“Ate!”
Napangiti ako nang salubungin ako nang mahigpit na yakap ni Rico. Binuhat ko siya at saglit na dumaing sa pagkabigla dahil hindi ko inaasahan ang bigat niya.
“I miss you so much, Ate Kye!” he squealed against my arms and shower my cheeks with kisses.
“I miss you too, Baby Rico! Big boy ka na talaga ah, bigat mo na.” Ngisi ko at pinanggigilan siya. I glanced at Dad when he opened his arms to me, as if he's asking for a hug.
Ibinaba ko muna si Rico bago padambang yumakap kay Dad. “Miss you, Dad!”
“Miss you too, ’nak.” I felt him kissed the side of my forehead that made me giggle.
“Si Tita po?” tanong ko nang humiwalay sa yakap.
“Nasa venue ng show. You know she wants to be hands on and really involved about the fashion week.” He shrugged. “I know you're tired from the long flight, so let's go to the hotel para makapagpahinga ka.”
Humawak si Rico sa kamay ko habang kinuha naman ni Dad ang maleta ko. Nakangiti lang ako sa buong byahe at sinusubukang sabayan si Rico sa mga kuwento niya. It feels nice to know that my younger brother really missed me and excited to spend time with me even though we rarely see each other.
“Thank you po,” I said when we finally arrived at my hotel room.
We first took Rico to their room because he fell asleep on the trip because he probably ran out of energy from his animated stories.
“Bakit po?” My brows knitted when I noticed Dad staring at me. “May problema po ba?”
“Have I mentioned to you before that you look just like your Mom when she was your age?” His lips lifted up into a warm smile. “Can't believe you're already grown up. It seems like it's just yesterday you're still in my arms.”
“Dad, what is this drama about?” I chuckled tho I can't feel my stomach churning.
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I heard that you and the Oswald's son broke up.”
Natigilan ako saglit sa biglaang pagbanggit ni Dad sa mga Oswald. Hindi din naman malabong makarating sa kanila ang hiwalayan namin ni Harvey lalo pa't nasa iisang circle lang si Tita Clary at ang parents nito.
“Yeah. I broke up with him almost four months ago, but it only became official between us this week,” I shared as I bit my lower lip. “Hindi naman po ito makakaapekto sa trabaho ni Tita, di'ba?”
“What? No.” Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang matawa si Papa like what I asked was the silliest question he heard. “I was just asking. Coz this Oswald's son reached out to me, and asked me if I could do something to convince you to take him back. You know, he's using his connections.” Dad made a face.
“And I was thinking, how did my daughter fell in love with this guy? Asking your ex-girlfriend's father to convince his daughter to take you back? Man, this dude is effin childish af.”
I laughed hard at what Dad said. I also can't believe that Harvey went that far just to convince me to be in a relationship with him again. Like he literally tried to use my father.
“Can I know why did you two broke up?” Dad softly asked. “Though I understand if you don't want to tell me or you're not comfortable. It's okay.”
“He cheated on me, Dad.” A half-smile crossed my lips.
“Oh...” My Dad's lips parted. Then a muscle in his jaw twitched. “You made the right decision, then.”
“Yeah, I think so too.” I chuckled lightly.
“Come here... ” Dad spread his arms. Lumakad ako palapit sa kanya upang yakapin siya. “I may not be always there for you, but I'm still your father, Kyedae. I love you as much as I love Rico. And if I had a choice, I would never let anything or anyone hurt you.”
“I know, Dad. I love you too.” My lips quivered as tears welled within my eyes.
BINABASA MO ANG
Small Talks (COL SERIES #09)
Storie d'amorean epistolary | completed A puzzle that has been completed. A problem that has been solved. Two souls that have found each other after a long time of searching. That's what happened when Archibald Hugo Bennett and Kyedae Anuada had a 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢...
