6

I'm too tired to argue with him. I just want to rest and cry myself to sleep. Hindi na din naman siya nagsalita pa at pinaandra niya ulit ang sasakyan. None of us were talking the whole drive. I just stared at the window and watched the city lights glistening through the night.

Naka rating na kami sa bahay at agad naman binuksan ng mga kasambahay ang gate. He parked outside our front door. Agad ko nakita ang sasakyan ng parents niya. His parents are here as well? Anong ginagawa nila dito?

Lumabas na kami ng sasakyan at pumasok sa bahay. I saw both of our parents at the living room talking. "Oh look! They are here already!" Tumayo si Tita Heaven at naglakad palapit sa amin. I saw Sky kissed his mother's cheek. "Hello, hijo. Mabuti naman at andito na kayong dalawa. We can talk about the engagement party!" Tita Heaven clapped. I was yet again confused. Akala ko ba after graduation namin gaganapin nag engagement? Why must we talk about it again?Umupo naman kami sa sofa. I saw my dad looking at me. I know he is still mad. Pinipilit niya lang itago para hindi mahalata ng mga Legrand. Sky sat beside me. "What about it?" Simpleng tanong ni Sky. I saw Tito Claudio smirked at him.

"Your mom just got excited and she wanted to plan the engagement a bit earlier." Kumunot naman ang noo ni Sky sa sinabi ng ama.

"Mom, may anim na buwan pa bago ang graduation. What's the rush?" Tanong ni Sky sa ina. Ngumiti naman si Tita Heaven at hinawakan ang kamay ng anka.

"And that is the reason why! We have six months! Six months is too short to plan your whole engagement," sabi naman ni Tita Heaven tila hindi magpapatalo sa anak.

"Pero mommy-"

"Sky Gabriel Legrand," pinutol ni Tita Heaven ang sasabihin ni Sky.

I saw Sky sighed at hindi na nag salita pa. I know he's frustrated right now. I tried to hold his hand. Tumingin naman siya sa akin. Nararamdaman ko ang panginginig ng kamay niya.

The adults talked about the engagement habang tahimik nalang kami ni Sky sa gilid. He was massaging his temple, he's probably stressed with everything that is happening right now. "Oh by the way! Here. Look at this. What do you guys think?" May ipinakita si Tita Heaven sa amin na bahay.

"A-ano po ito?" I finally found my voice to speak.

"It's your house, hija!" Masayang sabi ni Tita na naging dahilan ng pag-laki ng mga mata ko.

"H-ho? Teka, Tita bakit po kayo bumili ng bahay?" Sky was already frowning.

"Of course para may tutuluyan kayo after ng kasal ninyo!" I saw how excited both of our Mothers are with the thought. Sky looks like he's ready to kill someone habang ako ay gulong-gulo sa mga pangyayari. I feel like I'm about to faint any moment from now.

Halos hindi tumitigil sa pag paplano sina Mommy at Tita Heaven. They kept on mentioning a lot of things that are needed for the engagement party. Nagulat ako ng bigla ako tinawag ni Daddy. "Alexis, come with me for a bit," he coldly said. Kahit nanginginig ako kay tumayo ako at nag lakad papunta sa kung saan si Daddy.

Umakyat kami papunta sa Library ni Daddy. "Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginawa mo para kampihan ka ng anak ng mga Legrand," he looked at me with deadly eyes. "Pero I think it's a good thing na kampi siya sa'yo. By that we can make sure na tuloy talaga ang kasal ninyo. Iyan nalang ang magagawa mong tama para sa pamilyang ito, Soliel. For once, think about this family. "

I do not know what to say. Am I not thinking about our family? Hindi ko alam kung paano magagawang sabihin sa akin ni Daddy iyon. I tried to hold my tears back pero they just keep on flowing. My Dad looked at me disgustingly.. "Why the hell are you crying? Ano nanamang kaartehan 'yan, Soliel Alexis? This is why I keep on telling your Mother to never spoil you! You joined some worthless painting contest! Ano ang magagawa ng pag pepainting para sa kumpanya natin? Wala! Bakit kasi hindi ka gumaya sa Ate Luna mo! How I wish ikaw nalang ang lumayas! Sana ikaw nalang ang umalis!" Galit na galit na sabi ni Daddy. Hindi ko na napigilan at umiyak na ako.

"Ate Luna," I whispered. "Dad, hindi ako si Ate! Wala na si Ate! Why can't you accept the fact that I am not my sister and I will never be her!" Sigaw ko. I gasped when I felt a slight pain on my cheek. He slapped me. I smirked and looked at him. "Guess we're done talking." Agad naman ako umalis sa Library at bumaba ng hagdan.

Napatingin silang lahat sa akin dahil dali-dali ako bumaba ng hagdan. I wiped my tears bago ako bumaba para hindi nila mahalata na umiyak ako. I can't storm out of the house dahil wala naman akong mapupuntahan. I can't crash at Fiona's place dahil mag-aalala 'yun sa akin. "Oh hija! you're here na pala," sabi ni Mommy. Ngumiti lamang ako at umupo sa tabi ni Sky. I tried hiding my face dahil alam ko medyo namumula pa ito dahil sa sampal ni Daddy. Few minutes later, bumaba na din si Daddy at umupo sa harapan namin. Acting like nothing happened. Nagulat ako when Sky held my chin and forced me to face him.

