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Last Updated : 2020-09-30
10Synopsis
Ayomide, a once brilliant and studious girl, unconsciously drifted away from her dreams into the realms of nonchalant attitude towards her academics. This was due to the loss of her father to the painful hands on death, leaving only her single mother, who tried painstakingly to be the best for her daughter. But her best wasn't enough. She stumbled upon an unserious act who made the whole affair about her dead father bearable and she liked it there; in comfort.However, the cheerfulness didn't last long, before reality struck her and she was made to represent her supposed "class of dullards" in a Mathematics only competition.This story sees young Ayo, as she struggles with life's imbalance at the early stage of her life, to restore the once shining light in her; her hope.
Chapter 1
A New Beginning
"Kelsey, halika dito. Samahan mo akong uminom."
Mapupungay ang mga mata ni mama. Namumula ang mga pisngi at nanghihina ang kaniyang ngiti. Gayunpaman, lumapit ako sa dining table at umupo sa tabi niya. Kumuha siya ng isang wine glass para sa akin. Tinanggap ko iyon matapos niyang salinan ng wine.
"Cheers."
I hesitantly toasted with her before I sipped my wine. Pangalawang bote niya na ito ngayong gabi. Tonight is Valentine's Eve. Hindi naman big deal sa akin ang araw na ito. Some guys tried to ask me out but I rejected their offer.
To some couples, tonight might be special. While some couples might be laughing, holding each other's hand, kissing or having a date, me and my mom sat beside each other, getting drunk. This is our kind of Valentine's Night.
"Nasaan na kaya ang papa mo?" Sinundan niya iyon ng isang mapaklang tawa.
"Mag-11:00 na oh. Hanggang 7:00 lang ang pasok niya. Baka nag-date sila ng babae niya."
She tried to fake a laugh but that laugh came out broke. Unti unting sumilip ang mga nagbabadyang luha sa kaniyang mga mata. Kumirot ang dibdib ko. The most painful thing in the world is to see your mom cry.
"Cheers." One.
"Cheers." And another.
"Cheers." And another. I lost count of the time we toasted our glasses. Namalayan ko na lang na nahihilo na ako at muling kumuha ng isang bote si mama. Sa pangatlong iyon ay nanghina na siya. Naisubsob niya ang kaniyang ulo sa lamesa. Sinundan iyon ng maiingay niyang hikbi.
I was 10 when my dad cheated on my mom. I had a 5 year old sister who was too naive to notice anything that's going wrong with our family.
I was there when my mom started feeling intuitions. I was there when my dad denied her conclusions. I was there when my mom started doubting his actions. I was there when my dad covered up his deeds. I was there to hear my mom's accuses. I was there to hear my dad's well fabricated lies.
I was there when my mom finally found out. When she confirmed right before her eyes that my dad is seeing another woman, I was beside her, holding her hand. I was with her to witness how my dad kissed another woman. I walked away with her, I saw tears roll down her cheeks and I could almost hear her breaking heart with our hurried steps to get away.
That day, I prevented tears to run down my cheeks for I wanted to be the strength that my mother could hold on to. But even though I didn't say, that was my first ever heartbreak.
Nasaksahin ko ang lahat. Kung paanong ang mga pagdududa ay nakompirmang totoo. At ang maliliit na akusasyon ay sumiklab sa malalaking gulo. Kung paanong ang bawat bagay na ginawa nila para sa isa't isa ay naungkat at naging sumbatan. Kung paanong ang lambingan ay nauwi sa pisikalan. Ang maayos na relasyon ay unti unting nasira dahil sa isang lihim.
Matapos ang lahat ng ginawa ni papa, hindi lang si mama ang niloko niya, ako rin. Nasira ang tiwala ko sa kaniya. The man that I adored the most suddenly became heartless and selfish in my eyes.
"Kelsey." Inangat ni mama ang kaniyang ulo. Basang basa ng luha ang kaniyang mga pisngi. I want to wipe away the tears from my mother's eyes but I know it would be worthless. Her tears would still keep running down her cheeks unless the reason behind them would be gone.
"I regret all of this. I regret marrying your dad." Huminto siya para hayaang dumaloy ang kaniyang mga luha. Hindi ako sumagot o nagpakita ng anumang emosyon sa mukha ko.
It was ironic. How every girl dreamt of her wedding day since she was young but would only end up regretting it in the end. After witnessing my parents' story, I never wanted to get married. Ayokong gumawa ng isang bagay na pagsisisihan ko lang naman sa huli.
"The only thing I don't regret is you and Kesha" She smiled. A bittersweet one. My heart felt bitter too. I felt like me and my sister were a consolation prize in their failed marriage.
