"SHIT! I did it!" Bulong niya sa sarili habang nagmamaneho sa second-hand niyang sasakyan. Inihinto at itinabi niya na muna sandali ang sasakyan sa daan. Walang humpay na kasiyahan ang nararamdaman niya matapos na ginawa iyon.

She knows if she stays there they will try to manipulate her decision, but no. Enough is enough. They had countless times of chance, but they took her for granted.

Ilang beses na niyang ni-report noon ang pagiging plagiarizer ni Laurencia ngunit nagbingi-bingihan sila. Ngunit,

hindi ngayon dahil sisiguraduhin niyang lahat ay magiging ayon sa kanya.

Before she resigned and confronted them as their junior executive writer, she already emailed the rival company and accepted the position as executive senior writer, which pays a lot.

She was accepted because of her expertise and experience. Hindi niya tinanggap ang trabahong ito noon dahil sa pag-aakalang mabibigyan ng recognition ang loyalidad at paghihirap niya sa kompanya.

In her first life, instead of recognition and rewards, what they gave to her was punishment and early retirement. Iniisip pa lamang niya ang bagay na iyon ay nanginginig na siya sa inis.

Nagkandakuba-kuba siya sa pagtatatrabaho pero pang-aakusa pa ng plagiarism ang natanggap niya. Binaliktad siya ni Laurencia noon kaya naman inunahan na niya ito ngayon.

Those people used their power to trample the weak and the weak

at heart.

"I like the feeling of trampling those who made me suffer," she whispered.

Sinadya niyang ihinto ang sasakyan upang ayusin uli ang sarili dahil haharap siyang muli sa isa pang delubyo.

And this time, it was the worst problem she had. "I should ready my heart and mind; if not, I will be pushed

back again," bulong niya sa sarili na yumuko sa manibela ng sasakyan.

"Tigasan mo ang puso mo mamaya-maya, Liontine!" Aniya sa sarili. Ilang beses niya na munang kinumbinsi ang sarili bago muling pinaandar ang sasakyan.

"You can do this, Liontine! Kayang-kaya mong mag-isa at wala ang iba!" She told herself confidently. Ipinagkit niya sa mukha ang kaseryosohan.

Nagmaneho na puno ng determinasyon at dala-dala ang lakas ng loob upang harapin ang problema. Nang makarating sa kanila ay napatawa siya ng pagak.

This is the same house that made her insecure towards herself. This is the same house that caused her inner turmoil.

"Walang pinagbago. Maganda nga ang harapan nito ngunit masasama naman ang mga tao," bulong niya sa sarili bago bumaba sa sasakyan. Mabibigat ang mga paa na pumasok sa loob

nito.

Nakita niyang nakaabang ang kanyang mga magulang maging ang kapatid na nakapamewang pa sa kanya.

Looking at them, she felt both nostalgic and disgusted. Her mother glared at her while her father just had a bored look on his face.

Hindi pa man siya nakakatapak upang pumasok sa loob ng bahay nila ay mag-asawang sampal na ang natanggap niya sa ina.

"Gaga ka ba?! Anong ginawa mo kay Laurencia? Anong kagagahan ang ginawa mo at nag-resign ka? Sinong susuporta sa amin at sa kapatid mo?!" Sunud-sunod na sigaw ng kanyang ina sa kanya.

Hindi masakit ang sampal at lalo na ng mga sinabi nito.

Alam niyang makaabot agad ang mga nangyari sa kompanya sa kanyang mga magulang lalo pa at kaibigan ni Leona si Laurencia.

"Laurencia called us on the phone! She's crying! Are you crazy? You pinned your mistakes on someone!" Leona, her fraternal twin said.

Tinaasan siya ng kilay nito ngunit, imbes na sumagot ay tumawa muna siya. "Nababaliw na nga siguro siya, Mama! Tignan niyo!"

