On the day of the UPCAT<\/strong> results, I stared at my 98.7th<\/strong> percentile score for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, I called my dad and said: \u201cDad, I didn\u2019t come. I collapsed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He replied with only four words: \u201cGet out of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t argue, I didn\u2019t cry. I just picked up my bag and left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A week later, he spent \u00a3200,000<\/strong> on a lavish, grand party for my stepmother\u2019s son\u2014the kid who had just gotten a passing grade just right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the midst of the crowded hall, he raised his glass of wine, and a voice said in a low voice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy son\u2019s talent, he\u2019s brilliant. As a father, I couldn\u2019t ask for more. It\u2019s worth all my hard work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I just stood silently at the end of the crowd, under the stage, motionless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I lied, and I had a deep reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The light from my cell phone screen hits my face. 98.7<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The red numbers were too bright, painful to the eye. I turned off the screen and the surroundings inside my bedroom grew darker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From the living room, I could hear the sound of the TV and the screaming of that woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He said: \u201cChelsea<\/strong> are definitely going to be in the top leagues.<\/strong> We\u2019ve got to make a big play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n My father\u2019s voice\u2014Arturo Reyes<\/strong>\u2014was filled with joy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course. My son should be proud and be a hero.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n My son.<\/em> Those three words were like a needle pricking through my ear<\/p>\n\n\n\n .<\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked up his number and called him. After two rings, he answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello?\u201d There was a hint of irritation in his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDad, the results are out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m down, Dad. I got low.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I heard his deep, violent breath coming from the other end of the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then a deafening silence prevailed. A few seconds passed before his voice was heard again as cold as ice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoney<\/strong>, I\u2019m going to feed you, I\u2019m going to feed you, I\u2019m going to take care of you, I\u2019m going to take care of you, I\u2019m going to take care of you, I\u2019m going to take care of you, I\u2019m going to take care of you, I\u2019m going to take care of you, I\u2019m going to take care of you, I\u2019m going to take care of you, I<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere am I going to put my face?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou embarrassed me so much!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her voice grew louder, almost crying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t come back here. There is no place for the useless in this house. Get out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The call was interrupted. The sound of a tut-tut<\/em> was all that remained in the silent room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I didn\u2019t move. There was no emotion on my face, not even in my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Half a month ago, one day after my 18th birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I made my way past Dad\u2019s library, and the door wasn\u2019t much shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I heard the voice of my stepmother, Celia<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDiane is 18. That house that her mother left behind, when are you planning to fix it? Lala wants to study abroad, in Australia or Canada, and the cost there is no joke. You don\u2019t have enough salary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great place to live in Chicago, and if we sell it, we\u2019re going to get millions. We can invest in the future of Lala, and make our lives better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dad was silent for a moment before answering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut his mother left it for him. It was clearly written in his last will and testament<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celia\u2019s voice grew louder:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWill? When he was a child, what did he know about the law? You Are The Father! You have the right to make decisions for him. Or maybe you\u2019re still thinking about your dead husband, and not Layla?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Silence again. Longer. Then, I heard Arturo\u2019s sigh:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome on, let\u2019s stop fighting. I will find a way. With the help of the \u201cSmackDown\u201d team, it might just be a good idea to go to college. The day will come when they will take pity on me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf that happens, I\u2019m going to give him a thumbs up. He couldn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n My whole body was stunned by what I heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s it. That is why they treated me that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My mother passed away early, and that house was her only memory. Fearing that I would be raped, he had a legal document drawn up early on with the help of a lawyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The house is named after me, but I have to be 18 to have full control over it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went back to my room and locked the door. All of my remaining hopes or love for my \u201cdad\u201d have completely collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I grabbed my phone, turned on the voice recorder, and hid it behind a burner next to the library