La Fleur Maudite

VI

𝔇𝔢𝔠𝔦𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫

Tumingin ako sa orasan ko, huminga ng malalim, at pumikit.

March 15, 2024, 11:11 AM

Mom and Dad got into a fight three days ago. I spent three days alone in my room. The thought of them acting this way only because of me is difficult. Where do I fit within this family? I'm not sure. Sana ay mapag-usapan na lang nila ito at magkaintindihan. Gusto ko lang bumalik sa normal ang mga bagay.

Normal.

Marahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko at napaisip.

If only we weren't rich, we wouldn't be like this. 

Sa loob ng tatlong araw, ganito lang ang ginawa ko, iniisip kung ano'ng maaari kong gawin. It's hard na lumaban ng mag-isa. 

Nakatingin ako sa kisame ng kwarto ko nang magambala ako ng matinis na katok sa pinto. Dahan-dahan ko 'tong sinundan ng tingin. 

"Pasok!" I responded to the knock on my bedroom door. Lumitaw si Yael na may nag-aalalang ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha, may dalang tray ng pagkain sa kanyang mga kamay. "Ate, how are you?" He said, handing it to me.

Yael stayed by my side for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner the entire three days, and he was the only one who could visit me at all. Napakaswerte ko na nagkaroon ako ng ganitong kapatid, it meant the world to me that he was there and could always be counted on when I needed him. 

I will thus exert every effort to keep Yael safe.

I moved closer to him and sobbed on his shoulder because his question had made me feel unable to control my tears.

He set down the plate right away and caressed my hair. He calmed me at that vulnerable time, saying, "It's okay, I'm here. Everything will be fine, ate." His words helped me feel serene. I felt protected and supported, and his soft touch and reassuring presence ay nakapagbigay sa akin ng kaginhawaan na kailangan ko.

All I could say to him was, "Thank you."

"Sipon mo naman 'te, ano ba 'yan!" He answered with a tinge of disgust.

Hinampas ko siya sa braso sabay nagsalita. "How is mom?" Bahagya siyang umilag pero ngumiti siya. "She's doing okay, pati na rin si dad." Isang maikling ngiti ang ibinigay niya.

"May nangyari ba?" I questioned him since I could see by the look in his eyes that something was wrong. I ask, tilting my head in confusion, "What's the problem?" 

He hesitated before responding, "Gusto ni dad ituloy yung plan niya laban sa mga Dawson." His smile faded. "At ikaw 'yung magiging gitna ng lahat, ate. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dahilan ng lahat ng nangyayari ngayon, and I don't know what dad's plan is. I want to find the answer, but I'm afraid... I'm lost," Dagdag niya.