A Sweet Escape (UNDER REVISION)

05

"Sa tingin mo, magugustuhan kaya niya ang mga ito?"

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon na nanggagaling sa may sala.

I diverted my gaze to the living room only to found my Nanay with a familiar figure. My brows furrowed when he looked at me.

He stood up and open his mouth but didn't say anything.

"Anak, si TL Emil, ang Tatay mo," sabi ni Nanay.

I let out a large amount of air. I clenched my fist and walked out of our house. He tried to follow me but I already got in Desmond's car. I knew it. Lahat ng mga inuuwi ni Nanay na ibinibigay ng TL nila ay hindi lang wala lang. Laging may rason ang mga bagay-bagay.

"Bring me anywhere," walang emosyong sabi ko na sinunod naman niya.

He brought me to an open area. There were no folks when we arrived here. Aside from the moonlight, only a few streetlights illuminated the field. It's quite dark in our spot. I would be able to cry out loud.

The tears of clouds suddenly started to soak me. Para bang nakikiayon ang panahon sa nararamdaman ko.

"Bakit mo 'ko dinala rito?" plain na tanong ko.

"Shout," he commanded. Naguguluhan akong tumingin sa kaniya. "Scream. Go."

"Bakit?"

"Huwag mong kimkimin. Lalo lang bibigat 'yan."

"Why did you came back? Bakit ngayon pa? Bakit kung kailan kinalimutan ka na namin? I admit I envied Zai for so long. Kasi siya, nakakasama niya ang ama niya. Tuwing family day, kumpleto sila. May natatawag siyang Tatay. Hindi na niya kailangang magtrabaho to get whatever she wants. Kapag may problema siya, may napagsasabihan siya. Tapos ako, I only have me and Nanay. We used to live only the two of us. We sacrificed a lot. You were nowhere to be found when she gave birth of me sa ilalim ng tulay! Pinalaki niya akong mag-isa. Nagtaguyod siya, at kahit bata pa ay kinailangan na niyang gumawa ng mabibigat na trabaho. Natutulog kami sa gilid ng kalsada. Kumakatok sa mga bahay-bahay upang makahingi ng pagkain. Sinasalo mga bukambibig ng madla tungkol sa amin. At ngayon, bakit ang kapal ng mukha mong magpakita pa?" nanggagalaiting sigaw ko at napaluhod. "Matagal na kitang pinatay sa puso at isip ko," I whispered as I sob over and over.

In a few seconds, I felt Desmond embraced me from the back. Tila nawala na ang tama ng alak sa amin lalo na mula kaninang pagdating sa ospital.

Sumilong kami sa kotse niya habang humihikbi pa rin ako. Ikinuwento ko sa kaniya ang lahat. I don't need someone to comfort me. I only need someone who will listen to my remarks tonight. That's what most of people who were hurting like me needs, right?

I coughed and closed my eyes tightly. I massaged my temple and rested my head against the window.

He drove off to the near pharmacy and bought a water and medicines. He gave it to me at agad ko namang ininom.

"Paano mo nalaman ang lugar na 'yon?" I asked out of curiosity, at tumingin sa mapungay niyang mata. I've never been in that place. Hindi naman kasi ako lumalayo. Sa apartment, school, coffee shop, at Tiyatro lang ako madalas.

"Doon ako madalas pumupunta kapag hindi ko na kayang kimkimin," he said, malat na rin ang boses. He gasped and laid his back. "My parents used to have a row. Sa akin nila madalas ibinubuntong ang galit nila. Tapos nang nawala ang kapatid ko, sa akin nila isinisi. Hindi naman kasi ako legit na anak ni Mama. I'm my father's mistake. My biological mother work as an escort, and she left me to my father para raw magkaroon ako ng magandang buhay. I hope she didn't leave me instead. I'd rather live in a storm with her than live in a fucking hell." He tiredly chuckled.