A E L I A
"OH! Hi, Aelia!"
Biglang kumulo ang dugo ko nang makita ko siya rito, sa harap ko. It's been years since I last saw her, and now, she's here in front of me at the most unexpected time of the year.
My archnemesis, the reason of my struggles, Charlotte.
After Senior High School, I cut off ties with her due to personal reasons and I don't want to remember those reasons anymore.
"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" I bluntly said. Shock was evident on her face yet she still managed to smile.
Gosh! I hate that smile of hers.
"May hinatid lang ako sa daddy mo, Aelia. May family reunion kasi, sponsored ni mommy. She wants all of us to be there," she said. I just gave her a blank face before deciding to ignore what she had said.
Tatalikuran ko na sana siya nang biglang may tumawag sa akin galing sa office ni dad.
Oh, of course. I have something to deal pa pala.
"Aelia, we need to talk," he said. Napaka-buo ng boses niya na kahit nasa loob siya ng office ay rinig na rinig ko ito. Charlotte's gaze met mine the moment I entered my father's office. She gave me a small smile before I slammed the door shut in front of her.
"Mainit pa rin talaga dugo mo kay Charlotte, ano?" My dad commented pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. Dire-diretso akong umupo sa harap niya habang kinokontrol ang sariling huwag kabahan.
Nabawasan ang kaba ko kanina, all thanks to Charlotte, I guess? Nabalot ba naman ng pagkairita ang buong sistema ko.
"What do you want, dad?" I asked, ignoring what he had just said. I heard him chuckled as he handed me a burger from Jollibee. Huh?
"It's your favorite, right?" He said. Dahan-dahan naman akong tumango habang tinatanggap ang burger na inabot niya. Anong mayroon?
"Now, stop being stiff. I got you your favorite so, let's break the ice," aniya. I just forced a smile at him, hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko kahit na alam ko kung ano ang tinutukoy niya.
"Tell me everything, Aelia," dagdag pa niya. Bakit ba hindi na lang niya nakalimutan ang nakita niya kanina? Basta talaga may gusto siyang malaman, hindi niya talaga iyon titigilan. Grabe.
"What do you want to know, dad?" I asked pero he just shrugged his shoulders. Confirmed, ang nakita niya kanina ang gusto niyang malaman.
"Well, we were just discussing about a school project..." I tried lying but he just raised his eyebrow.
Alam na niya kaya? Pero, paano?
"Are you sure?" He asked.
Paano na ba ito? Mukhang alam niyang nagsisinungaling ako.
"Not totally a school project..." I continued while secretly fidgeting my fingers as I choose the right words to say.
"Sabihin mo na lang ang totoo, Aelia," my dad said making me sigh and crossed my fingers.
"They were my schoolmates when I was in Senior High School dad, I swear ngayon lang kami nagkita-kita ulit. Uhm... May sadya lang po sila sa akin kanina kaya kami magkakasama," pagkukuwento ko. Tumango naman siya habang nakikinig.
"They asked me if I can be a writer at their small company. They need someone like me raw po kasi—"
"Tinanggap mo ba ang offer nila?" Hindi na pinatapos ni dad ang sinasabi ko na para bang hindi siya interesado sa iba pang mga sasabihin ko. As usual, gusto niya laging straight to the point.
"Hindi po," I almost whispered.
"What?" My heart leaped when his gaze landed on me, para akong sinusunog sa mga tingin niya. Nakakatakot.
I may be tough and act like a bitch pero si dad lang ang nagiging rason para maging maamong tupa ako bigla, which is kinda odd kasi I was once a daddy's girl.
"H-hindi ko po tinanggap," paglilinaw ko. He smiled at me because of that answer yet instead of comfort, I suddenly felt shivers through my spine.
"Bakit naman?" He asked while smiling. I gulped because of that.
Mas okay na lang sigurong nandito si Charlotte para naiirita lang ako sa presensya niya kaysa sa ganitong kaharap ko si dad, para akong nasusuffocate sa kaniya.
"I want to focus on my studies po," I said, hoping that it was a valid reason.
But, no.
"Your cousin, Charlotte, has already made it big. Ikaw? This is your sign, Aelia. Grab the opportunity or lose the chance, you choose," he said.
"Pero nakatanggi na po ako," tanging naiusal ko sa kaniya.
My father has a point, it's either grab the opportunity or lose the chance and then regret it forever. Pero, is this really what I want?
"May sarili nang libro si Charlotte, top student pa sa university niya. Why can't you be like her? Your friend's offer is the key para malamangan mo si Charlotte. Nakakahiyang humarap sa iba nating kaanak kung wala kang maipagmamayabang sa kanila unlike Charlotte," mahaba niyang litanya. I just remained silent while listening to his unending thoughts and comparison between me and Charlotte.
Pasok sa isang tainga, labas sa kabila. Paulit-ulit na lang din naman mga sinasabi niya.
But it hurts. Am I not enough?
"— Are you listening?" I got startled when he suddenly slammed his palm on his desk. I was spacing out, mabuti na lang at hindi na niya ako sinermunan dahil doon.
"Just like what I've said, anak, accept his offer. Wala namang mawawala sa iyo. Huwag mong hayaang malamangan ka ni Charlotte," he said as a conclusion to what he had said a while ago na hindi ko naman masiyadong napakinggan.
"So... Do you want me to join?" Paninigurado ko. Tumango naman siya bilang sagot.
"K-kahit po, labag sa loob ko?" I asked once again, hoping na maramdaman niyang ayaw ko talaga. I was firm with my decision kanina nang magkausap kami nina Kenzo kahit na nagkaroon ako ng doubts kinalaunan. Ano ba talaga?
Pati ako, naguguluhan na sa sarili ko.
Is it because of his influence? His pressure? Or baka, gusto ko rin talaga ang mga sinasabi niya't tinatanggi ko lang kasi nakakapagod na minsan?
"Kilala kita, Aelia. Anak kita, this is what you want. Hindi kita pinalaking duwag. By the way, I also talked to them, to the boys you are talking with kanina, they are just waiting for your call. Ako na ang kumilos para sa iyo kasi ang bagal mo," he said. So, nakausap nga niya sina Kenzo kaya alam niya na ang tungkol dito.
Wow, ang bilis, sabi ko na nga ba't may alam na siya tungkol dito. He really is my father, what he wants, he will get it.
Nanatili akong tahimik pagkatapos niya magsalita. The atmosphere went darker as minutes pass by. Nang hindi na makatiis ay tumayo si dad at lumapit sa akin.
"Think about it, Aelia," he said while patting my head before going out of his office.
Naiwan akong mag-isa ngayon dito sa opisina niya, absorbing everything he had just said.
What if, my father was right? Should I accept their offer?
***
:)
BINABASA MO ANG
Quill (✔)
General Fiction(RAW / UNEDITED : COMPLETED) Being a well-known writer is what they are born for, yet there are dark secrets that hinder something. As Aelia Rosenheim makes her name in the writing industry, Charlotte Millers starts to meet her tragic downfall as s...
