61 - Different

“Gheron? Did I tell you to call me by that name? Isn’t it and you don’t like ‘me’ because I’m a poor person you think and can’t meet love because you want too much wealth, huh, Marie? Now I am rich, so rich that even your whole being I could buy in front of your family! What about Marie? What? I’m not just a millionaire. I’m a billionaire with just a flick of my hand, your parents are ready to sell you to ‘me—”

"Stop!" He gave Gheron a deafening slap that almost made his face turn with the force of the slap he gave.

Tears welled up in his eyes like a river as they continued to flow. It was as if all his restraint had slowly come out of the excruciating pain of what it was saying now.

“That’s enough, Gheron! Is that enough, please? ” his voice trembled as he stared at it. “You don't own me to reprimand me like that. You don’t know me… You don’t know what’s in my heart. You don’t know the pain I feel, Gheron… You don’t know. ”

He was stunned but immediately smiled. “Really? That's why you're so close to Magnar. ” Her face was dark when she looked at him.

He was terrified. He immediately backed away but he couldn’t do that when Gheron met his lip again and gave him a punishing and hurtful kiss.

He tasted blood and tears. He was deeply hurt but seemed to have no right to say all that was in his heart here.

No matter how much he pushed the young man, they were useless especially and it gripped his waist tightly. The man had no intention of releasing her that night.

“G-gheron, please…” Her tears kept falling. It’s not Gheron, it’s not. This was very different from the man she had first met. Very different.

"Don't worry Marie, I can pay a bigger amount for your body after tonight," he whispered in a sarcastic voice.

He just closed his eyes when his clothes slowly fell off. She no longer had the strength to stop the young man. If this is what it wants, he can give it but he knows what will happen next.

“How much does Magnar pay you? I double, triple. After all, you all want money, don’t you, Marie? Answer!"

He bit the most and shook his head but Gheron gave him another angry kiss.

“Answer Marie! Money ‘isn’t it? Money ‘isn’t it ?!” its loud cry. He shuddered and forced himself to answer its question.

“I-I love you. I love you, Gheron… ”And his heart was completely broken.

It was late at night when he arrived in the province where he grew up. All he carried was his suitcase and he was not carrying anything to meet him. Magnar insisted that they buy a greeting for his family but he refused.

The young man also gave him a large amount of money but he did not accept it. He still has money in his bank account so he can start anew.

Since no one knew he was coming home, he reached a quiet home. No light. The house was not locked so he could enter freely. The house he left to work abroad still looks the same. Nothing changed. If there is, it's more like it's not a house to look at because some of the furniture in the living room was scattered when he opened it. Especially in the kitchen, there are piles of laundry that have not been washed this morning.

She gasped. She tied her hair and quietly put away the clutter in the living room. He arranged for the interior of the house to be comfortable.

He didn't feel anything, he just cleaned up and put away. After she was in the living room, she went to the kitchen and washed the dishes. There are still foods there that are already moldy on the table. No complaint that he threw them away. Instead of resting because he was from another country, his priority was to clear the house.

After she cleaned up the clutter, she opened the refrigerator to cook dinner that night but when she opened it, the refrigerator was empty except for bottled water and food waste that was left to harden in every corner. He closed it. He will then clean it after he has cooked the dish.

He went out and bought at the store just across from their house. Their neighbor was even surprised to see him but did not ask. He quietly handed over the two kilos of pork he had bought and some ingredients for the dish to be cooked.



IT WAS exactly eight o'clock in the evening when he finished cooking. One by one his brother came. They were even surprised to see that the house was clean and saw him sitting on a wooden stool in the kitchen.

"A-ate ?!"

He gave them a warm smile. They were so dressed up that they were obviously angry at a party. “Yes, I'm home! Where are Mom and Dad? I have cooked our dinner so we can all eat at the same time. ”

They winced at what he said. They looked at each other as if they wanted to say something to him but did not say a word. They were obviously not happy to see him come home.

“So, Ate, are you coming home now? We thought it was next year? ” Marites was the first to ask. It puts where the shoulder bag is.

"Aren't you happy that I came home early?"

“It's fun. Do you have any ‘min greetings?” asked another of his sisters, Marlota. It sat first in front of the round table. “I am so hungry! That's Haypeng Kirk, we don't have any money for our date. ”

"Me too. I'm hungry. Let's eat first, ha, Ate. It's up to you to wait for Mama. ” Mark followed by rushing to the table and without saying a word the spoon itself spooned the bowl where his cooked porridge was. “Delicious! Do you have any ‘min’ greetings? Where's Ate? I haven't seen any balikbayan boxes, ah. ”

"Maybe Ate hid it first and we'll open it at the same time when they come Mama." His brother Mario laughed.

