still together.

"So, be careful Marlo. You only have yourself and your sisters. Don't trust anybody else. Not even your mom," that's the last thing she said before finally going out to bid her goodbye.

Am I supposed to believe her?

Napahilamos ako sa aking mukha dahil gulong-gulo na ang utak ko. Napatigil naman ako nang maalala ko ang lawyer ni papa. Hindi 'yon kilala ni mama because he was dad's lawyer even before they lived together.

I browsed his number on my old phone and dialed it when I finally found it. It was ringing for a bit of a long time, but I was relieved when he finally answered.

[Attorney Vargas speaking,] he answered. I guess he's a bit busy, knowing that he didn't look up on the screen before answering it.

"Hello Tito Leo, it's Marlo," I said, introducing myself. Napansin ko namang natigilan siya ng ilang segundo matapos kong magpakilala.

[Why did you call, Marlo? Is something wrong?] He asked.

"Yeah, you heard about it right? My dad. I'm just wondering what we could do about it," I leaned back on my gaming chair, but then I heard him gulped loudly. I chuckled. "Not my dad... mom. What could we do about my mom?"

He sighed of relief. [You heard about it, huh? Quite impressive. You found out in just a week,] he said, quite off topic so I didn't know what to say. [Just kidding, right now, we are still looking for answers. About the custody about you three, it is quite difficult since Manuel and Andrea are not married. Another thing is that, in the name of the law, the custody of the children really goes with the mother, unless otherwise, there is violence involved.]

"But there is," I claimed.

[Yes, let's say that. But we are not sure if the court will believe anything you say. Given that people are saying your dad cheated. And the witnesses saying your mom did... it will be difficult. Since we don't have a concrete evidence about the violence, the court will just turn your case down,] he explained that made me scream in silence.

Why? Why is it this hard to get justice?

[Because you are not in age yet, you will have to stay with your mom until you are of age,] he said that made my mouth open slightly and tears started building up in my eyes.

"W-we have to s-stay here? Until we are eighteen? But that would be a hell of a life for Mona, especially Mal..." I said, doing my best to not cry. I'm tired of crying. I'm tired of pleading. "But there's another way, right? We have to stay here but it doesn't say that we have to live specifically in this house? My mom plans on living here with Roger..."

[About that, we could make a way. The court will allow that as long as your guardian - your mom, approves of it. And also, you will have someone looking after you,] he said that made me froze on my seat for a matter of second. Looking after us?

I vivid memory flashed before my eyes, it was my little sisters crying inside my arms with bleeding wounds because of the abuse they experienced under the babysitter.

[I know, I know that was traumatic for you and your sisters, but that's the best we could do. But you are old enough, you could hire your own helper,] he explained that sends quite relief to my chest.

"O-okay, thank you, Tito Leo. I'll call you back when I consulted my sisters about it," I said, still with my heart pounding loudly.

[Alright, Marlo. Just call me anytime you need me. I'll be here,] after that, he hung up the call. I sighed and leaned again on my chair.

Ibinagsak ko ang cellphone sa table at muling napahilamos sa mukha. I know it would be difficult for Mona and Mal but as Tito Leo said, it would be the least we could do.

Tumayo ako at lumabas ng k'warto, titingnan ko kung gising pa sila Mona. I opened their door and saw Mona sitting on her bed while patting Mal gently.

"Hey, can't sleep?" I said and flashed a small smile. Pumasok ako at isinara ang pinto. Lumapit ako sa kama nilang dalawa at umupo sa gilid. "I talked about Tito Leo about something."

"Tito Leo? Like, Dad's lawyer? I haven't seen him in ages!" Sambit niya na ikinatawa ko na lang. Maski naman ako, matagal ko nang hindi siya nakikita. I think, the last time was three... five years ago?

"Yeah, he said we have to stay here, due to the 'law' but he said he could do something to make us live a little far from here," I smiled, and I saw Mona nodding slowly. "Not like, far far, just a couple of hundred meters away. But the thing is, we would need a watcher for us."

"Can I choose the watcher?" She asked.

"Well, yeah. You could tell me who you trust and I'll suggest that to Tito Leo. So, are you okay with it?" I smiled and curled her hair behind her ears.

"Yeah, that's better than nothing. I wouldn't want to live with mom's new boyfriend, so if that's the best we could have, I'll take it," she pursed her lips and looked at Mal who's peacefully sleeping.

"Hmm, that is really better than nothing..." I whispered and pulled her closer to hug her. "Just hang on, maybe something we could do something bigger than that."

-**-

IT IS a Saturday morning, and I told Mona and Mal that I'll just go out to the gym with Kyle. Kaaga-aga kanina, binubulabog ako. Hindi ako tinigilan hangga't hindi ko sinasagot 'yong tawag niya. Aba si gago, nakipag-FaceTime pa habang naliligo.

