DM #4: Ares Madriaga

Kabanata 11

Kabanata 11

Responsibility

I arrived in Manila at 5 am in the morning. Mabuti na lang ay may flight agad nang nagpunta ako sa airport sa Siargao. My body felt so tired after what happened, but I wasn't able to sleep in the whole flight. Ang isip ko ay kasamang lumulutang sa himpapawid.

I want to rest on my condo, but I can't do that anymore. Hindi na ako on leave kaya kung hindi ako papasok, siguradong absent na ako. Mas lalo lamang akong matatambakan ng gawain kung hindi pa ako papasok ngayon.

I took a bath and changed my clothes before I went to the office. Nakarating ako sa opisina ng alas otso pero wala pa rin si Papa, at kahit hanggang sa umabot na ng alas nuebe. I need to know the updates from him so that I can cope up to the days that I'm not here.

Kung hindi lang pumasok ang isang aplikante sa aking opisina, tiyak hindi ko malalaman na wala si Papa ngayon sa Pilipinas. He's in States for a business, together with Tita Martha and Zoey. They will surely have a vacation there also, dahil hindi naman sasama ang dalawa, lalo na si Zoey, kung hindi magbabakasyon.

Agad kong tinawagan si Papa nang malaman kung nasaan siya. My phone is low-batt and I left my charger in my luggage. I used my laptop instead for a video call with him.

"Before I give you the updates, tell me what happened in Siargao first. Napapirma mo na ba?" unang tanong ni Papa nang tinanggap niya ang tawag.

Lumihis ang isip ko sa mga nangyari kagabi. I suddenly felt uncomfortable with his sudden question. Hindi ko iyon napaghandaan.

"He's been occupied with the medical mission kaya maybe, his decision is not yet ready. Mahirap siyang lapitan for the past days, just like I always say to you, dahil palaging abala."

Hindi ko na alam ang patutunguhan nang pagsisinungaling ko. But I'm determined not to let my father in using Ares for his own benefit.

Itinigil niya ang pagpirma sa isang dokumento para tignan ako. He's on his office on the States, and I can clearly see the skyscrapers at the back of him.

"Kung hindi mo napapirma, anong silbi ng pagsama mo sa kanya kung ganoon?" mariin at iritado niyang sabi.

I remained formal and composed, even when my heart is loudly banging inside my chest.

"I did my best, but he's...too hard to convince." I lied miserably.

Kumunot ang kanyang noo sa sinabi ko. He's now suspicious, hindi dahil sa tono ng pagkakasabi ko kung 'di sa sinabi ko mismo.

"Hard to convince?" he said sarcastically, kulang na lang ay matawa.

Nanuyo ang lalamunan ko.

"He's fond of you, Anais. That's the reason why I let you go to Siargao!" patuloy niya.

Umawang ang aking labi at agad iprinoseso ang kanyang sinabi.

"Zoey got mad at me because I let you go with that Madriaga. She's jealous, but still hindi kita pinabalik sa Manila because you have a purpose in going to that place!" malakas na sabi niya at napatayo na sa kanyang kinauupuan sa frustrasyon.

Nawalan ako ng sasabihin. I want to explain myself, but I can't since it's true that I haven't done anything about the contract while I'm in Siargao.

"Naisama ko pa si Zoey dito sa States para mabawasan ang pagtatampo tapos ngayon, hindi mo pala napapirma?" dagdag niya at pagak na natawa.

Yumuko ako, tanda ng pagsuko. He's fuming mad and for sure if he's here in Manila, I will receive another beating and hurtful words from him again.

I'm not scared to physical and emotional abuse anymore. Sa ilang taon na lumipas, naging sanay at manhid na ako.