My Love, Darkness

Chapter 35

PHOEBE instantly stood up when her door opened harshly. Napakalakas ng dagundong ng pinto kung kaya't maging si Atreus at Milaska ay nagising mula sa pagkakatulog sa kaniyang kama.

"You!" Turo sa kaniya ni Francheska na ngayon ay mukhang galit na galit. Lumapit ito sa kaniya at mariin siyang hinawakan sa magkabila niyang braso.

"A-aray!" Phoebe winced as Francheska held her tighter.

Atreus started barking as Francheska's hand hold her tighter. Atreus was so alarmed but she doesn't want Atreus to be hit by Francheska again.

She silently wished that Atreus just stays barking or else, what happens to Milaska might happen to Atreus and she can't take the pain of losing someone again.

"Ikaw! Ang kapal ng mukha mo! Ang kapal, kapal ng mukha mo!" Francheska said before slapping her hard right into her cheeks.

Pain sipped through Phoebe's face as she feels that part of her skin numb. Pakiramdam niya rin ay namingi siya.

The slap was hard enough to make her lost her consciousness but Francheska did not let her fall asleep. Niyugyog siya nito habang nag-aalab ang mga matang nakatingin sa kaniya.

Phoebe felt dizzy as Francheska continues to shake her head while holding her shoulders tighter.

"Ang kapal mong bata ka! Wala kang pinagka-iba sa Nanay mong malandi! Slut!"

Nangilid ang mata ni Phoebe. Please, stop. She wants Francheska to stop but she can't open her mouth to speak up.

Sobra-sobra na ang binibigay nitong sakit sa kaniya. Five months ago, naging bayolente rin ito sa kaniya.

Kung dati ay hanggang pagbabanta at masasakit na natatanggap niya dito, ngayon ay mas lumala ito. Francheska started

The pain from her Stepmother's grasp and the slap was enough to make her weak.

"Mommy?" Rinig ni Phoebe na boses ni Aliyah.

"P-please... stop..." She weakly murmured as her tears started to cascade down to her cheeks.

"Oh, you want me to stop?" may pang-aasar na sabi ni Francheska. Phoebe was about to fall asleep again but Francheska aggressively shake her again.

"Mommy! Stop!" sigaw ni Aliyah habang hawak sa braso si Francheska.

But Francheska was so angry at the moment. She shoved her arm, making Aliyah lost her balance and fall to the ground. Pumalahaw ng iyak si Aliyah habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa ni Francheska.

"Mo-mommy... please..." she said, begging.

"I am not your f*****g Mom! I will not f*****g stop until I'm satisfied seeing you limp, you f*****g understand, huh?! You little b***h!" Francheska said before slapping her again with the same intensity as the first slap Francheska has given her.

Pakiramdam ni Phoebe ay mahihimatay na siya sa hilo. Ramdam niya ang pamamanhid ng dalawa niyang pisngi habang ang sakit ng higpit ng pagkakahawak ng Stepmother niya ang nakakapagpa-igik sa kaniya.

"Pareho kayo ng Nanay mo! Pareho kayong sakit sa ulo! How could you do this to your Father, Phoebe? How could you place dirt on our family's name?! You are such a disgrace!" sigaw ni Francheska kapagkuwan ay muli siyang sinampal.

This time, her body crashed hard to the floor, making a loud thud as she felt her lip also having a papercut wound.

Napahawak siya sa labi niya at mas lalong nahilo nang makita ang dugo sa daliri niya.

"You are the reason why my life is a mess, Phoebe! Kung hindi ka sana nabuhay, hindi susunod dito si Ava! Sana hindi ko na lang nalaman! Inakala kong akin ka pero galing ka sa salot mong Nanay!" Francheska was breathing heavily as her voice started to cracked like she was also hurt.

"Minahal kita, Phoebe! Because I thought you're my daughter with Philip! You are supposed to be the sign of our love!" Francheska said, sobbing.

Nanatili si Phoebe na nakadapa sa sahig. She remained silent while feeling pain in her whole being.

"Pero ang walang-hiya mong Nanay! Inakit ang taong kasal na! Nabaliw na naman ang Tatay mo sa babaeng 'yon! Nawala na naman ang pinaghirapan kong makuha na pagmamahal sa Daddy mo kahit ipinagkasundo lang kami!"

Mas lalong napaluha si Phoebe dahil sa sinabi ni Francheska. She doesn't want her mother to be called a homewrecker but she can't also hate Francheska because her Stepmother was really a loving Mother back then.

Alagang-alaga siya ni Francheska bago magulo ang lahat. They are an example of a happy family back then until her Mother, Ava, started to become her Nanny.

Naiintindihan niya ang nangyari. Her Dad's first love is her Mother, Ava. Patunay na ang first love never dies ay totoo. But she also felt a little bit of sympathy for Francheska dahil minahal nito ang Daddy niyang may mahal nang iba.

