Chaos Series 1: Angel

25

"Ellie, come here first." Parehas kaming natigilan ni Ellie sa paglalakad nang biglang magsalita si dad mula sa sala. Nagkatinginan kami ni Ellie bago siya naglakad papunta kay dad at ako naman ito na sumunod na lamang.

"Yes dad?" Ellie asked, standing in front dad who's sitting on the sofa.

Dad adjust his glasses, "Isa ka talagang kahihiyan sa pamilyang 'to." Dad suddenly said before standing up.

My brows furrowed with what that dad said. Excuse me? Si Ellie? Is dad out of his head? Telling that straight to his daughter's face? That's too harsh!

"What are you talking about dad?" I heard Ellie ask, I just stood here, behind Ellie. I can't leave her at this point. This sound serious and someone needs to be there for her.

"This, I'm talking about this!" Dad suddenly pick up an envelope from the glass table, he open it and pull out some picture before throwing it right towards Ellie making me gasp.

"Dad!" I squealed before rushing to Ellie's side.

"Look at those pictures! Those were taken by random people and they what!? They threatened me that they will post that to the social media and show how irresponsible and disgrace the youngest daughter of a Navarro!" Dad shouted, I look at Ellie and she just stood there, eyes closed. I held her arm and look at one of the pictures.

It's a picture of her dancing in a bar. With men surrounding her. One is even holding her waist. The other picture is her dancing with a  man, but this one looks more sexier and inappropriate.

"Pasalamat ka at mahalaga sa akin ang-

"Ang apelyido mo!? Ang kumpanya mo!? Ang dignidad mo!? Ang pagkatao mo! Ang pangalan mo! At tingin sayo ng mga tao! 'Yon lang naman ang imporatante sayo dad, diba, wala nang iba, wala nang ibang mas makakakuha sa ng attensyon mo kundi 'yang kumpanya na 'yan!" Ellie cut off. I just knew that it will get more messed so I tighten my hold on her wrist.

Dad scoffed, "Kung wala 'yang kumpanya na 'yan, wala lahat ng luho niyo ng kapatid mo." Dad said and I heard Ellie bitterly chuckled.

"Oo nga, wala nga, kaya salamat dad ha? Salamat dahil sa kumpanya na yan may pera tayo. Salamat dahil sa kumpanya na 'yan may pambili kami ng luho namin! Salamat dahil sa kumpanya na 'yan may bumubuhay sa amin! At salamat din dahil sa kumpanya na yan kailangan namin maging perpekto at maging ma-ingat sa bawat galaw namin!" A loud gasp escaped my lips as dad suddenly raised his right palm and a loud slap echoed through the whole living room.

"Look what happened to you, masyado kang naging pariwara sa buhay mo! Ganiyan ka ba namin pinalaki Ellie Marguerite!? Paano ka nagkaganiyan!? Sumasagot sa sarili mong magulang!? Nag pa-party!? Sumasayaw nang ganon kalaswa sa mga lalaki!? Isa kang kahihyan!"

"Yes dad! Ginagawa ko lahat ng 'yon! Ginagawa ko lahat ng 'yon na sa tingin ko ay makaka-alis ng lahat ng problema na binibigay ng bahay na 'to! But to correct you hindi kayo ang nagpalaki sa akin! Yung mga katulong, yung mga driver at sarili ko ang nagpalaki sa akin! Bakit!? Asan ba kayo ni mom nung lumalaki ako!? Lagi kayong nasa kumpanya niyo at nag ta-trabaho! Madalang ko na nga kayo makita dito! Lagi pa kayong nasa kwarto niyo!"

Halos manginig ang mga luha ko habang pinapakinggan ang palitan ng sigaw ng dalawa. Hindi ako sanay sa sigawan dahil kahit kailan ay hindi ako nadamay sa mga ganito. Andito lang naman ako para alalayan si Ellie dahil baka kung anong gawin sa kaniya ni dad. Pero bakit mukhang isa rin ako sa mga bibigay. Maliban sa nararamdaman ko ang panginginig ng braso ni Ellie. Rinig na rjn sa boses niya ang pag-iyak.

"Masyado kayong nalunod sa trabaho niyo na kinalimutan niyong may dalawa kayong anak na naghihintay sa inyo! Sa alaga at aruga niyo! You thought at such young age we can live on our own!? I was 3 and Angel was 4 when you would leave the house for weeks! Leaving us to the maids and drivers only! So to sum it all up, naging pabaya kayong magulang at hindi ko kasalanan kung maghanap ako ng kasiyahan at pagmamahal mula sa ibang tao, at mula sa ibang lugar!" Ellie said before yanking my hands away from her.

"Those pictures, sana hindi ka nalang nagbayad at hinayaan mo nalang na ikalat nila 'yan. Nag aksaya kapa ng pera para lang sa apelyido na ini-ingat ingatan mo." Ellie said before turning her back at us. Tears started flowing down my cheeks and I thought that's the end of it, but then suddenly dad speaks.

