Kabanata 32
"What in the world is this, Ate? I look like a pig here!"
Nakatakas ang maliliit na bungisngis mula saakin na kanina ko pa pinipigilan. Kanina ko pa siya kinukuhanan ng litrato na para raw sa project nila. Nandito kami sa aking kwarto na ginawa na niyang studio.
"What? Ang cute mo kaya!" I teased while looking at her photo in double chin.
"The angle is so bad! Look oh, bigla nalang akong nagkaroon ng double chin!" She hissed out of frustration.
Tumawa ako.
"Hindi namin kasi ako photographer! I'm a model for Pete's sake!"
Inirapan niya lang ako at padabog na bumalik ulit sa gitna upang magpakuha. "Again."
"Bakit hindi nalang kasi ako ang kuhanin mong model? What is this project even all about?"
She suddenly smirked at my question that made my forehead creased.
"Well..." Tawa niya. "They asked to take a picture of the most beautiful woman for us. I don't need to waste time finding when in fact I could just look at the mirror and then viola! Ako na yun."
Panay ang tawa niya sa sarili niyang sinabi habang ako ay naka poker face lang.
"Oh gosh, it so windy here," I chuckled.
Napasimangot siya pero natawa na rin kalaunan. Maya-maya ay hindi ko inaasahan ang tanong niya.
"Are you okay?"
Natigilan ako sa tanong niya. I bet she's referring to what happened yesterday. Well, baliwala naman na sakin yun. Lagi na naman na kami nag aaway ni Daddy kaya di nalang ako nagpapaapekto. Though, I admit he's word is like a stab in my chest.
"Can you explain what is this, Alliana, huh?! Model, really?"
"I... I-I'm sorry, Dad."
Those words. It come's again. Do I really became a disappointment that I have to be sorry every time?
"That's bullshit! You keep on apologizing yet you keep repeating your mistake! Alam mo kung gaano ko kaayaw sa industriya na yan!" He shouted, his chest heaving up and down out of anger. "Dahil diyan namatay ang Mommy mo! Wala ka na bang respestong natitira sa sarili mo?!"
I bit my lip to stop my self from shedding a tear. Huminga ako ng malalim bago taas noong tinitigan siya sa mata kahit sa loob-looban ay nasasaktan na ko.
"P-pangarap ko yun, Dad... kahit alam kong impossible, napamahal na ako╴"
