“I HEARD MY AUNT SAYING SHE DIDN’T WANT TO BE WITH ME ANYMORE — THAT’S WHEN I UNDERSTOOD HOW PAINFUL IT IS TO LIVE WITH RELATIVES.”

I’m  Elaine , sixteen years old.
My parents died when I was eleven.
I didn’t have any siblings, so  my aunt Marissa took me  to their house in Laguna.
At first, I thought I would find a new family there.
But I was wrong.

THE BEGINNING OF “HELP”

When I first arrived at their house, Auntie was happy.

“Don’t worry, Elaine. Stay here while you study. We’ll take care of you.”

I was in tears.
I thought I was safe.
In the first few months, his smile was genuine — he gave me a room, made me sit at the table, and called me “son.”

But as the year went by, I gradually felt a change.
I was no longer a “child.”
I was just  a guest who had been waiting for a long time.

“Elaine, wash the dishes.”
“Elaine, wash your cousins’ uniforms.”
“Elaine, don’t use the electric fan, you’re strong with electricity.”

And every time we eat, I’m always the last one.
Sometimes, there’s nothing left.
Auntie will say,

“I’m sorry, son. I didn’t realize.”
But from his voice, I knew it wasn’t an accident.

THE NIGHT OF TRUTH

One night, it was ten o’clock.
I was still awake because my cousins ​​Abby and Renz were washing clothes.
The surroundings were quiet, but I heard voices from the kitchen.

Aunt Marissa and her older sister,  Aunt Lorna .

“Sister, I’m so tired of Elaine.
It’s like she doesn’t contribute anything to the house. It’s a waste of what I’ve fed her.”

“Why don’t you just send him home?”
“Where will he go? He doesn’t have any parents. But sometimes I think, it would be easier if he wasn’t here.”

I stopped.
It felt like my heart had stopped beating too.
I didn’t know whether to cry or just be silent.

So I slowly climbed up, holding back my sobs.
Inside the room, I stared at the ceiling, crying silently.

“That’s right… even if you’re related, you might feel like you’re too much.”

THE DAYS OF PRIDE

From then on, everything changed.
I couldn’t smile at Tita anymore.
Every time we ate, I would turn away.
Every time she spoke, I would just say yes.
I hid all my pain — because I knew that even if I told her,  no one would listen.

Until one day, as I was entering school,  Teacher Mila , my adviser, approached me.

“Elaine, you seem to be in trouble. Are you okay?”

I forced a smile.

“It’s okay, Ma’am.”

But when he said,

“Son, I know you’re fine — but sometimes, it’s not bad to admit you’re tired,”
I cried.

I told him everything.
All the pain, all the nights of silence.
And after all the tears, he just hugged me.

“Elaine, there is a scholarship program at the school for students like you.
If you want, I will help you apply. You can move into the dorm.”

THE RELEASE OF THE WRATHLESS

When I got home, I looked at Auntie who was busy in the kitchen.

“Auntie,” I said calmly,
“thank you very much for all your help.
But… I want to try to stand up for myself.”

He looked up, surprised.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“I have a scholarship.
The dorm is in Manila. Everything is free.”

He was silent for a moment, then smiled coldly.

“That’s good. So that at least we can feel better here.”

It hurts to hear, but I just smile.

“Thank you, Aunt.
I hope you are well too.”

THE NEW BEGINNING

Two years have passed.
I have earned a scholarship to college.
I now have my own room, food, and peace.
Sometimes, I still think of Tita — not to be angry, but to thank her.

Because if it weren’t for him,
I wouldn’t know how important people are who know how to love without asking for anything.

One day, he called me.

“Elaine… I’m sorry for what I said before.”
I smiled.
“It’s okay, Auntie. I haven’t forgotten you.
But now, I know how to value myself.”

He was quiet on the other line.
And from the tone of his voice, I knew he probably just now understood what it felt like to  leave a child who had learned to stand up on his own.