Maginoong Medyo Bastos

Chapter One

One of the things Vannessa disliked the most was getting told about something over and over again, especially if it talked about her behavior, as if she was someone who couldn't understand.

"Ilang beses ko ba kasing sasabihin sa 'yong huwag ka nang inom nang inom?" Hindi sumagot si Vannessa dahil hindi na rin niya mabilang kung ilang beses iyong sinabi ng daddy niya. "Whenever you drink, Vannessa, walang magandang nangyayari. Hindi ka na natuto."

Napapikit siya bago napahilot sa sintido nang marinig ang Daddy niya sa kabilang linya. She knew that Don Walter knew about what happened in the bar from her relatives. Sanay na siyang kumilos na may mga matang nakatutok sa kanya. That had been the very reality she had been living with. Her relatives had no better things to do so they meddle with her life as much as they could.

It was as if she was a big time artist. Sa kanya palaging nakatutok ang camera. Ang buhay niya ang palaging headline. Maybe they felt better and superior that way, seeing her suffer over various of things. Alam naman niyang hindi gusto ng mga ito ang mommy niya at dahil walang pakialam ang mommy niya, ibinabaling nila ang lahat ng atensyon sa kanya.

Ni hindi niya alam kung bakit siya pa. There were a lot of worse Concepcions in the clan. They lived more scandalous lives than her.

Nakita niyang nagpipigil ng tawa ang kaibigan niyang si Greg na halos mabilaukan na sa pork rinds na kinakain. Itinaas niya ang gitnang dalira at kaagad itong inirapan.

"Dad, you don't have to worry. It's under my control—"

"Under your control? When was the time you got things under your control, Vannessa?" Nakikita na niya ang mukha ng ama na halos nag-uusok na ang ilong sa yamot. She forced herself not to sigh. Alam na niya ang sasabihin nito. "Last time, we bailed you out of prison kasi nakisali ka sa isang rambulan sa bar."

The truth was, that incident wasn't her own doing. Nadawit lang siya sa pagkakataong iyon at naabutan ng mga pulis. Her parents refused to believe her claims, though, insisting that she was the cause of the chaos. Hindi na rin siya nag-abala pang ipilit ang katotohanan.

She sighed. "Dad, I was drunk. You know me when I'm drunk."

"That's why you shouldn't drink!"

Naibuga ni Greg ang iilang piraso ng pork rinds tsaka ito humagalpak ng tawa. She hissed in annoyance before kicking his leg. Napangiwi naman ang binata sa sakit pero sinamaan lang niya ito ng tingin.

"You should start being responsible. Hindi ka na pabata nang pabata. Dapat sa panahong ito'y kayo na ang nag-aalaga sa amin, hindi 'yong poproblemahin pa namin ang mga kagaguhang ginawa n'yo sa buhay."

"Grabe naman sa kagaguhan, Dad," nakanguso niyang tugon.

Tumawa nang malakas si Greg at sigurado siyang narinig iyon ng Daddy niya. It was her turn to laugh when her dad said, "I hear you, Gregory. I'll tell your dad you're being irresponsible. You both are no longer kids. Think about your life. Mamamatay kami nang maaga dahil sa inyo."

Napatakip sa bibig si Greg na natatawa pa rin. He then cleared his throat before saying, in an intentionally deep voice, "Sorry po, Tito."

His dad continued nagging for a little bit more, talking about the things that he had already repeated whenever circumstances like that happened. The both of them were too tired to even listen. Nang ibinaba ng Daddy niya ang tawag ay napahinga si Vannessa nang maluwag bago napasalampak sa couch.

Akala niya'y iyon na ang katapusan pero nang makita ang mommy niyang halos sirain na ang pinto ng kanyang condo'y halos maubos na ang oxygen sa lungs niya sa malalim na pagbubuntonghininga.