Last Escape For Aia ( Under Revision)

This part is purely the Brielle's POV,  but I will use Haris POV for The Epilogue.

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"Hanging onto my mother's words while she reads my favorite fairytale is my dearest form of therapy. She looks too sweet and beautiful while enunciating each word, and it makes me admire her even more.

"Mom, promise me you'll never leave me, ha?" I said as I caressed her long straight hair, which I also inherited from her.

She smiled at me and kissed my pinkish cheek while looking at me with those perfect bluish eyes. "Of course, anak. I will never leave you. As long as I am strong and able to guide you in everything, hindi kita hahayaan na mag-isa, anak." She answered me. I hugged her very tight. I can't imagine her being away from me. Hindi ko yata kaya.

"Oh! What's happening?" Dad said with his shocked expression while looking at me and mom. "Bakit hindi ako kasali?" Emote pa niya at dali-dali nang lumapit sa amin ni mom at yumakap na din ng mahigpit. Very OA talaga.

This is the fairytale I always dream of that never ends. I want my mom and dad with me. Complete, contented, and happy.

I slept that night deeply and soundly.

I dream of a boy nearby our house, Haris Orfeas Amato, my best friend. He is playing with me on the swing at the back of our spacious backyard. He is holding the rope securely while swinging it back and forth. We are both laughing with genuine happiness and enjoyment as I play with him. After all, he is my only friend. My dreams are not that clear, and they end shortly. At pag-gising ko, wala din ako masyadong maalala.

A knock on my door woke me up, a sign for me to get up and get ready for a bath. I opened my door and let my handmaiden enter. I greeted ate Minda with a smile and a good morning. We are close. Very close, kasi mula noong baby pa lang ako, siya na ang nag-aalaga sa akin.

Maganda si ate Minda kahit na mag-fi-fifty years old na siya next year. Maikli at lagpas-shoulder lang ang kaniyang medyo kulot na buhok na may mga uban na din. If I were to estimate, her height would be 5'1. Mas matangkad pa nga ako sa kaniya e. 5'5 na kasi yung height ko kahit Grade 6 pa lang ako.

"Ang ganda-ganda talaga ng prinsesa namin kahit bagong gising at walang ligo," biro pa niya sabay tulong sa akin na mahubad ang pantulog dress ko na kulay pink. It was printed with Stitch's face and Lilo hugging.

"Naku, ate. Maaga pa, niloloko mo na ako," sagot ko sa kaniya habang naglalakad patungo sa bathroom ko. She entered and prepared my bath. I watched her as she mixed the liquid soap with the body wash. Mabango ito at kaaya-ayang amoy-amoyin ng paulit-ulit. Amoy baby.

My bathroom is huge. It was painted white and pink. I have here my walk-in closet and dressing table. It was all colored pink. Paborito ko yun eh. Naka-arrange ng mabuti ang mga hair care products na ginagamit ko with different brands. I have a pink hairbrush and a lot of hair clips, ponytails, headbands, ribbons, and many more. Araw-araw kasi gusto ng mommy ko na bago yung gamit kong pantali sa buhok.

After my morning routines, I proceeded to the dining area. Naabutan ko na tinitimpla palang ni mommy yung milk ko. I came to her and kissed her cheek.

"Good morning, baby," she greeted me. "Good morning, mom," I greeted her back. I looked around to find dad, but he is not here. Siguro umalis na for work. Palagi kasi siyang busy.

"He's at work na e. May emergency meeting kasi sa company," she answered sweetly while looking at me. "But, don't worry. After your class, we will go to the firm. Okay?"

I nodded my head and hugged mom very tight. Alam ko kasi na ramdam niya kapag nalulungkot ako. She cooks my favorite banana cue and banana crackers to comfort me when I don't have the best day at school. She will hug me tight when I am approaching her with a fake smile. She knows if my classmates bullied me. Mom knows everything, and I can't imagine myself losing her. Never.

I did my best at school that day, looking forward to the plan waiting ahead of me. I want my parents to be proud of me. Gusto ko na all of their hard work ay maibalik ko man lang kahit sa simpleng gesture. I got the highest scores in all of our quizzes and exams. Ipapakita ko kasi ito kay mom and dad later.

I am fixing my things na sana when my adviser approached me. I smiled at her and stopped fixing my things. My adviser was in her mid-30s. She looks fresh and young with her long and wavy brown hair.

"Brielle, congratulations! You have the highest scores sa lahat ng exams and quizzes natin," she complimented me with a genuine smile. I am so happy and proud of myself at the same time.

