Chapter 2: Not A Big Deal

Chapter 2

Amber’s POV

The cheerful laughter of children greeted me the moment I stepped into the sunlit courtyard of Little Dreamers Academy.

Mukhang recess nila dahil puno ng mga batang nagtatakbuhan ang playground. Ang ilan ay nakasakay sa swings, others chased each other around the slides, while a few sat beneath the shade of a tree, sharing snacks. Sa di kalayuan ay nakatayo ang ilang mga teachers, watching over them with patient smiles.

Habang naglalakad ako papasok ng school building, a few children raced past me in the hallway, their giggles echoing through the corridors.

“Good morning, Miss Amber!”

“Hi, Miss Amber!”

May ilan pang huminto para kumaway sa akin. Napangiti ako at kumaway rin pabalik.

Their pure, unfiltered joy eased the heaviness in my chest. For the first time in a while, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

I glanced around, taking in the familiar sight of pastel-painted walls decorated with tiny handprints, paper flowers, and colorful drawings of rainbows and smiling suns. Everything about this place felt warm, safe, and peaceful.

Hindi ko napigilang mapangiti. This had always been my favorite escape. Whenever life became too overwhelming, I somehow found myself here. Maybe because children had a way of making the world seem lighter, or maybe because this place reminded me that there was still kindness in the world.

“Miss Amber!” A small body suddenly crashed into my legs.

Mahina akong natawa at napayuko. It was Olivia, isa sa mga Grade 1 students, may hawak-hawak pa itong Chuckie sa isang kamay.

“You’re here!” she exclaimed excitedly.

I crouched down to her level at marahang kinurot ang kanyang pisngi. “Hi, Livy! You look so cute in your pigtails today!”

She giggled. “My Yaya did them!” proud na sabi niya.

Bago pa ako makasagot, isa batang lalaki ang mabilis na tumakbo papunta sa akin. “Miss Amber!”

Mahigpit niya akong niyakap sa leeg gamit ang maliliit niyang braso. Hindi ko napigilang matawa.

“Hi, Lucas.”

“Look! Look!” he said excitedly, shoving a piece of paper in front of me. “I drew a robot! Isn’t it cool? Teacher Amy gave me a high score! I’m so cool, right?”

I looked at the drawing and gasped dramatically. “Wow! This is amazing, Lucas! You’re so cool!” I raised both of my hands and gave him two enthusiastic thumbs-ups.

He grinned smugly, clearly pleased with himself. “I know.”

Napailing na lang ako habang natatawa.

“Me too, Miss Amber! I also made a drawing!” Olivia suddenly exclaimed. “I drew Kuromi! Wait! I’ll show it to you!”

Without waiting for my response, she turned around and ran toward their classroom.

“Be careful, Livy!” I called after her.

“Miss Amber! You’re here!” Another child ran toward me, then another, and another.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by tiny humans tugging at my clothes, asking for hugs, and proudly showing me their drawings.

“Look! I drew a dinosaur!”

“Mine is a princess!”

“Teacher Amy said my sun is beautiful!”

“It is beautiful,” I said sincerely.

“I got a star sticker!”

“Wow! That’s amazing!”

“Miss Amber, can I have a hug?” A little girl shyly asked.

“Of course.” I opened my arms at agad siyang yumakap sa akin.

A few more children followed at natawa nalang ako. I spent the next few minutes talking and playing with them, listening to their endless stories and admiring every single drawing they shoved into my hands. At sa loob ng maikling sandaling iyon at nakalimutan ko ang lahat, and all I could hear was the children’s laughter and feel their warmth. Then a familiar voice interrupted us.

“Okay, okay. Give Miss Amber some space before you all tackle her to the ground.”

The children giggled and slowly stepped away from me.

I looked up and smiled. Chiara, my best friend since college. Nakatayo siya ilang metro ang layo sa akin habang nakahalukipkip. Her long hair was tied into a neat ponytail, and she was wearing a yellow blouse paired with a white skirt. As always, she looked beautiful... and intimidating.

No one would ever guess that this fierce-looking woman owned a preschool and spent most of her days teaching children. Sa unang tingin pa lang kasi, para siyang isang strict CEO na kayang paiyakin ang empleyado sa isang tingin lang. But despite her intimidating exterior, she had always had a soft spot for children. She might be a little high-maintenance at minsan ay napakatalas ng dila, pero isa siya sa pinakamabubuting taong nakilala ko. She loved fiercely and she protected the people she cared about with everything she had. Kaya mahal na mahal ko yan eh. She’s one of the precious person in my life.

Mas lumawak ang ngiti ko at ganon rin ang sakaniya. But the moment her eyes landed on my face, her smile vanished.

“Alright, kids,” she said to the children. “Recess is almost over. Time to head back to your classrooms.”

The kids groaned but obediently scattered, waving goodbye to me as they left. As soon as they were gone, Chiara walked straight toward me.

“You didn't put enough concealer,” she said flatly.

Napakurap naman ako. “What?”

Naningkit ang mga mata niya. “The cut on your lip.”

Parang bigla naman akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Mabilis na lumipad ang kamay ko sa gilid ng labi ko. I had completely forgotten about it. Hindi ko ba natakpan ng maayos yung sugat? God. How clumsy of me.

“Sino ang gumawa niyan?” seryosong tanong niya. Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin.

“Amber.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Huwag kang magsinungaling sa’kin.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako. “Really, Chiara—”

“Was it your father again?”

Natahimik ako, but that was enough of an answer.

Her face slowly twisted in anger. “Oh, that son of a—”

“Chiara.”

