The Possessive Protector

Vanessa Andrada

NATALIE

"Good morning, Ms. Andrada." It's my father's authoritative voice I first heard in the morning which I plan to be the least that I could heard. But then fate didn't agree with me that's why he is here again to whatever reason he has. "I bet you're a... hmm?" looking at his wrist watch. "...less than an hour late for your first meeting today." And he looks at me from head to toe and vice versa.

I was about to sit. Kakahatid lang sa'kin ni Theo from his condo. Hindi na ko nagpahatid pa hanggang dito sa floor ng office ko because he has work as well. We exchanged numbers too and napagkasunduan naming hindi pa yun ang huling pagkikita namin. At ito nga, hindi pa ko nakakaupo pero sinundan na agad ako ni Papa dito sa office ko right after magbigay ng information, for sure, yung mga alipores nya sa building na 'to.

Well, he owns the Andrada Enterpise Holdings Corporation. Chain of different businesses nationwide and even in Asia. Hotels, car distributors, real estates, construction firms, etc. Name it and we almost have it dahil may mga shares din sya sa iba't-ibang companies. Influential? Yes. Strict? Yes.

Sa dami ng kung ano-anong business nya, he needs me to work for his main company as early as 18 years old. I remember, hindi pa ko nakakagraduate that time pero obligado na kong magtrabaho sa company na 'to. Ni hindi ko na-enjoy fully ang pagiging college student ko. All my life, I am working on how to please Papa. How to make him proud. How to make him smile because of me. How to make him say one day, "That's Natalie, my daughter." But to all of my hard work? My accomplishments? He's always ending up comparing me to Ate Vanessa.

We've been best of friends then. And she is the best Ate I ever had! Kapag pinapagalitan ako ni Papa, she's the one na umaako ng mga pagkakamali ko. Sya yung kakampi ko bukod kay Mama. Sya yung nagpapatahan sa'kin, nagpapatawa, nagpapangiti, nagtatanggol, nag-aalaga, nagmamahal. All around nga eh. But something happened then. Ayoko ng alalahanin pa.Sumasama lang ang pakiramdam ko. Nagui-guilty ako. But the memories just don't want to leave now...again.

Urrrgh! Sadness, will you leave me alone? Please!

"You haven't change. You're so irresponsible, young lady!" He said in a high tone. Better that I have a sound proof door para hindi marinig ng mga tauhan namin sa labas. He really can't accept me. Buti pa si Mama. "Bakit kasi ikaw pa yung nandito!" He said looking at me angrily and with disappointment.

This is what I don't like to Papa, maliit man o malaking bagay. In everything I do, he always compares me & my doings with others lalo na kay Ate. If not to her, sa ibang mas tingin nyang lamang kesa sa'kin, mas magaling, mas maabilidad, mas matalino o basta 'mas' kaysa sa'kin. Kagaya ngayon, kahit hindi nya sabihin ng derecho, alam kong kay Ate Vanessa na naman nya ko ikinukumpara. Kung tutuusin, nag-umpisa lang ako sa lecheng pagka late ko daw kuno sa meeting na sya naman dapat ang aattend na last minute ipinasa sa'kin.

I'm always seeking for his attention since I am a little kid but he really can't give me that. I don't know why. Pero siguro...dahil...basta! Never mind.

"Don't worry Papa. I've talked to Mr. Agoncillo at sya po ang nagpa-cancel ng meeting namin not because I am late but because may emergency sa bahay nila. Knowing him, he loves his family more than his businesses." I put sarcasm on my voice. I can't help it. Punung-puno na rin ako. Punong-puno na 'tong dibdib ko sa sama ng loob sa kanya na kahit sabihin ko pang sanay na kong ginaganito nya ko sa halos araw-araw. Pero kahit ganito na ko kapuno sa sama ng loob, kahit malapit na ko sa punto ng pagsuko, hindi ko pa rin sya kayang sagut-sagutin ng harap-harapan dahil kahit ganyan sya sa'kin, nirerespeto ko pa rin sya at mahal ko sya bilang ama ko. Sila na lang ni Mama ang meron ako. Ayoko ng mawalan pa ng isang mahal sa buhay. Huli na si Ate Vanessa.