His Sexual Addiction

Chapter 38: To Another Country

"We're here, Kiro," I informed him as we arrived in our Barangay. "You still have to walk from here to get to our home. Your car won't fit in the driveway; it's a closed area," I explained, trying to manage his expectations. Kiro nodded understandingly, and as he got out of the car to check on Mother in the backseat, I followed suit and joined him. As we stepped out, I couldn't help but notice the curious glances from the people around us. It was a stark contrast to the sight of Kiro's fancy car in our humble squatter area. I could feel their eyes on us, silently wondering who this young man was and what brought him to our neighborhood. The few familiar faces couldn't resist whispering to each other, and I couldn't blame them for their curiosity. Our Barangay was a tight-knit community where everyone knew everyone else's business. Seeing a stranger, especially with a car like Kiro's, was an unusual sight that would undoubtedly spark gossip and speculation. Trying to maintain my composure, I chatted with Dodong, attempting to divert my attention from the curious onlookers. Kiro, too, seemed focused on Mother's well-being, not letting the attention affect him. As we prepared to walk the rest of the way home, I reminded myself that people's opinions and gossip didn't define us. "Oh, Lyka! It's you! We thought some rich person was in that gorgeous car!" Aling Hwebes called out while holding a black dog. As we walked down the small alleyway, Aling Hwebes' remarks stung like arrows, hitting me with each hurtful word. The judgmental gossip from the neighborhood seemed to echo all around us, and I could feel the weight of their words pressing down on me like a heavy burden. "Oh! Lyka found herself a rich man!" "Lucky for Lucia, her daughter has a wealthy husband!" "It's a shame that this handsome man is only married to Lyka. I think he's foolish to marry someone poor like her!" Kiro and I continued to support Mother as we tried to quicken our pace, hoping to escape the judgmental stares and whispers. I didn't want to dignify their hurtful comments with a response;

instead, I focused on getting Mother home safely. The neighbors' hurtful words seemed to intensify, and I could hear their snickers and laughter behind us. Their unfounded assumptions about Kiro and me only fueled the fire of gossip. It was disheartening to realize that in our close-knit community, people were so quick to judge and spread rumors without knowing the truth. "I thought she was a maid? Did she bring someone home to stay with her? HAHAHA!!" I tried to ignore their hurtful remarks that felt like loud shouts. I looked at Kiro and used my eyes to signal him to quicken our pace. Mama understood, and we hurried our walk. Once inside, we gently laid Mother down on the wooden bench, ensuring she was as comfortable as possible. Dodong set down his belongings, causing a slight noise in the small space. "Who's there?! I hate this life! Datdat, can you still walk? Maybe a thief came in! Damn!" I heard Dad shouting from inside the house. The familiar sound of Dad's angry voice greeted us, and my heart sank. His outbursts filled with profanities were all too familiar, a constant reminder of the turbulent environment we had grown up in. It was disheartening to realize that despite everything that had happened, nothing had changed. I asked Dodong to get water for Mother and Kiro while I made my way into my siblings' room. Datdat was still lying there, looking frail and pitiful. My heart ached for her, knowing that she had been through so much during my absence. "There are no treasure in this house, so let the thief go, tss," she whispered. The room was too dark, so I turned on the light, saying,"Datdat...," I said softly, my voice catching in my throat as I looked at my sister in shock. "Sis!" Despite her difficulty standing, Datdat tried her best to greet me, her eyes lighting up at the sight of me. "Sis?! Is that really you? When did you come home? And how's Mother? I really wanted to go with Dodong when he rushed her to the hospital, but I was also having a hard time..." Datdat spoke rapidly, her words tumbling out as she tried to convey her thoughts. I simply hugged her tightly, feeling a rush of emotions at the reunion with my younger sister. "It's okay, Datdat. I'm here now, and Mother, too. Dodong and Kiro took care of her, and she had the

