Rewriting Fate (Good Girls Series #5)

Chapter 23: Take Care

Kaya naman nung gabing iyon ay hindi ako halos makatulog.

What the hell?!

I inhaled slowly and exhaled gently. I tried closing my eyes.

Am I cheating over Aizren?

Kasi 'di ba? Sabi niya liligawan niya raw ako. But here I am, may kakaibang nararamdaman kay Blaze.

I don't have to choose between the two of them because first, I am not certain if it's something necessary with Blaze. Second, hindi ko responsibilidad si Aizren kasi siya mismo ang nag-insist na ligawan ako. Third, if I ever like Blaze, he doesn't like me back. And lastly... I don't like Blaze.

Maybe I am just mistaken kasi wala naman akong meaning para sa mga like-like na 'yan. Naiinis ako,

I just stood up, I looked at my alarm clock and saw the time. 11:58.

Dapat by nine tulog na ako, kaso heto ako.

"Uh, sana hindi ako inubusan ni Shaun ng cookies this time." I muttered as I opened the door of my bedroom to go outside.

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba ng hagdan, natatakot na baka may magising. Pero nagulat ako ng mapansin na bukas ang ilaw sa office ni Dad. I peeped on the glass door and saw him looking at a wooden rectangular box.

"Daddy?" I knocked on the door, I opened it slowly and when I entered, wala naman siyang tinitingnan. Baka namalik-mata lang ako.

"Baby, why are you still awake?" he stood up to kiss the top of my head. "Madaling-araw na,"

"Nagutom lang po, 'tsaka hindi makatulog." I answered and sat on the chair in front of his table. Napatingin ako sa marble name plate na nasa ibabaw ng table niya, beside it is a picture frame. Picture namin 'yon nila Mom, Dad, Shaun, at ako. That was two years ago, noong may gathering silang in-attendan kasama yung mga colleagues nila. Dad was smiling a bit in the picture, Shaun and I were really smiling, while Mom wasn't. She just maintained a straight face.

"You know how much I love your mom, Shanice." He said, "I just wish she could love me back... even a bit," I stared at him. Doon ko lang napansin na parang may inom siya. I got worried and stood up, but he gestured me not to move.

"Bakit po sa dami ng babae sa mundo, you chose Mom?" I asked, curious as how it is.

"I didn't choose her, she chose me." he smiled and looked away. "Sa dami-dami ng lalaki sa mundo, ako ang pinili niyang pakasalan. I can't consider myself choosing her, because she was a blessing to me. A prayer that came true, a wish that has been given, and a dream that I achieved. And even though she doesn't love me at all, I am still grateful because I... lived to be with her."

That made my heart melt.

Gusto ko talaga ng lalaking katulad ni Dad. A willing and principle-man like him.

"Eh, bakit ka niya pinili? I am so sorry, Dad, if ever it hurts you. But why did she choose you? Like what you've said, there are too many men in the world." I leaned my cheek over my palm.

"Because I... was alive," bahagyang natawa si Dad kaya natawa rin ako.

Miski siya, hindi alam kung bakit siya ang pinili ni Shanel.

"Seriously, Dad. I don't think she chose you because of nothing. You know what? Someone told me that everything is fated. So Mom has a big reason, a convincing one, kaya cheer up." I tried my best to be positive. He remained quiet and just smiled.

Tinitigan niya ako at saka ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Bago naging kami, lagi niya akong tinatarayan." He chuckled, "And her face? She looks exactly like you, para kayong carbon copy. I am glad that I had a daughter who looks like the woman I love the most." He said dreamily.