“No!” she snapped. “Don’t ‘Chiara’ me right now. He hit you again?!”

Napalingon sa amin ang ilang teacher at bata. I quickly shushed her. “Keep your voice down.”

Hinawakan niya ang palapulsuhan ko at hinila ako papasok ng office niya. The moment the door closed behind us, she turned to face me.

“When did he hit you?”

“Two days ago, when I visited them,” I answered quietly.

Her eyes widened. “What?!” she exclaimed. “At ngayon mo lang sinabi sa akin?”

“I didn’t want you to worry,” giit ko.

Mariin niya akong tinitigan na para bang bigla akong tinubuan ng isa pang ulo. “Didn’t want me to worry?” she repeated incredulously. “Amber, your father slapped you hard enough to split your lip! God! That sorry excuse of a father of yours! I swear one day I’m going to jail because of him.”

Despite everything, I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. “Please don’t. He’s not worthy, Chi.”

“What do you mean it’s not worth it?” agad niyang turan. “I’d do everything just to see him suffer, Amber. I know he’s still your father, pero hindi na makatarungan ang ginagawa niya sayo! God! Just look what he did to your face!”

Marahan niyang iniangat ang kamay at dahan-dahang hinaplos ang pisngi ko. Puno ng pag-aalala ang mga mata niya.

“Does it still hurt?” tanong niya.

Marahan akong umiling. “Not anymore.”

That was a lie. It still stung, both physically and emotionally. Dahil kahit ilang beses na itong nangyari... may isang parte pa rin ng sarili ko ang umaasang darating ang araw na titingnan at tatratuhin ako ni Dad bilang anak niya. Not some tool or an investment, just his daughter.

“Did Pierre see this?” Chiara suddenly asked.

Sandali naman akong natigilan bago umiling. “No.”

She frowned. “What?”

“Hindi niya pa nakikita.”

“And why not?” tanong niya habang nakataas ang isang kilay.

“Wala siya sa bahay. He left for a business trip two days ago,” sagot ko nalang.

Her frown deepened. “Kahit na. Dapat sabihin mo pa rin sa kanya ang nangyari. Pierre is your husband, Amber. He should know what your own father is doing to you.”

Ibinaba ko ang tingin. “I don’t plan to.”

“What?!” she exclaimed. “What do you mean you don’t plan to? Amber naman!”

“It’s not a big deal, Chiara. Besides, Pierre has a lot on his plate with Sanvitores Group. Ayoko nang dagdagan pa ang stress niya,” giit ko.

Napatitig siya sa akin na para bang hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig. “Not a big deal?” she repeated. “Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo, Amber? Your father hit you! That’s a fucking big deal! If your husband is in his right mind, he would never tolerate this. Busy man siya o hindi, walang matinong asawa ang basta na lang palalagpasin ang ganitong klaseng pang-aabuso!”

Hindi ako umimik. Napakasarap sanang isipin kung ganoon nga ang mangyayari. I’d fantasize it many times. Pierre would pull me into his arms as he vowed to shield me from my father’s rage. He would confront Dad, demand respect for his wife, and finally see me as more than a woman he’s forced to marry.

But reality was much crueler. Pierre had made his stand painfully clear on our wedding night. He didn’t want this marriage. He didn’t want me. At alam kong kapag sinabi ko sa kanya ang tungkol sa pananakit ni Daddy... it might only burden him further and maybe even push him closer to the divorce he had probably already planned in his mind. At hindi pa ako handang harapin iyon.

Chiara pinched the bridge of her nose when I remained quiet. “God, I seriously can’t believe you sometimes.”

“Chiara...”

“No.” Umiling siya. “You always do this, Amber.”

“What?”

“You keep everything to yourself.” Malungkot niya akong tiningnan. “You’re hurting, and yet you never ask for help. You always try to solve everything on your own.”

Napayuko naman ako. I knew she was right. But I grew up that way. I learned early on that I had to deal with my problems by myself. I didn’t want to become a burden to anyone, especially to the people I loved. Paano nalang kung masanay akong naka-depende sakanila and they got tired of carrying me? What if they got sick of me and decided to leave? I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to give anyone a reason to walk away from me.

“Amber…” Lumambot ang boses ni Chiara. Lumapit siya sa akin at marahang hinawakan ang dalawa kong kamay. “You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

I looked up and she smiled gently at me. “I’m here.” She squeezed my fingers. “Kami ni Iñigo. Nandiyan din si Pierre. Hindi mo kailangang sarilihin ang lahat.”

Marahan akong ngumiti. “I know. And I’m already grateful for that, Chi.”

Napabuntong-hininga siya. “Listen to me, love.” Inilagay niya ang dalawang kamay sa mga balikat ko. “I really think you should tell Pierre what happened. Asawa mo siya. And Pierre has power. He can make your asshole of a father think twice before raising his hand against you again.” She looked me straight in the eye. “So tawagan mo siya at ipaalam mo sakaniya ang nangyari. There’s nothing wrong with wanting your husband to protect you. That’s part of being married. You don’t have to do everything by yourself.”

I stayed quiet for a moment before finally sighing. “Fine. I’ll tell him.”

She looked relieved.

“But not now,” dagdag ko.

Muli siyang napakunot-noo. “At bakit hindi ngayon?”

“It will be our first anniversary in three days. Yun din ang araw ng balik niya.” I smiled faintly. “I wanted to spend our anniversary in peace.”

Chiara stared at me for a long moment, then she sighed, her shoulders slumped. “You really love him that much, don’t you?”

I smiled softly. I had loved Pierre for so long that I no longer knew how not to.

“...I guess I do.”