While walking the streets, nakasalubong ko na si Kyle. Balak pa yatang sunduin ako sa bahay, nandoon naman kasi sa kabilang kanto ang bahay nito. Dapat sa mismong gym na kami magkakasalubong. Napangiwi naman ako nang ngingitingiti sa 'kin si Kyle habang palapit siya.

"Asim mo, gago," saad ko at tinawanan lang naman niya ako.

We spent the next few hours swearing each other at the gym. Throwing each other some sarcastic insults, something that we got used to do. I would throw hate towards him but that is just the inside joke in our friendship, because in reality, he has a good physique and actually has a quite-attractive face.

While in the middle of a water break, I heard my phone rang. I was about to ignore it but I saw our house landline on the screen. A lot of thoughts immediately crossed my mind as my finger slide the call to answer.

"Kuya, please come home! Help, please!" It was Mal, crying on the phone. Without a second thought, I ran outisde the gym, leaving some of my stuffs and Kyle behind.

"Can I borrow this? Thanks!" I dropped the call and borrowed a bike from my classmate who is about to enter the gym.

Not giving a damn to the pedestrians, I rushed my way home to attend my sister's calling. When I reached home, I sawthe red car parked outside. I threw the bike to the side and opened the main door, only to see my mom and Mona yelling at each other.

"How could you lie to us?!" Mona yelled while Mal is trying to stop her.

"You disrespectful brat!"

"You whore!" Mona yelled and in a matter of second, mom's palm was drawn on her cheeks.

I rushed between them and pushed Andrea aside, making her bump on the cabinet with expensive apparatus inside. Roger rushed to help her stand up as I hide my sisters behind my back.

"Dare to hurt my sisters again and you would regret bringing me to this world," I said with my jaws clenched. Mona and Mak were hugging me from behind wuth their hands gripping on my sweaty tshirt.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo?! Anong karapatan mong pagsalitaan ako ng ganiyan?! Walang modo!" Sigaw niya na umalingawngaw sa buong bahay.

"Anong karapatan mong saktan ang mga kapatid ko?! Nasaan ang dignidad mo?!" Sigaw ko sa kaniya pabalik, at akma niya akong sasampalin ngunit kaagad ko iyong sinalo. "Slap me and prove how worthless you are. You may have manipulated people around you to protect your reputation, but you can never control me."

I dropped her hand to the air and stared directly to her eyes.

"Hayop kang bata ka, anong alam mo, ha?! Wala kang alam! At hindi ka na dapat nakikialam!" Sigaw niya pa pabalik at sarkastikong natawa na lang naman ako.

"Ako? Hindi makikialam? Paanong hindi ako makikialam... sinira mo 'yong pamilya ko. Sinaktan mo ang kapatid ko. Minapula mo ang tatay ko. Tapos wala akong gagawin? Tanga ka ba?" Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay. Akmang sasampalin niya ulit ako ngunit bigla siyang pinigilan ni Roger. "Go on, slap me. Show us the bitch that you are."

"Walang hiya kang bata ka, walang utang na loob! Lumayas ka sa pamamahay ko!" Sigaw niyang muli at natawa na lang naman ako.

"Pamamahay mo? Ikaw ang nagbayad? Ikaw ang naghirap?" Pinagtaasan ko siya ng kilay habang sarkastikong nakangiti. Kitang-kita ko naman kung paano siya manggalaiti sa galit.

"Putangina mo, layas! Lumayas ka rito at huwag ka na sa aking magpapakita!" Hindi na niya napigilan ang galit niya at tuluyang lumapat sa pisngi ko ang kaniyang palad. Napapikit na lang naman ako at natatawang tumingin sa kaniya.

"Eh, putangina mo ring hayop ka. Pinapalayas mo ako? Okay, I would gladly leave! Hindi mo na ako kailangang sabihan dahil I would leave anyway. Pero balang araw, pagsisisihan mo ang araw na 'to. Pagsisisihan mong binuo mo pa kami sa mundong 'to." Ngumiti ako sa kaniya.

"Tinatakot mo ako? Hindi ako natatakot! Walang maniniwala sa 'yo! Kaya kong gumawa ng kwento at ipakulong ang tatay mo kung kailangan. Isang pagpapanggap ko lang sa media na sinasaktan ako ng tatay mo, kaya ko na siyang ipakulong," puno ng kumpiyansa na saad niya.

"Do what you will. But have you ever asked yourself what kind of person you are? Oh, I remember. You're a monster. Isang higad. Putang ina." Saad ko na tuluyang nagpasabog sa kaniya. "Goodbye, we're leaving, motherfuckers."