CHAPTER 2:THE RE-ACQUISITION
459 Words
I woke up shivering, the freezing rainwater drenching my entire body. My eyes flew open to the dark sky of Agoo plaza. In my hands was a wet, tearing paper—my university grade slip.
5.00. 5.00. INC.
I stared at the blurred ink of my Engineering majors.
Second year came, and I became complacent, happy-go-lucky, and lost in a bad crowd. Now, my scholarship was officially terminated.
In my first life, this was the hour I panicked, ran away to Manila, and ended up in Mark’s abusive hands. But not anymore. I stood up, gripped the paper, and walked home.
When I opened our door, Mama quickly rushed to me with a dry towel. "Malia! Diyos ko, bakit ka nagpaulan?"
Looking at her and Papa, my tears finally broke. "Ma... Pa... please forgive me. Naterminate po ang scholarship ko. Binagsak ko ang Engineering subjects ko... napabarkada po ako. Hindi na po ako scholar..."
I closed my eyes, bracing for a blow. Instead, warm arms wrapped around my drenched shoulders.
"Scholar ka man o hindi, anak kita!" Mama sobbed.
Papa gently patted my head, his eyes glistening. "Gagawa tayo ng paraan, anak. Magtatrabaho si Papa ng dagdag na pasada. Ang mahalaga, umuwi ka."
My shattered soul began to heal. They didn't hate me.
But my short-lived peace vanished when a sharp, grating voice pierced from the living room.
"Ayan ka pala! Kumusta ang 'scholar'?!" Tita sneered, walking arrogantly toward us. "Balita ko naterminate ka. Sabi ko na nga ba, sa sobrang taas ng lipad mo, babagsak ka rin! Ano na ngayon, magiging palamunin at tambay ka?!"
In my first life, I would have shrunk back like a cornered prey, crying in terror. But today, I stepped in front of Mama, looking Tita straight in the eye.
"Hindi ako magiging palamunin, Tita. At lalong hindi tambay," I said, my voice cold and steady. "Tita, I have kept silent for so long even if you keep belittling me and insulting my entire being! But now I won't have it. I've had more than enough."
Tita gasped, her face flushing red. "Aba! Sumasagot ka na?!"
"I won't let this setback ruin my life," I continued firmly. "If I have to be a working student, if I have to scrub floors and clean the school's comfort rooms, I'll do it! Magtatapos po ako ng Engineering, Tita, itaga niyo 'yan sa bato! Para hindi ninyo ako minamaliit!"
Stunned and humiliated, Tita grabbed her bag. "Tingnan natin ang yabang mo kapag naningil na ako sa mga utang ng magulang mo!" she screamed, storming out and slamming the door.
The first battle was won.
Now, the real work begins.
- Writer
