Promise

Kabanata 3

Ceilo's P.O.V

Umagang umaga ngayon pero rinig sa buong bahay ang sigaw ni mama, "Seriously, Cielo!? Anong klaseng grade 'to!? Are you even doing your best!? You just proved to us that you're really a failure! Hindi lang bilang anak, kundi bilang estudyante rin!" my eyes welled up as I held back my tears. I can't cry. Mas magagalit lang sila.

"Go back to your room and study. Ayusin mo 'yang grade mo Cielo," sabi ni papa. I just nodded and went back to my room.

Sobrang sakit. Lagi nalang ganito. They never treated me as their own child. Lagi nalang nila akong sinasabihan ng kung ano anong masasakit na salita. Umiyak lang ako ng umiyak hanggang sa makatulog ako.

***

Nagising ako at tinignan ko 'yung orasan sa gilid ko.

9:00 pm

Naramdaman kong mainit yung katawan ko at masakit ang pakiramdam ko. Mag-isa lang ako sa bahay, hindi ako makatayo, I feel like my head will burst, it hurts so bad. Pinag-isipan ko kung sino ba ang tatawagan ko, kung si mama ba or si Nine. In the end, I decided to call my mom.

"Cielo? Why did you call?" nagulat ako nang sumagot si mama. I was so happy and relieved. Her voice sounded sweet unlike the voice that she would always use on me. "Cielo? Kung wala kang sasabihin bababa ko na 'toh."

"Ma, I'm sick."

"Seriously, Cielo?" her voice changed. She was irritated. Why did I even expect that she would care for me?

"Edi uminom ka ng gamot dyaan. Kailangan mo pa ba talaga ako tawagan? You're a grown up now. Hindi ka na bata. Sinayang mo lang oras ko," sabi niya at binaba ang telepono.

I cried again.

***

"Hey," inangat ko ang tingin ko at nagulat nang makita si Nine sa harap ko na may dalang gamot. "Drink this, I know you're sick."

"Ay wow, nagaalala ka para sa akin?" pabiro kong sabi sa kanya.

"Nagawa pa ngang magbiro. Inumin mo na," sabi niya sabay abot sa akin ng gamot. Natawa nalang ako sa sinabi niya at ininom 'yung gamot.

I'm thankful that I have you. You're my light in this world full of darkness.