We entered the restaurant. This is so fancy. Dito kaya dinadala ni Dad ang mga girlfriends nya?! Kaya pala.. dito pala.
The place was so elegant. Red carpet with gold patterns, the walls were painted silver with yellow lights to give it a gold illusion, cinnamon smelled all over the place, the music whispers in my ears. A guy assisted us in our table. Tables and chairs are made up of narra wood, the cloth spread down to the floor is white cotton.
I chose steak and potatoes, vegetables and fruit salad and leche de roux. Mukha lang masarap kaya yun ang inorder ko. Tumingin-tingin pa ako sa paligid. Tininang ko isa-isa yung mga tao sa loob ng restaurant.
"My usual meal." Said Dad. Yun! Tumpak ako! Lagi ng syang nandito at umalis na yung waiter.
"Oh? Your usual meal? So, Dad, lagi kang nandito?"
"Twice? Thrice? I can't really remember."
"Dad, wag ka na magpalusot. Imposible namang maalala nung waiter ang usual meal mo ng dalawang beses ka pa lang napunta dito." Prangka kong sabi. I raised my eyebrow.
"Because they know me.. sweetheart.. I'm a business man. Natural lang na dapat maalala nila ang order ko dahil ako ang nagrerecommend sa kanila sa mga partners ko."
"Oohh.."
"Habang lumalaki ka, lalo akong nahihirapang alagaan ka dahil marami ka nang masyadong nalalaman sa mundo. My precious innocent sweetheart."
"I think it was the opposite, habang lumalaki ako, wala ka ng time para alagaan ako.."
"How can you say that?" Gulat na tanong ni Daddy, "Where are you getting that manners, sweetheart?"
"I'm just saying the reality. Don't get mad. Actually, matanda nako, isang taon na lang 20 years old nako. Minsan, nagugustuhan ko na hindi mo nako nabibigyan ng attention.." Ininom ako ng water na sinerve ng waiter. Hindi nakapagsalita si Dad.
"My dear sweetheart.." He whispered.
"It's not your fault, Dad. I'm sorry for everything that I did wrong. For pushing you away.."
"No, I understand you, Khione. For not being the father you want me to be. Ginawa ko lang ang alam kong makakapagpasaya sa'yo."
"Kaya kailangan mo ng girlfriend.."
"Exactly."
"Tss. You're always like that Dad. Hindi mo naiisip ang nararamdaman ko."
"Bakit ako ba iniisip mo ang nararamdaman ko?! Sweetie, hindi mo alam ang hirap na ang pinakamamahal mo ay nawala na. Hindi ko matanggap ang pagkamatay ng Mommy mo, gabi gabi kong napapanaginipan ang maganda nyang mukha, matamis nyang boses at ang buo nyang pagmamahal." I remained speechless, "Sweetheart, please.. I can't live my whole life like this, she said the night you were born, 'love again.. please.. for Khione', sweetie, you know how much I love you.."
"Dad.. hindi ko naman alam na ganyan ang nararamdaman mo.."
"At least now.. alam mo na. Di pa ako nakakamove on dahil hindi ko naaaccept ang nangyari.."
"You need someone para makamove on ka na." He nodded. "okay Dad." I finally said.
"What Khione?"
"Okay. Pumapayag na ako." I smiled.
"Really?"
"Yes, Dad. Really." Tumayo sya at niyakap ako.
"Thank you my sweetheart! I love you." He kissed me on my forehead.
