Suggested Song: Bumalik Ka Na Sakin by Silent Sanctuary

------------------------------------------------------------

Tricia opens the front door only to be greeted with three faces that scream "Explain. Now." She smiles at Jillian, and the youngest of their family stays unmoving, keeping her poker face intact. Her eyes drift to her older sister, who only squints her eyes harder at her sister. "Pinapawisan ba ko??" Tricia thinks to herself.

Lastly, she looks to her mother, who's got both hands on her waist, and an eyebrow raised at her. Radiating an aura that always shot dread into the person she directs her scrutinising gaze at- And right now, those unblinking eyes directs that gaze straight at her.

"Hala puta, patay ako."

Tricia clears her throat and raises her hand in a wave. "Hi, I'm home!" She does her best to smile, but her voice shakes noticeably and the corner of her lips quake in fear at the three sets of eyes staring her down.

------------------------------------------------------------

The phone rings while you're washing dishes at your home. The starting tone tells you immediately who is calling, and as quickly as you can- You start rinsing your hand of the dishwashing soap before hastily wiping on the kitchen towel.

Heto na'ng ating pinuno

Handa nang mag silbi,

Husay at tibay, puso at isip.

Kay-

You dive towards your couch in the rush to pick up the phone. You pin the phone between your shoulder and your ears, getting up and fixing the surface of the couch that you ruffled in the rush.

"Hi Mahalll.."

The unexpected voice has you grabbing the phone despite your slightly damp hands. You position the phonevs top speaker against your ear properly, after all maybe you're simply hallucinating.

".... Mahal, hi, hello, anjan ka ba?"

"Trish?"

------------------------------------------------------------

Tricia looks at the people standing around her as she stays seated on the couch. Her mother and sisters all motion for her to say what they agreed she would.

Aika thinks she'd never have a day as amazing as this, seeing a doctor as pale as a sheet of paper.

"Magsorry ka na!"

Jilian shakes her sister's shoulder in impatience while their mother nods her head in agreement with her youngest daughter.

Tricia moves the phone away from her, opening her mouth with intention to defend herself when Aika lands a hit on her other shoulder, impatient just like their youngest sister.

"Aray!"

------------------------------------------------------------

Your eyes widen at the expression of pain, and immediately your concern shows.

"Mahal okay ka lang? Ano nangyari? Nadapa ka ba or what-"

You're interrupted with the loudest tone you've ever heard your girlfriend speak in, and what's even more surprising is that she sounds as if she's.... Running?

"HINAHAMPAS AKO NI ATE, BINABARA AKO NI JILLIAN, AT PAPATAYIN NA AKO NI MAMAAAA!"

You sit back down on the couch in disbelief, despite the cacophony of sounds coming from the other side of the call, it is impossible to imagine the Robredo household descending into chaos. "Mababait at kalmadong tao sila right?" You think to yourself.

"Umalis ka ng walang kapaa-paalam kaninang umaga, tapos dahil dali-dali akong umalis na onti lang ang kinain na umagahan kaya akala nila nag away tayo."

There's a sound of someone falling over, and the voice that calls out in surprise sounds too much like the Vice President... You still aren't processing this clearly.

"Tita Leni moves so gracefully all the time, no way that was her.."

You pull the phone away for a short while to stare at it, wondering to yourself if you're stuck in a fever dream or if you accidentally inhaled drugs somehow, somewhere.

"MAHAL BALIK KA NA DITO PLEASE PARANG AWA MO NA PATUNAYAN MONG WALANG AWAY NA NAGANAP-"

The call ends abruptly and all you can do is lean back against the couch in disbelief as you stare at your phone. This whole thing feels like a high-induced hallucination, and it makes you laugh for a short moment before you shake your head in fondness.

That family really is something else.

You stand up to grab your coat from the rack, and your keys from your desk before putting on your shoes by the front door.

The dishes can wait, you've got a girlfriend to save.

You close the front door with a bright smile on your face.

------------------------------------------------------------