Wreaking Havoc

sēdecim

Ever since I was a kid, I have always admired Dad... For me, he was the lesser evil in the household—siguro kasi unlike mom, dad didn't live his life in an abusive family, but I was pretty sure Lolo, may his soul rest in peace, was strict kaya nakuha niya rin 'yung pagka-strikto niya. Villaramas were known to be "the good politicians" during Lolo's term in national politics—by good politicians, I mean they didn't really stack up on gold and weren't really the old money rich kind of political clan—just probably enough to be comfortable, and I knew that was a really big factor for my mother to win a seat in the Senate—but now, for the wrong reasons.

Everything just went downhill when mom came into the picture.

Pagkalabas ko ng powder room, I was surprised dad was still there waiting habang umiinom ng kape at nagbabasa sa iPad niya. I'm sure he didn't like the crowd kaya nandito lang siya sa loob. 

"Dad," I called, sitting on the sofa in front of him and trying to keep my calm. "Why did you do that to Eli? You told me you'd never get used to the power... Bakit mo ginawa lahat 'yun?"

Dad sighed at ibinaba 'yung iPad niya, "Therese, I know accepting bribes when I was still a Chief Justice would cost my soul to be burned in hell, and I have already accepted that fate... But it was the only way I could protect this family," he uttered, a faint smile plastered on his face. "Eli's a good man, Therese. He doesn't deserve a life like this. Not with your mother around... Not with a father like me who hurt their child."

"Dad... I don't get you." 

"I'm sorry if I let Eli get hurt... but I really needed him to stay away from us for now... you know what we're dealing with. I didn't want to use violence, but you know your mother... I cannot control her in any way possible because she might think I'm taking sides, already. I needed to pacify her," he uttered and sighed. I remained mum for awhile trying to process what he said. I know dad... he was never a fan of violence unlike my mother who probably has blood on her hands already for all we know.

Dad smiled and reached for my hand, "Your happiness is my happiness, too, Therese. I know you're happy with Elias, but not right now... magulo pa tayo. Soon... I promise you, you'd be back together." Dad's words sounded... sad and scary that they were enough to send shivers to my spine. I didn't like his tone and how sad his eyes looked. I have never seen him this way before... he was trying to imply something that I can't even point out.

My forehead creased, "Dad... you're scaring me."  

Dad chuckled, "What are you thinking? I'm just telling that I'd fix this. I'd find a way for you not to see your mom and for her not to hear anything from you when you're in New York... and then you can just finish your studies there and come back to the country, and then marry Elias if you'd want that... I'll give that to you."

"How?"

He smiled, "Legally," he said before grabbing his iPad, leaving me dumbfounded.

What is he even planning to do?

Pagkalabas ko, they were already conducting some awful thank you speeches and 'I'm grateful for my son' kind of drama which almost had me gagging because I'm pretty sure they weren't thankful for all that harassment cases they had to tone down and acquit him whenever Ansel goes ballistic at bars from BGC. I never really cared about him, anyway, but the news whenever he'd go ruining parties just spreads like wildfire every now and then. Yet mom wanted me to marry a guy like him? An absolute mad woman.

I saw mom looking at my direction kaya napakuha ako ng champagne flute no'ng may dumaan. I didn't want to give her any hint of what my condition is, but I wasn't mad enough to drink champagne when I'm pregnant—but I had to act the part as if I was drinking. Buti na lang maraming tao sa paligid kaya no'ng wala nang lumalapit sa'kin para mangamusta, I was able to hide the champagne and pour some of it on the ground.