Relentlessly Yours [Completed]

Chapter 22

Nicola, Age Twenty Six
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"I love it so much, dad! Thank you!" nakayakap na sabi ko sa papa ko nang kinamusta niya ako sa regalo niyang condo sa akin para sa twenty-sixth birthday ko ngayong araw.

Calum and I both didn't like throwing parties to celebrate our birthdays but we were always showered with gifts and travels abroad. We usually just dine out as a family and then Cal would celebrate it separately with his friends the day after. Ilang taon ng napapadalas na nangingibang bansa sila para makasama nila si Kai.

"You like it, little princess?" Natatawang tanong ni dad.

Magtwe-twenty six nalang ako't lahat-lahat pero 'yon pa 'rin ang tawag niya sa akin. After several attempts to convince him to stop calling me that, I gave up because my father is apparently as stubborn as I am. Sa kanya ko pala 'yon namana.

Nilibot ko ang mga mata sa two bedroom loft style condo at nakangiting tumango sa kanya. Everything in my condo is luxurious and modern. The lightings, the high ceiling and the cream paint on the wall were pinterest-worthy. Isa pa sa pinaka nagustuhan ko ay ang mga red accents sa mga kurtina, sofa at kitchen area. Kilalang-kilala talaga ako ng papa ko.

"O'sya, I have to go. See you tonight?" sabi niya patungkol sa annual birthday dinner namin ni Cal.

Tumango ako at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. Nagyakapan pa kami ulit bago siya lumabas sa condo.

Nagalakad ako paakyat sa pangalawang palapag patungo sa dalawang magkatabing kwarto kung saan ang bedroom at studio ko. Mas pinili ko ang malaking kwarto para gawing art studio. My dad, as expected, made sure I have every art materials I would need here. Hindi na niya ako hinayaang ilipat ang mga gamit galing sa bahay namin para hindi na raw ako mahirapan.

He was a bit sad when I told him a week ago that I wanted to move out and try to live an independent life but he also immediately became very supportive of the idea. Ilang taon na rin pala niyang binili itong condo ko para sa akin. Binilhan niya rin si Calum ng parehong unit sa parehong building. Ang kaibahan lang namin ay nasa ika-tatlumpong palapag ako habang nasa ikaw dalawamput walong palapag naman ang unit ng kambal ko.

Cal had long moved out way before I did. He's lived in his condo since his college days because it was more accessible and he probably needed his own privacy without our mother hovering over him. Siya din ang tumulong sa akin sa paglipat ng ibang mga gamit at mga damit ko.

Medyo nagkatampuhan nga lang kami dahil nakita niya ang mga litrato namin ni Kai sa Monaco 'nong kumain kami sa restaurant ng hotel ko. There were rumors about us dating. I even have a few people emailing me and sending hate messages on my Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Like Cal, dad was also mad because I lied to him about going to Africa. Napatawad din naman ako agad ng kambal ko lalo na 'nong hinatiran ko siya ng isang box ng paborito niyang cookies at meringue. While my dad didn't have a choice but to forgive me saying that he could never stay mad at me even for a day and of course, I made sure to make him the best chocolate cookies in the world.

Bumalik na 'rin kasi ako sa pagbe-bake at pag gawa ng pastries. Sa katunayan ay naisipan nila Cal at Kuya Nate na ako ang gumawa ng desert menu nila sa kani-kanilang restaurants. Ako din ang nagpinta ng lahat ng mga paintings nila sa restaurants nilang pareho ayon sa tema na gusto nila. Kuya Nate currently has three restaurants in Europe while Cal just started his first restaurant here in Makati.

After giving myself another tour in my beautiful and modern condo, naligo na ako at nagpatuyo ng mahabo kong buhok at hinayaan iyon na nakalugay.