best treatment," I reassured her, wanting to alleviate her worries. Datdat nodded, her eyes reflecting gratitude and relief. She hugged me back, and in that moment, I felt a sense of homecoming, as if all the pieces of my fractured world were coming back together. "How are you, Datdat? Let's take you to the doctor when I earn enough money, okay?" I promised to her, my heart full of determination to care for my siblings' well-being. She nodded once again, her trust in me evident in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered, the weight of her gratitude touching my soul. "Hey, Datdat! Who are you talking to, you little brat?! Have you gone crazy?!" Dad's angry voice pierced the air once again, filled with disapproval. Acting quickly, I brought Datdat's wheelchair and gently placed her in it, guiding her out of the room so she could see Mother and be away from Dad's angry outbursts. "Sis Datdat!" Dodong shouted happily, rushing to her side and excitedly telling her about everything that had happened during our time away. He also handed her and Kiro the food they had ordered earlier, ensuring they didn't miss out on the treat. "Who is he?" Datdat asked curiously, her eyes settling on Kiro, who sat on a wooden chair nearby. "He's the son of Sis' boss," Dodong explained proudly, looking at me for confirmation. I nodded with a reassuring smile, affirming that what he said was true. Datdat's gaze shifted from Kiro to me, and I could see the curiosity in her eyes. I understood her need to know who this person was, as she had been out of the loop during our time away. "He's Kiro Gustavo, Datdat," I said softly, introducing him formally to her. "He's been a great help to us, especially with Mother's hospitalization." Datdat studied Kiro for a moment, perhaps assessing him and the role he played in our lives. She had always been protective of our family, and I could sense her cautious nature at play. I then walked to Mom's room, where Dad was sitting in his usual spot. "Dad...," I said, and he turned to look at me, scanning me from head to toe for no apparent reason. "Huh! Still the same poor girl! You've been a maid for a few months, but nothing has changed! HAHA!" "I told you to just stay here at home! You won't get rich by working! Just a maid!" He continued to

belittle me, as usual. I just wanted to help, but he always spews nonsense at me. I stood there, trying to remain composed despite my father's hurtful words. His belittling remarks were nothing new, but they still cut deep. I had hoped that he would see the sincerity in my efforts to help the family, but he seemed determined to dismiss my contributions and belittle my achievements. "Dad... Even though my salary is small, I can still send money, right—" "Oh! Are you bragging about the things you did?! Are you proud of that?! Maybe even paying for your hospitalization makes you proud!" My father's harsh words cut through me like a knife, and I struggled to hold back my tears. "N-no! I didn't mean it that way, Dad..." I stammered, trying to explain, but he didn't let me finish or even listen to my side of the story. It felt like he had already made up his mind about me, and nothing I said would change his perspective. "Just shut up, Lyka! Now that your mother is discharged from the hospital, go back to where you work and find a rich old man! HA—" "Stop shouting at her," Kiro's serious voice interrupted, stunning me. I couldn't believe that he had stepped in to defend me. His presence beside me felt like a shield against my father's hurtful words. My father turned to look at Kiro with a mix of surprise and annoyance. "Who are you to interfere in our family matters?" he snapped. I'm sure Kiro heard everything Dad said clearly. Dad's eyes widened like he realized something. "Hmmm, you really found a rich, but not old man! That's okay HAHAHA!" My father's mocking remark stung. "You're wrong, Dad. He's my boss' son—" I tried to explain, but my father's greedy and money- focused side took over. "Ah, that's how your future spouse should be! How much is your inheritance, son?" he asked recklessly, revealing his insensitive and materialistic nature. I felt a wave of disappointment and disapproval wash over me. It was disheartening to see my father reduce Kiro to nothing more than his financial standing. "Let's talk later, Dad," I said firmly, not wanting Kiro to endure any more of my father's hurtful

comments. I quickly pulled Kiro out of the room, hoping to shield him from the ugliness of my father's behavior. As we stepped outside, I closed my eyes, trying to calm myself down after witnessing such repulsive behavior from my own father. It pained me to see how he could be so callous and dismissive of someone who had shown kindness and support to us during a difficult time. In the living room, Mama looked at me with questioning eyes and sighed. "Don't talk to your Dad, Lyka. I'll talk to him first, okay? He's fine, I'll go inside to calm him down," Mama assured me, and I nodded. Kiro glanced at me, asking, "Are you okay?" I nodded and smiled at him. Dad was always like that, saying insensitive things. Even though it weighed heavily on my heart, I tried to find something to cook in the kitchen as daylight approached. To my shock, there was no food left. We had run out for the week. Kiro noticed my concern as he followed me. "Let's go to the market," he suggested. I nodded and grabbed my small purse from the bag. We bid goodbye to Dodong and Datdat, who were busy organizing Mama's clothes from the hospital stay. As we walked out of the alley, I could still hear the neighbors whispering about me, but I paid no attention to their gossip. "Your neighborhood is full of immature and toxic people," Kiro whispered as we got into his car. "In this country, it's normal for people to act that way. What do you expect?" I replied. "Then, I'll take you abroad... I'll take you to another country," Kiro whispered, and I pretended not to hear it. But secretly, his words brought a smile to my face.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.