"Now, every time I looked at you. Pakiramdam ko, masusuka ako. You really look like your Mother. And that's why I can't also stop hating you! Because everytime I looked at you, I always remember Ava!" Francheska said before walking towards Phoebe.

Francheska grabbed her by her chin. Phoebe winced when she felt another assault of pain. Mahigpit siyang hinawakan ni Francheska sa panga habang galit itong tumitig sa kaniya.

"Tomorrow, you will go to your school. I don't care if all of the students in your university bully you or humiliate you. Ang kapal ng mukha mong hindi pumasok! Namahiya ka at ngayon, ikaw ang napahiya. Own it, Phoebe! Basta hindi lang kita makita sa mansion! Nandidiri ako!" Francheska said before dropping Phoebe again.

She whimpered when her body hits the floor again. Francheska dragged Aliyah out of Phoebe's room.

Nang mapatingin si Phoebe sa labas ng kuwarto niya, nakita halos lahat ng mukha ng mga kasambahay sa mansion nila. Nakasilip lang ito habang pinag-uusapan siya.

Walang makikita na pagkaawa sa sitwasyon niya ang mga mukha nito bagkus ay nakikita niyang mas nandidiri pa ito sa kaniya.

Inalis niya ang tingin sa mga kasambahay at tumingin sa kisame ng kuwarto niya.

She never felt so hurt at the same time, empty. Habang iniisip ang Nanay niya at ang nangyari sa kaniya sa kamay ng Stepmother niya.

Phoebe sobbed as she lies on the cold floor like a lifeless person. Pakiramdam niya ay pagod na pagod siya dahil sa nangyaring pananakit sa kaniya ng Stepmother niya. She's tired, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

She feels like she wanted to end everything. Bukod sa hindi rin talaga siya mabigyan ng oras ng Daddy niya, Francheska also said that she reminds her of her Mother.

It was already enough reason to end her life. But she was also torn as she hears Milaska purring while Atreus is licking her soaked face.

Mas lalong nanubig ang mata niya nang ma-realize ang binabalak niya. Dahan-dahan siyang bumangon at isinandal ang sarili sa gilid ng kama niya.

Patuloy siyang umiyak habang yakap-yakap ang mga alaga niya na ngayon ay pinapagaan ang loob niya.

"Oh god, I'm so--" She sobbed while feeling her heart clenched. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Milaska, Atreus."

Niyakap niya ng mahigpit si Atreus habang nanatili naman sa kandungan niya si Milaska.

"I'm sorry for planning to suicide, Atreus. I'm so sorry, I just want to end the pain."

TITUS fisted both of his knuckles as he looks at Phoebe who has so many bruises in her shoulder and face. Namumula din at namamaga ang labi nitong may sugat.

He never felt so mad. Only this time when he saw Phoebe in her hurtful state.

Kung sinuman ang nanakit kay Phoebe, he will make sure that he will make them pay. Kay tagal niya itong iningatan para madatnan niya itong puno ng pasa at tulala.

It was already evening. Usually, maabutan niya itong gumuguhit kapag maaga niya itong binibisita. But Phoebe looks so different tonight.

Tulala ito at tila napakalungkot ng iniisip habang blanko na nakatingin sa sketch pad nito.

Titus felt so angry and also hurt, watching Phoebe like this. He can't endure it that's why he teleported back to Larid's front house.

Mabilis niyang nilabas ang karit niya sa kamay niya kapagkuwan ay pinaikot ito sa katawan niya bago itinaga sa isa sa mga alagang puno ni Larid.

Nabuwal ang puno. Malakas itong tumama sa lupa kung kaya't alam niyang rinig iyon ni Larid at Kellan mula sa loob ng bahay. Hindi siya nagkamali nang biglang bumukas ng malakas ang kahoy na pinto ni Larid.

"What the f**k, man?! Alam mo ba kung gaano ko inilaga ang puno na iyan?" sigaw ni Larid na ikinaikot ng mata ni Kellan bago ito binatukan.

Titus remained silent as black smoke started to came out from his body, making Kellan and Larid step back.

Parehong nanlalaki ang mata ni Kellan at Larid habang nakakaramdan ng kaba sa klase ng galit na nararamdaman nila galing kay Titus.

"Larid, teach me the last two abilities. Phoebe needs help," malamig na sabi ni Titus na ikinanganga ni Kellan habang si Larid naman ay napakunot-noo.

"What do you mean? Can you tell us first what the f**k happened?" Larid asked.

Kellan nodded. "Yeah, bud. Calm down. Tell us what happened and we will help you."

"But Phoebe f*****g needs our help! Now!" sigaw niya na ikinabigla ng dalawa niyang kaibigan.

Larid sighed and crossed his arms on his chest. "Fine, kung hindi ka kakalma at sasabihin sa amin kung anong nangyari, we won't help you, Titus. If you can't tell, then I will not show you what you wanted."