Simula
Growing up in a household with two younger siblings, and dominating everyone, including my Mama and Papa, I never thought this day would ever come. I stared blankly at my face on the mirror straight to me. I put on more powder under my eyes when I realized there's no enough concealer to hide my freaking swollen eyes.
Buong gabi akong nagwala at umiyak, nagmamakaawa kay Papa at Mama kagabi para itigil ang kahibangang kahapon lang din nila ipinaalam sa akin. I cannot believe them. I just can't.
How can these people, my parents, who claim to love me do this to me?
"We are just protecting you, Sky," pang-aalu ni Mama na para bang kailangan kong tanggapin dahil lang sa simpleng rason niyang iyon.
"Protecting? No! You're not protecting me!"
Tumayo si Papa at tinalikuran ako. Pinapagitnaan kami ng malaking lamesa niya at ikinaiirita ko na hindi siya makatingin sa akin ngayon pagkatapos pinal na idineklara ang kahahantungan ko.
Kauuwi ko lang sa Manila at inaamin ko, medyo eskandalo ang huling nangyari sa Cebu. I was with my friends and with my suitor, having real good fun when suddenly the police got in between our parties. Wala kaming kinalaman at na-frame up lang si Zane. I know him and he would never take any illegal drugs.
"You're selling me off!"
Hinilamos ni Papa ang kanyang kamay, nakatalikod pa rin sa akin.
"Papa, look at me! Is this really what you want?!"
"Sky, you are going nowhere in your life and you have friends... who are... bad influences-" si Mama.
"I told you already! Hindi nga kay Zane ang cocaine na nakuha ng mga pulis! Kaya nga hindi siya dinetain, 'di ba?"
"Hindi siya nadetain dahil tumawag ang Papa niya sa awtoridad-" kalmado si Papa.
My eyes darted back at him. "Because it wasn't true!"
"How sure are you that it wasn't true? Magkasama kayo buong araw? Buong linggo, Sky?" the cold tone of my Mama is the scariest tone in my entire life but I know how to reason out amidst the fear.
"Yes, Mama! Magkasama kami at kilala ko siya. I wouldn't consider him as my boyfriend if-"
"Boyfriend, Sky?" bumaling na sa wakas si Papa sa akin.
I rolled my eyes at him. "Oh please! What do you expect? I am twenty-three! I'm not a kid anymore!"
"You are not a kid that's why we expect you to act accordingly. We expect you to be involved with the business by now. We expect you to minimize partying and at least do something for your future," sunod-sunod ang sinabi ni Mama. "We expect you, Schuyler, to at least stop burning cash for material things, and start to be independent!"
Mabilis ang hininga ko habang pinapakinggan si Mama. Papa was just there shutting his eyes like it's a pain to hear the words of my Mom. I pleaded only to him.
"Papa... no... please... don't ruin my life."
"It's the opposite! We are trying to turn your life around. You have been spoiled too much and now this is the only way to-"
"To correct it? Eh, kung spoiled ako, kaninong kasalanan 'yon?!" sigaw ko.
"Schuyler!" Papa's voice echoed.
I closed my eyes and stopped shouting. Hinding-hindi siya nagagalit sa akin kahit ano pa man ang gawin ko sa buhay ko. Isang bagay lang ang hindi niya mapapatawad, iyon ay ang pagtaasan ng boses si Mama.
