Seek and You Shall Find

Chapter 3

"Dad?", I called out, "You home?". "Kitchen!", he shouted back. Of course. My dad's got a small world. Of course. Where else could he be? He was just either in our restaurant or just at home, inventing new dishes to add to the menu. We're not that rich, but yeah, the restaurant helps.

"Ria's not home yet?", I asked, picking up a piece of bread on the table. My dad was stirring away in a pot and I'm guessing lasagna for dinner. Dad makes the best lasagna in the whole universe. No joke. "Nope.", he replied. "But it's late, Dad. How come she doesn't get grounded?", i pouted. "Because she's my favorite daughter?", he smirked. "Come on Dad, you and i both know that's not true.", I winked and grinned.

He laughed. "So? Lasagna for dinner?", i asked smiling goofily. My dad's food always puts me in a good mood. "Haven't you guessed that already kid?", he said, turning around to look at me for the first time since i stepped foot in the kitchen. "Right.", i smiled, but it slowly faded when my thoughts flew back to my dream.

"Via? What's wrong?", my dad asked. "Nothing dad", i sighed, looking anywhere but at him. "Then what's that sigh for?", he asked, one eyebrow raised. "Dad! Stop doing that. You look crazy!", i laughed at him. He faked hurt and said in a stiff voice, "You're grounded young lady." We were in a staring contest and i swear i was trying real hard not to laugh because his face looked funny, but then, we both burst with laughter at the same time. I put on my puppy dog face and said, "But daddyyy." "Stop putting that face on kid.", he smiled and turned back to stir in the pot with the sauce again. Yeah. I know. My dad's cool like that.

One thing only Ria and I know, our dad might be all jolly on the outside, but deep inside, we know, he's still the man who lost her wife 17 years ago due to our birth. Back then, Ria and I would just lay back under our blankets and talk about what could've happened if we did have a mother figure. I mean. Hello. It was pretty embarassing talking to your dad about buying your first bra, and asking him how the period thing works. I smiled at our memories.

"Dad?", i asked. "Hm?". "I'm really sorry. I mean Ria and I are both sorry. For doing. Um. Taking away mom from you. You know, we're really sorry about that dad.", i said, my voice shaking a bit. "Via, stop it. We've talked about this a lot before. It's not your fault, kid. Stop blaming yourself. Yeah. Sure i was, still am, heartbroken. Sure i would've wanted her to be here with us. But kid, i wouldn't have had it any other way cos i got you and your sister.", he smiled sa

dly. I wiped a tear that fell down my face. I smiled sadly and walked up to hug him. "Love you dad. Always will. Now that you're done with your speech. Can we eat? I'm kind of hungry.", and with that said, my stomach growled agrily for the whole neighborhood to hear. "Not yet kid. we got to wait for your sister.", he said.

"Oh. I forgot I had a sister.", i smiled evilly. "Yeah. Me too.", Ria's voice floated in to the kitchen from the living room. When she got to the kitchen, i hugged her. I was facing dad and he was smiling warmly at our small sisterly gesture. "Enough of this. I'm food-deprived.", Ria said her stomach grumbling. "Well twin, it seems our stomachs think the same thing.", i said as we turned at the same time to face dad with huge grins on our faces.

"Okay, okay. I'm serving the food.", dad said in defeat. "Good.", Ria and I both said at the same time and we giggled at that. "Twins.", our dad muttered. Ria and I burst into laughter again as we looked at how we always get what we want from our dear old daddy.