Trigger warning: physical and psychological abuse.

Read at your own risk.

"Mom… can I sleep over at my friend's?" The girl slowly mentioned those words, trying to calm her nerves down.

She knew for a fact that she would never be allowed to do so. Pero anong magagawa niya? Ito na lamang ang tanging paraan para makatakas siya. Para tumigil na ang paghihirap niya. She’s desperate for it.

Her mother carefully closed the newspaper article she was reading, placed it on top of her lap as she took her cup of coffee and sipped from it. The girl remained where she stood, unable to move from the amount of terror that radiates from her mother. 

"Why? What reason makes you want to sleep in another house?" her mother gracefully asked, strings of hair near her ear jiggled as she sat comfortably on the couch.

The girl was beyond terrified. Ang tanging nagpapalakas na lamang sa kaniya ay ang posibilidad na payagan siya. Kahit alam niyang maliit ang tsansa niya, susubok at susubok pa rin siya. 

“I… my friend is c-celebrating something,” she stuttered, fiddling her fingers while anxiety filled her, “She invited me to c-come and have a sleepover with her dahil gusto niya daw pong ipakita ang bahay nila sa akin…”

If only her mother could hear how fast her heart is beating. It was like strumming an old guitar, where its string is old enough to pluck one by one. Isang gitara na hindi nakatono, nabubulok at hindi nagagamit. She is suffocating, the situation is choking her badly. 

She flinched with her mother's sudden move. Nakalimutan niyang huminga ng ilang minuto habang patuloy na nababalot ng takot ang kaniyang isip. Ano ang gagawin niya kung sakaling parusahan na naman siya? 

"Do you really want to spend the night at their house?" her mother responded composedly habang tinutupi ang dyaryo hanggang sa ito ay maliit at makapal. 

Lumiwanag ang mata nang bata. Baka ito na, ito na ang magliligtas sa kaniya! Hindi siya sigurado pero may bakas ng pagda-dalawang isip sa boses ng ina. 

Plano niyang tumakas kung sakaling payagan. Ginamit niya lamang ang linyang iyon para lokohin ang ina, para paniwalaan ito. She didn't really have friends, she was lonely and separated from the other students. 

Ngunit maniniwala kaya ang kaniyang ina? Dalawang taon na simula nung huli siyang nakaapak sa isang paaralan, nakakakita nang ibang studyanteng kaniyang kinaiinggitan. Mabuti pa sila, pag-aari ang sarili nila. Mabuti pa sila, may maganda at mapagmahal na pamilya. 

But her parents didn't like her going to school. They couldn't stand it. Ayaw nilang nakikisalamuha ang anak nila sa ibang studyante. Bakit, sino ang mga ito para makasabayan ang anak nila? They said it was like seeing one red, sweet apple getting mixed into rotten ones. 

They believe that their child is a great creation, that it was given to them specifically as they have what it takes to lead the child to its best version. They need to be attentive with her every move, for her to not make any mistake. Maaari pa nilang lihain ang kanilang anak hanggang sa wala nang makaabot sa galing nito. They wanted her to climb the ladder, stepping into anyone who gets in their way. 

But their child is suffering, having difficulties living her life. She couldn't talk and live like a normal person. Malaki ang naging impact nito sa bata. Napapadalas ang kaniyang parusa kung saan binubugbog siya, kinukulong, ginugutom at kung ano pang klase ng pagpapahirap. 

She was abused severely, mentally and psychologically. She couldn't seek help.

The girl felt a stinging pain around her head. It was then when she realized that the folded newspaper was thrown at her. There was a great impact. Kahit papel iyon ay may bigat ito. Sinigurado ng kaniyang ina na masasaktan siya sa pagka bato kahit papel lamang ito. 

"Are you out of your damn mind?" She stood up from her seat as she slowly lost her composure, veins visible on her neck. 

"We feed you quality food, shelter you with a big mansion, give you everything more than what you deserve. You have everything anyone could ever wish for! And now, sasabihin mong matutulog ka sa tahanan nang iba?" she said while taking steps, shortening the distance between her and her child. 

