Chapter 7 – Stay or die

I woke up to find myself covered with a blanket. Gosh! Naawa din 'tong lalaking 'to!

Kusot-mata akong naglakad sa counter ng kitchen to find food. Nakahiwalay yung food ko sa right side ng kitchen cabinet. I scanned the inside. Puro mga ready to eat ang nandoon. I guess cereal will do. Medyo naiingit ako sa cooked meals ni Marcus ha.

Last time I didn't eat anything because I hurried to settle my problem at school. Ngayon may problem na naman.

Laging nauunang umalis si Marcus sa akin. Ang aga rin nun nagigising for sure. Masyado namang serious sa life.

After kong kainin yung nasa plate na food, nag-ayos na ako.

Lakad takbo ang ginawa ko papunta sa office ng chairman. I'm clenching my fists so hard right now!

Pagkapunta ko sa pintuan ay hinarang ako ng secretary niya. Pero nilagpasan ko lang siya. She always feel the need to insert herself here huh? I'm not just someone she can stop!

I opened the door in full force and walked in. There he is, sitting on his chair, unbothered by my presence. Gosh.

Nag-iinit talaga ako ngayon.

Naramdaman kong may humihila sa'kin from my back, "Ma'am, you can't--"

The secretary stopped pulling me when she was cut off by a laugh from the chairman.

"Hahaha, you can leave us now. We have matters to settle," he said.

Nang lumabas na ang secretary ay padabog akong lumapit sa desk niya at hinawakan ang edges nito. I leaned forward to him.

"Woah, woah, Ms. Ty. I think you should be changing your attitude right now," he said while looking funnily at me.

"You can't do this to me," mariin kong sabi.

"Well, turns out your trump card isn't a trump at all," he said then he laughed again.

Huminga ako ng malalim.

"Fine. What do you want, huh?" hamon ko.

He should just tell me what he wants. Kung wala naman siyang kailangan sa akin, dapat hinayaan na niya akong magdrop out.

"Get out of my way, but just stay on the campus, don't go anywhere," he stands up kaya magka-level na kami.

Ha? What does he--

"Your parents paid me just to get you into studying here. Ha, look at you now," he added.

Tumayo ako ng maayos at tinitigan siya.

"Why can't I go-- hmm...you're scared they'll draw back the money? Or even the partnership in business?" mapanghamon kong tanong.

Akala ba niya? Gosh! Just because he's... Argh!

"Just follow me if you don't want humiliation...and possibly danger," he crossed his arms while looking at me.

Follow him? Danger? Who does he think he is?

"You can't--"

He raised his palm to stop me.

"I can, Ms. Ty. Now go to your classes and live like a real hardworking student."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. So I'm not getting any money? How the hell am I gonna live now? Well, Marcus is there but still...

Gosh! If he wants me to stay here, he should just give me my allowance!

Padabog akong umalis sa office niya.

I can't understand what he wants from me. Out of his way but still here?

I attended some of my classes and nagulat yung iba kong classmates. I'm in a block section since it's my first year but may mga classes akong halo-halo ang students.

Habang nagtuturo ang prof ay unit-unti na talagang sumasara ang eyelids ko. I can't even understand this... What's the point?

"Class dismissed."

Pagkasabing-pagkasabi ng prof nun ay nagsitayuan ang lahat. Finally, I can go home.

While walking out of the lecture room, Alyssa walked to me.

"See you in your first quiz! Good luck!" she said while trying to cheer me.

"What? First quiz? Haven't you guys taken quizzes before? I mean, I've been gone for a week now." I said.

"No, I mean YOUR first quiz. That's the only time you'll go and actually take a test," she smiled and walked away from me.

I sighed.

So I need to get out of the chairman's way, stay on this campus, and actually study while struggling to make ends meet?

Wala namang sense kung ituloy ko pa 'to since 'di ko rin macontact sila dad. So I'm tiring myself for nothing? I want to think of Jonathan as an inspiration pero wala talaga. Even what dad told me about doing things right in his place. Whatever he meant, baka pwede ko namang gawin yun ng hindi medicine ang tinitake? I mean, pre med pa lang ako, I can still turn things around...

Tumakbo ako paakyat ng hagdan to get to his office.

Nang makapunta na ako sa pintuan nito ay hinarangan ulit ako ng secretary niya.

"Ma'am, he's currently in a meeting. You can't--"

I ignored her and opened the door.

