Chapter 16

"Does it still hurt?" I asked while holding Rod's cheek.

He shook his head. "Did you see that… earlier?"

I nodded. "I'm sorry," I apologized because I felt it was all my fault why he was slapped.

"It's not your fault," he said.

I didn't answer. I'm guilty and I know that the slap he received earlier from his father was strong.

“Let's not talk about that old hag. So can you tell me about your life? About you and your mom?"

He even called his dad an old hag. Rod is really—ahh I’m out of words.

"Hmm.. There isn't much in my life other than being a scholar, and I never met my real dad."

"Really?" he asked.

I nodded. I haven't met papa even once.

"Mama remarried again whom I call uncle but he died,"

"Why?"

I remember when I was in 8th grade. I still remember how uncle saved me.

"Because he saved me.. uhm.. let's go to sleep," I said cause I'm not really comfortable talking about him.

Tito Leon is a father figure to me. He was the first man I was attached to. I could still reme