Chapter 6

"Dad! I told you I don't want to tie a knot with him!" I pointed at Mason who was looking at me innocently.

Yeah, the Chua's are back here again in our house because of the fucking arrangement. I felt tita's hand on mu shoulder para kumalma ako, but it's not working. My blood is boiling right now. Nag iinit ang ulo ko.

Dad looked at me sternly, "Young lady, tone down your voice," he looked at the Chua's with an apologetic smile, "Apologise, Mr and Mrs Chua."

Umawang ang bibig ko. He's saying sorry to the guest, at hindi sa akin?!

"As I was saying, it will be better if our children will live together," Mr Chua said looked at Mason, "Right son?"

Nginisian ako ni Mason, before he looked at his father, "Yes dad."

"Of course not," I said and stood up, kaya lahat sila napatingin sa akin, "Don't you dare decide for me. This is my life you're talking about. Who's gonna suffer if I'm not in good hands, you?" I laughed saractically, "it will be me, so fuck this arrangement, and fuck you all."

Dad slammed his hands on the table before he stood up and walked towards me, "Luric Chelsy, where did you learn to say those things?"

"Of course, from his suitor," singit ni Mason.

Sabay kaming napalingon ni dad kay Mason, who was looking at us innocently, but I know deep inside of his bullshit brain, he was already smirking. Dad looked at me in disbelief.

"You have a suitor? Since when?" Dad asked and I was about to answer nang sumingit si Mason.

"After she knew about this arrangement. She wants to escape from this arrangement, so she just force a random guy to date her. As if she can escape from this arrangement."

Dad was about to slap me, when tita held his hand, stopping him, "Don't you dare hurt your daughter infront of the guest."

I didn't say any word, and just walked out the dining room and went up. I'm really really really pissed right now. Sino ba si Mason para gumawa ng storya? Kung gusto niya pala gumawa ng istorya, edi sana nag pasa siya ng manuscript niya sa publishing house. Baka sakalinh matanggap siya at maging author ang gago.

I was about to enter my room when my sister suddenly pulled my hair, forcing me to enter her room.

"Shit ka! Ano bang problema mo?!" Singhal ko sa kanya pagkapasok namin sa kwarto niyang amoy droga.

My sister smiled apologetic to me, but I know it's fake, "Oh I'm sorry, did I hurt you? Dapat pala mas hingpitan ko pa para matanggal ang anit mo," and with that she laughed like she was being possesed by a demon.

"Ano bang gusto mo? Patayin ako? Go ahead!" I was already confused and shit because what's happening kaya kung ano-ano na nasasabi ko.

Yung katapangan ko nawala, when my sister suddenly threw a knife on my direction and it hit my left shoulder. Bumaon pa ito sa balikat ko kaya napaatras ako sa sakit. My back was now leaning on her door, while she was walking towards me. Walang pasbi niyang tinanggal sa pagkakabaon ang kutsilyo sa balikat ko kaya napasigaw ako sa sakit. I saw my blood dripping down on the floor.

"My pleassure. Matagal na kitang gustong patayin eh," she said at sinugatan niya ang parehong braso ko with the knife.

Nanginginig ang tuhod ko sa sakit at takot, and I don't know how I can manage to stand infront of her. She was about to stab my head using the knife she was holding, nang bumukas ang pintuan.

"Eloira! What the hell are you doing?!" Tita shoited as soon as she went inside the room.

I heard the knife being dropped on the floor, and I say Eloira tearing up, "Mommy, I-i don't know," she said while she was crying.

Tita looked at me and her mouth formed an "o" when she saw me bleeding, from shoulders to arms. She brought back her gaze to Eloira who was know kneeling on her knees, tulala.

"We need to go to the hospital, right now!" Tita said and guided me to go outside.

When the helpers saw us, agad silang naalarma at pinatawag ang driver. Good thing the Chua's are nowhere to be found right now, and also dad. Si tita ang sumama sa akin sa hospital, and while we're on our way my phone rang.

Kahit masakit ang braso ko, pinilit kong kuhanin ang phone ko sa bulsa mg shorts ko. Good thing tita helped me. Nang makita ko kung sino ang tumatawag, I immediatley off my phone, ignoring the call.

"You're not gonna answer it?" Kunot noong tanong ni tita.

Umiling ako, "I-it's not that urgent," I lied.

Tinignan ako ng mariin ni tita bago niya kinuha ang phone ko. Makikipag talo pa sana ako, nang maalala kong sugatan pala ako. Immune na ba ang sarili ko sa pain, at hindi ako nag papast out ngayon?

"Sebastian?" Tita asked while she was looking at my contact, "He's your suitor, am I right?"

I pursed my lips before nodding my head. Tita breathe a large amount of air, before she tapped the calling button. Kukunin ko sana ang phone sa kaniya, but she won't let me. Iniiwas niya ito sa akin.

"Yes, hello, this is Mrs. Makinano, I'm Chelsy's step-mother. I just want to i form you that Chelsy is now wounded and we're on our way to Monteferrante Medical Hospital," tita said and looked at the window beside her.

"Oh your parents own that hospital? Oh okay, I just want to inform you. That's it," with that ay pinatay ni tita ang tawag before she looked at me.

"Sebastian is on his way," she said and I nodded my head, "he's a Monteferrante, Chelsy? You know how to pick boys, huh."

Hindi ako nag salita pa. I don't know if that was an insult or compliment. When we arrived at the hospital, agad na may nag asikaso sa amin sa Emergency room. I was seating on the Emergency room bed habang nililinisan ang sugat ko, when I saw Seabstian entered the ER.

"Dad," Seb greeted the doctor who was in charge of me.