I'm met with a group of formal-looking men. They all looked at me, shocked.

I smiled, "Oh, good afternoon. I'm sorry to interrupt. I just need to talk to... Mr. Ty."

I looked at him and just like the other time, he laughed and urged them to leave. Is he laughing his audacity away?

"The meeting is adjourned. You may all go."

After they left the room, I faced him.

"I'm sorry but you can't scare me. I'm dropping out of this school. For real. Just fix the papers for me and we're done. Don't worry, you won't see me again." I said and walked to the door.

I refuse to struggle here without even contacting my dad. I don't understand why I have to stay here when no one's even helping me like, I mean, allowance nga 'di niya maibigay.

Hawak ko na ang doorhandle nang magsalita siya.

"Stay, or face the consequences."

Napadiin ang hawak ko sa handle. What is he talking about now? Scaring me? I opened the door a bit when he spoke.

"Alright! Leave and get yourself killed. You cannot get out of this university. My university. I will watch you, Daliah Ty."

My eyes widened. Watch me? For what? What the...why is he being like this? A weirdo...

"Your blackmail won't work. Reveal about my parents' involvement in my admission in this school to people all you want, but I won't be controlled by you," tinalikuran ko siya at bubuksan na ang pinto nang maramdaman kong lumapit siya.

"Your parents asked for this! You cannot leave. They want you to stay in this country. You can't."

Muli, hinarap ko siya.

"Stop this--"

"At least for once, Daliah! Follow me! You're gonna get killed once you step out of this country," he said. This time something is different in his eyes.

Lumakad siya palapit sa akin. Why the change of atmosphere here?!

Now my heart is beating so fast. What the? Why am I...

"Uncle..." I uttered.

"Yes, your dad cares for you that's why he asked me this moment ago to watch over you. I don't like you so don't take anything from it. I'm just doing what I'm asked. Why can't you be grateful to him, huh?"

He looks at me.

I'm now stuck in my place. Grateful of him?

"At least as a family," he added. I laughed. Family? What a joke!

"You can stop this, uncle! Just don't do it! Let's be in our own ways since we don't like each other anyway! No one in that family even treated me as a part of them! No one! It's only dad, but now he wants me to what? Stay here?!" I cried out. I can't do this anymore...

"Daliah! You are still my brother's daughter and you need to follow him! That or you'll die!"

The last word of him gives me chills. Anong 'die'? Bakit? Why would I die?!

"Okay, uncle. If he really cares, then tell me the reason why he wants me to stay here. Tell me. Why would I die if I don't stay here?" I demanded him to answer.

"I can't. If he hadn't told you, then I am in no place to tell you now. Just trust him if you can't trust me."

I sighed heavily. I can feel my breath getting heavier by the minute. Why did things turn out this way? Akala ko pinakamalala ko ng experience ay yung habulan scene ko with a guy last time.

My own dad can't even trust me of his reason. And this is what they call care? What a sick way to care. Excited ako before, pero parang ayoko na. Baka kaya ako sinend ni dad dito para 'di na talaga kami magkita. Is that what he wants? Mamamatay daw ako 'pag lumabas ng country...what crazy idea is that?!

I looked at him at nagtitipa na lang siya sa phone niya. Gosh. Look, tapos na ata part niyang sabihan ako so he's back to whatever that is. I don't even understand what the hell is happening right now.

Tinalikuran ko na siya at naglakad sa pinto. I opened it and walked out from that room. Lumabas na ako ng campus. I reached for my phone nang naramdaman kong may lumapit sa akin.

I raised my eyes only to be met by a group of men civilians. They look normal but they are now encircling me. What is this?!

Naglakad ako palabas ng circle na ginawa nila but hinarangan nila ako. I looked around to call for help but there are not so many students since kanina pa uwian ng karamihan.

"Get out of my way," I ordered.

"Sorry Ms. Ty, just following orders." One of them answered. I looked at him and noticed something in his ear. An earpiece.

I looked at my back because of a clap.

There is my uncle, laughing and clapping.

Tumabi ang nakapalibot sa akin para makaraan si uncle.

"Nice try, Daliah you're a Ty but you don't have the power to boss around. Just follow my advice. Stay or die."

After those words, he walked to a car parked near us and drove away. Argh!

I looked to the group of men and unti-unti na silang umalis. Where are they going?

Napansin kong iba-iba sila ng pupuntahan. Must be to watch me.