door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next day I picked up the phone. Their detailed plan was recorded there\u2014how to trick me and how to forge the land transfer documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sabi ni Papa:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf the result comes out and he falls, I\u2019m going to kick him out. He knew that he would not be able to live without his home. If he doesn\u2019t have a place to stay and he\u2019s hungry, I\u2019ll throw him some coins, that\u2019s definitely what I want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no stain of love. There is no mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I saved that recording to multiple folders and cloud storage. Now the right time has come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I stood up and turned on the light. I didn\u2019t have a lot of clothes on, it fit in a suitcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sorted out my things, including the contents of my drawer underneath. A small wooden box.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a picture of my mother and a copy of the will. The original was in the hands of the lawyer. I also found the title to the land. I didn\u2019t know where I was, but my mom had been looking for me for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I put it all in my suitcase. Along with my ID, birth certificate, and ATM card. There are a few thousand pesos there, saved from previous Christmases and birthdays. That\u2019s enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I closed the zipper of the suitcase. I can still hear them laughing in the living room, celebrating Lala\u2019s \u201cvictory.\u201d It\u2019s funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I got to the door, I stopped. I went back to what they call \u201chome\u201d for the last time. I don\u2019t feel any regret anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went outside and the cold night air greeted me. I didn\u2019t look back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I swear, when I get back, I\u2019ll take everything back that is mine. There is another interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I walked with my suitcase under the lampposts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My phone was vibrating. A message from Aunt Susan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHoney, I\u2019ve been cooking a sandwich. When are you going to get here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aunt Susan was my mother\u2019s best friend. Ever since my mom went missing, she\u2019s been the only person who honestly cares and cares about me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nag-reply like: \u201cTita, papunta na po ako.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went to Aunt Susan\u2019s condo in Mandaluyong. Looking out the window at the city lights, my heart sank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is no anger, no sadness. It is just a firm stance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The car stopped in front of the building. I paid the driver and went into the lobby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aunt Susan was on the 5th floor. He opened the door as soon as he saw me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDianne! What happened? \u201cWhy do you have a suitcase?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAuntie, can you stay here for a few days?\u201d she asked quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aunt Susan immediately pulled me in and grabbed my suitcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh my gosh! This could be it! The Passover is here. \u201cAre you going to give me a piece of meat, Arturo?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was compassion in his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I shook my head. \u201cHe kicked me out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I showed him the call log and his message \u201cGet out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aunt Susan trembled with anger. \u201cWhat a shame that this guy is! How did he do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He sat me down and gave me a cup of hot tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry, Auntie is here. What exactly happened? Is it because of the results of the exam?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I nodded. \u201cI told him I was screwed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Auntie\u2019s brow furrowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cImpossible. You\u2019re such a smart kid, how could that be\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAuntie, I plan this,\u201d I said as I looked straight at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then I played the recording on my phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing Arturo and Celia\u2019s cold and cunning plans, Aunt Susan turned pale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the recording, he was silent for a long time before sighing, eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour mother\u2026 Her choice of man was wrong. \u201cDianne, I\u2019m sorry you have to go through this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I grabbed Auntie\u2019s hand. \u201cAuntie, I\u2019m not having any trouble. I\u2019m just doing what I\u2019m supposed to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aunt looked at me, from pity to admiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood boy. You\u2019ve got to be brave. You\u2019re smarter than your father.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He stood up. \u201cStay here, I\u2019ll support you. Just say what you need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tumango ako.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAuntie, I need you to keep my secret. Don\u2019t let anyone know that I\u2019m here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOver the next few days, I might have to help you with a drama.