MY STORY

4

"Eline, my daughter?" I looked at the man who I am longing to be with and by just hearing his voice, I knew that it was him. The man that I want to hug for a very long time but until now still keeping me away from him. My first love and first friend, the one that I want to be with forever, my father.

"Papa.." for the first time in a while, finally, I called him Papa again. I immediately run towards him and hugged him. I have never seen him for the past 7 years and I don't know but I want to cry. Minsan ko lang siyang nakakausap at nakikita dahil sinasaktan ako nina Tita Marga pagnakikipagkita ako sa kanya and they will make an alibi that I want to be alone or I am busy studying when Papa is finding me but truth is not and even if I am busy studying, I will postponed it just to be with papa.

"My God, Eline. Pinag-alala mo ako ng husto, where have you been all this years?" I could see his worriedness but even if I want to tell him the truth and the reason of my disappearance, I just can't because that will make Tita Marga more furious to me.

"I-I want to study in Manila, papa." I said and bowed my head, iniangat ni papa ang mukha ko and I saw his wrinkled brows.

"Eline, I know you. I am your father and a father knows when is the time when their children is lying or hiding something from them." I look down and think of an another alibi. Papa, if you only knew how many times I've hide my bruise whenever Tita Marga or Kristy will hit me using your waistband.

"I want to be i-independent." I lied again and this time papa look at me with my eyes. Good thing that I have this two dudes there at my back and I can change our topic using them.

"By the way, this is Zyon and Shawn, Papa. They are my friends." Turo ko sa kanilang dalawa and they both look at each other as if they are talking using their eyes and both of their look are expressing a confuse look.

"I think I already met them before but I just can't determine where but nice meeting you two, I am Eline's father." Upon hearing the word 'father', their eyes became wide and they are shocked about what did they just heard. Oh, I forgot that all they know is that I am only one of the staff in this mansion and Lola Marie was just a close friend of mine na naging malapit sa puso ko and I didn't told them that I am the elligitimate child of Elorño Lopez. I know that it is frivolity to believe for them that I am Elorño Lopez's daughter because all they knew was that Kristy is his only one daughter and maybe it's not that believable.

"Your faces are priceless." Dad jokingly commented and that's the time that they came back from their senses but still confuse.

"We heard it right that she's your daughter, right sir?" Zyon asked unbelievely while pointing at me and papa chuckled and nod.

"Why? