Boundaries #1: Crossing Boundaries ??

CHAPTER 2

"Princess, makinig ka. Sabi ni Mama kung magpapakabait ka roon, kukunin ka rin namin kaagad doon. One month or two would be enough. I'm sure Mama cannot sleep without her princess in her—."

I stamped my feet on the ground in disapproval. Tears trickled down my cheeks once again. I angrily wiped away every tear and threw a sharp glare at Kuya.

"I cannot, Kuya. I cannot. I will die early if—"

"Damn it! Don't speak like that, Dei! You're overreacting!"

"I am not! I'm not overreacting, Kuya! I told you! I cannot live in the province. I'm not used to it. I'm not used to their environment there!" I retaliated. I felt like the veins in my neck were about to burst as I argued with Kuya Thales.

Kuya Thales facepalmed before pulling me into his arms and hugging me tight.

"Dammit!" he whispered. "Theano and I tried to talk to Mama earlier, princess, but her mind was already made up. We cannot change Mama's mind, not even Papa. So, please bear with it. Bear with this. Just treat this like a vacation. A retreat. Camping." Kuya gently pulled me away from him. He leaned down and used his thumbs to wipe my tears away. "I promise to talk to Mama when you're there. Just be a good princess in Lala's place, okay? Don't be a brat. Don't give Lala a headache. And always follow Lala's word, okay?" Kuya said, softly combing my damp hair.

Tiningnan ni Kuya ang hitsura ko. "You should change."

Napatingin din naman ako sa sarili ko at doon ko napagtanto na naka-bathrobe pa rin ako at naka-paa na lang.

I curled my toes.

"What if I cannot do all Lala's order, Kuya?" Mahina kong untag.

"Dei, Lala is not that strict. And of course, Lala loves you so don't fret, hmm."

I still can't accept the fact na aalis na ako sa bahay namin. I cannot accept na titira na ako sa bukid. I cannot accept na iiwan ko na ang buhay ko rito at ipapalit ko ang buhay roon sa bukid. Ngunit wala na akong magagawa. Heto na. Heto na ako. Wala na akong magagawa na desisyon ni Mama.

Hindi ko na inimik silang lahat. As in lahat! Mama, Papa, Kuya, and Ate, hindi ko na sila inimik. No matter how much they tried to talk to me, sweet talk with me hindi na ako umiimik sa kanila. Masakit sa akin. Masakit na masakit sa dibdib ko itong ginawa nila ni Mama sa akin. I don't understand why they have to do this to me. They love and cherish me like a damn porcelain doll, but look at what they're doing with their princess. They're throwing me into the province.

While our van continued at its own slow pace, Ate Theano nudged me, but I didn't pay it any mind. She nudged me again, and Ate seemed to notice that I didn't bother to respond. She hugged my waist and pulled me closer to her.

"Don't be upset over this, princess. Mama is just trying to discipline you. You're getting older, yet you act like a damn 10-year-old boy," Ate said, giving me a peck on the temple.

I hugged Ate Theano's waist and buried my face in her shoulder as my tears fell again. Dadating ata ako sa bukid ni Lala na mugto ang mga mata. Well, I don't really care. Basta iiyak ako hangga't gusto ko. Tingin ko kasi ito lang ang makakagaan sa pakiramdam ko.

"Shhsh! Para kang bata, e. Nagka-crush ka na pero heto ka't para kang bata. Paano ka ic-crushback n'yan ng crush mo?"

I pushed myself away from Ate and pouted my lips. Ate flicked my forehead and was about to say something, but Papa and Kuya intervened.

"Who the hell is that guy?"

"The heck with that!"

Sabay pang sambit nina papa at kuya na kinalaki ng mata ni Ate Theano. Kay ate ko lang kasi sinasabi ang mga naging crush ko sa school. Hanggang crush lang naman ako. Saka madali akong nakaka-move on sa mga crush ko.