TWENTY-EIGHT

EVERYONE HAS MASKS THAT THEY HIDE.

Trigger Warnings!

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Mentions of mental health and abuse will be addressed. You've been warned. Skip this if it could bother you in some ways. Be a responsible reader, malalaki na kayo.

A WEEK HAS PASSED since Minami left her home. After swirling around the bed, she grabbed her phone and noticed the message from her cousin. She didn't want to worry her, but she would eventually have to tell her everything about their family secret.

Only if she can accept everything all at once.

The door quietly opened at kumaway naman si Saku sa kanya ng bahagya at dinalhan siya ng pagkain na inilagay niya sa table sa tabi niya.

"Kamusta ka?"

Perhaps it was merely a greeting to someone else, but it truly pierced her heart and caused her to grab her chest. It's been a long time since someone asked if she was okay.

"I'm fine.." She smiled at him. "Thank you."

Umupo siya sa tabi niya at hinaplos ang buhok niya. He extended his hand towards her at  niyakap niya agad si Minami. "Wag ka nang umiyak. I told you I'd be here." 

Lumapit siya kay Minami at niyakap niya ito ng mahigpit. Saku was a kind and gentle man back in senior high. He was the only person to survive the murder that took place in the rich family to which he belonged.

Minami, on the other hand, grew up in a shattered household and lost her father at an early age as a result of malpractice he committed—or was framed for. It's quite a tragedy, you must say.

Despite this, she continued to be kind. Kindness was the only thing she could offer to those in need or who had been broken for too long.

Hinaplos ni Saku ang ulo niya at hinintay niyang kumalma 'to and he simply sighed, "I have to say something." 

"Hmm?" 

"Minami, we're best friends right? Bukod pa rito, alam ko na nag-enjoy ka dito sa 'min kasama ng mga bata, lalo na kapag kumakain tayo sabay-sabay. But it makes me nervous about this." Saku spoke up, taking care not to mention her family because he didn't want her to have triggers while thinking about their fights.

"Ayoko sa kanila..." hikbi na lang ni Minami at umiyak. "Wala na ako narinig kay Papa kundi sumbat,"

"I can't remember the last time mom spoke to me. And what about my brother? Oh, that fucker loves to hit me while he's drunk!" 

"Yes, I'm aware. You know you can stay here. Kotori has been sending me texts. Your cousin worries about you. She said your brother did something terrible," Saku said.

Napatayo na lang si Minami bigla dahil sa sinabi nito sa kanya. Tears streamed down her face as she cried, "What did he do? What did that monster do!?" 

"What do you believe he would do?"

Panic had taken hold, and all she could do was close her eyes and imagine the worst-case scenario. She rushed to get her belongings and was sweating heavily when Saku grabbed her arm, "You're not going there alone, right?"

"Siguro tama ka, umuwi na lang ako, baka may mangyaring masama sa pinsan ko." 'Di niya inisip kung delikado ba 'to o hindi. Ang mahalaga ngayon ay ang kalagayan ng kanyang pinsan.

Seeing him just now, she couldn't deny that this could be in danger. 'Di niya alam kung ano ang pinakamahalaga sa kanya. Ang mga payo ni Saku o ang pinsan niya. Minami isn't the kind to curse, but goddess cursed her fucking brother, she couldn't help but be angry at that jerk.

If he actually set everything up to punish her, she'd be willing to give her life to save Kotori. She had no idea how dark the Tachibana family could be.

"I suppose it was just enough." When Minami turned to face Nanako, she was shocked to find her bitch face in front of the door. "I heard everything you know," she said.

She walked up to them wearing her typical irate expression, her brows drawn together, and she couldn't resist using curses. She was suddenly somewhat surrounded by a dark aura, hit the table, and then glared at them both.

"Mga walanghiya! Trio tayo, 'di' ba!? Sino'ng nagsabi na i-exclude niyo ako, ha!? I'm asking the both of you!"

Minami opened her mouth to speak, but she was unable to do so. She gripped both of her ears as she was suddenly troubled by loud ideas that were irritating her. She considered explaining her situation, but she didn't want to disturb anyone.

Magkaibigan sila ni Nanako ng mahabang panahon, at siya lang ang babaeng naging matalik niyang kaibigan.

Bilang karagdagan, madalas siyang nakikipag-usap sa kanyang mga kaklasemaybe even girls around her age pero iba pagdating kay Nanako, alam mo kasing may makakausap ka. And someone who actually understands your traumatic experiences.

"Galit ka ba?" Bulong na lang ni Minami and she's rubbing her hands together, worrying about her.

Nanako raised her eyebrows and she hissed at her. She would lash out at her if she's being a bitch, you know.

But she also understood why Minami needed to keep it. What she can't understand is that she continues to push herself despite knowing she needs support. She should also rely on her. Well, they are best friends.

At marami pa ring rason kung bakit niya naging kaibigan si Minami so she can't threw that away. So she put her hands on her waist, "Tell me. Where's that asshole?" Tanong ni Nanako at sinamaan niya 'to ng tingin.

"What will you do?" Minami asked.

"Kick his ass; what else can I do? Matagal ko na rin gustong bigwasan 'yung animal mong Kuya!" Sigaw ni Nanako and she started cracking her fingers.