"You are not allowed to go anywhere else, even school. Tapos na ang finals niyo and we are just waiting for your graduation. Hindi ka aalis ng bahay hanggang hindi ko sinasabi." Dad said that made me and Ellie both stop on our tracks. Ellie turn around and so I did.

"Just me? Just me dad?" She sarcastically ask, and I immediately get what she means.  I begun to tense up as I look at Ellie and raised a brow at me.

"Bakit ba ako nalang ang laging mali sa inyo!? Bakit ba parang ako nalang ang laging walang kwenta at masama!? Dad anak niyo rin ako! Pero bakit parang lagi kayong pabor kay Angel!?" She shouts and I immediately felt my throat tighten.

"Ellie kung inggit ka kay Angel because she's doing good things in her life, 'wag mo siyang idamay dito, be thankful that she's here to have your back or else kung ano nang nagawa ko sayo." Dad sternly said.

Ellie scoffed, "Angel, Angel nalang lagi! Si Angel nalang lagi ang magaling! Si Angel nalang lagi ang tama! Si Angel lang naman ang nakikita niyo eh! Dad marami din ako ginagawa tama! Pero si Angel! Angel! Angel nalang lagi!" Ellie shouts as tears started flowing down her cheeks.

"Wala naman kayong pake sa'kin dad! Anak niyo rin ako! Pero si Angel nalang ang lagi niyong nakikita sa tuwing gumagawa siya ng tama habang ako! Puro mali lang ang nakikita niyo sa akin! Dad hindi perpekto si Angel! May mga ginagawa rin siya na hindi niyo magugustuhan!-

"Ellie!" It was an accident that I raised my voice just to stop her. But I don't don't her to go further.

"See Ellie? Kahit yung kapatid mo naririndi na rin sayo. It's clear that you're just jealous kaya mo sinasabi lahat ng 'yan. Sinisiraan mo lang si Angel just to cover up all your faults and mistakes. The reason that I called you here is because of your irresponsibility. Hindi para ibaling kay Angel ang sama ng loob at inggit mo." Dad said, crossing his arms.

Ellie look at me with teary eyes, disbelief on her face.

"Sige, pagtulungan niyo 'ko. After all I did for you Angel? Lahat ng 'yon? Really!? Didn't know you have a selfish side. Fine! Okay! Ako na yung mali! Ako na yung masama! Magsama-sama kayo!" Ellie shouts before marching out of the living room. I closed my eyes and take a deep breath as I try to gather the remaining strength in my body.

"Dad sa kwarto ko po muna ako." I said without meeting my dad's eyes. Baka ako pa ang maging kasunod na ma grounded and I don't want that to happen. It may sound selfish but I don't want to. 

A loud sigh escaped ng lips as I enter ng room. I locked the door and walk towards my bed, throwing my tired body to the soft and comfortable cushion.

How did the day end up like this? Masaya pa kami kanina e. I was enjoying the beach, the food, and my time with Ezekiel. Then... nakipag kwentuhan pa ako kay Ellie sa van. We were even excited to go home and rest. We were even laughing! How did things escalated so quickly at nagkaganito!?

Ellie wont forgive me, that's a sure. I know she had enough, just based on how she screamed and shouted awhile ago. I just know that's all her anger inside her. Lahat ng yon, gusto niyang ilabas. And I know she won't forgive me. I'll try to ask for forgiveness but there's no guarantee that she will forgive me.

The next day is worse than yesterday. Ellie didn't eat breakfast with us. And I had to take the van alone. It was the most sad ride I ever had. Knowing that Ellie is mad at me and I'm alone in our van just makes me feel bad even more.

"Hey... what happened?" I look up at Ezekiel as he arrived at the bench where I texted him where I am.

I slowly shake my head, "Wala naman, just a small family problem." I said and he sit down across me, squinting his eyes.

"Sure ka na small lang? Angel you can talk to me. I'm your boyfriend, I respect your privacy but if it's anything that bothering you and making you feel bad, you can tell me to make you feel better." He said and I slowly nod.

"I won't tell you the whole story, but I'll tell you which part that is making me feel down." I said and he nods, waiting for me to continue.

I take a deep breath, "Ellie and dad had a fight last night. I was there to have her back of course, but in the end, me and Ellie had a... misunderstanding too. And now she's grounded and I know she's mad at me." I said, looking looking on my hands that are on the table. Ezekiel slowly reach for my hands and caress it.

"I'm out of that topic because it's family matter, but always know that I'm here for you, okay? You can talk to me, rant to me, and cry to me. You and Ace have me." He said and my brows furrowed.

"Why? What's up with Ace now?" I curiously ask.

I know him an Ace are best buddy. That's why sometimes when I don't see them together, I always think that the two had a misunderstanding. But turns out one is just busy.

His lips formed a small 'o' "You don't know what happened to Richard?" He asked and my brows furrowed.

"No? What happened to kuya Richard?" I asked,

He flicked his tongue and slowly shake his head, "Horrible, what happened to him was horrible. The whole Maravilla household is... out of their heads."

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