When I Stop Chasing

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

It's Okay

"Ofia!"

It was like my whole world stops for a minute, My heart skips a beat and my pulse was dead for a second. Hinawakan ko ang paghinga ko, I shouldn't imagine my Dad's voice right now. He shouldn't be here right now! Holy Shiz!

I slowly turn my head to look around and find the figure of that familiar voice, And then my eyes stopped when I saw my Dad with his usual attire which is a white button down sleeve and a black slacks with that black coat that makes him so formal among others. I hold my breathe when his eyes lingered on me then shifted on the person standing right beside me. Shiz.

Gusto kong hawakan ang kamay ni Jao at tumakbo papalayo!

I wanted to runaway from my Dad! Pero para saan pa? He's smiling, And that smile is the business smile of his. Iyon ang lagi niyang pinapakita sa mga kliyente o kaya sa firm. Kabisadong kabisado ko na ang tatay ko, And he use that smile whenever he's uncertain with the situation. Yung mga sitwasyon na hindi niya alam kung anong emosyon ang ipapakita niya.

I bit my lip at halos masapo ko na ang sarili kong noo, Sumulyap ako sa katabi ko na nakatingin lang din kay Daddy. Sana 'di nalang kami lumabas ni Jao! Nakasalubong pa tuloy kami ng masamang damo, okay not.

I groaned inside my head as I saw my Dad already walking towards our direction, He's smiling. And it wasn't the business smile just like earlier, It was a genuine smile. Anong bang ikinakatuwa niya? Ang makita niya ako? O ang makita niyang may kasama akong lalaki?

"Hija!" He exclaimed at halos mapairap ako sa kanya. He hugged me so I hugged him back and forced a smile, His questioning eyes remained at me so I cleared my throat.

"D-Dad si Jao po, Jao, my Dad." Jao offered his hand and my Dad stared at it for like, 2 seconds before shaking it. Halos hindi na ako huminga nang makita ko na tiningnan lang niya iyon! Gusto ko siyang sigawan na 'wag niya akong ipahiya kay Jao,N a kaibigan ko. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik nang tanggapin niya yung kamay ni Jao.

I sighed heavily at lumipat naman ang atensyon ni Daddy sa akin.

"Are you here for dinner?" I chewed the inside of my cheeks first before nodding my head.

"Good, I'm here for some food, too. Sabay na kayo sakin, The bill is on me," Pormal niyang sabi na para bang kinakausap ang kanyang kliyente.

Bumuga ako ng hangin at tumingin kay Jao na tiningnan rin ako, We're asking for each other's opinion to that offer. Jao broke the gaze first at nalaglag ang panga ko nang siya ang sumagot kay Daddy.

"Sige, sir! It would be my pleasure!" Sabi pa neto. Humalakhak si Daddy at tumango, Napapikit ako at napasapo ng aking noo.

"I'm hungry," Untag ko at nauna nang naglakad si Daddy papasok ng Mall, I glared at Jao who were widely smiling kaya siniko ko siya.