02. Sophia's Scary House

“GO AWAY!”

I sit on the porch as I listen to Sophia’s tantrums. Her house is just several blocks away from my house so I got here for like ten minutes only. And when I knock, she has started shooing me away.

“I have food!” I yell back.

Silence.

“Come on, I know you and your mom’s hungry.”

“No, we’re not… and momma’s asleep.”

“I can hear your stomach growling,” I fib.

More silence.

“Y-you do?” she asks after sometime, then hesitantly replies in a very weak voice, “Just leave it there. I’ll get that later when you’re gone.”

I scratch my head and moan my frustrations. What’s wrong with her? I’m starting to feel irritated.

“Sophia, just get out in there, okay?”

“I-I don’t look good,” she meekly replies. “Father slapped my face real hard last night.”

“What?” That useless son of a bitch. “May I see? I won’t mind.”

Silence, and more silence engulf us again.

“Fine, if you won’t come out, I’ll just leave it here. But get it quickly, okay? Stray dogs might feast on this.”

I slowly put the food on the porch and turn on my heels to leave. Just then, I hear the door creaking and Sophia’s frail body emerges. I almost curse the air as I see her face on broad daylight.

“I-I told you, I look ugly.”

Sophia’s right cheek is swelling and there is a small lump on her right eye. I could even faintly see her father’s hand imprinted on her swelling face. I rush towards her and lightly brushes my palm on her head. Poor little thing.

“I wish I was bigger,” I whisper.

“And why?” she asks, squinting at me as she looks up. We are on the same age but I am taller than her.

“I’d slap him, too. Or maybe even kill him and feed him to the dogs.”

Sophia giggles. “Damn you. He’s still my father.”

And I am your friend.

**

I invite myself to Sophia’s house and I admit I feel nervous every time I pay her a visit.

I don’t like the lingering smell of her father’s cigarette. I don’t like seeing Sophia’s mother, Lucele, beaten and bruised. And I don’t like knowing the cruel memories that live in this small house. If it isn’t a sin to wish for someone to be dead, I’d wish that Sophia’s father would be dead and that he would experience a terrible death.

“Sophia?”

We are both startled when we hear Lucele’s voice.

“Momma, are you awake already?”

“Who’s there, dear?”

“It’s just me,” I reply meekly. “I just stop by to give you this food. Gran was the one who prepared that for you. And there’s also a kilo of fresh fish.”

Lucele is silent for a moment, then suddenly, we hear her sobbing.

“Hey, momma. It’s okay. You’re okay,” Sophia says as she hugs her mom.

“I-I’m just so thankful,” she says as she reaches for my hand, “tell your family thank you. Thank you.”

I scratch my head using my free hand. “It’s nothing, Mrs. Cruz. We are just being good neighbors.”

Sophia and her mother share a silent meal. The whole house is so quiet. Only the click clack click clack noise from Sophia’s fork and spoon can be heard.

I sit here, in their sala looking at the photographs that are hang on the walls.

In one of the photos is Sophia’s father and my father, together with two other fisherfolks.

Sigh.

Gone are the days when Sophia’s father and mine share a close friendship. Rumors say that Sophia’s father was drowned with too much ambition, and thus had lifted his head on the clouds. I heard he had started to deal drugs on the nearby towns just to continue receiving big amount of money. We don’t know if it’s true because every time I ask, Papa would just shrug and shush me.

My thoughts are disturbed when I hear Sophia’s mother getting up from her chair.

“Just leave it there, momma. I’ll wash it for you,” says Sophia in her sweetest voice.

I watch Lucele as she walks towards me, then she sits across me on the sala and gravely looks at the window. Probably lost in her thoughts.

As I see her on that position, I see the bruises on her face and the bloated lips. There is even a cut on her left eyebrow.

I clear my throat. “I-I’ll help Sophia do the dishes.”

She just stares at me like I am a blank slate, not showing any emotion at all. I suddenly feel scared at the grimness of Lucele’s face. Without another word, I hurry to go help Sophia in the kitchen.