The Mark Of The Beast

Chapter 3

WHAT WAS THAT?

Nagmadali akong pumasok sa pintuan ng kusina at hinanap si kuya. Only to find my groceries on the counter. Agad kong tinahak ang living room, pero hindi pa man din ako nakakarating, I heard the sound of an engine.

Shit.

Tinakbo ko ang front door at lumabas doon tapos nakita kong pinaharurot niya ang sasakyan papalayo.

Humihingal akong sumandal sa isang dahon ng pinto, catching my breath. What was that? Tanong ko ulit sa sarili ko.

I closed my eyes and tried to calm my nerves. Ngunit tila mas nakasama pa iyon sa akin nang maalala ang katagang sinambit niya sa garahe.

Ma belle..

Two words, seven letters. Ito ang eksaktong tinawag niya sa akin. Those words... gosh, I never expect him to call me that again.

It was fast and damn, I got smitten by it. Iyon kasi ang endearment nya sa akin habang mag-on pa kami.

But it bothers me kung bakit nya nasabi pa iyon. Kung bakit parang galit siya pag dating ko e galing naman talaga ako ng supermarket. I want to ask him somethings as soon as I woke up on my reverie pero ito nga ang nangyari.

Umalis siya nang di nagpapaalam.

Now, I am thinking na baka meron nga akong maling nagawa or kung wala man, maybe its just a slip of the tongue? I don't know..

Maybe I should ask him some other time when he gets home.

Bagsak ang balikat kong pumasok sa loob ng bahay. It looks like, I'll be alone...again.

"HOW'S WORK, sweety?" I waved at mom nang makita ko siya sa kabilang linya. We are having a video call.

"Its fine mom..anyways, nasan si dad?"

I chuckled when I saw her eyes widened. "Oh, baby! Tanggap mo na si Daryll?" I rolled my eyes.

"No." At tuluyan akong tumawa nang makita ang busangot niyang mukha.

"You're a bad girl, sweety..hmp" umingos siya sa video.

"Sus, nagka-asawa lang..nagsungit agad.."

"Eh paano, ang bully mo!"

Now its my time to make face. "Uy, hindi ah..tamo nga naka-smile ako.." I fake my smile.

"Aileen! Don't do that!"

"What?!" Balik tanong ko sa kanya.

"That annoying smile! Gosh, hija...manang-mana ka talaga sa papa mo!" Her voice started to fade ng mabanggit niya nang di sinasadya si dad.

"Mom.."

"Shh.."saway niya at saka inayos ang upo niya sa bench. "Hija.." she sigh. "Is there anything that bothers you? Is it work or ang kuya mo?"

Kuya..that's who he is now, for me.

"Nasaan ba siya, nasa kwarto ba? Tawagin mo nga nang makausap.."

I shook my head. "He's out."

"Out?"

"Yep, out.." I took one bottle of beer out of my mini-ref in my room and sat on my bed. "I don't know where he is.." dagdag ko pa and mom looked at me, deadpan.

"Did something happened?"

"What makes you think that?"

She rolled her eyes. "Aba malay ko, kayo ang magkasama sa bahay diba?"