Misadventures Of Cassandra Torres

Chapter 01:

On our third anniversary, while Paul and I were on a date at a famous amusement park, my Kuya saw me with him.

"Cassandra!"

Hinila niya ako palayo kay Paul at bigla itong sinuntok.

"What the f**k, man?!"

"Kuya! Kuya naman ano ba!"

Hinila na niya ako palabas ng amusement park at iniwan namin doon si Paul nang mag-isa.

"Cassandra, I told you not to go near this bastard! Alam mong malaki ang kasalanan sa pamilya natin ng taong ito, tapos malaman-laman ko na nakikipag-date ka sa kaniya?"

I cried. "Kuya, I'm sorry. Mahal ko si Paul..."

"Kailangang malaman 'to ni Dad."

Paul was Kuya's classmate noong college. Paul cheated on Kuya at nahuli siya. In the end, pinalabas niyang si Kuya pa ang masama at binastos niya si Mom at Dad kaya galit na galit ang mga ito sa kaniya. He was expelled sa school nila ni Kuya kasi hindi naman iyon ang unang offense niya. Little did my family know na he's already courting me that time and I still said yes kahit na ayaw ng pamilya ko sa kaniya. I was a high school student, still innocent about relationships. Basta alam ko lang na gusto ko ang tao at masaya ako sa kaniya.

While on our way home, Kuya kept on cursing while driving because he can't move on from knowing that I was dating the man that he and our family loathe the most. Nang makarating kami sa bahay, I was shocked to see Dad was there. Wala ba siyang trabaho?

"Dad..."

"Cassandra, ano na naman itong nabalitaan ko?" Dad said.

"Dad, I'm sorry..."

"You know the damage that man caused us, tapos idi-date mo? Kailan pa?" I did not answer. "Kailan pa?!"he shouted.

"T-Three years."

Napahilamos si Dad at Kuya sa nalaman sa akin.

"What the f**k, Cass?"

"I'm sorry. Kuya, mahal ko si Paul. And I know that he regretted everything he did before."

"It doesn't matter kung gaano katagal. Cassandra, leave that man."

"No, Dad!"

"Just do what I said. Sasaktan ka lang niyan. At isa pa, anong sinabiko? No boyfriend until maka-graduate? Anong ginawa mo ngayon? You already broke two rules in this household, woman."

Mabilis akong umiling kasabay ng pagtulo ng mga luha ko.

"Dad, mahal ko si Paul. Dad, wala naman kaming ginagawang masama. We loved each other and wala kaming nilalabag na batas o kung ano pa man!"

Narinig ko ang pagsigaw ni Kuya. "Cassandra, that man is a f*****g womanizer! Kagabi lang ay nakita ko siya sa bar na may kasamang babae!"

"No, hindi 'yan totoo. You're just telling lies para iwanan ko siya."

"I'm telling the truth. Kilala siya ng friends ko and nakakasama ko siya nang madalas sa get together and never in my wildest dreams I'll knew that he was your boyfriend because he always have a girl tagged along with us. Ano ba, kailan ka ba makikinig?!" paliwanag niya.

"No..."

"Cassandra, he's been lying to you for years. Niloloko ka na lang niya, can you believe me? I'll never fool you, Kuya mo ako. I won't do such thing to hurt you!"

"You're already hurting me!"

"Stop, the both of you!" dad shouted. "Cassandra, do as I said. Leave that man."

"No!"

"Or leave this damn house, you choose!"

Napanganga ako sa biglaang sinigaw ni Dad, bagay na kahit kailan ay hindi ko inaasahang manggagaling sa kaniya. Mom was not here to help me. Mom was not here to save me, because he attended a business trip sa Davao. And I was left here, alone, nakikipatalo sa dalawang lalaki ng bahay namin.

"Dad, that's too much..." Kuya said.

"She needs to learn her lessons very well, Christopher. She needs to learn the lesson you learned."

"Dad, hindi ako si Kuya. Magkaibang tao kami. Can you stop comparing me to him? I know that I am not as intelligent as Kuya and I will never be, pero please naman. Sana naman labas na ako sa mga problema niyo sa mga tao."

I saw the shock on Kuya's face and I know na nagulat siya. I just told them my insecurities. I just told them the thing that made me anxious. And I know that I will regret saying this soon.

"Still, do what I said. Leave that man or leave the house. I'm done here."

And just like that, he stood up and left us in the living room. Lalapit n asana si Kuya sa akin pero when I stood up and look at him with my crying eyes, he stopped.

I never said a word to him. I just left him there alone to pack my things because this time, I'm choosing my own happiness over what my family thinks what I need. Just this time, until I proved that I chose the right decision, or when I realized that I was really wrong.

But for now, I'm going to choose myself.

___

 "Paul..." I said, crying, while holding my luggage.

"Cassandra, what the f**k, bakit ka nandito?" he looked at the luggage I am with. "At bakit dala mo 'yung gamit mo?"

"Pinalayas ako, Paul..."

"Bakit? Isinumbong tayo ng Kuya mo?" I silently nod as my tears kept on falling down. "Gago talaga ang puta."

Lalo akong naiyak nang marinig ko ang huling sinabi niya. Kahit na magkaaway kami ni Kuya ay ayaw ko pa rin nang nakakarinig ng masama tungkol sa kaniya. He's still my saviour, and I don't want people talking bad about him.

"Anyway, you'll stay at my apartment first, okay? Stop crying, babe. Come on."

Nang makapasok na ako at makaupo sa couch ng apartment niya, at matapos niya akong painumin ng tubig para pakalmahin, ay saka lang ulit ako nakapagsalita.

"Thank you, Babe. Hahanap na lang ako ng apartment na matutuluyan ko when I got a part-time job, okay?"

Umiling si Paul sa sinabi ko, at binuhat ako para iupo sa kandungan niya. "No, Babe. You don't need to, okay? You can stay here whenever you want, whenever you need. I love you and I don't want you to be alone in this kind of challenge, okay? I won't leave you."

I smiled at what he said. "I love you more. I love you so much more, Babe."

He kissed me on my lips as a response, which I gladly kissed back.

My life used to revolve around him. My happiness always depends on him, and those where the times that I was so innocent about love. I was so innocent that I sacrificed my own family just to be with him.