The second Abbie stepped into the house, she felt it. Something was off.
Her parents sat in the sala like statues carved from wood, her father at one end of the narra set, her mother at the other. Between them lay a thick Manila envelope, spread out on the coffee table like a blade waiting to be picked up. No TV. No snacks. No chatter. Just silence, sharp enough to slice skin.
“Sit down,” her father said, eyes fixed on the envelope.
Abbie sat but kept her arms crossed tight over her chest. “What’s going on?”
Her mother’s voice was cool, almost bored. “You’ve been accepted at Philippine Christian University, Union High School. You’ll start next term. You’ll be living with Roxanne.”
Abbie blinked. Then blinked again. “Wait. What? No. I’m not moving to Manila.”
Her father’s eyes snapped