The girl felt an immense amount of fear. She made another mistake. She thought she was almost there, almost out of this damn situation. She definitely saw that ray of hope in front of her, pero hanggang ganun na lang ba? Palagi na lang ba siyang aasa na mailigtas na siya? 

"You ungrateful child!" she aggressively yelped, grabbed her by the hair while her cheeks continued to hurt by the slap of her mother, causing her ears to ring unbearably. 

She felt weird. She should be crying anytime now, on her knees, begging for forgiveness. Dahil ganon naman talaga dapat. For every mistake, there is a consequence that she needs to face. But what is this that she's feeling? 

Nararamdaman pa rin niya ang sakit ng kaniyang pisngi galing sa sampal ng kaniyang ina, ang buhok niyang hinihila hanggang sa anit. She can definitely feel it, but why can't she cry?

Is she already numb to pain? Numbness… It feels great. The visible pain she's feeling was non-existent, it was like she's able to erase any emotion she doesn’t like. 

Hawak ang kaniyang buhok, kinaladkad siya ng kaniyang ina paalis ng sala. They were both heading towards one place, the pit of hell; her father. Her mother dragged her towards the master’s bedroom where her father is, on the second floor. 

Though numb, she really couldn't control the fright. It was like a habit, something that she should be feeling. She was trained this way. Para siyang pinag experimentuhang daga ng kaniyang mga magulang. Her parents made her this way. 

Pinihit ng kaniyang ina ang door knob ng isang kulay kayumanggi ng pinto, at sa pagbukas nito ay lalong lumakas at nabaliw ang tibok ng puso ng bata. She's scared for her life, she should be. 

Walang bakas ng emosyon sa mukha ng bata nang ibato siya sa loob ng kwarto. Her mom followed, leaving the door open. Nanahimik ang paligid ng ilang segundo. The silence was ringing in her ears. Dahan dahan niyang tinapunan ng tingin ang kaniyang ama. 

He was in bed, wearing his glasses while stitching what seems to be a crochet. They were told not to disturb him whenever he does this, as he needs focus. Hindi pwedeng guluhin nang kaniyang ina ang ama sapagkat pareho silang malalagot dito. 

"Hon, get up. We have somewhere to go." she hurriedly spoke, crossing her arms. 

Her father paused from stitching, his ear flinched after he heard that very sentence. His forehead creased, showing several wrinkles his old age had given him. 

Dahan dahan nitong inangat ang ulo bago tanggalin ang tingin sa kaniyang hawak papunta sa mata ng anak. She met the eyes of her father, sending chilling shivers through her spine. If only looks could kill… 

"I'm guessing your daughter made another mistake… Am I right?" his old, raspy voice crawled out of his mouth, still looking at his daughter. 

Hindi tinanggal ng bata ang tingin sa ama. Kung dati ay hindi niya ito matignan sa mata, ngayon ay kayang kaya niya na. She didn't care anymore. Natatakot siya, pero halos wala na siyang pake sa posibleng mangyari sa kaniya. She will end it now.

She found herself sitting in the back seat, her mother on the passenger's seat while her father was the one driving. They were heading towards her friend's house, a place that doesn't even exist. 

Nakaisip na siya ng paraan para makatakas. She gave them the city's address. That one far but very populated city. Naririnig rinig niya lang ito sa mga kaklase niya dati, na palaging ma-tao sa lungsod na ito. Na masaya at mababait ang makakasalamuha mo dito.

She knows for sure that they will catch people's attention, that's when she'll run for it and ask for help. Ang ayaw sa lahat ng kaniyang mga magulang ay ang mga tao. They think that people are a pain in their asses. Sigurado siyang walang magagawa ang mga magulang niya. She will do everything what it takes, ngayong malapit na siya. 

"You could've been a perfect daughter. Na sa'yo na ang lahat, but there's this little thing that ruins everything," her mother turned around to her as if she’s looking for something, "I don't know if it's courage or what."

The ride became silent after a few minutes. The girl was anticipating, she was figuring how to properly execute her plan. Hindi niya na kaya. Gusto niya nang makawala sa sitwasyong ito, sa pamilyang ito. She will do everything, whatever it takes. 