"Ayoko na Kelsey. Gusto ko ng tapusin 'to. I don't wanna be with your dad anymore." Tumango ako. Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang kamay. Naiintindihan ko. Tanggap ko kung maghihiwalay na sila. Mas mabuti na iyon kesa patuloy lang nilang saktan ang isa't isa.
"When you grow up, never trust a man. Because men are born polygamous." I made sure to mark her words. Bata pa lang ay itinatak ko na iyon sa isip ko. Ayokong matulad kay mama. Ayokong masaktan ng ganito.
Sabay kaming natigilan ng makarinig kami ng busina ng sasakyan. Sinundan iyon ng pagbukas ng gate na marahil ay binuksan ng katulong. Maya maya pa ay unti unting pumihit ang door knob ng front door. Iniluwa noon ang aking ama.
Agad na nagdilim ang kaniyang ekpresyon nang masulyapan kami. Malalaki at dahan dahan ang kaniyang mga hakbang. Huminto siya sa harap namin.
"Bakit dinadamay mo si Kelsey sa pag-iinom mo?" Nahimigan ko ang galit sa malalim niyang boses. Matalim ang tingin na itinapon niya kay mama.
Mom was too wasted to reply. She just stared at him with her lazy eyes. Tumikhim si papa at napailing.
"Nevermind. Kelsey, sa susunod 'wag ka ng papayag na uminom kasama niya. Your mom's out of her mind."
"So how was your date? Saang restaurant mo siya dinala? Or better yet--saang hotel? Baka naman sa condo mo?" Sarkastiko at sunod sunod ang mga tanong ni mama. I saw how dad clenched his jaw and how his eyes blazed with anger.
"Wala akong ibang pinuntahan. Nag-overtime ako sa trabaho. Traffic pa." Sagot niya. Hindi ako nagsalita kahit na taliwas ang sinasabi ng kaniyang leeg. Nakita ko roon ang mga marka ng halik ng isang babae.
"Heto. I bought you flowers. Happy Valentine's." Ngayon ko lang napansin ang bitbit niyang mga bulaklak. Three pieces of plastic roses. Hinagkan niya si mama sa pisngi.
Fake roses. Fake kiss. Fake love.
Sampal ang naging tugon ng aking ina sa kaniyang halik. Sinubukan niyang iabot ang mga rosas ngunit tinapon lang iyon ni mama. I saw how the roses scattered on the kitchen floor.
"Anong problema mo?!" Kumawala na ang galit na kanina pa kinikimkim ng aking ama. Tumayo si mama at hinarap siya, ang mga luha ay patuloy na dumadaloy sa kabila ng nanlilisik niyang mga mata.
"I want an annulment."
Nagitla si papa sa tinuran niyang iyon. Kinalas niya ang kaniyang neck tie at nagkuyom ang kaniyang mga palad. Hindi ko na kinaya. Hindi ko na kayang pumagitna sa namumuong away nila. Mabilis akong tumayo at tumakbo patungo sa kwarto ko.
Tinakpan ko ang tainga ko upang hindi marinig ang sigawan nila. Ganito lagi ang sitwasyon. Sa tuwing nag aaway sila, nagkukulong lang ako sa kwarto ko. Habang nagpapalitan sila ng galit ay palihim na bumabagsak ang aking mga luha. Kung minsan nagigising pa ako sa pagtulog dahil sa ingay ng mga away nila.
Nakakapagod. Nakakasawa. Sana nga maghiwalay na sila kesa patuloy nilang parusahan at lokohin ang isa't isa. I felt trapped with them in a never ending war.
Hindi ko mapigilang isipin ang babae ng papa ko. Bakit niya kaya nagawa iyon? Paano niya nagawang pumatol sa isang taong alam niyang committed na sa iba? Sa isang taong alam niyang pamilyado na? Sa tuwing nag aaway sila mama, ang imahe niya ang paulit ulit na lumilitaw sa isipan ko.
Sometimes I want to put myself in her shoes. I want to know her reasons. I want to try to understand even the tiniest reason why she would do such thing. I want to know why she would still risk loving someone despite knowing that that love can hurt somebody else. Is it really worth it? Is that love worth hurting others? Why would you love someone who's already owned by someone else? Is it love if it's stealing?
__
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, places and events are product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
This story or any portion thereof may not be reproduced without the permission of the author.