He did not say a word. He just watched them eat now. He didn't have a greeting card, he didn't even have a chocolate bar. Suddenly he came home.

"Hey, it's really delicious!" At the same time they are praiseworthy.

“I’m also tired of canned goods and only order from Aling Mameng’s store. The pakla of the dishes! It's better cooked, it's delicious. ” Marites made one mouthful after another and followed by the adobo. “Ate, pingi pala pera, ha? I no longer have money for my school. ”

"I'm also Ate, I need money for my exam tomorrow."

“Of course I need to too,‘ no! Ate, I will only ask for 6 thousand. That’s just small. ”

He was about to say that he had little to save when he heard their parent arguing loudly. They have come and are shouting.

"What happened to them?" full of astonishment he asked.

"That's how they are." Her siblings didn't care that she was constantly coughing. “If I’m with you Ate, don’t bother with what you hear and see. Let them fight. ”

But he did not listen. He immediately got up and went to the living room where his Mother threw stones at his drunken Father. He was stunned for a few seconds and recovered for a long time. This is not how he recognizes them.

“You are an animal, Odong! If I haven’t gone to your place yet, you’ll be addicted to alcohol and you just need to fuck Bebang's son who is obviously sloppy and flirty! ” Their mother was throwing things at them that she had just fixed.

“Eh, what can I do? Your wife is handsome. Then Bebang's son is delicious, game after game that I want him to do. Give everything even when grinding. Are you All you have to do is do magic and tell the neighbors. You can no longer provide for my needs as your wife. ”

“You are really an animal, Odong! Get out of here! Get out !!! ” their Mother's furious cry and she didn't even see it cry. They are just shouting in anger and yelling at their Father who is trying to catch them.

"M-ma, I'm already here…"

The two of them looked away at the same time when he dared to speak. The joy was reflected on their faces but they immediately frowned when they saw that he was not carrying anything.

“Have you arrived yet? Where are your greetings from Japan, son? ” His Mother quickly approached him and glanced at his back as if he were hiding behind.

“His real‘ Mom, I’ve quit my job. I'm here to stay. I'm coming home suddenly. ”

"What ?!" They were shocked at what he said.

His three brothers also ran into the living room and asked him if he was joking. Their looks were very problematic especially his Mother who was obviously incredulous.

"Why did you leave?! Come back there, Marie Cris! You can't stay here. Who will support ‘min and your siblings, huh? Where is your brain? What are you doing in Japan and you left, huh? Alas, son! Why did you go home now where we have so many problems in this house ?! ”

"N-not like that‘ Ma… "

“What’s wrong with that? Do you see your Father? If he doesn’t always put chickens first, ‘Bebang’s virgin daughter is the one your naughty Dad is teasing!”

"M-I'll still work here‘ Ma… I won't be a burden. "

“More income abroad! Where is your brain, huh? Go home, your presence is not what your brother and I need here. But money! The money for their graduation! You understand that, ha, Marie Cris! Go back to Japan. ”

“P-pero‘ Ma… ”

“Don't get me wrong. Go back to Japan and work there! You’ll add to my headache here, eh, ‘no ?!” After saying that, he turned his back on her and went straight to the second floor of their house.

As his brothers dropped the shoulder they climbed into their rooms. Only her Father was in the living room and asleep on the floor.

Even though his personality was numb, the tears that flowed from his eyes did not escape. If the OFW's life is hard, it's even harder when he's in his hometown and his family thinks of him as a walking bank machine. If he doesn’t have money, he doesn’t matter. He has no value.

And that night, instead of sulking with his family… He chose to sleep and forget everything for a while. But even in her sleep, she repeatedly felt Gheron's violent and painful kiss on her. The punishment it inflicted not only tore the world to him, but also his heart.

The next day, he looks like a robot who gets up to cook the family everything he will do. As she used to be, she always prepared everyone's breakfast. She cooked a hotdog and scrambled eggs. He also fried rice and exactly when his siblings came down, they were straight to the table.

“Where is Mom? Don't we eat together? ”

“It won’t be the same. Mom is mad at you, Ate. Why did you come home? ” His brother asked lazily. He was already spooning rice and even when he was eating, he was lazy.

"Why can't you just be happy that I'm here?"

"It's nice that you're in another country, ah. Then how are we going to study it, Ate? Where do we get its tuition? You know we're still studying, eh. Go home right away. You just didn't let us finish first. ”