The Untold Vow

KABANATA VIII

CHAPTER 8

Natapos ang parade ng maayos. For me it was exhausting because there are so many people I need to socialize with. To be honest, Lion was the main reason why I feel exhausted. He never glance on me again. After our scene he went beside the Governors. He has this straight face. He maybe took my words that hard to react this way. Was he too dramatic? I don't know.

The Parade stop infront of sports center. It was wide and big stadium. It can accommodate three thousand people. I won't be shock if this shit own by my demon father. Isa isa na kaming bumaba. Nauna ang mga baranggay officials at sumunod ang mga mayor at Governor. Maraming mga tao na naghihintay sa baba at tanging railings lang ang humaharang sa kanila. Panay ang sigawan at pakikipagkamay nila.

Huminto sila sa harap ng entrance ng stadium. Sinabitan naman sila ng bulaklak. Hawaiian style pa ang na gawa rin sa plastik. I don't wanna wear that thing because it is itchy. I know it is itchy because I wear it once. Nung ako na ang baba nakita ko si Lion na nasa baba ng hagdan at mukhang nag aabang para may alalayan. I rolled my eyes.

Hindi ko na siya pinansin at bumaba na. Nagulat ako ng bigla siyang umakyat at tumabi sakin. Hinawakan nya ang siko ko at inalalayang bumaba. Bago pa ko makaangal ay nakita na ko ng taong bayan. Mas lumakas ang sigawan. I plastered my fake smile and waved. Si Lion ay hindi nagsasalita at walang emosyon sa kanyang mukha. Wala na kong nagawa kaya hinayaan ko na lang siyang alalayan ako. Nasa dulo na kami ng baitang ng matisod ako. Agad naman akong nasalo ni Lion. Hindi ganon kahalata ang katangahan ko dahil nahawakan ako ni Lion.

He grabbed my waist tight and his body was pressing against me. Tumayo agad ako ng maayos. Hindi na binitawan ni Lion ang aking bewang. Pinisil pa nga niya ito causing me to glared on him. This motherfucker is really testing my patience. Naglakad ako papalapit sa entrance. Wala akong choice kundi suotin ang bagay na 'yon. I sighed silently. Tangina talagang buhay 'to. Humilera ako sa mga kasama namin.

"Let's take a picture po! Direk Tedi, sa gitna ka po!" The photographer said. I smiled and nodded. Nakasunod parin sakin si Lion kahit hindi naman siya pinapalipat. I raised my eyebrow when the photographer just scratch his hair while looking on us. He probably wants Lion to go back to his position awhile ago but he can't say it.

Looking on Lion right now, he looks so masungit at nakakatakot siyang kausapin. I'm not scared. I just know the looks.

"Ready na po tayo!" The photographer counts until 3 and took a picture. May flash pa nga. Lion held my waist tight. Magkadikit tuloy kami at mukhang may relasyon. Naka ilang pose pa kami bago tuluyan pumasok. Naunang maglakad si Lion, leaving me behind.

I scoffed. Nakita ko ang malaking stage sa unahan. May mga projector at maraming ilaw. Napaka ganda ng mga design. May ilang upuan sa stage. Mukhang doon uupo ang mga pinaka mamahalagang guest sa festival na 'to. Napatigil ako pag scan ng paligid ng maramdaman ko ang pangit na aura. It was my asshole father. He was standing beside me.

"Long time no see, Aphrodite." I shivered on his words. He actually said his nickname for me. Aphrodite because my beauty reminds him of the goddess. Maybe it was a lie. Aphrodite is a great tool. So maybe he sees me as one of the beautiful tool that he can use. I won't let him to use me.

I hate goddesses. I composed myself even though some part of me is already melting.

"How I wish this would be the last. I don't wanna see you." I said nonchalantly.

He chuckled and tsked. "You will still see me, my dear daughter. I'm still your father—"

"Maybe you forgot that you aren't my father now. You are my father not until you hurted my mom."