"Sky ano ba!" Sigaw ko which made our family look at us. His eyes darkened when he saw my cheek.

"Anong nangyari dito?" He coldly asked. Umiling naman ako. "F*cking answer me."

"Wala! Wala 'yan," sabi ko. "Don't make a scene please!" Mahinang sambit ko pero hindi siya nakinig sa akin.

He faced my Father. "Ikaw ba ang may gawa nito?" He bravely asked him. Hindi naman siya sinagot ni Daddy. He raised his eyebrows and faced his Dad. "Dad," tanging sabi niya at pinakita ang mukha ko sa ama. I saw how his father's eye changed. His smiling faced dropped. Agad naman niya inabutan ng tissue si Sky.

"Here, son. Kindly wipe the blood out of her lip." Tito Claudio is smiling pero halata ang galit sa boses nito. "By the way, one of the reasons why we are here is because we want to take Alexis with us." Lumaki ang mga mata ko. I saw how my parents' eyes widen as well. Probably not expecting that from Tito Claudio.

"W-what do you mean?" Tanong ni Mommy.

Si Sky naman ang sumagot. "I'm sorry Ma'am. But I would want Soliel to live with me," he sternly said. Muntik na ako himatayin dahil sa mga nangyayari ngayong araw. Mom looked worried pero parang wala lang kay Daddy ang lahat. I guess he's okay with me living with the Legrands. Para ma sigurong tuloy ang kasal at ang pag merge ng kumpanya. "You don't have to worry, Ma'am. I will take care of her," Sky assured my mother pero hindi pa rin nagsasalita si Mommy.

"Can I give you my decision tomorrow?" Mom finally spoke. Mukhang nagulat naman si Daddy.

"What? No! Okay na sa amin. Alexis can live with you, hijo. It's not a problem at all! Mas mabuti nga iyon dahil mas magiging matatag ang pagsasama ninyo," sabat naman ni Daddy. Mom looked at him in disbelief.

"We will tell you tomorrow, Heaven." Mom said with finality. Ngumiti naman si Tita Heaven kay Mommy at tumango.

"We understand, Ericka. It will be hard for you to be away from your daughter." Tita Heaven went near mom and hugged her.

"Will she be living inside your house?" Tanong ni Daddy. Sky smirked at him.

"Oh no, sir," he said with sarcasm. "You see, I don't live with my parents. I have my own place. At doon titira si Soliel. She will live with me. I could use some extra help with the house chores."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Daddy dahil sa sinabi ni Sky. "Gagawin mo ba siyang kasambahay hijo?" I thought Dad will get mad with what Sky said. Bumagsak ang balikat ko dahil sa sunod na sinabi ni Daddy. "She's useless hijo! Hindi iyan marunong sa gawaing bahay. Ni hindi nga nagluluto ang batang iyan! Unlike her older sister, Luna. Luna likes doing house chores."

"Can you stop bringing your eldest daughter here, sir? She's not here anymore. Hindi ba't nilayasan na niya kayo?" Sky smirked when my Dad shut his mouth. Gulong-gulo na ako sa mga nangyayari. Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya ginagawa ito. Akala ko ba ay ayaw niya na tumira kami sa iisang bahay? Kaya nga kanina galit siya sa bahay na pinapagawa ng mga magulang namin hindi ba? Bakit ngayon doon ako titira sa condo niya? Ano ba ang pina-plano ng taong 'to?

I was quiet the whole evening. Still processing everything that is going on. Hindi ko inaakala na ganito lang pala ang halaga ko sa pamilya ko. They would just give me away in an instant. Sky would look at me from time to time pero hindi ko siya pinapansin. I don't know what to say. I don't know what to react.

The Legrand's are leaving. Halos abot langit ang ngiti ni Daddy habang hinahatid sila palabas ng bahay. Lumapit sa akin si Sky. Akmang aalis ako pero pinigilan niya ako. "I know you're mad," he said. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. He made me look at him. "Trust me, okay?" Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at tumango naman ako. He smiled and rubbed my head. "See you in school."

"What the hell was that?" My Mom asked Dad angrily. Hindi siya pinansin ni Daddy. "Dominique!" Mom shouted.

"What?!"

"Bakit ka pumayag na tumira sa isang bubong ang anak mo sa isang lalaki? Are you out of your mind?" Mom was furious. Nanatili lamang ako na nakaupo.

"At bakit hindi? If that is the only way para matuloy ang pag-merge ng dalawang kumpanya then so be it! Walang mangyayaring masama sa anak mo. Halata naman na hindi siya type ni Sky kaya hindi siya gagahasahin! Sky is not that low to stoop down to your daughter's level." I heard a loud slap. Agad na umangat ang ulo ko. I saw mom crying.

"Ang babaw mo!"

"Don't start with me! Iyang nalang ang maiaambag ng walang kwenta mong anak para sa pamilyang ito! If only.. if only my dear Luna didn't leave. Edi sana wala akon problemang ganito! I have told you several time, Ericka, 'yang anak mong 'yan ang nag bibigay ng kamalasan sa pamilya natin!" My mind went blank. The only thing that I could think of at this moment is too disappear.