Mhorfell Academy of Gangsters (Now Published Under PSICOM Publishing)

Chapter 21: Fear

JANICE'S POV

"Miss Janice..." untag sa akin ni Theodore.

Tinapos ko na ang huling sulyap ko kay Miss Alexandria at saka ko marahan na sinarado ang pinto ng kwartong kinalalagyan niya. Tumatakbo ang oras. Walang segundo ang nararapat na masayang.

I turned to see Theodore looking at me with his usual worried face. Instead of putting another weight on him, I tried to pull of a smile in front of him. "How are you? Are they hurting you? Have you been doing well?"

Ngunit kagaya ng dati, walang salita ang lumabas mula sa bibig niya sa tuwing lumulutang ang mga katanungang ito. Tila ba mga katanungang walang kasagutan. Subalit ang katotohanan ay hindi niya nais marinig ang sarili niya na magsumbong o hindi kaya'y magpakita ng kahit anong hinagpis sa harapan ko.

Looking at him is quite painful. What right do I have to ask him if he's alright. I, his so called young lady have left him in this house where a psychopath and a demon are living. It's as if I left him here to suffer and to struggle to death.

The fact that I left two years ago to escape from my father and brothers have always been there. What could I even say to his face? Even so, I'm glad he is still alive and kicking.

"Kamusta naman po kayo? Nakakakain po ba kayo tatlong beses sa isang araw? Nakakatulog po ba kayo kaga gabi? Nakakainom po ba kayo ng gamot araw-araw para sa paninikip ng dibdib?" at umarangkada na naman ang samu't saring mga tanong niya sa akin.

Mga ilang araw nang malaman kong bumisita si kuya sa Mhorfell Academy ay nagtungo rin ako rito, umaasang makakahagilap ako ng balita sa kung ano ang binabalak niya. Mabuti na lamang at pinanigan niya ako at tinulungan para roon.

Hindi ko aasahan na ang dating manananggol namin ni mama noon sa pamilya ni papa ay siya ring walang alinlangang tutulong sa akin ngayon.

"Don't worry about me. Take care of yourself and thank you. Thank you very much, Theodore. I would never forget how good you've been to me and to my mom." pagpapasalamat ko habang pinagmamasdan ko siyang tumayo nang may buong dignidad ng isang walang kasing tulad na katiwala ng tahanan na ito.

He's one of those staffs who never left our household even though our family name has lost it's shine and has been drenched in blood and injustice. And I can't thank him enough for not losing hope on my father who is constantly having serious nightmares that keep on hunting him everytime.

This man deserves a better master and family. To think his family never disappointed anyone in our family ever since to the first generation. We are so indebted to him.