Bottoms Up, Forget Tonight (Revelry Series #2)

Hakbang 44

"I went here yesterday, wala ka. Saan ka galing, hija?"

Halos manginig ako sa tanong ni Papa. My heart's beating so damn loud just by his simple question. Dahan-dahan akong tumayo para harapin siya. I've never been this nervous infront of my father!

He's not strict to me ever since. Hindi naman nagkulang sa akin si Papa pero siguro dahil hindi ko siya madalas kasama, hindi ako sanay na tinatanong niya ako ng ganito. Sure, there are times he asked me about my whereabouts. Or maybe I'm just really paranoid right now dahil alam kong may tinatago ako?

Simple lang naman ang tanong. Saan ako galing...

Pa, I was with the love of my life. I'm sorry. Mahal na mahal ko kasi. I'm really sorry.

Why does it feel like I failed them?

I bit my lips hard and tried to stretch my lips for a smile. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung nakita ba niya ang sakit sa ngiting 'yon.

"I w-was with Kiara and Ivor. Bakit po?" nanginig ang boses ko.

Bakit pagkatapos kong maging masaya, parang binabawian talaga agad?

"Nothing. I'm just asking you, hija. Why do you seem so nervous?" humalakhak siya.

Sinubukan kong sabayan ang tawa niya pero siguro dahil sa kaba na nararamdaman, hindi genuine 'yon pakinggan kaya kumunot ang noo ni Papa. Mas nanginig tuloy ako. Shit! I need to get my shit together!

Nakakatawa kasi kahit kailan hindi ko tinago sakanila ang relasyon ko. I was always open coz like what I said, they never interfere with this part of my life. Ngayong matanda na ako, saka pa nagtatago. At mas masakit at masaklap?

'Yong pinakamamahal ko pa ang kailangan kong itago.

"I'm not nervous, Pa..." I cleared my throat. "Bakit po pala kayo pumunta rito?" pilit kong pinakita na hindi ako kinakabahan.

He nodded then smiled at me. Parang bigla siyang naging excited.

"May business partner ako at napag-usapan ka namin. He told me that his son likes you. Does the name Zion Solorazno ring a bell to you?"

Ah. That boy. I once saw him in a bar and after that night, he kept on sliding into my DMs. I replied to him before. Once or twice siguro? Business partner pala ni Papa ang pamilya nila?

"Yes, I know him. Bakit po?"

Ngumiti lalo si Papa.

"Then are you interested in dating him? Just try, hija."

Umiling agad ako. "I'm not interested, Papa."

"Mabait naman daw na bata 'yon at talagang gusto ka. You really don't want? Kahit isang date lang, anak?"

I'd entertain his messages if I'm interested. I'm not. Ayaw ko kahit isang date lang.

Magseselos si Zathrian...

Also, we're already together again. My dates are all for him.

"I'm not really interested. Busy rin po ako sa trabaho kaya ayaw ko."

"You can take a day off. We've already settled the hotel's project so it's fine, hija. Sayang naman. You can just get to know him first. Wala ka pa namang boyfriend, 'di ba?"

Simpleng tanong ulit pero halos manginig ako ulit. I could feel my father's stares at me. Iniwasan ko 'yon dahil natatakot akong mahalata niya ang totoo.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Ayaw ko po talaga..." tanging sinabi ko na lang.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Papa. Kunot na ulit ang noo niya. I don't know if I'm just paranoid but there's something with the way he looks. Parang... may duda...