Fierce

Chapter 29

Chapter 29
Weaknesses

Nakanguso ako habang nililibot ang tingin sa iba't-ibang lapida na aming dinadaanan.

I can't believe that our first date will happen in a cemetery. Hindi lang 'yon dahil mayroon pang extra'ng mala-demonyitang batang babae.

"What are we doing here?"

Sa wakas ay nakapagtanong na rin ako matapos ang ilang oras ng pananahimik dahil kapag nagsasalita ako'y binabara lamang ako ng kaniyang kapatid at pagtatawanan nila ako.

I feel so left out. Gusto ko nalang umuwi, pero wala naman akong magagawa dahil nandito na rin naman ako kasama sila. Baka mas lalo lang akong pag-initan ng kapatid niya kapag napagdesisyunan kong umuwi.

"We're going to visit our father." he answered that made my forehead crease.

"Your father?" pagtataka ko. "Kala ko ba nakita mo yung tatay mo kamakailan lang?"

"That's my real father." paglilinaw niya. "Yung daddy ni Genie ang bibisitahin natin ngayon. He died before we went to Australia."

Nilipat ko naman ngayon kay Genie ang tingin ko. She's happily walking with Lingling.

If you will look at her, you wouldn't see that she lost an important person in her life. Pero matagal-tagal na nga mula nang namatay ang daddy niya. She must've moved on from it already.

Siguro nang dahil din sa pagkamatay ng daddy niya ay mas naging matapang siya. That explains her strong and tough personality.

"Princess, makilala mo na si Daddy." I heard her say to Lingling.

Napakunot naman ang aking noo. Hindi ko pa rin matanggap na Princess ang ipinangalan niya kay Lingling.

I looked at Gael and he immediately turned to me. I asked him to lower down his head and he also did.

"Can't you persuade your sister to change Lingling's name?" I asked him, whispering.

"Change into what?" bulong niya rin.

"Lingling!" madiin ngunit mahina kong sabi.

"No can do." he said and shook his head. "Once she decided with a name, you can never change it unless it's better than what she thought of."

"Lingling's better than Princess." giit ko.

He raised his eyebrows at me, looking so amused. Tinaasan ko rin siya ng kilay para malaman niyang hindi ako nagbibiro.

Princess is a name way too fancy. Lingling is just a simple dog so she should be named that way. Simple but cute.

"I'm not joking." agad kong sabi.

"I didn't say that you are." he said defensively.

"It's written all over your face." I said as I accusingly pointed his face.

He chuckled and bit his lower lip.

"Daddy!"

Halos mapatalon ako nang biglang napasigaw si Genie at kasunod pa nito ay ang pagtahol ni Lingling.

Tumakbo si Genie papunta sa puntod ng kaniyang ama at nang makarating ay agad siyang lumuhod sa harap nito. Si Lingling naman ay sa akin ang tungo nang tumakbo.

I squatted down to pat Lingling's head and she cutely barked at me, wagging her tail at the same time.

"Daddy, I have a new dog. I'm going to introduce her to you." rinig kong sabi ni Genie. "Princess!"