Chapter 5
ARLENE MARIELLA's POV
"I'm sorry for what I said, hija. You can rest and sleep, you'll be in early tomorrow," said by Grandma while wiping her cheek.
I stood up. "All right, you take care of it, thank you, Grandma. Get some rest early," I climbed upstairs and did my skincare routine.
I took the earphones out of my drawer and slapped them on my ear while playing. This is the only way for me to sleep soundly, Riana and I are used to it.
I was right because I fell asleep right away because of that. But I just hung up a few times with a tap on my arm.
"Hm." Feeling drowsy can't make me open my eyes, because maybe it's so early and I feel like I have just slept a few minutes ago and I'm still dazed, truthfully.
"Hija, get up. Your Mama..." Grandma's voice growled when I heard it. I was immediately startled to hear Mama's name.
[Mama: Mommy]
"Yes? What's wrong with Mama?" I wondered. Her forehead furrowed as she wrinkled her eyes. I sat down and looked outside. It's still dark, is it still dawn?
"Your Mom had an accident, hija," she says crying. I can't move, am I deaf or just dreaming? I suddenly slapped my face, I felt pain so I was definitely not dreaming
"No," tears pooled in my eyes. "No! No, it's not an accident, Grandma. No, Grandma no! It's just a mistake, she's not. No," I sobbed. Grandma wrapped her arms around me and hugged me as we cried together. I can't believe it. She will not have an accident. It is wrong, all wrong.
"Everything you found out are wrong, Grandma. Mama can't have an accident,"
[Mama: Mommy]
"It's all wrong, Grandma. All wrong." I said that over and over again while crying. It's hard to believe because she promised me she would never be hurt. She promised she would not abandon herself.
"They're in the hospital, hija. We have to go there, your Papa is already there." Grandma stroked my back a few times to make me feel a little better. Absent-mindedly, I got up and went straight to the bathroom. No doubt I embraced the cold water. I'm numb.
I wore my sweatpants and gray spaghetti straps. I put a gray hoodie on it, so I wouldn't get cold later. And then, I partnered it with my black Adidas sandals. Simple outfit for this day. I also tied my hair into a bun.
I didn't bring a lot of stuff anymore. I only put my cell phone and power bank in the sling bag. When I went down to the living room, Grandma and Andeng were already waiting there. Dressed up, carrying another bag. Maybe Mama's clothes or something?
[Mama: Mommy]
[Papa: Daddy]
I have left the house. They left Manang to talk to the other maids who guarded the house. When we arrived at the hospital, we went straight to the emergency room.
We caught up with Papa who was sitting and bowing in his palms. I immediately approached and hugged him but he did not even retaliate, he walked away immediately.
Reddened from crying, he slapped me too hard. I almost fell, fortunately, Manang caught me in the waist right away. I felt no pain, instead, I just cried.
"Your Mother is already lying in bed. Her head is unconscious and full of blood! Are you happy to torture her?! You are a useless child! You never thought of your mother! You are only giving us torture!" He slapped me again on the other cheek. Grandma couldn't fight back because Papa pulled me and slapped me.
"You're useless! Shut up! Get out of my house!" I moved away a bit but he still pulled me closer.
"You're a naughty child! You're such a torture on us, just run away if you're just torturing your mother! You're a child whore! You've done nothing right!"
"Why, yet? Did you notice when I was suffering? Did you see it? I didn't tell you because I don't want you to get involved in my problem—" I was slapped again.
"Who taught you to answer huh?! That man of yours?! Why you're a real young whore! We raised you well. Then that's all you're going to reciprocate huh?! You're a painful animal!"
"If you hadn't just acted, it wouldn't have happened to Carlene! If something really bad happened to my wife, I wouldn't consider you my daughter!"
I laughed. "Daughter? When did you consider me a daughter, yet? I'm sorry, huh? When I'll have a stable job, I'll leave and I'll also leave your house. Tsk, I'm sorry, huh? When did I become an Apostol? I have not become an Apostol in your sight, it hurts to know I'm nothing from my father." I laughed, wiping the tears that dripped down my cheeks.
"And when did you have the strength to say that in front of me?! Your face is so thick, you don't fit in my last name. I don't have a daughter with that kind of attitude," he turned his back on me. And got back to sitting. I turned my back on everyone there and walked away. I don't know where I'm going. The pain I feel is so much,I suddenly wanted to die.
That type where you go to sleep and you won't wake up the next day. This world's making me worthless, I don't fit into it. I wish I was the one who had the accident and not Mama. I'm afraid of what will happen to her, I don't want to see her suffer because of me but I can't do anything about it.
Papa is right, I'm so worthless that I'm a child. I am not an Apostol, because all Apostol are helpful, kind, intelligent, and hardworking. I don't have a habit like that so this is how he drives me away.
I was about to leave the hospital when I saw a familiar body bathed in blood, lying on the hospital bed. The fabric of the mattress was stained with blood. I went straight to the emergency room, I ran to follow it.
I cried again when I saw Auntie Fina hugging Uncle Jonas crying. I immediately approached them, Uncle Jonas stopped stroking her back when he saw me.
"U-Uncle what happened to Stewart?" I stammered a question. Uncle also cried but not as much as Auntie.
"His car hit a tree. A-And the car fell into the ravine, fortunately, someone saw the incident, hija." Auntie said, weakly, crying loudly.
"W-Why did that happen? Uncle, he's with his driver." I covered my mouth after saying it to stop myself from crying.
"He ran away from home, hija. We don't know where to go, we just heard that he had an accident."
I felt like fainting, I sat on my feet and covered my face. 'I can't stop crying, why does this have to happen?
Time passed, I was able to return to the place where Grandma is. I never spoke to Papa again while waiting. I don't know what happened next to Stewart because Auntie sent me back here immediately.
This is all my fault. I hope I didn't just tell Mama so it wouldn't happen to her again. That day, Grandma sent me home for a while to take a bath. I obey-ed because Mama hasn't wake yet.
I was walking to the hospital when I met Ciara who was in a hurry. She's wearing skinny jeans and a white loose tank top. With matching, ballerina flats.
She didn't notice me because she just kept walking. I followed her, and witnessed her stopping in front of a private room. Who's room? Stewart—
"Oh, hija. There you are," said a familiar voice from behind. I turned to face it and met the gaze of Uncle Jonas.
"Ah, I have just arrived, Uncle. Is Stewart awake yet?" I asked, puzzled. I was even distracted by the look on his forehead as he frowned at me.
"Are you okay, hija?"
"Yes, I'm just really worried. I'm sorry," I looked down at my hand.
"Ah is that so? Let's go inside," he gently grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to the door which Ciara stopped earlier. Ciara looked at us when she noticed us approaching.
"Oh, you're here too. Come in," Uncle coldly ordered. Before we could enter, we heard Auntie Fina's roar from inside. Uncle quickly opened the door and exposed Stewart's body lying on the hospital bed and many equipments attached to him.
"What happened, my love?" Uncle asked while shaking Auntie's shoulder who was just crying.
"I just remembered something," Auntie asked.
Uncle got relaxed. I remained quietly as I thought about what had happened.