Karera | [ Stacey x OC (F) ]

C32 - Demands

Stacey's POV (Flashback)

Kakatapos ko lang mag aral kasama si Louise sa isang café. The warmth of her smile and the way she gently teased me about my notes still lingered in my mind. My phone buzzed, pulling me out of the moment. It was my dad, asking me to come home immediately. His tone left no room for debate.

Confused and slightly nervous, I drove back, my thoughts racing. When I arrived, nakita ko agad ang kotse ni Mikha sa harap ng bahay. That was strange— pupunta lang naman si Mikha dito pag may importanteng pag uusapan o papapuntahin ko.

Pumasok na ako sa loob at sinalubong ako ng mga maids habang tinuturo ang dining room.

Parang may mali.

Nang makarating ako sa dining room, nakita ko ang mga parents ko, nga muka nila ay seryoso. Si Mikha naman nakaupo kaharap nila, her head lowered as if she wanted to disappear. My dad's expression was tense, his hands clenched into fists on the table. My mom sat quietly, her face downcast, iniiwasan ang tingin ko.

"Stacey." My dad said, motioning for me to sit beside Mikha. His voice was firm, a tone I rarely heard from him.

Umupo naman ako at inaantay silang magsalita.

Finally, my dad cleared his throat and looked directly at me. "Stacey, I want you to make it to the Dean's List." he said, his voice leaving no room for argument.

I blinked, caught off guard. "What? Dad, okay naman po yung grades ko." I said, my confusion evident.

But before I could say more, he slammed his hand on the table, the sudden noise making all of us flinch. "That's not enough!" he said, his voice rising. "Fine isn't enough to make it to the Dean's List!"

I stared at him, shocked. "You've always been fine with my grades." I said, my voice tinged with disbelief. "You've never pressured me like this before. Anong nangyari?"

His face hardened, and he stood up, his imposing figure towering over the table. "Now you're talking back to me?" he snapped. "You need to study harder. Graduation is coming, and I won't tolerate anything less than excellence."

I opened my mouth to respond, but his next words froze me in place. "And until graduation, there will be no interaction with your girlfriend, Louise."

"Ano?" My voice broke as I shot up from my seat. "You're asking me to avoid Louise? Why? Hindi s'ya distraction, Dad!"

"She is a distraction." he said, his voice cold."Wala akong pake sa sasabihin mo. You're going to focus on your studies, and that's final."

I felt a lump rising in my throat, anger and hurt mingling in my chest. "Masaya ka naman para samin diba? Tuwang tuwa ka pa ng nung nalaman mong kami pala. Lagi mo 'kong sinusuportahan, Dad. Why are you suddenly acting like this?"

"Enough!" he bellowed. "Do as I say."

He paused, his gaze shifting to Mikha, who still refused to look at me. Then, turning back to me, he delivered the final blow. "After graduation, you can talk to Louise. But the day after, you're flying to the U.S with Mikha."

His words hit me like a freight train. "No..." I said, shaking my head. "Ayoko, ayokong umalis. I don't want this!"

But my dad simply turned and walked out of the room, leaving me to grapple with the weight of his decision.