Kabanata 20

“You can only choose one, Malia. Is it Ashton or your daughter?”

Fear crept my whole system the moment I opened the envelope. It was a photos of my daughter from our home, in the playground of her school, inside her room, in the canteen, and even when Maia headed to the comfort room. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa papel dahilan ng pagkagusot nito. Mula sa takot ay napalitan ito ng galit. She can insult, disrespect, and hurt me as long as they can but not my daughter! As long as I am standing alive and breathing, no one can touch my daughter. Not her!

I slammed her table and she looked shocked. She even slightly jumped on her swivel chair. It looked like she never expected that a mere woman, named Malia would do it in front of her. Kitang-kita ng mga dalawang mata ko ang gulat sa mukha niya. Hindi niya ini-expect na magagawa ko iyon sa harapan niya. Bakit naman siya mag-i-expect? Hindi naman ako ganito dati!

“Huh! Are you really that lowly class?! Ano pa ba ang gusto mong kunin sa akin?! Iyo