Tinignan siya ng doktor, "Son? What are you doing here?"

Seb didn't say any word but his gaze went to me. Napatingin sa akin yung doctore before bringing back his gaze to Seb. Tumikhim siya bago ito pinatitigan si Seb.

"Son, you know this girl?" The doctor asked and Seb only nodded his head while biting his lower lip.

Nakita ko ang pag silay ng tipid na ngiti sa labi ng doctor, bago inatasan ang mga nurse na ipagpatuloy ang pag-tahi sa braso ko. Tapos na kasing tahiin at lagyan ng bandage ang nasa balikat ko, kaya ang mga braso nalang ang tinatahi nila.

Yup, I need stitches for this. Masyado raw kasing malalim at malaki ang pagkaka hiwa. Mabuti nalang daw at walang vitals o ugat na natamaan, or else it would have been more worse.

"I will leave this to all of you," sabi ng doctor sa mga nurse na nandito before he looked at Seb, "lets talk for a while."

Seb looked at me, asi if he was asking for my permission, kaya tumango ako sa kaniya. Umalis na sila pareho kaya pumasok bigla si tita. When she saw the nurses na nag tatahi sa dalawamg braso ko, napaawang ang bibig niya.

"Masakit ba, anak?" Alalang tanong ni tita at umiling lang ako ng bahagya.

Tita smiled apologetic to me before caressing my hair, "I'm sorry about my daughter. Is this the first time she did this to you?"

I nodded my head, "This was the first time na sinugatan niya po ako. Dati po kasi, it's either lulunurin niya ako or----"

Tita cut me off, "What? Ilang beses na niyang ginawa sayo iyon?"

I pursed my lips before looking up at the ceiling, "Simula po nang dumating ako sa bahay niyo."

"Mam, tapos na po namin tahiin ang sugat niyo. Advice lang po namin na huwag masyadong mag gagagalaw, at baka po bumukas ang tahi," one of the nurse said kaya napatingin kami ni tita sa kaniya.

I looked at my arms. Pareha silang may benda dahil sa tahi. Malalim at malaki kasi iyon at hindi maya ng simpleng gauze pad lang. Great! Thank you Eloira! I'm really really really thankful! Note the sarcasm.

We were about to go out the Emergency room, when Seb, together with his dad approached us. Lumayo ng kaunti sila tita at yung doctor, kaya nakalapit sa akin si Sebastian. He looked at me from head to toe.

"Okay ka lang?" He whispered on my ear.

Ngumuwi ako, "Do I look like I'm freaking okay?"

This time, siya ang ngumuwi bago nahihiyang napakamot sa batok niya, "I'm sorry. Tinanong ko ang obvious naman."

He guided me to seat on the bench, para hindi kami makaharang sa mga tao, "Yung kapatid mo na naman ba may gawa sayo niyo?" He asked while he was pointing at my bandages.

"Oo, ano pa nga ba?" I answered and looked at him. Naabutan ko siyang nakatitig sa akin, kaya napaiwas ako agad.

"You sould send her to rehab center. Baka kung ano pa ang magawa niya sayo," he said in a serious and low tone.

I was about to say something, when tita called me. Tinginan ko si Seb and he got the message.

"See you tomorrow? Papasok ka ba?" He asked while we're walking towards tita and his father.

"Oo naman. Umulan, bumagyo. May sakit man, o wala, papasok ako," I answered and smiled at him.

Tumigil kami sa paglalakad when tita and his father was now infront of us. I looked at Seb who was looking at me also.

"Ingat ka," he said and looked at tita, "ingat po kayo," Seb said bago nakipag beso kay tita.

"Your suitor is hot," tita suddenly said as soon as we entered the car.

Hindi ko mapigilan na matawa sa si abi ni tita, "Really tita? That guy is hot?"

Tita nodded her head a lot of times, "You reall know how to pick. You have a great taste when it comes to boys. You have a high standard, na hindi maaabot ni Mason kailanman," tita said and looked at me while she's smiling, "right, hija?"

Natawa ako bago tumango, "That's right, po."

Bumuntong hininga si tita at niligon ako, this time she's serious, "I will support you and Sebastian. I honestly don't want Mason for you. Iba ang kutob ko kay Mason, at mas panatag ang loob ko kay Sebastian."

Natahimik ako. I was thinking if I will tell her about the harassement, Mason did to me last time.

"Tita..." I called her and she immediately looked at me.

"What is it, anak?"

I bit my lower lip before looking down at my fingers, "Last time sa UST, Mason harassed me sa block. He was nibling my ear and caressing my thighs."

Walang nakapagsalita sa amin dalawa, "What?! He did that to you?! He's a freaking asshole! Sabi na iba ang kutob ko sa lalaking iyan eh!"

I pursed my lips before I looked at tita, "Kaya po, parang awa niyo po. Tulungaj niyo po akong makatakas sa arrangement ni dad. Natatakot po ako sa pwedeng mangyari sa akin, if ever matuloy ang arrangement. If Mason is already like this, kahit wala pang 'kami', what more po kung ikasal kami? Baka, gahasain na niya ako."

"Shh, hon, don't say that," Tita said in a low voice before hugging me gently, "I will do my best para matigil iyang arrangement na iyan."

I didn't say anything. Bigla ko kasing naramdaman ang isang pakiramadam na matagal ko ng inaasam na makuha. Ang yakap na haling sa ina. Sa oras na ito, I feel so secure. Parang walang nangyayaring arrangement sa akin. Parang walang nangyaring pag sugat ng kutsilyo sa akin. It feels like, everything is just.............normal.

But I know, it's not.

"Hindi ko itutuloy ang kasal, in one condition, you will live with Mason for one year."