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aunt Susan didn\u2019t hesitate. \u201cNo problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He led me to the guest room. Not big but clean and tidy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTake a break. Don\u2019t think about everything in the first place. Even if the world is falling apart, you have a foundation in it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lying on the bed, I could smell the smell of fresh laundry blankets. It was the first time I had ever felt so comfortable since I left home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But I know that this is not the time to give up. The show has just begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next day, I woke up on my own. Aunt Susan\u2019s breakfast was ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After dinner, I asked him to come out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went to a large computer center, logged into the official website of the university. I entered my application number and password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 98.7 percentile score. It ranks 89th nationwide.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I screenshotted it and printed ten copies, I put them neatly in a brown envelope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next, I went to the bank and took all my limited money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, I called someone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the lawyer my mother trusted when she was alive\u2014Atty. Santos<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The lawyer answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAtty. Santos, yes Dianne poito.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Atty. Santos\u2019 voice was calm:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDianne, yes. I remember you. What can I do to help?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAtty, I am 18. It\u2019s time to take mine back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Three days passed. While Papa and Celia were enjoying Lala\u2019s success, I was busy meeting with Atty. Santos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDianne, are you sure about this?\u201d asked Atty. Santos as he looked at the evidence I gave. \u201cThese allegations are serious. We can take back the title without going through this mess anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I smiled slightly, but there was no trace of joy in my eyes. \u201cThey didn\u2019t just take me home. They stole my dignity and my mother\u2019s memory. I want to watch them as everything they think of them slowly crumbles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was exactly 6:00 p.m., the day of the big party for Lala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was held in an expensive hotel. Wearing a simple white dress that Aunt Susan had bought, I walked into the hall. No one noticed me at first because of the crowd and the noise of the music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the middle of the stage, Dad was standing, holding the microphone. Next to her were Celia who was full of jewels, and Lala who looked like a princess in her gown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTonight,\u201d Papa began, \u201cwe celebrate the future of my daughter, Lala. Her intelligence has enabled her to pass college and will soon be studying abroad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The crowd applauded. Before I could finish, I walked to the front of the stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDaddy,\u201d I called out in a loud voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everything stopped. Dad turned around, and his smile was instantly replaced with hatred when he saw me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDianne? What are you doing here?! Didn\u2019t I tell you not to show up?!\u201d he shouted, just enough for all the guests to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celia approached, her eyes widening. \u201cYour face is so thick that you came here after you embarrassed your father for your rudeness! Security! Get this kid out!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait a minute,\u201d I said, holding up my cell phone which turned out to be plugged into the hall\u2019s Bluetooth system\u2014a favor Aunt Susan had done the technician a favor earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suddenly, the music stopped. A voice echoed throughout the hotel\u2019s speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026 Di jure? When he was a child, what did he know about the law? You Are The Father! You have the right to make decisions for you\u2026\u201d<\/em> If that happens, I\u2019ll give him a thumbs up. He couldn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n My father was stunned by where he was. Celia turned pale and began to tremble. Guests began to grumble, others were already pulling out their phones to video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?! \u201cKill me!\u201d he yelled, but it was too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her own voice was the next to be heard:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026 I\u2019m going to kick him out\u2026 I\u2019m going to give him a few bucks, I\u2019m sure he\u2019ll do what I want.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n I looked at him, straight into his eyes. \u201cI\u2019m stunned, haven\u2019t I? So you kicked me out to force me to sign the transfer of Mama\u2019s house in your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDianne, stop!\u201d my father was about to yell at me, but Atty. Santos blocked him who suddenly appeared next to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMr. Reyes, I am Dianne\u2019s legal counsel,\u201d Atty. Santos said seriously. \u201cWe have evidence of attempted monopolization and deception of the property of a minor who is now of legal age. And there\u2019s another\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I pulled the envelope out of my bag and grabbed a copy of the exam result. I handed it to the nearest visitor, who was a well-known businessman and friend of Papa\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHomeless Neo Pio,\u201d Sabi Ko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The man read aloud: \u201cDianne Reyes. UPCAT Result: 98.7 percentile score. Rank 89 Nationwide.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n People were getting more and more confused. \u201cRank 89? \u201cThat boy is a genius!\u201d \u201cWhy did your father leave?