Come Home To You (Book 1 of You Trilogy)

Kabanata 2

Oh come on Hannah, bakit ka ba nag-iisip ng masama? 

I immediately walked to Dad's office. I found him sitting on his swivel chair. He seemed exhausted and authoritative, as usual. Napasandal siya sa kanyang silya nang makita ako at tipid na ngumiti. I smiled back and went to him for a kiss in the cheeks.

"Good evening Dad. How are you?"

I sat on the chair infront of his table.

"Your father is tired, Hannah." nakangiti siya pero alam kong sarkastiko iyon

I swallowed hard. Mas lumala ang pagsama ng kutob ko. My father's tone is indicating something... something I don't think would be good for me.

"You know why?" pumaling ang ulo niya

Hindi ako nakasagot. I cannot find the right word especially now that my heart is beating so fast.

"The company is failing. The company that is feeding this family is fucking failing." 

My lips parted. Hindi ko alam na ganito. Just when did this all started? 

"W-Why?" that was the only word that came our from my mouth

Daddy smirked. 

"Why are you asking? Maiintindihan mo ba ako kung sakaling sagutin kita? Eh ang alam mo lang ata ay ang humawak ng putang inang camera, Hannah."

Napasinghap ako sa gulat. I know I would hear this words from him. Eto ang kabayaran ng pinili kong career. Eto ang kabayaran ng pagtalikod ko sa tadhanang dapat sana ay sa akin.

"You are my only child. You are my only hope. Ikaw dapat ang papalit sa'kin, pero ano? Pinili mong maging artista-artistahan. Hindi ka pa nagtapos ng pag-aaral. Nasa tuktok ka ba ng kerera mo ngayon? Sa susunod na panahon, saan ka pupulutin? Do you think that career of yours would provide for the rest of your life? If you think like that then think again!" umalingawngaw ang galit niyang boses

Nahihirapan na akong huminga dahil sobrang sikip ng dibdib ko. My tears started falling before I could even stop them. I feel helpless. Daddy's words kill me inside. 

I want to regret my decision. Sana pala hindi nalang ako nag YouTube para hindi ko naririnig ang lahat ng ito mula sa aking sariling ama. 

"Do not cry. Ngayon lang kita napagsalitaan ng ganito. Wala kang narinig mula sa akin, ngayon lang kaya wala kang karapatang umiyak sa harapan ko. Do not try to act like the victim here because you are not! Kung sana ay nag-aral ka sa kolehiyo at nagtapos, may katuwang sana ako ngayon. Sana hindi tayo nalulugi at sana hindi pabagsak ang kompanya! If you can't do something about all this bullshit then you are nothing but a complete disgrace!"

Pinalis ko ang aking luha at agad na nagpigil. My knees are trembling and I realize, hindi lang ang tuhod ko ang nanginginig, maging ang buo kong sistema. Parang punyal sa puso ko ang bawat salitang binibitawan ni Daddy. He's right. This is the only time he's like this and I don't know how to explain the pain I'm feeling. 

I've been pained before but I think the pain I felt is incomparable to this.

"Isa pa itong si Mary Rose! Tatlong buwan nang naglalagi doon sa Hawaii! Mukhang may kabit pa! May naikakamang lalaki kaya nakalimot sa asawa! Putang ina niya! She is having the best time of her life while I am here, struggling so hard to feed her and her whims. At ikaw, andito ka nga, wala ka namang kwenta! Parehong pareho kayo ng nanay mo! Wala kayong ibang alam kundi ang magpakasasa! Sarili niyo lang ang iniisip!"

Hindi. Hindi magagawa ni Mommy 'yun. She can't bed other man. Alam ko. Nararamdaman ko. Hindi...

"D-Dad... I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." 

Nanlilisik ang mata niya sa galit at nakakuyom ang kanyang mga palad. My heart clenched as I watch him. This is his breakdown. Gusto kong sampalin ang sarili dahil tama si Daddy. Kung sana ay nag-aral ako... hindi sana siya mapapagod ng ganito dahil may katuwang. This is my fault. 

"Walang magagawa ang sorry mo. The best thing you can do is to marry the CEO of Philippine Mobile Ltd." 

Napatanga ako. I should be happy he has given me chance to prove myself to him... pero paano ako magiging masaya kung kalayaan ko ang kapalit?!?

"D-Dad..."

Shit. Tell me this isn't happening!

"Don't look at me like that. How dare you try thinking of rejecting the only way to help me? Hindi ka ba nahihiya? Ha? You are suppose to be working on our company pero pinili mong maging pipitsuging influencer! Pinili mong talikuran ang kompanyang nagpalamon sa'yo! And now, now that you have the chance to prove yourself, you want to say no?!? Hindi na ako makakapayag na maging makasarili ka ulit sa pagkakataong ito, Hannah. Kung kailangan kong kaladkarin ka sa altar, gagawin ko. Punong-puno na ako sa inyo ng nanay mo. Nasagad niyo na ang pasensya ko."

Gusto kong maiyak. Gusto kong magtanong ng iba pang solusyon pero gaya ng sinabi niya, wala akong alam! I've never felt this stupid all my life. Ngayon ko nakita ang kahalagahan ng pag-aaral. At ngayon ako nagsisisi kung kailan huli na ang lahat.

"You marry that man or you leave this house and never consider me as your father ever again, Hannah? You choose."

Sa sinabi niya, wala akong ibang pagpipilian. Wala akong takas. 

"Answer me now!"

"I w-will marry him, Dad." 

If this is the only way to help him save the company, gagawin ko. Isasantabi ko ang aking sarili para kay Daddy. This time, siya naman.