Survive
!”
“Toci! Oh my god!” Tita Aurora said as Toci took the blow again.
“Stop it! Toci what?” I said to him, I intervened but Toci bowed again with a punch. Before Magnus could punch him, he pushed his chest.
“Magnus, that’s enough!”
It kept looking at me. My eyes are pleading for him to stop and I’m sure he can read it. It’s been a hard night for all of us. But this is not the right time for these two to kill each other. My brother is fighting for his life and he is more important than them.
“Magnus!”
I frowned and turned in the direction from which that cry had come.
The Mother of Magnus approached me tightly, making me close my eyes.
What is he doing here?
Is there a tracker attached to Magnus’ phone that says I’m with him?
So did he follow us?
This is ridiculous!
I close my eyes tightly. There is no burden worse tonight.
“What the hell happened to you?” aniya nito. I quickly removed my hand from its chest.
He looked away from us. That stopped Toci. “What happened here?”
“What are you doing here Mom?”
“I should be the one asking you about Magnus! Why are you with this girl?” He glared at me.
“You’re supposed to be with Aira at the reunion and look at you! You’re bloody! What the--- oh you!” She glared at me.
“Why are you still here clinging to my son ?! I told you to stay away from him! Why can’t you do that? Why is it so hard to understand ?!”
“And I’m sure it’s your fault why Magnus looks like this!”
“Don’t you point your finger at my daughter,” Mom said.
“Oh shut up! Isn’t my money enough for your family? I helped you without asking for anything! I only want you to stay away from Magnus!
I averted my eyes from Magnus.
I shouldn’t have sent him here. All of this could not have happened.
Bwiset talaga!
“Is the money I gave you still not enough that’s why you’re approaching my son again?”
“What did you say Mom?” he asked in full confusion.
His eyes widened. Maybe she just realized what she said.
“W-what? N-nothing!”
“What the hell is happening? Why is Mrs. Morrison here? What is she saying to Agnes? What is she saying? Does her son and Celiza have a relationship?”
When it laughed. “You see, your family is very good. Tell me sister, are you keeping them together? So if someone dumps you, you’ll lose nothing. You have a reserve huh? I told you Magnus! This woman is flirty!”
“She’s not.” Magnus’s strong promise.
“She’s not with him. They’re not together. You’re wrong about her.” I looked down at his fist. It seems to prevent him from speaking out against the mother.
“Then who is this man? You’re not sure about that Magnus!”
“Don’t worry he’s not with your son. She’s my girlfriend.” My eyes widened at what Toci said.
“You asshol ---” Magnus bowed with a punch, it was a good thing and Mother stopped it.
“Can’t you see yourself? You’re hitting on these lowly people.”
My chest tightened. It seems that nothing can change the mind of its Mother.
“They’re cheap and ---”
“Get out of here!” and Mom.
Mrs. Morrison rolled her eyes. “Let’s go Magnus.”
I turned around from them. Mom held my hands. It smiled bitterly.
My eyes widened when someone grabbed my wrist from the back.
I met his dark cold eyes.
“We will talk about this tomorrow in my office,” he emphatically promised.
I averted my gaze and withdrew the wrist from him. I turned my back on it. Toci and I were right. While its Mother looks down on me.
“I can’t believe you Celiza! After all these years, you’re just fooling my son!”
“Mom he’s not with him---” Toci was cut off by his Mom.
“Then what is Mrs. Morrison saying? For Pete’s sake she called us ‘low people’ is embarrassing! Even if it’s just you!”
“I’m sorry Aurora and I’m sorry.”
My teeth gritted when she pushed away my mother’s hand when she tried to reach her.
“All along I thought these families were respectable. Now I don’t think it can ever be called that way again. I take it all back now. No wedding is gonna happen. You dragged me in this dirty mess, I don’t want to be part of it.”
“W-how’s Bliss’s medicine---” Mom interrupted.
“Well I think Celiza can milk old men for her brother’s medicine.”
I was about to speak up when Mom grabbed my hand and stopped me.
“Mom she’s not like that---” Toci was cut off.
“Aurora, do you also believe what that woman is saying---”
“Who wouldn’t? You’re always busy with your designer bags that you forgot to raise your child right! I can’t take this anymore. The second time you’ve humiliated us, I won’t let that happen again.”
She glared at me. “You disappoint me Celiza. I thought you were a sensible woman. You’re just a release. It’s embarrassing.”
I took a deep breath. “Aren’t you more embarrassed? Who are you to disappoint me? You’re just part of a judgmental society. You have no right to question Mom’s upbringing because it was my decision. You are afraid of being compared to us and embarrassed but your behavior is more embarrassing ---- “
“Celiza what ?!” said Mom.
“No Mom. Aren’t you tired of begging for their help?” Tears pooled in my eyes.
“For his contempt for you? I know you know he’s just approaching us now so we can get into debt when they have a laugh at tea time with his rich friends? Mom woke up! No one’s gonna help us but ourselves!” Tears rolled down my eyes. It pains me so much to see my Mom beg for Tita Aurora’s validation then and now.
“The thickness of your face tells me that after all I’ve done for your family!”
Her hand remained in the air. “You haven’t done anything for our family. I know you haven’t really considered me a friend since Alfredo’s company went bankrupt. I just went blind. Celiza is right. It’s time to cut ties with your family.”
“Really? As if you could ever survive.” She mocked.
