Stonehearts 8: Peridot

Epilogue: Kier Ignacio

Time really flies fast. When I say fast, I say it really comes into a time wherein your own daughter will start answering back to you.

"I say no, Vi." I replied hard. Standing my ground. Her mom's away at the moment doing groceries for tonight's Christmas dinner. The whole family is visiting us as we host this year's dinner.

"Why not? Are you also a dictator like Tito Cael?" Vi said, her eyebrows furrowing. It's like I'm staring in a mirror. She's the exact replica of me, that's why sometimes when she acts all huffy and snippy at me, I cannot help but to laugh.

"Dictator?"

"He forbids Clay to date, too. I don't know what's with you gusy and dating. It's not as if it's the end of the world." Her voice a little too overdramatic.

"Well it's because you don't know guys just like how me and tito Cael know them." I said crossing my arms. She's not dating, especially she's in college. 'Di ko siya mababantayan, paano kung gago pala 'yong lalake at saktan niya ang Unica Hija ko.

"I'm telling Ma." She threatened. She knew her mom will side with her. Dothy always does when it comes to the topic of dating. For her, Vi is on her prime to find true love and shit. I plead differently. Hindi rin kasi niya naiintindihan kung saan ako nanggagaling. Ni hindi ko nga ipakagat sa lamok ang anak ko, I will not fucking risk some stupid asshole hurting her.

"Tell me what, angel baby?" Dothy's sweet voice breezed through the living room. She never out grew that endearment. 

"Dad is again going back to his word about me dating." Vi immediately spat out.

Dothy looked at me with exasperation in her eyes as she one by one drop the grocery bags she's holding on the floor. "Babe, we talked about this and you promised." Her lulling voice is enough to do the trick. She doesn't even need to touch me or kiss me or do anything actually. That's how high I am of her. 

Wala akong magagawa. I again waved my imaginary white flag. "Okay fine, she can date."

Vi leaped from her seat and gave me a tight hug. "Yey! You're the best dad!" 

"But." I continued. "But, I have to meet any guy you date. It's a must."

"I agree with that." Dothy backing me up.

"It's fine." Vi said, glee evident in her voice. "I have to tell this to Clay." She said fishing her phone out of her too short shorts before scurrying upstairs.

We both watched her wander upstairs before Dothy went to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. "She's going to give you more gray hair if you keep on opposing to her dating." She kid.

It's true, I'm now sporting a salt and pepper kind of hair. I opted to have it colored but Dothy said I looked sexier this way. Who am I to disagree?

"I just don't want her to get hurt." I sighed, enclosing Dothy inside my arms. "She's my darling unica hija, hindi natin pinagdaanan lahat nang pinagdaanan natin para lang paiyakin siya ng kung sino mang Pontyo Pilato."

Dothy chuckled, "She'll get hurt. It's part of the process. You should know it, we went through it."

I nodded my head. I coaxed her into a little 'lambing' time in the sofa while the helps are starting with the preparations for tonight's dinner. 

Years with her never dulled out my love and adoration for her. When I saw again that time, during mom's birthday, it felt like my world's axis finally came to a fix. My world's not in a skew anymore and I can finally balance myself.