Setting Into The Horizon (Painted Colors Series 1) ON HOLD

Chapter 21

Chapter 21
Setting Into the Horizon

"There are three of us in this marriage, Koa. It's overcrowded."

Weeks had passed after Daddy left the house. Yet, Mommy's words cycled through my mind every minute that passed. I started to distance myself from reality, from my friends, even West. I'm not sure my father ever understood how his actions affected me-and my relationship to everyone.

It was Hannah who only knew what happened. I'm not sure how it happened, but she went to our house the next morning after Dad left, and the next thing I knew I was already crying in her arms. I didn't say a single word but she somehow felt all the pain I was feeling. My knees weakened, inilapit niya ako sa couch para maupo kaming dalawa.

A few minutes passed, Hannah didn't utter a word, she just listened to all my sobs. "Dad cheated," I whispered.

Was I stupid for not noticing the change in his behaviour and actions? Looking back, I know I've caught him doing those acts. When he went home, I smelled a very feminine perfume from him, very different from what Mommy has been using. That time when I requested for a video call, I thought at first namalikmata lang ako but I think I saw a woman's clothing placed on the bed behind him. The morning after they fought, he was calling someone. Takot siyang makita ko ang cellphone niya kaya hindi niya pinakita sa akin ang screen nun.

Mas lalo lang akong humagulgol. I covered my face with my palms, my voice muffled and I couldn't make out a word. Ang tanga ko! All of that evidence was placed in front of me, but I remain insensible because I chose to be it.

"Don't you think it's time for you to accept everything? Forgive yourself, Koa," Hannah uttered. Nasa girls restroom kami ngayon, I excused myself from class because I couldn't breathe. Dad was the former PTA President for the whole school last year, so when our class adviser mentioned my Dad's name, it triggered all the pain and anger inside me.

Sinundan lang ako ni Hannah dito dahil alam niyang I've been having episodes for the past weeks. I calmed down now, but the attack earlier-it was so much for me. Parang pinupuno ako ng lahat. My throat tightened and I could not stop my hands from trembling and my tears from flowing.

Hannah approached me, rubbing my back, "Koa, forgive yourself first."

I knew that I didn't, and wasn't even sure if I could. At best, my anger was mixed with pity-not for my father, nor for Mommy but for myself.

"Miss Gomez,"

"Koa, tawag ka ni Miss Sy." sabi ng kaklase ko. My mind's in another dimension so I was not able to hear our adviser calling my name. Umangat ang tingin ko at lumipad ito sa labas ng room. Doon kanina pa naghihintay si Miss.

"Meet me in the teacher's office," may dala pa siyang gamit kaya tumayo na ako at tinulungan siya sa pagbitbit ng mga yun.

I caught Hannah's stares, she was worried but I gave her a smile and it intantly eases the creases on her forehead.

Lumabas ako sa room at sakto namang dumating si West mula galing music room.

Iiwas pa nga sana ako pero maingat niya akong hinila sa siko.

"Anong nangyari dito?" tanong niya habang pinagmamasdan ang sugat sa siko ko. Agad kong hinila 'yun mula sa kanya. Nakita ko kung paano nagkita ang dalawang kilay nito.

His eyes turned a shade darker. Nakuha ko yung sugat nung nadapa ako sa bahay nung hinabol ko si Daddy. Isang basag na piraso ng jar ang tumama sa siko ko. Sa totoo lang hindi ko nga alam na may sugat pala ako kung hindi pa ako binisita ni Ate Alma nung gabi sa kwarto ko at may dala siyang first aid kid. The scar isn't fresh, it has healed after a few weeks but I just covered it with a gauze pad so it won't be exposed.