Why is my dad doing this? To think of it, 'di man lang niya inisip kung ano magiging lagay ko rito? They forced me to stay here but they didn't provide anything for me. GOSH!

Pagkauwi ko ng bahay ay wala pa ring tao dun. I got a spare key from him kaya nakakapasok na ako. I fixed myself and threw my bag on the couch. I sat there.

What are they doing to me? So I cannot just freely roam around? There are men watching...

After that event, here I am again, for the nth time. I sighed and grabbed my bag to pull out my books.

I opened them.

Ilang oras na ang lumipas at ni isa ay wala akong naintindihan. Nasa unang page parin ako at inuulit-ulit ang nakasulat.

Why is this happening to me? Why can't they just let me be?

I heard the front door open but I focused my eyes on the books.

I scratched my head and dropped my face on the book.

"Argh! I can't do this anymore!" I groaned.

The numbers and letters are just dancing! This is boring! Argh!

Napaangat ako ng ulo ko nang maramdamang may tumabi sa'kin. I watched him snatch my book.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked.

"This is an easy one and you still can't get it? Tsk," he said while writing something in my notebook.

I just rolled my eyes.

"Okay," umusog siya ng kaunti sa akin. Hmm..

"...ito ang gawin mo..." he continued.

Yeah...unsolicited advice but this better be helpful for my quiz. Argh.

My eyes are drifting away while he's teaching me the material. I came back to my senses after hearing a ring from a phone. Umalis muna siya saglit.

"Answer that," he looked back at me and then to his phone.

I sighed. I just flipped the pages. Wala akong ma-gets!

"What?! Why? They are not accepting? Wait," I heard him say to his phone. Tumingin ako sa kaniya and he's now using his laptop. Why am I looking at him anyways?!

Sinilip ko mula sa living area ang nakabukas niyang kuwarto. I even stood up just to see what he's doing on his laptop.

"Man, this is just real hard. I cannot hire someone," he answered back to his-- wait.

Is that Photoshop? Nakita ko ang canvas and may picture doon. He's trying so hard to fix something about the picture...

Nang tumayo siya ay bumalik ako sa puwesto ko.

I felt his stare at me then I heard him close his door. Okay!

Tinitigan ko na ulit ang notebook ko dahil ni isa ay wala talaga akong nagets sa kaniya kanina. How come?

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa pintuan ng room niya. Ano kayang pinag-uusapan nila? I leaned closer to the door.

"What? I'm not--I'm never gonna join you, man. I just, I can't."

Anong sinasabi nito?

"I understand your motives but I'm out of that. No, I can't," he added.

I can't understand. Gosh, Daliah! Of course, you won't!

"You will leave? Then how about our-- hey, don't do this. The business is different from that! It is! Hey, hey!" he screamed.

Lumayo na ako ng pinto. Araw-araw ata may kaaway 'to?

"Damn... now I really need it..." I heard him groan.

Tuluyan na akong lumayo at bumalik sa couch. 'Tong kasama ko, laging stressed. Pero duh! Mas stressful kaya ang pinagdaanan ko kanina! Gosh!

Uncle... why would dad do such a thing? I mean, die talaga? I doubt it.

Probably they are just exaggerating things... this family... Kung ayaw nila sa'kin edi huwag.

Napalingon ako sa pinto ng room ni Marcus nang marinig kong nag-open 'to.

He went out of his room, looking in distress.

Nang naglakad siya papuntang kitchen ay sinilip ko ulit yung room niya. Katapat lang ng desk niya yung door kaya kita ko yung laptop doon. I walked into his room to get near to the laptop. He's still working on it, huh?

As if on instinct, I manipulated the program to fix the photo he was working on.

More clicks... and...

"Done," I said to myself.

Nang tinalikuran ko na ang laptop para bumalik sa living area ay hinarangan ako ng matipuno niyang katawan. Gosh, why does that sounds so wrong?

His eyes locked into mine. They are serious.

He held out his hand, "Work with me. I need you."

Napatulala na lang ako sa kaniya at sa kamay na nakalahad.

When I didn't reach out for his hand, he got mine and shook it.

"I'm taking that as a yes." He stated.

Okay... so this guy is offering me a job? I mean, ayun lang ginawa ko? That was so easy! Matagal ko nang ginagawa yun sa mga photos na tine-take ko.

But wait, he's going to pay me right? It's a job, he said.