"Hey, Snow," napalingon na lang nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko. At napangiti nang makita si Vanson na naglalakad papalapit. "Sorry, natagalan ako. Umm, I have done something important,"
"Okay lang," at pinaupo ko siya, "so, what now?"
"I guess I have to bring you somewhere else? Kanina ka pa yata nandito--"
I stopped him, "It's fine. I can drink four to five orders, you know... coffee's my thing,"
"Oh, we're the same," and he just chuckled. "Well, brewed? And vanilla?"
"Anything," saka ko siya nginitian.
He smiled and ordered. Ako naman ay nanatili lang ang atensyon sa phone ko. I'm scrolling to my feed and waited. And, took a picture of his order, nang mai-serve na ito sa table.
"Taking pictures, huh?" Hmm?
"Nah, ngayon lang. They looked cute kasi," I said. At nakita ko na lang na pinicturan din niya ang mga ito. "You're doing that, too?"
"Mm," maikli niyang sagot, saka kinuha na ang isang kape, "cheers?"
So I get mine, too, "Cheers," then drink it. I smiled when it hitted my satisfaction.
"So you're a coffee addict?" Pagtatanong niya.
"Mga one-fourth. But yeah," sagot ko naman. "Umm, you--" natigil na lang ako nang tumunog ang phone ko. And oh, it's my dad.
Kaya sinagot ko.
"Dad--"
He cutted me off, "My Snow,"
What the... "Dad, matanda na ako,"
"Yeah yeah I know, I know but still," he said, at wala na akong magagawa. He'll say it no matter how I don't like it. "Umm, wala lang, nangungumusta lang ang dad,"
"Umm, yeah, I'm fine," saka tumingin kay Vanson at ngumiti, "I'm having coffee with a friend,"
"Oh, nakakaistorbo ba 'ko?"
"No," saka ako napailing, "So, what's the chismis, hmm?"
"Wala naman," siya, mula sa kabilang linya, "Umm, I'm thinking this, Snow. Maybe, you should have a semester off?"
"Why? And for what? Okay naman ako. Yeah, online class's not easy but I can manage dad, and I'm okay--"
"Have fun, our fine snowflake," now with that endearment.
"Dad..."
"Hindi kasi naisip ko lang na... why don't you go to parties and vibe with people, hmm? Umm, rest and have time relaxing, nak. Remember, the interaction?"
"But... I'm fine," pagtanggi ko. "And I don't need it, dad. Sayang naman kung hindi ako magpapatuloy--"
"Uh-oh, too late!" Then he giggled, "Nakausap ko na yung dean. And he gave me a fix sched kaya magse-semester off ka na. Enjoy your time, our Snow, loveyouu~"
"What? H-hey, dad--" binabaan na njya ako.
"What happened? Is everything okay?" He asked, saka binaba ang hawak na cup.
"My dad, he gave me a semester off. Fun right?" Natapik ko na lang ang noo. Inilapag ko ang phone sa mesa at napahalulipkip. Napaisip.
And what the heck will I do during that time? Ewan ko. Wala naman akong ibang naiisip na pwedeng gawin kundi ang manatili sa bahay, gumala kasama sina Nancy at Maine na alam kong puro busy, at magdamag na mag-cellphone.
