Enjoy! :)
*****
"You know why people appreciated city night view, Dei?" asked the Chairman while they stood behind the railings, seeping a glass of wine.
"Kasi ang ganda tignan ng mga ilaw...?" Dei answered, looking unsure.
The Chairman smiled and nodded in agreement to her answer. "Nagbibigay sigla ang mga ilaw sa kabila ng madilim na paligid. Don't you think that's another symbol of hope?"
"Yes po..." Dei looked beyond the tall buildings and found the well-lit building of M.U.N.D.O. Kaya pala ang daming ilaw ng kompanya na para ba kumikinang...
"You know, your father's like that to me... a symbol of hope." He carefully watched her expression slowly changing to sadness. "When we received a call about the accident, I thought I lost a son and my grandson. I was terrified. I was on my way to check the scene, praying for one of them to live, when I received a call requesting to check the nearby hospitals for Alden..."
Dei tucked her hair behind her ear and watched the old Faulkerson explain.
"I found your dad holding my grandson's bleeding hand tightly, like he was praying him to live. Pilit siyang pinapaalis ng mga doctor para tignan ang natamo niyang sugat pero ayaw niyang umalis. He said while sobbing in pain, "Nawalan ang batang ito ng ama. Hayaan niyo ako maging mabuting ama sa isang bata hanggang sa huli kong hininga. Masakit man pero hindi na ako magtatagal pa para maging mabuting ama sa anak ko...""
Napayapos sa dibdib si Dei. Her breathing ragged as she tried to control her emotion caused by the Chairman's words. Naalala niya noong bata pa siya, kung gaano siya nangulila ng sobra sa ama at pinagsisihan ang nagawa...
"I had to convince your dad that I will take care of you para pumasok na siya sa ER. He told me he wanted the best for you, give you a comfortable life, and that..." he watched her with sympathy. "... he really loves you so much even if you hate him."
Dun na napaiyak si Dei. Binitawan niya ang hawak na baso at parang puso niya ito na nabasag sa sahig. She kept wiping the stream of tears off her cheek. Pero sa tuwing naaalala niya ang ama, mas napapaluha pa siya. She loved her father so much kaya lagi niyang hinahanap ito. But the last words she told him before God took him away was "I hate you!" Sobrang pinagsisihan niya na sinabi niya iyon sa ama. Hindi na siya nabigyan pa ng pagkakataon na humingi dito ng tawad at ipadama ang pagmamahal niya sa ama.
"On the last minute of his life, your father - my family's hero - spoke his dying wish. He wanted you to keep smiling "my pretty girl"..."
"Ngiti ka na, pretty girl. Para ngumiti na din si daddy..." her father used to say to her whenever she threw tantrums of a kid.
Mr. Faulkerson's soft gaze darted on Margaret who was standing behind the balcony door. He wanted to comfort Dei but she might want her mother to console her instead. So he walked towards Margaret and patted her in understanding.
"I think she needs you now, Margaret..." he said, before walking back to the dining.
Margaret took quick steps towards her front and watched her cry. She obviously knew the conversation that took place here. Kasi naibahagi na ng matandang Faulkerson ang huling habilin ng asawa niya sa kanya.
"Ma..." she sobbed and buried her face on Margaret's neck.
Margaret's hand quickly stroke Dei's hair before her mind told her so. "Tahan na, Dei. Nakakahiya sa mga Faulkerson."