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Glimpse of Hope The Hangout
It’s Saturday evening, a week after the misunderstanding between Ayo and Bukky. Ayo along with Funmi and Oreoluwa just arrived at the Heart City Shopping Mall, where Anu had promised to meet with them. She dialed Anu’s number after a few minutes of waiting, with no sign of her.“Go into the restaurant section. I will meet you there in five minutes.” – Anu had told her over the phone.They walked into the restaurant and found a table near the glass wall that served as a demarcation from the outside. Ayo picked that spot because it would enable her to see everything going on outside. They settled on the seats around the table, leaving an empty for Anu. Before Anu’s arrival, they had ordered chicken fries and began enjoying the meal.True to Anu’s word. Less than five minutes after they had settled, she strolled in, flaunting a pink one hand bag. She had previously seen them while entering the restaurant, so she headed towards them immediately and soon took her seat.
Last Updated : 2020-09-30Glimpse of Hope Entanglement
The following day was a Sunday. Ayo was alone in the study room in their home. She and her family had just returned from church service. Her mom was resting as her pregnancy is now very much visible. Bayo had returned to school after church service that afternoon and her step-dad, who had driven him to the car park, was yet to return.Ayo went over her ordeal of the previous day; qualifying for the Olympiad finals, which was a dream come true for her but not totally fulfilled as she still had a gold medal to win. Meeting Anu, her childhood friend, was another thing she had been excited about. Thinking of Anu, She dashed to her room and ransacked her school uniform where she found the paper Anu had given her. It was just where she left it, in her breast pocket.She brought out her smartphone, which her step-dad gave her as a gift on her last birthday. She had rarely used the phone since then. But today, she was going to use it. “Hello,” –
Last Updated : 2020-09-28Glimpse of Hope Revelation
As soon as Oreoluwa exited the room, Funmi wiped her tears and faced Ayo squarely. “I’m listening,” Ayo urged.“At first” – Funmi sighed and rested her back on the wall behind. She used her palm to cover her face in frustration – “Oh! My God! I don’t know how to begin.”“Just tell me the important details.”“Okay, I think I can do that!” She sat up and rested each elbow on her thighs, using one hand to support her head. “I helped you because I wanted to… I mean I really picked interest in you on your first day in school and I wanted to get to know you. But…” Her voice trailed off again but she picked up almost immediately. “But when you won the annual math quiz ahead of me. I...” She buried her face in her palms and it took a pat from Ayo for her to regain her confidence. Staring at Ayo, she said, “I began to dislike you an
Last Updated : 2020-09-27Glimpse of Hope Malevolent Intent
“See you later. I want to speak to Ore.” That was the last statement Funmi uttered to the duo of Ayo and Anu before she left them in the middle of the backstage room where she met them. She walked up to Oreoluwa as she’d said she would but not because she actually wanted to talk to him or have a conversation of any sort. She had said so to excuse herself from the conversation Ayo and her friend were having. Here, she was behind Oreoluwa and unable to say anything.“I guess she is from your school.” Damilola pointed behind Oreoluwa to alert him of the intruder that had joined.Oreoluwa looked behind and found a depressed Funmi. “Yes, she is.”“I guess I would leave you two to talk then.” Damilola left them there by cutting her conversation with Oreoluwa short.“What’s wrong with you?” Oreoluwa demanded from Funmi.“I’m… fine,” she said. Her arms folded a
Last Updated : 2020-09-26Glimpse of Hope Becoming Famous
“Congratulations Ayo,” Oreoluwa said and extended a hand for a shake as Ayo walked into the backstage room of Ace studios, the venue of the Mathematics Olympiad.Ayo refused the hand and hugged him instead. “Thanks for those kind words, Ore. I will never forget.”
Glimpse of Hope Honour
“Wow! Unbelievable,” the quiz master said. Ayo’s Olympiad 60 seconds of fame had just ended. “Those last 45 seconds were awesome!” He heaved a sigh to ease the pressure he had felt while reading the questions to Ayo.“Thank you, sir,” Ayo muttered. Her palms were sweaty, so was her forehead
Glimpse of Hope Self Doubt
Ayo listened as the quiz master told Damilola that she had qualified and Francis, disqualified. She and Lateefah were the only ones left and she isn’t so sure if she was faster than the other girl, who seems bright under the cotton she used to cover her hair. It however made her look beauti
Glimpse of Hope Hidden Intentions
“Audience, what do you think?” the quiz master asked rhetorically. The first round had just come to an end and everyone awaited the result. “It’s been an interesting and amazing first round,” he said to the contestants. The contestants couldn’t hol
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Jiang Sese was in utter disbelief after hearing all of that.
She was already hurt after losing her child. Now that she had learned the truth, she felt such mental torment that she was about to go mad. Even her emotions were going haywire, so much so that she was becoming hysterical English