"You're kidding, right?" 

" 'Yan! Tamo! Tinatarantado ka na nga ng mga 'yon, nakuha mo pang magbait-baitan! That's why it's irritating!"

"Pero kasi!"

"Ewan ko sa'yo Minami! Basta! Bugbog ang Kuya mo sa 'kin! This ends the conversation!" 

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

ALTHOUGH MINAMI WASN'T  sure whether to go home, Nanako's simple act of dragging her and Saku from the room made it obvious that she had no other option.

She will undoubtedly just lock herself again, and that won't help at all. She's heading directly to Minami's house to kick that asshole's face as soon as she can because of this.

'What shall I say then? Even if I return home, what can I do?' Minami grabbed her shirt and had second thoughts.

 'Di dapat 'to mangyari sa kanya. 'Di siya dapat panghinaan ng loob pero nobody can predict what her brother will do to her.

Napahawak siya sa kanyang dibdib at wala na siyang magawa kundi maapektuhan. She simply realized she didn't belong to anyone. Specifically her own relatives. In addition, she won't benefit from merely worrying about the future. She eventually had to confront all of this in order to proceed. After wiping away her tears, Minami walked next to them. To get back to the mansion, they took a taxi. 

Nanginginig si Minami at 'di alam ang gagawin, pero bigla siyang naabutan ni Saku at 'tsaka hinigit 'to papalapit sa kanya and he sighed as he put her around his shoulders. "Hindi lang ikaw ang pupunta do'n. You have us. Believe in us.

"Just so you can wait! I am going to kick his ass!" Sigaw ni Nanako 

Mabilis na bumaba ng taxi si Minami nang dumating sila. Hinabol siya ni Nanako at sumigaw, "Minami! Saglit lang!"

Wala na siyang panahon para mag-isip o maghanda man lang sa mukha ng kuya niya. Isa lang ang nasa isip niya ngayon. At 'yon ang pagligtas sa kanyang pinsan. Nagulat siya nang makita niya si Kotori sa sahig. Wala siyang malay.

And all of a sudden, she had flashbacks to her trauma. Takot na takot siya at agad na lumapit sa kanyang pinsan. Punong-puno 'to ng dugo.

"Kotori!" sigaw ni Minami at sinubukan siyang gisingin, at sumigaw siya, "Ano'ng nangyari, ha!? Sumagot ka!" 

"Ah, the slackers have arrived. 'Di ko alam na sobrang close niyo pala so I had to lecture Kotori." 

'Di nakapagpigil si Minami at hinigit na lang ang damit niya habang umiiyak siya and her eyes went silver, and her entire body was covered in electric static.

Her eyes were filled with rage. She would call forth Hecatoncheires to murder him if she could. Minami bit her lip at hindi niya napigilan ang sarili, kinuha niya ang flower vase at hinampas sa mukha ng kuya niya.

"What the fuck did you just do!?"

Wala na siyang pakialam sa posibleng mangyari and what he just done to Kotori was awful. She's like a sibling. She's simply the family she has. Itinaas pa niya ang daliri niya and she slaps her sibling and unleashes a powerful shockwave. Ngumisi siya sa kuya niya habang sinira ang kamao niya.

"Go ahead! Gaya ng walanghiya mong ama, patayin mo 'ko kung gusto mo! Sige na!" hamon sa kanya ni Kuya Masaki.

"Prick," Nanako hissed.

She hid her sentiments for a long time. She couldn't be upset no matter how bad things were.

Because Kotori was there! She's the only person she considers family, so how can they strike her as she did? The more she considers how twisted they are, the angry she becomes.

They are sick! They are nuts! Her thoughts kept bugging her, and all she could do was cry. She aspired to be a doctor because she wanted to help people and remind them that not all pain is permanent. There's an opportunity to move forward.

Halos nandilim na lang ang mata ni Minami when she noticed the broken glass, she almost stabbed her brother before being stopped by someone. Saku was the one who stopped her.

"Don't, Minami. Don't get your hands dirty, as I am. Because if you kill someone, you can never go back. So let it go. Don't become a monster like I am. So please let go." 

"Why? 'Di niyo ba nakita? Kinuha na nila ang lahat sa'kin, pati ang papa ko! And now the only sister I had!" Bumuhos na lang ang luha niya, sumigaw at umiyak na lang siya and tears streamed down her cheeks, and she flushed slightly.

"Tiniis ko lahat! I'm hoping they'll love me! Pero kahit ano'ng gawin ko, 'di niyo' ko tinanggap. Pakiramdam ko kailangan ko mag fit-in so that people can accept me." 

"Dahil walang tatanggap sa 'yo, nakikisali ka lang naman sa pamilyang..."

"Close your filthy mouth!"Nanako glared at him. The mere memory of Saku telling her everything about Minami's torture makes her hot under the collar. She approached carefully to the guy next the girl who was unconscious and grabbed him forcibly at 'tsaka niya sinuntok 'to.

Halos dumura na siya ng dugo dahil sa lakas ng suntok ng babae and and he was shocked as Nanako stomped her heels, saying, "Minami couldn't possibly beat your ass, but I am.  So feel free. I'm prepared to drag you to the ring so I can punch your ugly face."