"Uhm, thank you po, ma'am. Nag-aaral po kasi talaga ako every night. Sabi po kasi ni mom and dad it is important kasi someday ako na yung mag-mamanage ng firm namin, kaya dapat matalino ako at magaling," I told her comprehensively habang nakangiti. I am beyond proud and grateful.

"And, Brielle. May incoming spelling bee and quiz bee contest kasi next week. And naisipan ko na ikaw yung mag-represent ng buong Grade 6. Okay lang ba sa'yo iyon?"

"Wow, talaga po? Excited na po ako, ma'am!" I expressed my excitement with full sincerity. Mula noong nagsimula akong mag-aral, marami na akong nasalihan at napanalunan na contest. "Magpapaalam na din po ako kina mom and dad, ma'am."

Our conversation ended, and I am so happy. For sure, my parents will be happy with my news.

Lumabas na ako ng room. Uwian na pero yung iba kong classmate ay nasa labas din ng classroom namin. For sure, nakinig sila sa usapan namin ni Ma'am Grace. Hindi na ako tumingin sa kanila at dumeretso na sa paglalakad. Pero nagulat ako nang may bumangga sa akin at nahulog yung lunch box ko. Natapon ang laman nun, pati na yung mango grahams at cake na binake ni mommy at pinabaon sa akin.

Dali-dali akong yumuko para pulutin ang mga nahulog kong gamit at kalat, pero napasinghap ako nang may paang sinipa nito palayo sa akin. I look up, and I see Carlene looking mad at me. Hinawakan niya ang naka-tirintas kong buhok upang makatayo ako. Napangiwi ako sa sakit kaya naitulak ko siya at natumba.

"Ano ba, Carlene? I didn't do anything bad to you! What right do you have to hurt me physically?!" Nagalit ako. Kasi buong buhay ko, never akong sinaktan ng parents ko kahit minsan pasaway ako.

"Nagmamaang-maangan ka pa, Brielle!" Sagot niya habang nanlilisik ang dalawang mata niya. "Inaagaw mo lahat sa akin! Si Haris! Pati yung contest!" nahahapo niyang sambit. I was confused kasi si Ma'am naman yung pumili sa akin. And yung kay Haris, we are just friends. Nothing more, nothing less.

Tumingin ako sa paligid, and marami na ang nanun uod sa amin. Tumigil ang mata ko ng masulyapan ko ang magkapres na matang nakatingin mismo sa akin. My heart was beating fast na parang nahahyperventilate ako. Bigla akong kinabahan. Hindi dahil kay Carlene, kundi sa paraan ng paninitig niya. Did I do something wrong? Friends parin kaya kami mamaya? O, bukas? Wala naman akong kasalanan e.

Tumigil lang ako sa pag-ooverthink nang maramdaman ko ang sakit ng balakang at pwet ko dahil sa pagtulak ni Carlene sa akin. Hindi talaga siya titigil. Palapit na sana si Carlene sa akin para saktan na naman ako bitbit ang arnis stick. Iniharang ko ang dalawang kamay ko sa ulo ko at pumikit. Pero ilang minuto na akong naghihintay pero wala paring arnis na tumama sa akin. Hindi ako nasaktan. Wala akong galos o sugat na humapdi.

Iminulat ko ang dalawang mata ko at nagulat ako sa aking nakita. Si Haris, Hinarangan niya ang paghampas ni Carlene sa akin, kaya siya ang tinamaan at dumugo ang ulo. I panicked.

"Oh my God! What have you done, Carlene!" I shouted out of madness. Simultaneously, I am afraid na baka mapano si Haris. I was panicking as I come to him. Inalalayan ko siya upang makaupo habang patuloy parin sa pagdaloy ng dugo. Takot ako sa dugo pero ngayon mas takot akong may mangyaring masama kay Haris dahil sa akin. Please Lord, he is my only friend.

"Im okay, Aia. Don't worry about me," Haris murmured softly. My tears fall down out of guilt. Kasalanan ko kasi. Kung hindi ko kasi sana pinatulan si Carlene ede walang nangyari. Pero kasi, napikon ako kasi pinaghirapan lutuin ng mommy ko yung baon ko na yun e.

"What's happening here?" Ma'am Valzera, shouted with displeasure. She immediately brought Harries to the clinic para magamot na ang sugat niya. Hindi na ako sumama kasi hindi na din pwde at nariyan na rin yung sundo ko.