Chapter 23
Geco's POV
"What does this mean, Amara Audrey?" Parang kulog ang tinig ng Governor habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa. Napatingin ako kay Amara na hindi man lang nakitaan ng takot nang lingunin ang kaniyang ama. She looks like she already ready herself about this.
"You are. Kissing. A woman." May diin sa bawag salitang binitawan niya.
Hinawakan ni Amara ang kamay ko rason kung bakit mas nagliyab ang galit mula sa mga mata ni Governor.
"You-- Are you still rebelling against me?" Lumalabas na ang kaniyang ugat sa leeg sa galit habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa.
"And you, servant girl, is letting this happen?" He looks at me with anger on his eyes. Parang anumang oras ay lalapitan niya ako para saktan.
"Geco has a name and she's my girlfriend, Daddy," malamig na saad ni Amara na mahigpit lang akong hinawakan. I know we said that we'll introduce each other to each other's family pero hindi sa ganitong paraan.
"Girlfriend?" Humalahak si Governor na wari ba'y nagbibiro si Amara sa kaniyang sinasabi. Nanatili nga lang ang paninindigan sa mukha ni Amara. "With a fucking woman, Amara Audrey?"
Humalakhak si Mr. Anastasia. Tila ba nakakatawa lang ang aming sinasabi.
"Look at yourself, Little girl. A girl who loves pink likes someone who is the same gender as her? You might be confusing love with an obsession with feminine things, Hija."
"Wala sa kasuotan ang kasarian, Dad. I might love feminine things but that doesn't mean that was already the reason why I am dating my girlfriend. I love Geco more than you think so... I wouldn't be brave enough to even tell you if I don't... It's not just about me liking things that are usually labeled as for women..."
"Do you really think you can survive without a man?" sambit nito habang nakatingin sa aming dalawa. May ngisi pa sa labi. Iniinsulto ang relasiyong mayroon kaming dalawa ni Amara.
"A woman is made for a man, Amara... You are meant to serve a man. I'll call one of my friends... Right. You are of age, I can even marry you off now," he said, chuckling. Tila ba 'yon ang solusiyon ng lahat ng 'to. Amara laughs at that while I look at him in disgust. Right. This man thinks that the world revolves around men.
"Ang liit talaga ng tingin mo sa sarili mong anak, Gov..."
"Huwag kang makialam dito! You dirty woman!" he said while glaring at me.
"Stop already, Dad, please. I won't marry anyone unless it's Georgina. And
who said that, Dad? Sinong nagpalaganap ng kasinungalingan na 'yan? I am a person on my own. I am made for myself. I won't serve and kneel down for a man like you," sambit ni Amara. I squeezed her hands dahil lalo niya ding ginagalit ang kaniyang ama but she still look determine. To stand up for what she knows. To fight for us.
"Stop with your nonsense, Amara. And you..." He look at me while pointing. Kita ko ang galit mula sa kaniyang mga mata habang nakatingin sa akin.
"Leave. Gather your things and leave peacefully. Huwag mong hintaying palayasin kita," malamig na sambit niya habang nakatingin sa akin. Seryoso siya sa gustong mangyari tila ba walang kahit na sinong magpapabago sa kaniyang isipan. Tumango ako kaya agad na napatingin sa akin si Amara. Agad na umiling si Amara at determinadong nilingon ang kaniyang ama.
"My girlfriend is not leaving, Dad... This is her home."
"I will leave. I respect your decision, Mr. Anastasia. But I hope you can respect our relationship as well or even just your daughter. Learn to respect her as a person. She's not a thing that you can just identify if useful for you or not. And she's not someone who needs men to live. She can stand on her own." Malamig ko siyang tinignan. Amara held my hands tightly but I smiled at her and shook my head.
