Star Princess

20th Star: Meeting

"Ate Zaida? Anong ginagawa niyo dito nila Sir Luis at Jabe?!"

Laking gulat ni Alyx nang makita niya sila Zaida, Jabe, at Luis. Kasama nilang kumakain ang lalaking mukhang businessman na nagtaboy sa kanya kanina lamang.

"I knew it! You know this guy, Ate Zaida!"

Tatlong araw na si Alyx sa Macau sa kakahanap sa kanyang ama. Ngayon lang niya nalaman na isa siya sa mga may ari ng Grande Verde Hotel. Dominic See ang ginamit na pangalan ng kanyang ama na si Doleer Sidew, habang business partner naman niya si Ziv Lee, na Ziv Lehun ang tunay na pangalan sa Kerle. Nagbunga rin ang kakahanap niya sa Internet, salamat sa nag-iisang group photo ng mga owners and stockholders ng Grande Verde Hotel. She instantly saw her father among the crowd kahit na malayong shot ito.

She went to the hotel with a hopeful heart, ngunit tinaboy lang siya ni Ziv Lee. Hindi pa raw ngayon ang tamang pagkakataon para makita siya ng kanyang ama.

"Alyx..." Tumayo si Zaida para salubungin siya. Ngunit umurong papalayo si Alyx.

"That guy with you," itinuro niya si Ziv sa tabi nila Luis. "Magkakilala kayo. You know each other, right? I am at the right place, but he is driving me away! Naniniwala na ako na may tinatago kayong dalawa kaya di ko pwede makita si papa!" Galit na diin nito.

"Calm down," lumapit si Jabe sa kanya.

"Why won't you allow me to see my dad?!" Tuluyan ng lumuha si Alyx. Inalalayan siya ni Jabe at iniupo sa tabi nito.

"Alyx," tugon ni Ziv. Maluha-luha siyang tinignan ng dalaga at bakas ang poot sa kanyang mga mata.

"Don't tell me you and Zaida are planning to kill my dad so you will get bigger stocks from the hotel!" She cried out. "Di pa ba kayo nakontento sa ginawa niyo sa Kerle?!"

"That's not our intent!" Zaida answered sharply.

"Makinig ka muna," pakiusap ni Luis. "Alyx, please, para magkalinawan tayong lahat."

Alyx exhaled sharply and wiped the tears from her eyes. When she finally calmed down, Ziv started talking.

"Alyx, you know, your dad wants to see you too. He always talked about you all these years. But right now, you cannot just barge into his office. No one here knows he has a daughter, and as Dominic See, it will be a big scandal for him. It will harm you as well."

"So nabulag na rin siya ng yaman dito. He got blinded by wealth..."

"It's not that. He is just protecting you.  Only the five of us here knows the truth about me and Dominic. Aliens have been living with human beings ever since, but they never spoke of it, for fear of being discriminated and subjected to ridicule. Not only that, if people find out, those experts will subject us to different tests. As you know, we have more highly evolved mental abilities compared to the Earth humans."

Huminga ng malalim si Ziv at nagpatuloy.

"Alyx, I will allow you to see your dad, but after this, you have to agree to his plan of you running the hotel temporarily. He will go back to Kerle along with me and Zaida, so we can finally fight the Quonsibaars once and for all."

"What made you decide to turn against the enemy? You're a Quon too," Alyx pointed out.

"I have very personal reasons about it. And I don't want war anymore. I don't want Kerle to experience the wars here on planet Earth. Wars because of greed and hatred."

"But what made you decided to do business here along with my dad?" Unti-unti nang naliliwanagan si Alyx.

"There's a secret network of Kerlians here doing businesses across the globe. They helped us put this hotel, and in return, part of the profits here will aid the war back home," Ziv explained.

Nanahimik ang lahat. Alyx finally came to a decision. It was hard for her, but it must be done.

"Okay. Please let me spend a day with my dad. I will be in charge of managing this hotel in return for peace back in Kerle."

---

Kumain lang si Alyx. Pagkatapos ay nagtungo sila sa Executive Wing Office ng Grande Verde. Doon matatagpuan ang opisina ng ama ni Alyx na si Doleer Sidew, o mas kilala bilang si Dominic See.

Binook ni Ziv sila Luis at Jabe ng kwarto pati na rin sila Zaida at Alyx. Namasyal muna ang mag-tiyuhin. Naiintidhan naman nila na family matter ito.

Kinakabahan si Alyx habang naglalakad patungo sa opisina ng kanyang ama. Nasa tabi niya si Zaida while Ziv led them. May pulang carpet ang sahig at may mga sculptures at Chinese vases sa paligid. Inaliw na lang ni Alyx ang sarili hanggang sa nakatayo na sila sa harap ng double marble doors na kulay puti at may brass knocker ng lion head.

"We're here. I will enter first. Please wait," utos ni Ziv. Pumasok siya ng kwarto at mabilis din siyang nakalabas.

"Come in."

Pumasok sila Alyx at Zaida.

Tumambad kay Alyx ang isang lounge area na may emerald green na sofa. Ziv led them to another room where there was a grand wooden table. A lush armchair had its back turned to them, facing the window. It was cloudy outside, and the white curtains were partly drawn.

"Doleer, your daughter is here."

The armchair turned around slowly. Alyx' heart skipped a beat when she saw the man sitting there.

Her dad was dressed in a black coat with pinstripes, the typical look of a Macau businessman. He was thinner than the last time she saw him, but he looked healthy. His hair started to show gray strands, and his eyes teared up at the sight of Alyx. He removed his eyeglasses, placed it on the table, and stood up.

He went up to Alyx and hugged her for a long time. Both of them shed tears and no words were needed for this reunion.