"I knew it," I said, tears filling my eyes. I ran away from them, even though Mother begged me to come back. I ran upstairs, slamming my door behind me. The house seemed to rattle, but my anger was still there. I wanted to manuntok something; to just get it all out.

I collapsed onto my bed, and stuffed a unan into my face. I screamed, with everything I had. I screamed because I was scared... unwanted... guilty... a mess... I screamed until my throat was sore, and I could feel my diaphragm trembling.

Then there was a soft knock at the door. I clutched the tear-soaked unan to my chest, afraid of who it was.

It was Mother.

"Cosette?" she asked. Her face resembled mine; wet with sadness. I sniffed, as she crossed the room and sat on the edge of my bed. We sinabi nothing to each other for a long time, then I burst out sobbing. I jumped at her, and hugged her. Maybe she really loved me, maybe she didn't. But all I needed was my mother. She began crying to, stroking my hair. "Honey, I'm so sorry..."

"Do you..." I couldn't finish.

"Of course I do, sweetie," she said. "I always have, and always will pag-ibig you."

"Then why do you act like you hate me?" I whimpered. She pursed her lips, and looked at me.

"Because... I worry about you. You remind me of me. I was.... somewhat like you at your age. And I didn't make good decisions. I got in trouble, and... I did things I'm not proud of. I just don't want to see you make the same mistakes I did." She looked deep into my eyes. "But I can see you're not like that. You're brave, strong, and very intelligent. I know now I shouldn't worry about you so much." I nodded, thinking.

"What about when I was gone," I said. "You didn't... do anything..." I shook my head, trying not to think too much about it.

"I wanted to. I wanted to find you so bad, but... Your father sinabi no. He sinabi you'd be back eventually. He didn't want anyone to know that you ran away; it'd make him look bad. If he wasn't so stubborn, and hot-headed, I would've never stopped searching for you."

"So he doesn't pag-ibig me," I sighed. I already knew it, but it hurt to be reminded over and over in a short amount of time.

"He... doesn't understand you, Cosette. You aren't exactly like other teenage girls... Difference scares your father. He needs everything to be exactly the way he wants it."

"I know," I said. "Grandma told me." I looked up at her, curious. "Have you ever met your mother-in-law?"

"No," she sighed, shaking her head. "Your father sinabi his mother and him just didn't get along. He wanted nothing to do with her..." she sighed again, looking at me sadly. "Is she nice?" she asked. I smirked a little and nodded.

"Very. She didn't even know Father married. You should've seen the look on her face when she found out I was her granddaughter... And when she found out she has four other grandchildren..." Mother laughed.

"I can imagine," she smiled softly. She sighed. "I wish I could meet her..."

"Can't we visit sometime?"

"That'd have to be up to your father... And I doubt he'd agree to that." I shook my head.

"That's not fair. He's such a bully..."

"Not all the time," she reminded me.

"Just when he doesn't get what he wants," I rolled my eyes. She pursed her lips. She was angry about what I'd said, but she knew it was true.

"Maybe you should try telling him that," she said. Her words weren't mean to be hurtful or sarcastic, but I still thought she was joking. She stood up, smiled a little bit, then left.

Was she serious?

I sat there for a while, contemplating whether or not Mother's payo was to be taken literally. Maybe it was? I took a deep breath, and went to go find him. He was in his study, typing on the computer.

"Father?" I sinabi quietly.

"Hm," he grumbled. I began fiddling with my fingers, afraid to look at him.

"Um, I was wondering... would we ever visit Grandma?" he stopped typing.

"What?" I didn't repeat myself. He knew what I'd said. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because. I sinabi so."

"Well, I don't think that's f--"

"It doesn't have to be fair. I'm the father. You do what I say." I clenched my teeth together.

"Father, no offense, but... It's the twenty-first century. I have the same rights as you. Just because you're the man of the house, doesn't mean we're worthless."

"I didn't say that," he griped.

"But you implied it," I pointed out. "I want to see Grandma sometime. And so does Mother. And Asteria. And I'm sure the others would too."

"What exactly are you getting at, Cosette." I paused for a moment.

"I want to be able to do something we all want to do. Not just you. You're so mean to everyone, when you don't get your way."

"I do not..."

"Yes you do!" I said. "You haven't talked to your mother in over twenty years! Because you didn't get your way!" He sighed. "And why do you have to pick on me the most?" I whispered. He turned around to look at me.

"I... I don't know," he sighed. "I just do."

"That's not a fair answer," I argued. He opened his mouth to speak, but I spoke before him. "I think I deserve at least a fair answer." I spoke with much madami confidence than I had, which was good. He sighed, and looked at me for a long time.

"I... I just don't get you," he sinabi incredulous, shaking his head. "And... if I don't understand you, I don't know what you're thinking and then... I can't protect you. Because I don't know what you're capable of getting yourself into. And it worries me that you'll get hurt." So Mother was right.

"I can take care of myself," I told him. "I got all the way to Grandma's, on my own. I helped her, and went to school, on my own... I even made some friends," I sinabi softly. He raised an eyebrow.

"You did?" I nodded. "Well... I'm glad for you..." Neither of us knew what to say next. I sighed and turned to leave, when Father cleared his throat. "Um... Cosette?" I turned around. He opened his arms. It took me quite a while to figure out what he wanted.

I crossed the room and hugged him. I hadn't hugged him in... well, a long time. I'd forgotten what it was like...

"I pag-ibig you, sweetie," he said. Tears flooded to my eyes.

"I pag-ibig you too." There was another pause; they seemed to be popping up a lot lately.

"Did I make you feel that bad?" he asked. "So bad you ran away?" I wasn't sure if it was a direct question; it sounded madami like he was talking to himself. But I nodded anyways.

"It hurt. A lot," I sighed. He sniffed. My puso skipped. Oh no. Was he seriously crying?

"I'm so sorry, Cosette."

"It's ok," I sinabi quietly.

"You'll stay now though, right?" I was speechless. On one hand, my family loved me now. That was great; that was all I ever wanted. But, my friends... I couldn't just leave them!

Could I?