His footsteps seemed to echo throughout the house, as he grew nearer and nearer. I braced myself; ready to defend myself if things got ugly. He appeared from the family room, and folded his arms.

"Cosette," he sinabi in his deep voice. I bit my tongue. There was a long pause as he looked me over. Then he cleared his throat. "You've... been slacking on your chores. Your room's a mess. Get to work," he ordered, then disappeared. I stood there, dumbfounded. I looked at Franklin, who shrugged sadly.

I went upstairs, to my room. Again, it felt like I didn't belong here. I slowly walked in, observing it. It was my room, definitely, but it seemed to belong to someone else. Still, like I'd left it, it was a mess. It also seemed so bare; with all my stuff gone in my suitcase.

I was cleaning up, when I heard screams.

"Cosette!" a bunch of voices shouted. All my sisters, and Demetri ran in, and tackled me. I struggled to get back up, a little shocked.

"I can't believe you're here!" Tzipora sinabi excitedly.

"We've missed you so much!" Anastasia squealed.

"It's been so long!" Demetri smiled. "I wanted to come with Asteria, but she sinabi no," he glared at her. Asteria ignored him.

"I'm so glad you decided to come back!" she grinned. I pursed my lips. I wanted to make it clear I didn't want to be here, but at the same time I didn't want to make them sad. So I kept my mouth shut. My sisters blabbed on to me about how things have been, and I acted like I was listening while I cleaned my room.

"Cosette?" another voice said, coming in. I looked up, to see Mother. The last memory I had of her was her nearly breaking my door down. I shuddered at the memory. "Oh, dear, I'm so glad you're ok..." She came over and kissed me, and hugged me close. I was so confused...

"Um, hi?" I said.

"Where have you been this whole time?" she asked. At least I could count on my siblings to keep a secret.

"Grandma's," I said. She looked at me confused, then resentment crossed her face.

"Oh..." she said. "...Well... I'm glad you're home," she smiled. She practically skipped out of the room, and downstairs.

"See?" Asteria said. "She's happy you're back!"

"I know it's an act," I sinabi nonchalantly. "If she missed me so much, how come she did nothing? She didn't ask about me or anything?" They pursed their lips. My point was made. "Yeah. See?" I said.

***

hapunan was very awkward.

No one really spoke. There was only the sound of silverware clanking on the plates and tables; and the occasional burp from Demetri, who was then scolded sa pamamagitan ng Mother.

"So how was your day, Honey?" Mother asked Father. He looked up from the paper, then returned and shrugged.

"It was alright." I wanted to go back to my room so bad; I'd put all my things from the suitcase back in my room. It was starting to feel like tahanan again. A little bit. "How about yours?"

"Same. I was happy to see that Cosette's back," Mother smiled at me. I wanted to throw a pork chop at her.

"Hm," Father grumbled. There was a long pause at the table.

"Were you here when she got back?" she asked.

"Yes," he said, not looking at anyone. Mother nodded, and looked down. The kids looked back and forth between them. I had no idea what they were getting at either...

"Excuse me please," Mother said. She got up from the table, still looking down, and left. She went upstairs, and we heard the bedroom door slam shut. No one sinabi anything. Then Father sighed, excused himself, and went upstairs as well. Us kids stayed there at the table, silent. Then we heard them arguing.

Loud arguing.

I was actually afraid that it'd turn into a fist fight or something. My first instincts were to run, run far away and never come back. But that wouldn't do anything. And if it came to that, I'd defend them. I was sure that if it turned into something physical, which I hoped it wouldn't, I'd assume I'd have to defend Mother. Father was the one with the real temper.

I was snapped away from my game plan, sa pamamagitan ng my sisters blabbering.

"I'm scared," Asteria admitted. I was too, but I didn't say anything.

"What are they arguing about?" Demetri asked, clueless. My sisters looked at me. Of course. It always my fault. I wanted to yell at them, but then I realized it was true. This was my fault. For some reason. I didn't really understand it, but it seemed to be my fault.

Was Mother trying to make me think they loved me?

She was doing... and ok job. Father did nothing what so ever, not that I expected him to. Still, I think I'd rather them pretend, then just give up.

There was another slam, and Father came downstairs, and sat back in his chair, stabbing his fork into his food. The rest of us were silent. My puso was racing. I was kind of waiting for him to scream at us to go to our rooms or something.

"What's wrong?" Tzipora asked quietly.

"Nothing that concerns you!"Father shouted at her. My jaw dropped. He never yells at Tzipora. Ever. She's his first born. His baby girl. His little princess.

This was bad.

A couple moments later, Mother came down. Her face was soaked with tears. The kids looked up at her, and she smiled weakly at me, and took her upuan again.

"What's wrong, Mother?" Demetri asked.

"Be quiet and eat!" Father shouted at him. Mother pursed her lips, and then grew furious.

"Don't talk to him like that! Why do you have to be so mean to everyone?! Even your own children!" she shouted at him. I clenched my hands into fists. I was getting scared. Father glared at her. "Your daughter left because of you!"

"That's bullshit," he grumbled. I shook my head, unbelieving.

"No, it's not," I said. He stopped and looked at me.

"Excuse me?" he asked. I was afraid to go on, but I couldn't stop myself.

"You're terrible to me! You're always criticizing me, calling me names, and telling me you don't pag-ibig me! I couldn't take it anymore!" He shook his head, pushing it all aside.

"I don't want to hear this," he said.

"You don't even pag-ibig me, do you?" I shouted at him. He stared at me, and pursed his lips. There was a long pause.