Chapter 3 (Hurt)

"Sorry Saymon huh? I'll be back next time."

Saymon took a deep breath on the other line.

Two days passed when my older brother and I rained and did not go to Saymon's Resort. From that night, Saymon texted me continuously.

"It's okay, as long as you're okay. Where are you going to college? "

I looked down. From where I was here in the window I could see brother Santi getting off his pick up and helping his girlfriend Anna .

I am happy because Anna has been good. She's not even pale. Now, she is always on vacation here at home. My older brother is busy at his school because he has things to study for his Medicine course.

Sometimes he takes care of Anna. He knows some first aid.

"I don't know Saymon yet. I'll take it down first huh? I'll just eat .."

"Sure, see you soon, Ara."

"All right."

I went downstairs and looked for them but I saw mama in the kitchen and she was stunned.

"Ma?" 

"Oh, Ara. There you are!"

"Mom, are you sick?" I asked thoughtfully and touched her forehead.

"Nothing. Just thinking.Oh, here, cupcakes and juice please send it to brother Santi and your sister Anna first huh? I just need to fix something upstairs. "

I took a deep breath and followed mama's gaze. She look's off. She was not like that before. What is she thinking ?

I took the tray of cupcakes and juice. I went to the living room and saw my brother and Anna. 

Kuya caressing ate Anna face. My sister is saying something to her and her older brother seems to be listening intently.

They turned to me when I felt them. I smiled at them and laid the tray on the table.

"Snack first, mama, make cupcakes."

"Wow, I'm so hungry.Looks delicious!" Ate Anna exclaimed happily. I sat in front of them and I also ate.

"I think you're really hungry .." My older brother commented to  Anna. 

"You made me hungry." Santi's just smiled at  Anna's answer. They didn't seem to see me two so I quietly left there.

I was in the hallway towards the room and saw the door of mama and papa's room was opened so I stopped.

I peeked into it and saw mama crying. I covered my mouth, my heart suddenly pounded. I have never seen mama cry like this.

There seems to be something I do not know. Looks like I have to find out something.

I straightened up and called Saymon.

"Can we meet? Hmm, let's have ice cream?"

It laughed on the other line.

"Will I pick you up?"

"Uh don't. Just wait for me at the Ice cream parlor in the school park can you?"

"Sure, see you." It looks excited.

--------------

I held the strawberry ice cream and looked at Saymon in front of me.

He was happy to talk. I really can't imagine that the one I admired was smart at school then I was able to meet .

"You're so beautiful in our prom night, I wish I could approach you but I did'nt have a chance."

I think my cheek is hot. I am nervous for this date. Only now have I agreed to date.

I smiled. "No, my classmates danced with me."

'' No, seriously, you're beautiful. But you look better without make up. "

"I don't like make up, because my face itches."

He smiled at me. "Because your skin wants to make you feel that you do not need make up to look good."

My smile widened at what he said.

The flow of our conversation was good. He never runs out of topic and is not boring.

He and Saymon had a car and a driver. He opened it so I could enter.

I shook. "Don't really, it's okay for me to take a taxi or a jeep."

And I really don't want to! My older brother will be angry!

"All right Ara, what kind of man am I if I don't bring my date?"

I laughed and beat him.

"Hey, I'll be a bathered boyfriend by chance."

Suddenly something hit my eye. my smile gradually faded. I feel that nervousness tearing at my heart.

"Ara, why?"

I can't answer him. I follow papa's gaze while accompanied by a woman. They went out to a Restaurant just next to the ice cream parlor where Saymon and I are now.

"Ara .."

I never listened to him again.

"Dad!"

I chased him because he did not hear me.

I feel that Simon has followed me.

They will enter our van when I pull papa's hand.

"Dad!"

He was a shock  when he turned  to me. The woman with him also looked at me and I looked at the paper bags she was carrying.

Branded.

"Dad, who is she?"

He hesitates whether to speak or not.

"Dad who is she?" I repeat. I trembled with anger at my right suspicion. That's why.

"Go home Ara .." he would have turned around but I stopped him. 

"Dad, are you fooling mama ?! Who is he with you ?!"

The woman's eyes widened. "Alfonso! I'm late."

She said and went inside our van. Maybe she knows that papa has a family but she still had the guts.

