O Silent Night (Isla de Vista Series #1)

Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Peace

Panay ang aking tingin sa cellphone. I don't know if he already left or not. Naghihintay ako sa text niya. Hindi ako mapakali ngunit pinili ko ang hindi ipakita iyon. But then, I am anxious. I wanna know when he arrives but I don't think he is allowed to use his cellphone in the midst of his job.

I pressed the button for the intercom. "Sharon, is Jude here?"

"Yes, Ma'am. Only Sir Mike left and went to the camp."

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. "Okay."

"May kailangan po kayo?"

"Wala naman. Salamat."

I don't wanna think ahead and overthink but I start to do that in the back of my head. Alam kong kaya iyon ni Elijah. He is tough, but I just need an assurance to make me calm. Marahil ganito ako ngayon dahil unang beses pa lang kaming naging ganito. Elijah getting a call that he is needed in a warzone is new to me.

"Ma'am, your father is here." si Sharon.

Umangat ang aking tingin patungo sa pintuan. Pumasok galing doon si Daddy. He had a wry smile on his face and I stood up to greet him.

"Hi, Dad." marahan ko bati saka humalik sa pisngi niya.

"You seemed preoccupied, hija."

Umiling ako. "Just random stuffs. Bakit po kayo napabisita?"

Magkatabi kami sa couch. Nasa kanang ko siya at kumawala ang malalim na hininga galing sa kanya. Hindi mabigat, hindi malungkot, tila may gaan na sa loob niya, tila may binitawan siyang tanggap na tanggap niyang mangyari.

"I heard you sign a new project. In Europe," aniya.

Tumango ako. "Sa October maaaring masimulan, Dad."

"I'm so proud of you, hija. Sa lahat ng panahon, nakikita ko lahat ng achievements mo. At wala ako sa mga araw na iyon,"

"Dad, don't start please. It's all good. We're leaving the past behind us now." mahina kong pigil.

Tumango siya. "Pasensya na rin dahil pinilit pa kitang ipakasal sa mga Buenavista at nagmakasarili ako. I was the one who put you into danger."

"And I was thankful, Dad." singgit ko. "Because of that, I met Elijah. I met the man I am not afraid loving."

His eyes squinted. "Hindi naman sa minamaliit ko ulit si Elijah, hija. Pero hindi ka ba natakot mula noong nadukot ka?"

"I was, Dad." tango ko. "Natakot ako pero hindi dahil nasama ako sa problema nila Elijah. Natakot ako na baka hindi ko na ulit siya makita."

Umawang ang kanyang labi at hindi nakapagsalita. Nagtataka ang mukha ni Daddy sa akin tila hindi niya ma-sink in ang sinabi ko. Tila hindi siya makapaniwala na sa akin mismo iyon galing. Napangiti ako ng malapad sa kanya. I am not ashame to admit my feelings. Because they're the truest of all.

"We're in love, Dad. Even before when he pretended to be a dummy, I love him." walang preno kong pag-amin.

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya. Halata na tuloy kay Daddy na tumatanda na siya. His hair are dyed black again and it won't escaped in human's people that he has visible wrinkles on his forehead and on the side of his eyes.

"Pretended? What do you meant by that?" agap niya.

I chuckled lightly. "Well, Elijah is not a dummy, Dad."

"Huh?"

Napangiti ako ng matamis. I feel so proud to confess and my heart felt so light and not burdened anymore. Nawala sa akin ang pagkabalisa sa asawa. Instead, all of me is cheering for him wherever he is.