SMILE

Chapter I: Part V

Chapter I: Part V
Mission Accomplished

Elizabeth

Tatlong beses akong kumatok sa labas ng silid ni Papa. Puno ng nakabibinging katahimikan ang paligid, the light above were dim as it was night, the hall might feel cozy for a stranger but for me who lives in this house, it feels cold, almost empty despite the pictures on the walls and the large vases of indoor plants the cleans the air.

Tila abala sa ibang bagay si Papa dahil hindi siya sumagot sa mga katok ko, kumatok ulit ako, TOK-TOK

Dalawang beses na katok.

Matapos ang ilang segundo ay marahang bumukas ang pinto at bumungad dito si Papa. He left the door open and went back to his seat at the end of the room. The tall windows were shut behind him, the room was filled with unorganized books except for one large shelf next to my father’s. And when I said unorganized I meant they were stacked and piled on the floor.
A lamp behind him was the only object illuminating his desk and this entire room.

This is the place where he goes to whenever he’s off duty, he has a room next time mine but I never saw him enter it before, maybe he does go there, maybe not, I don’t know, he rarely comes home.
“If you came here to convince me of-“
“I saw Sage.”
Silence. I counted, 1…2…3…his eyes left the papers on the desk to turn to me. “How?” His voice was empty.
I feel so dumb, how can I see Sage? Does my father know their at Luna? Did tito Sergio tell my Father? I’m so stupid, why did I even agree with the guy!? What am I going to say?

My eyes looked to the ground thinking, critically, what words to say next, my father is not easy to fool, he has worked with the police force, probably PNP and NICA, what am I even thinking-
“Did he passed by earlier?...Has he send a message from his father about the dinner tomorrow?” Taas kilay na tanong niya.
My eyes widened.
“Yes!” I repond quickly. “Uhm…yup, pinapasabi niya po sa’yo na sabi raw po ng Papa niya wag raw po tayong ma-late. That’s all.” And I finished the sentence with a smile.
My father smirked and then cleared his throat. “Okay, goodnight.”

“Wait lang po,” Napatigil siyang muli sa pagbasa ng papel. He gave me another eyebrow arc “Uhm, kase po, sabi ni Sage ditto na siya pag-aaralin ng tatay niya?”

“He told you that?” He asked and straightened his posture.
“Yes, opo. And he opened up to me.” I lowered my voice. Ugh, kadiri ‘tong mga pinagsasabi ko.
“Really? Ano’ng sabi niya?” His voice hints curiosity.
At this voice, it sounds like we’re gossiping about someone’s life events particularly Sage’s.
“Sabi niya mukhang mahihirapan siya sa studies, lalo na ngayon that he’s failing his class specially math,” I made it sound so concerning, he nods his head and I go on “I wish I could tell tito Sergio to let him stay in his old school, kase do’n marami siyang friends, and he won’t be scared about adapting to a new environment.

I made Sage seem like a wimp. I’m sorry but I couldn’t think of anything else.
He looked to his right as if thinking so deeply.

And he nods.

“M-hm, don’t worry, I’ll tell Serge. That guy does make poor choices in life.” He nods a bit more and I nod too to make it seem like I agree. “Okay, goodnight, wake up early tomorrow okay?” He went back to his papers.
“Okay.” And with that, I rushed out of the room, closed it and let out a smile.
Mission complete.
And now, I wait. Wait for Sage to accomplish his part of the deal.