House Rent Number 4

Part 1

Almia Marie Cojuangco

Egg. Salt. Pepper. And a little bit of non-fat mayonaise. These are all the perfect combination of my Dad's all time favorite. Omelet. I learned this from my mom since I was in my 5th grade. Ngunit nang mamatay si mom because of cancer when I was on my 3rd year in highschool I needed to be just like her.. For dad. At least I perfected the omelet through time, but the rest are still an ongoing process.

"Dad, come on! Lets eat." sigaw ko mula sa kitchen habang nilalagay sa plato ang bagong lutong omelet.

"I'm coming, honey."

Nilalagay ko na ang mga plato on the right place sa counter top ng kitchen just like how mom did it before. Fresh orange juice in the morning and newspaper on the side, kumpleto na ang breakfast ng dad ko. This is how my daily life always starts. Ngayong graduate na ako sa college, naging isang simpleng gawain na ito para sa akin.

"Dad, are you kidding me?" wika ko nang bumaba siya sa hagdan at nakita ko ang magulong pagkakaayos ng kanyang neck tie. "Let me do it." lumapit ako sa kanya at inayos ito.

"That's why you are here, right?" at natatawa siya habang inaayos ko iyon.

"Oh come on, dad. I'm not here forever to fix this for you. And don't tell me, you're still gonna call me just for this kahit may mga asawa at mga anak na ako? If that'll happen, I swear I'll just gonna pretend I'm not your daughter.. There you go." pinagpag ko pa ang kaunting alikabok sa suit nito.

"Almia Marie Cojuangco, you really have the same wit with your mother. That's why I always end up losing." nagtaas siya ng kamay bilang pagsuko.

Ngumiti lang din ako dahil sa tinuran ng tatay ko.

I had the most perfect and happy life before. Both my parents treated me like their own princess. I had the most genuine mom in the world. For me, she was the real epitome of true beauty. Napakaelegante niya at sobrang maalagang ina. Ultimong damit namin ni dad sa araw araw ay siya ang naghahanda. May mga katulong kami noon ngunit ang mga maliliit na bagay na kaya niyang gawin ay ginagawa niya para sa amin. She was an artist and at the same time a writer. Sinusuportahan lang ni dad kung ano ang gusto ni mom. She didn't have to work, anyway.

Si dad naman ay isang senator. He is truely a one noble man. Gustong gusto niya ang tumulong sa mga tao. Wala siyang sinisinong tao, mayaman ka man o mahirap, kilala ka man o pangkaraniwang tao, kung may pangangailangan ay tutulungan ka niya. That is why he always ranks first on different surveys as the most trustworthy government official on his term.

My dad is my idol. Maraming nagsasabi na nakuha ko daw ang ugali ng tatay ko. We always have the same views on different matters. And we always stand on what we think is right. You know what, what I admire him the most is the way how he loved mom. It is the purest thing I witnessed in my entire existence. Iyon ang naging batayan ko pagdating sa pag-ibig. I've never been in love. At hindi ko iyon minamadali dahil sa ngayon ay kontento ako sa pagmamahal na natatanggap ko, with my Dad and friends.

"Your Uncle Frank talked to me yesterday. He wants you to come by to his office with your credentials." nagsimula na siyang kumain.

"Dad, kakagraduate ko lang. Let me enjoy my life this time." sinubo ko ang tinapay at sumimsim ng orange juice.

"I know that, honey. But opportunity is still an opportunity. You can't let that passes by your hand." nakatutok ito sa bagong dyaryo.

I know dad. Sa ganitong tono ay alam kong magsisimula na siyang mangaral tungkol sa buhay. I grew up with his words and I really treasured every bits of what he says. He's my ego. Sa lahat ng desisyon ko ay palagi kong kasama si dad even more than my Mom. I love my mother so much, okay? But I can say that I'm really a daddy's girl.