My tears flowed. I do not know if I will tell mom. I can not do it...

"Go home and let's talk there." he said coldly and got into the van.

I could do nothing but look at the van moving away. I cried in anger and pain.

Saymon held my hand. "Ara, you're crying. I'm just here."

It seemed to signal for my tears. I was afraid our family would break up. I was scared to see mom's hurt.

"I don't know what to do."

He stroked my hair as he held me.

I was speechless the whole time. Until I was at home I remained quiet.

In the meal I did not go with them. I hate being with papa for dinner.

I was just in the room looking at the photos of my older brother and I.

We were with our cousins ​​in the province. Nothing changed in his expression. Still cold and serious.

I was startled when suddenly there was a knock on my door. I adjusted the picture frame and opened the door.

Dad immediately entered my room. I immediately inhaled the smell of alcohol on its breath.

"You're really rude! You know I have someone but you are rude ?! " He gripped me and it almost hurt me.

I recoil in fear. I was angry at what I heard from him. 

"Me?" I pointed to myself. "Am I rude dad? I'm your daughter! Who is she? Your other woman? Who is rude that? Your woman or me huh?" 

What I was about to say was cut off when he slapped me. "You have no respect!"

"The same as you!" I shouted  back.

He do it again but to my horror my older brother intervened. So, dad slapped Santi instead of me.

"Santi!"

Papa also seemed shocked that he could not speak.

"Is that over dad l?! huh?" Santi shouted at him.

Dad's drunkenness seemed to disappear.

"I'm sorry..I didn't mean to. I'm sorry kids .." Dad was about to hug me but my older brother avoided me.

"The next time you hurt Ara we will forget you father."

I got nervous. For a long time, mama and papa avoided making my older brother angry. They are all here at home respecting my older brother. So I, I became a good sister to him. 

It hurts me to see dad turn around and leave. It was as if I had lost the strength to sit on my bed.

"Santi, do you know?"

He took a deep breath. It looks like he just arrived and his guitar is still in the back.

"Don't even think about it..go to sleep."

So, he knew. 

I shook.

"How is mom?"

"Don't tell mama I'll take care of it .."

My tears flowed. I can't accept the fact that this family is broken. It will not be built yet.

"It hurts brother .."

He sat down next to me and picked up the guitar. He started to strum.

"Loving can hurt, loving can hurt sometimes but it's the only thing, that I know when it get's hard."

I stopped crying and looked at him. My heartbeat quickened again when I heard his beautiful voice. He sang my favorite song.

"You know it can get hard sometimes,

It's the only thing that makes us feel alive,

We keep this love in a photograph,"

I seemed to be hypnotized by his face. I was also not surprised when he looked up at me and our eyes met.

"We made these memories for ourselves

where our eyes are never closing,

Our hearts were never broken,

And times forever frozen, still,"

I could not take my eyes off his eyes and it seemed like a magical voice that erased all the pain I was feeling. My lips seemed to have their own thoughts and I joined.

"so you can keep me,

Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans,

Holding me close until our eyes met,

You wont ever be alone,

Wait for me to come home,"

He smiled and continued playing the guitar.

"Loving can heal, Loving can mend your soul,

And it's the only things that I know,

I swear it will get easier,

Remember that we're never repeating yeah,"

"And its the only thing,

To take with us when we die".

I wish it could be easier, brother.

"We made these memories for ourselves

where our eyes are never closing,

Our hearts were never broken,

And times forever frozen, still."

"So you can keep me,

Inside the pocket of your ripped jeans,

Holding me close until our eyes met,

You wont ever be alone,".

I will never lose you brother, never will.

"And if you hurt me, that's okay baby,

There will be worst thing,

Inside these pages you just hold me,

And I wont ever let you go,

Wait for me to come home,"

I looked behind him where our photos were then.

A photo of him hugging me and I was away from our other cousins. I was still  ponitailed in two ears then and had a lollipop. The other one was when we were in the stream in the province and he hugged my back while we were both wet.

"I don't want others to hurt you Ara," Kuya whispered and caressed my face languidly.

I can not talk.

"Just me, just the other way around .." He grinned and shook his head. " If I only could..." He pinched my cheek and stormed out in my room.

What ?