"Well, we could've been a perfect family," out of her mind, she whispered it clear enough for her parents to hear, "If only you weren't obsessed with making me achieve the things you failed to."

The girl crossed her arms, emotions weren't visible on her face. She sat at the backseat comfortably, leaning on to the window to look outside. 

As dark as the sky, that's probably what she's feeling. Naramdaman niya ang unti unting galaw ng ina na para bang lumingon ito sa kaniya. Her eyes moved, looking at her mother. There she saw the surprised and disappointed expression drawn on her face. 

Magkasalubong ang kilay nito, ang kaniyang mata ay nagpapahiyag ng pagkadismaya habang ang kaniyang bibig ay nanginginig. What did she just do? This expression… totally suits her mother!

"What did you just–"

"Well, too bad I couldn't reach those achievements as well. But at least, you're sure that I definitely am your daughter," she removed her eyes from her mother's funny face and landed it on her father, "because we're all failures."

Again, she saw how her father's ear flinched with that sentence. It's what he hates the most, failures. No wonder he despises himself. 

Her hair was again caught by her mother, but this time, there was less force in it. It was stiff as if she just lost her strength.

"Don't you ever dare to run that mouth, or else–"

She cut her father's sentence, "Or else what? You'll kill me? Hindi niyo pa ba ako pina-patay sa mga pinaggagawa ninyo? Anak niyo ako!" 

Hindi na nagpigil ang bata nang maramdaman ang biglaang paghila ng ina sa buhok. She fought off, trying to remove her mother's hand while kicking the back of the seat. 

Kanina niya pa napapansin na hindi nakasuot ang seatbelt ng mga magulang. From there on, she decided her most safest plan. Hindi siya nagsuot ng seatbelt para damay na rin siya upang hindi mapagdudahan. 

She started scratching her mothers hand using her long nails, making sure it's deep enough to pierce her skin and bleed. She caused a huge chaos inside the car. 

Nagsimulang magpagewang gewang ang kotseng kanilang sinasakyan. Hindi papayagan ng bata na itigil ng ama ang kotse upang kumalma. She ignored her mother's cries and continued kicking the back seat of her father, causing him to lose focus and sight. 

Dahil dito, hindi na nacontrol pa ng kaniyang ama ang manibela, nagsimulang umikot ikot ang kotse, hindi malaman kung saang direksyon ito papunta. All they could feel were dizziness dahil sa bilis ng pag ikot ng kotse. Her mom's cries turned into screams of fear. Her father continued grunting heavily, trying so hard to stop the car and save their lives. 

Nang tuluyang maipreno ng ama ang kotse ay hindi natigil ang tatlo sa kanilang paghinga. All three of them were breathing loudly, catching their breaths. Cold sweat, dripping down to every part of their body. 

No way. There's no way it didn't work. Why? Bakit hindi gumana? Bakit hindi sila nadisgrasya? Her fear had stricken up when she saw her father slowly turning his head around. 

Doon niya naaninag ang isang nakakabulag na ilaw. Nagsimula ito sa malayo, hanggang sa papalapit ng papalapit. Naging malinaw na rin ang tunog na nangagaling dito. Tunog ito nang isang preno ngunit hindi sa kotse, kundi ng isang truck. 

...

This is a work of fiction.

All names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are used in a fictitious manner and is only part of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, real incidents, places and persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

No part of the story should be used, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any transformation storage without full authorization and permission from the author.

PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME

I would like to inform you that this story's characters are flawed. Don't compare them to real life personality traits. If you were to feel uncomfortable, I would like to apologize in advance.

DISCLAIMER: This story is NOT edited. Typos and Grammatical errors will be found ahead so please bear with me in the meantime. I am still an amateur when it comes to writing but I am doing my greatest best!!

Please do take note that I'm not a professional writer, differentiate this story to real life mentioned professions.

Warning: this story contains strong language and abusive actions. Readers are advised.

Genre: Thriller
By: kalopsiann

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Soon

From:
your significant author,

-kalopsiann