Leona pointed out. She stopped laughing and glared at them. "Suporta ba kamo, Ma? Do it on your own. Bata pa naman kayo ni Papa, or you could make Leona work. Panay pageant lang naman ginawa ng paborito niyong anak. It's time for her to step up to support all your and Papa's needs. You have never even supported me financially since I was a teenager! I worked hard for me to support

myself!" Humahangos na sabi niya.

Nagulat sila sa ginawa niya

ngunit, hindi pa siya tapos. "I am done being manipulated by you all! Simula ngayon magkanya-kanya na tayo! Wala akong utang na loob sa inyo dahil

matagal na akong bayad simula nang mag-working student ako!"

Her parents didn't expect her outburst since they know her to just keep her mouth shut. "Ungrateful brat! We are still your parents!" Sabat ng kanyang ama.

Umiling siya. "I am not ungrateful. Kayong lahat ng iyon! You have supported Leona financially and emotionally since we were children, and what about me? All you have given me was heartache! You should have been fair!" Liontine yelled; her emotions were so intense that her family also got furious at her.

"Ganyan ka na kasi kaya mo ng mag-isa?! Hindi ka mabubuhay kung hindi dahil sa amin!" Sumbat ng kanyang ama.

"That's the point! You should have killed me if you both are unfair! Don't worry, I am not here to let you realize your treatment of me. I am just here to get my things!" Aniya at mabilis na pumasok sa loob ng tahanan na siyang naging saksi ng kalupitan ng kanyang mga magulang at kapatid.

They were stunned and shocked by what she said and did. Mabilis siyang pumasok sa maliit na silid sa tabi ng kusina at kinuha ang maleta niya kung saan naroon ang mga gamit niya.

She never had her own cabinet. Inilabas niya iyon at dali-daling lumabas ng bahay nila. Sinisigawan pa din siya ng mga magulang niya hanggang sa hinila ng kanyang ina ang kanyang buhok.

"Bwisit kang babae ka! Wala kang utang na loob! Sana talaga namatay ka nalang! You don't even look like us! I even doubt myself if you came from me!" Nag-eeskandalong pagwawala ng kanyang ina.

Hindi man lang pumigil ang kanyang ama at kapatid bagkus ay pinagtulungan pa siya ng mga ito. Expected na niya ang bagay na ito bago pa man siya pumasok sa bakuran ng tahanan nila.

Halos matanggal ang kanyang anit sa paghila nila sa buhok niya. Ibinuhos niya ang buong lakas upang mabitawan siya ng mga ito. Itinulak nila siya dahilan upang mabuwal siya at ganoon din sila.

"Walanghiya kang baboy ka!" Panglalait ng kapatid niya sa kanya. Agad na tumayo si Liontine.

"Oo! Baboy ako at wala ka nang pakialam doon! Baboy na kung baboy! My gaining weight was all your fault!" She yelled at the top of her lungs.

They try to come to her again, but she stops them. "Don't even try! I am tired of all of you! The insults, bullying, and unfairness. Pwede ba, tama na 'yon! I am done with it! I already have a health condition, and being around this toxic family will definitely take a toll on my well-being! Tama na! Tama na!" Hestirikal na din niyang pagsigaw.

Wala na siyang pakialam pa kung marinig ng mga kapit-bahay. "I am done being your shadow and your wallet, Leona! Magtrabaho ka! Mama, I've had enough of your antics and unfairness! And I am done hiding your secrets, Papa! Your mistress also keeps on bugging me! Call me and ask you to call her and your child! Tell her to stop, and you should do the right thing! All of you stop existing in my life! Ituring niyong patay na ako gaya ng pagturing niyong walang kuwentang tao ako noon!"

With those final words, she left them, dragging her luggage behind. Iniwanan niya ang pamilya na tulala at hindi makapagsalita, pero alam niyang mas apektado ang kanyang ina at ama dahil sa huli niyang sinabi.

She rode on her car again and accelerated the speed to get away from them. As the car got farther away from her childhood home, she laughed while crying. For the first time in her life, she

stood up for herself, and that made her heart full of joy.

She couldn't fathom how she could not do this when this is good for her. Liontine felt like a nail that struck in her heart was pulled suddenly, and that made her joyous.

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