"Dad, this is too much!" Naghihisterya kong sigaw pabalik ng bahay, basta kong itinapon ang mga gamit ko sa couch at galit na nagmartsa patungo sa komedor kung saan naroon pa rin silang dalawa ni Mommy at nag-aalmusal. "Bodyguards? Seriously?"
My father looked up from his breakfast, a calm yet stern expression on his face. "Sit down, Caice," he said firmly, gesturing to the chair across from him.
"No! I won't sit down!" I shouted, my anger boiling over. "This is too much, Dad!"
Magsasalita sana si Daddy pero agad iyong inagapan ni Mommy. Hinawakan ang kaniyang braso at sinigurong kalmado siya at hindi sasabayan ang galit ko. Dapat! Because I was really mad!
"Huwag kayong magsisigawang mag-ama, masyado pang maaga para sa pagtatalo niyong dalawa."
Nanatiling kalmado si Dad nang muli akong balingan ng tingin. "This is for your safety, Caice. There are too many risks out there, and I can't afford to take chances with your well-being."
Risk? Ang sabihan pa'y binibigyan niya ako ng buntot para siguraduhing hindi makakalapit sa akin si Hans!
I crossed my arms, feeling the heat of frustration rise in my chest. "I don't need bodyguards! I can take care of myself. You're treating me like a child!"
Dad put down his fork, his gaze unwavering. "You are my child. And as long as you live under my roof, you'll follow my rules."
"This is about Hans, isn't it?" I accused, nanginginig na ang tinig ko sa labis na galit na aking nararamdaman. "You're trying to control every aspect of my life because you don't like him!"
Mom tried to mediate, her voice soft but firm. "Let's all take a deep breath. We can talk about this without shouting."
"How can I, Mom? How can I breathe when I'm being suffocated by all these rules and restrictions na hindi naman dapat i-impose?" Galit ko itong binalingan because I wanted her to do something. This situation with Dad had been escalating at a great speed! "This is too much!"
Dad stood up, his expression hardening. "This discussion is over. The bodyguards stay. End of story."
I felt a wave of hopelessness wash over me. Walang balak magpaubaya si Daddy, talagang determinado siyang pahirapan ako sa hindi ko malamang kadahilanan. Hans didn't come from money, yes. Pero wala naman siyang ginagawang masama. Hindi siya criminal o ano. He was earning little but from decent jobs! At ano nga iyong nirereklamo ni Dad? Na hindi ako magiging kumportable sa piling ni Hans. Well, I felt far more less comfortable staying here with them than anywhere else.
"This isn't fair," nanghihina kong bulong, realizing that it didn't matter how loudly I said it, Dad wouldn't listen. Buo na ang pasya niya at iyon lang ang masusunod. "I don't need a bodyguard. This is ridiculous."
The following days were a blur of frustration and suffocation. Everywhere I went, the two bodyguards trailed behind me, their presence a constant reminder of my father's unyielding control. Pakiramdam ko ay ito mismo ang nakabuntot sa akin, nagbabantay at naniniguradong hindi ako malalapitan ng kung sino ng hindi niya nalalaman. I couldn't go anywhere without feeling their eyes on me, and the sense of being monitored made my skin crawl.
Fridays, which used to be my sanctuary, my escape with Hans, were now tainted. My father's paranoia had stripped away the one day I looked forward to the most. Instead of the carefree afternoons we used to spend together, exploring the city or just sitting quietly in a café, I was now under constant surveillance. My freedom had been replaced by the cold reality of my father's rules. Talagang ipinararamdam nito sa akin kung sino siya, si Vince De Salvo lang ang mananaig, sa kahit saan o kahit ano.
