Gravity

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

There were plenty of foods on the table. Naupo ako sa tabi ni daddy and Daphne sat next to her boyfriend.

Kumuha ako ng platito at nilagyan iyon ng Lasagna. Dad and Marcus were still talking about something.

"I trust your father will meet me on Saturday? For the upcoming convention?" Dad asked him.

"Yes, sir. I've been reminding him all the time. And he also asked me to tell you about the new site in Cebu."

"What about it, hijo?" Tanong ni daddy.

I munched on my food while they were having their conversation. Gosh. I missed manang's cooking!

"My father's contacting some engineers who could possibly help us regarding the renovation..."

Nagtataka tuloy ako. Did dad know Marcus even before Daphne met him? Did they meet because of dad? My father knew a lot of people in different fields. Kaya hindi na nakapagtatakang baka nga si daddy ang nagpakilala nito sa kapatid ko.

"I trust your father's taste when it comes to this, hijo. I'll just ask my secretary to set an appointment so your dad and I could talk about it." Silence filled us after that. Ang tanging naririnig ko nalang ay ang paggalaw ng mga tinidor sa kanya-kanyang platito.

"Juice, ma'am?" Nagulat ako sa pagsulpot ni Grace sa aking gilid. Tumango ako.

Dad looked at me as he put his utensil down.

"Olivia, anak, how are you?" Tanong ni daddy na para bang ngayon lang ako napansin na nakaupo sa kanyang tabi.

"I'm good, dad." Simpleng sagot ko. Daphne was whispering to her boyfriend.

"Your manager? Is he treating you well? Your agency? How are they?" Sunod-sunod na sambit nito sa akin. I stopped eating. Uminom ako saglit bago nilingon si daddy.

"Anthony's treating me well. And the agency... they're planning to give me another single. Sa makalawa ang recording. I was from a vocal session with April bago ako pumunta dito." Salita ko.

"That's good, then. Hindi nasayang ang bayad ko sa kanya simula nang kunin mo siyang coach." He chuckled before he went back to eating.

"I saw Arkin the other day, dad." The words blurted out of my mouth before I could even stop them.

They all stopped at what I said. Daphne even dropped her fork on the ground. Nagtatakang tiningnan siya ni Marcus.

"Are you okay?" Bulong pa nito sa kanya.

"Well, dad. That can't be helped. And she's with his wife..." I trailed. They all looked at me with such pity. Umirap ako.

Tapos na iyon! Pero bakit parang hindi pa rin nakakamove-on itong pamilya ko?

"Hindi mo sinabi sa akin, Olivia? Ayos ka lang? Walang ginawa sayo?" May pag-aalala sa boses ng ate ko. I nodded my head.

"Sila nga ang dapat mag-alala na nandoon ako, Daphne. It's no big deal. I was just telling you." Sabi ko. Mukha siyang nainis dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Kumusta siya, anak?" Matigas na tanong ni daddy.

He knew everything now. Kahit naman noon ay alam niya rin. Siya pa nga itong nagtutulak sa akin kay Arkin. I didn't think that dad and Arkin's father ever lost contact. Isa rin ito sa malapit niyang kaibigan sa mundo ng business.

"He looks very happy with her, dad. I think that's a good sign." Sambit ko. Totoo naman iyon. They looked satisfied with each other. Parang hindi papayag na magkahiwalay kahit saglit.