Woven on Time (Student Series #3)

Chapter 48

Chapter 48

"Ri, pinaalis mo ang driver mo? Why didn't you tell me beforehand that you'll drop by here? I'll be having a dinner meeting at six. You can't stay here. Ipahahatid kita sa driver ko," daldal ni Papa nang natapos kaming kumain ni Tart. "At alam ba ng Mama mo na pupunta ka rito?"

He really waited until we finished our lunch before interrogating me. I wiped my mouth gently with the tissue so the lipstick won't smudge. My father's squinting eyes fixated on my lips judgingly.

"Ayos na ayos ka pa, ah? Makikipag-date ka? Naka-off shoulder ka pa. Magpapabakuna ka ba?" he threw another set of questions.

Alin ang una kong sasagutin? Hmm... Nginitian ko si Papa. Humalukipkip siya at tumayo mula sa katapat kong single couch kaya tumingala ako.

"I went here to ask if you're the one behind the ads on some billboards in Katipunan and Edsa, Papa. Tapos may ganoon din daw po pala rito kaya nasagot na ang tanong ko kanina pa."

He tipped his head with folded forehead. "What billboards? Ako ang nagpalagay rito, siyempre. Pero ano 'yong ibang tinutukoy mo? Saan mo nakita?"

"Huh?" Napakurap-kurap ako. "Kung 'di po ikaw, sino?"

"Iyan lang ba ang itatanong mo sa akin kaya ka pumunta rito? You could've phone me or wait me at home."

"E, gusto ko po ngayon na."

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. "O baka naman iba talaga ang ipinunta mo rito?"

"Puwede rin po."

Pumikit siya at huminga nang malalim. Niluwagan niya ang suot na necktie at naglakad patungo sa kaniyang mesa.

"I'll tell Refos to send you home..." he said, pertaining to his executive driver and bodyguard.

Napalabi ako. "Wala pa nga po akong isang oras dito, pinapaalis mo na ako," nagtatampo kong sambit.

Pinindot niya ang intercom at ang boses ni Sir Vlad, ang kaniyang executive secretary, ang nagsalita sa kabilang linya. Papa conversed with him, and I pouted even more upon hearing them. Nilaro ko si Tart sa aking tabi. Mabait na siya ulit simula nang umalis sina Lairgren at Lauria.

I sighed. I didn't tell them that she pushed me, but I know Papa will still know since there's a CCTV camera in the hallway. Lauria was on edge when she saw my father and Lairgren, but I dismissed the reasons for her reactions even though I already had ideas.

"I have a meeting in a few minutes," ani Papa. "Hintayin mo rito si Rofos para maihatid ka niya sa bahay."

"Okay po," malungkot kong sagot.

I batted my eyelashes and looked him straight into the eyes. He glared at me and clenched his jaw. Tinalikuran niya ako at may kinuhang envelope sa mesa. Pinagpatuloy ko ang mabagal at mabigat na pagkurap habang nakatitig sa ama hanggang sa napasentido siya.

"Will you stop doing that?" He sounded frustrated.

"Wala naman po akong ginagawa, ah?"

Napasaere ang kamay niya bago ibinagsak ang hawak sa mesa. Kinuha niya ang telepono at inilapat iyon sa kaliwang tainga. Binalingan ko naman ang pinagkainan namin at nagsimula na akong ligpitin iyon.

"Hello, Engineer Merrick..." Papa said to his phone and walked away further from me.

I cleaned the table with tissues before throwing the empty disposable food containers in the trash bin. I went back to the couch beside my cat before I got my phone to take pictures of Tart. Binuhat ko siya at hinalikan sa labi. I giggled when she put her paws on my lips and stared at me.