Behind Them All

They say, there are children that don’t deserve their parents—those children that take advantage of their parents’ love and willingness to do everything for them. But why don’t they talk about parents who don’t deserve their children? Why has no one ever spoken up about why some parents are not cut to be parents, but still chose to have kids—kids that they either neglect or use for their own interests? Why are children that chose peace of mind by leaving their home and cutting ties with their toxic parents always labeled as the ungrateful? And none to parents who are abusive? “Put this in your mind, Isobel! Once you step a foot outside this house, you can never come back again!” Dad said, angrily. He was mad that I rejected the guy they wanted me to date and eventually marry. And I was furious that his anger would not shake me up. How could they do this to me? I just graduated from college and this was what they wanted me to do already? To make me the collateral for their ambitious dreams? “Don’t worry dad, I have no intention of coming back ever again,” I replied, grabbing my bag and walking as fast as I could to get out of this house. “Selena Isobel!” Mom shouted but I was so determined to leave that no matter how hard she shouted my name, I will never look back and return to them. “Let her, Amanda. Let her experience life without our money and connection. Let her realize what kind of life she was throwing away. Let her regret and crawl back to us,” I hear dad said, stopping my mother from coming to me. I rolled my eyes as I dragged my suitcase out the house. You are wrong, dad. I will never regret choosing life away from you. I will make sure I won’t regret it. I will prove you wrong! I mentally swore, not just for my parents but for myself as well. Hindi ko na ata kayang bumalik sa ganitong buhay. May pera nga, nakukuha ang lahat ng gusto, pero parang hindi naman anak ang trato sa akin. Para akong binuhay lang para magkaroon ng silbi sa mga magulang ko. Hindi ko naramdaman kahit minsan na anak nila ako. “Tate,” I called my closest cousin the moment I got myself a ride to leave, the one I could trust the most because apparently, most of my cousins are like puppets to their parents. Tate is different, and so are his parents. They had cut the traditional trauma family brings. Tate parents stopped the tradition of marrying their children for business. “Yes, baby girl?” He responded. “I need a place to stay for the meantime,” I answered. “Why? What happened?” He asked. I could hear his rush movements from the background. “I left home. Dad wants me to marry Augustus!” I told him hysterically. "Oh, Jesus Christ! Do you need a ride? Where are you? I'll come pick you up," he offered and although I knew he could see me, I shook my head. "No need. I'm already riding a taxi. I just really need a place to stay right now. I know checking into a hotel won't be possible.” I breathed. “Tate, can I stay at your place for the meantime?” I told him. I know dad has already pulled some strings. “Of course, you can,” he replied. “Thanks, Tate. I owe a lot,” I said, sighing with relief. “It’s nothing. Do you need me to wire you some money? I’ll send some now.” I shook my head. “No. I still have some. I kind of prepared for this. I just really need a place.” Tate sighed and said, “Alright. I will come home as soon as I finish my appointment.” “Are you at work? Did I disturb you?” “No. It was just a meeting with a prospect investor,” he answered. “I will alert the condo’s receptionist for your arrival. You can go straight to my unit.” “Keys, Tate. Where can I get the keys?” “It’s digital. Code is mom’s birthday,” he answered. Oh, very momma’s boy. “Alright. Thank you so much, Tate.” “It’s nothing. I will see you later,” he said. I dropped the call after that and gave his condo’s address to the taxi driver. “Thank you po,” I told the driver after he dropped me in front of Emari’s Tower–Tate’s condominium building. I headed straight inside the building and went to the reception desk to inquire. “Hi, I’m Tatum de Ayala’s cousin,” I said to the receptionist. She smiled and nodded at me. “Yes, ma’am. We are already informed about your arrival. You may head straight to Sir Tate’s unit now.” “Thank you,” I replied before turning my back and dragging my suitcase again to the elevator. Inside, I pressed Tate's unit’s floor and it closed after a few seconds. And as I waited to reach his floor, I was already thinking of what I should do now. I have savings, some from my allowances and some from the earnings I got from my part-time job before I graduate. I have already planned to do this, to leave my parents’ house and now that it is already happening, I need to have a concrete plan. I have to think through all my decisions thoroughly because I cannot fail. I cannot fail and crawl back to my parents. I don’t want to go back to them and suffer again. I reached Tate’s floor and immediately looked for his unit. Finding it, I immediately typed in his code and when his door opened, I dragged my suitcase inside. I felt a little relief smelling Tate’s perfume inside his unit. It smells like freedom. Tate came two hours after. I had fallen asleep on his couch when he arrived, he just woke me up to eat and told me I can use his spare room. “I will not stay here longer, Tate. I have to find a place of my own,” I told him. “Why? You can stay here as long as you want. And it is safer for you to be here,” he said, brows furrowed. I shook my head. “I can’t. Sooner dad would find out that you’re helping me and he will surely go to you or your family. I don't want to cause you and your parents any trouble.” Tate smirked and said, “You know we are not afraid of your dad, right? Besides, what can he do to dad? To his eldest brother?” “Still, I do not want to risk it,” I insisted, shaking my head. "And I want to be independent. I want to survive on my own, to do my best to prove to my parents that I can live even without their money and connections." Tate arched his brow. "What a princess could do, huh? You don't even know how to fry an egg." I scoffed and replied, “I know how! I told you, I was prepared for this. I learned everything I need to learn.” “How about money? You said you still have some, some. You know those won’t last once you have your own place. There will be bills that you have to pay aside from the rent, and other necessities such as food,” he said. “I am aware of that, so I will work,” I said bravely. Napag-isipan ko talaga ‘to ng sobra, kaya alam ko na kung ano ang mga dapat kong gawin para maka-survive. “Work? What work can you do, huh?” he said, amazed by my braveness. I shrugged. “Anything. I already tried working part-time in a cafe, so maybe, I could try that again.” “Part-time? Cafe?” “Yes. I knew I wouldn't survive if I knew nothing in life aside from what was taught and given to me, so I did everything I could to learn how to earn money,” I breathed. “You don’t have to worry about me, Tate. I know I can do this.” “Damn! Your parents screwed up this bad, huh?” he said, shaking his head. He took a deep breath after and continued saying, “If that’s what you want, then go. Just don’t forget that I am here. You can always ask for help from me when things become hard for you.” I smiled and nodded. “But I will try not to. I will not prove anything if I ask for help, right? I will try to be independent and prove myself that I deserve this freedom,” I said, which made him smirk and shook his head again.