Deepest Treasured Fantasies

Linkurt Jade Monteclaro

"How are you feeling?" I asked as soon as I saw his head moved.

He looks extremely tired but still manage to give me a weak smile. "You're here."

Earlier today, I received a call from my mother that my father will undergo Angioplasty to treat his conditiion. My sweet mother was in hysterical mode even if the doctor reiterated this is just a minor surgery.

"Of course." My brows drew together.

"Do you still hate me?" he asked weakly.

I sighed. "It was all in the past, Dad, and I have learned a lot."

He peek through his swollen eyes. "It was always been yours, son," he paused. "Kailangan ko lang maging matigas sa'yo para matuto ka dahil sa mga panahon na 'yon ang ulo mo sa baba ang lagi mong ginagamit imbis na ang nasa itaas," he laughed a little.

"Frenzy sex hormones are common among adolescents, dad. What would you expect?" I asked him sarcastically.

His eyes went to the door. "The company was the sign of my everlasting devotion to your mom," he said, proudly.

"Dugo at pawis ang pinuhunan ko para lang may mapatunayan sa lola mo, sino nga bang matinong magulang ang ibibigay ang anak sa lalaking hindi bababa sa tatlong numero ang kinikita, pero ginawa kong inspirasyon ang lahat ng 'yon para sa mommy mo."

Alam kong may lamat sa pagitan nila ng lola ko. During gatherings they never really get along, my father would always walk away during a heated arguements with her.

"Balang araw maiintindihan mo rin ang mga bagay na 'yan kapag nahanap mo na ang babaeng mamahalin," he said, meaningfully.

I stared at him for a while and sighed. "No, I'm good, dad."

His eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Hindi ko pa nakikila ang the right one," I quoted. "I'm actually considering to be single for life." but want kids, though I'm not sure if I can be responsible enough.

Hindi naman sa ayaw ko, but I don't consider myself as a family man. I work 24/7 a day, sino ang magaalaga sa mga anak namin at ayaw ko naman na lumaki sila sa mga nanny nila. Also, it's elusive to find a family woman nowadays.

"Tell you what," he cleared his throat. "When it comes to love, there is no such thing as the right one, most of the time we fall for the opposite." he pointed me. "What kind of woman are you looking for?"

It took me several seconds to think, then Flor, my bestfriend came into my mind. "I prefer a simple and decent woman."

"Time check," he glanced at the wall clock in front of him. "It's 11:11 in the morning and I will bet my whole life that you will fall to the opposite of your simple and decent woman."

My life was just fine, I'm managing my father's company and LuXe Shippings with my friend Pete. LuXe was the fruit of our hardwork, Pete and I build this company when my father almost disowned me.

Everything is going well and I'm enjoying my life as a bachelor, but one day we received a devastating news about my bestfriend Flor.

"Stage II Ovarian Cancer, Linlin." My heart literally stopped when I heard that. Fuck.

Floricel is my bestfriend, her parents abandoned her when she was six, since then kami na ni Pete ang naging pamilya niya. We're inseperable and we went to the same school and same program in college.

"I'm going to die," she burst into crying. "Paano na ang mga pangarap ko?"

I brought her into my arms. "Shh, anong sinabi ni Kylo?"