\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s greedy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked at Layla, who was crying right now. \u201cHoney, didn\u2019t you say you were done?\u201d But according to the records we got, you didn\u2019t even reach the passing grade. \u201cYour \u2018passing\u2019 result was just a fake Celia using Dad\u2019s money that was supposed to pay for my tuition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s not true,\u201d Zelda said, but it was too late.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I confronted my father. \u201cYou said earlier, \u2018My son is awesome, he\u2019s so smart.\u2019 Dad, I\u2019m really smart. I\u2019m smart because I know all your smells before you completely destroy me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Atty. Santos issued a document. \u201cThis is an Eviction Notice<\/em>. Mr. Reyes, since it has been proven in the spirit of the law that the house in Makati belongs to Dianne and there has been an attempted burglary here, I am giving you 24 hours to leave the property. He is with his wife and son.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n My father sat down on the stage. Her \u201cperfect life\u201d and \u201cdream life\u201d vanished within 10 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDianne\u2026 Daughter\u2026 Let\u2019s talk\u2026\u201d My father said with pity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I turned my back on him. \u201cWe have nothing to talk about, Mr. Reyes. You said no? \u2018C\u00fat kh\u1ecfi nh\u00e0 tao\u2019\u2014in English, \u2018Get out of my house\u2019. I\u2019m just going to give those words back to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I walked out of the hall, forehead high, as the applause from the crowd\u2014which had earlier been for Lala\u2014was now for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was a cold night, but I was finally free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One day after the hotel scene, I was standing in front of the gate of our house in Makati. It\u2019s no longer \u201cour home\u201d\u2014it\u2019s my home<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A white van arrived. Celia and Lala came out, their eyes closed and carrying black plastic bags of garbage in which their clothes were crammed. They didn\u2019t have any valuables with them, because they were all bought with the money they stole from the fund Mama had left behind. Atty. Santos prevented them from taking out any belongings that did not belong to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDianne, you seem to have mercy,\u201d Celia pleaded as she knelt down on the pavement. \u201cWhere are we going? We have nowhere to stay!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked at him with no emotion. \u201cYou have a place to stay, Auntie. There was a small apartment in the country that you thought you didn\u2019t know you bought in secret. That\u2019s where you start again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dad was the last one to come out. He looked like he was 10 years old in one night. He was holding an old photo album\u2014the only thing I was allowed to take with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDianne\u2026 \u201cSon,\u201d his voice trailed off. \u201cPlease forgive me. I was blinded. I thought\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you think I\u2019m going to be so rude?\u201d he interrupted. \u201cDad, the pain you gave me can\u2019t be cured with \u2018sorry\u2019. You threw me out in the middle of the night because you thought I was rude. I want to give you a chance to experience how I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut Dianne, I\u2019m still your father!\u201d she cried, with a hint of desperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I smiled, a bitter smile. \u201cA father doesn\u2019t trade his own blood for money. A father doesn\u2019t throw his child away like garbage. From this day forward, Arturo Reyes, you don\u2019t have a child named Dianne.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I closed the door. The sound of steel pounding sounded like the final dot in a long chapter of suffering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two months passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was standing in the middle of the campus of the University of the Philippines<\/strong>. I was ready to start my first semester as a student. \u201cI don\u2019t need my dad\u2019s money. With the help of Atty. Santos, I was able to recover all of Mama\u2019s insurance and investments which was enough for my entire education and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My phone rang. A piece of news from Aunt Susan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arturo now works as an agent of something, but because of the embarrassment that came with the party, no one wants to do business with him anymore. Celia and Lala fight every day because of the hardships of life in their small home. The \u201cperfect family\u201d they built on top of my life has completely collapsed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air and the warmth of the sun. I took my mom\u2019s picture in my bag and tossed it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMom, I\u2019ve got it all back. Your memory is protected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the time I walked to my first class, I was no longer the scared kid hiding in the dark. I\u2019m Dianne Reyes\u2014the kid they thought was a \u201cwreck,\u201d but in reality, had long flown higher than all of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Revenge isn\u2019t always about hurt. Sometimes, the most painful reward is to live a happy, successful, and free<\/strong> life from those who want to bring you down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n WAKAS<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cI told my dad to get me out of the house.\u201d On the day of the UPCAT results, I stared at my 98.7th percentile score for a long time. Then, I… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3055"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3058,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3055\/revisions\/3058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myanh.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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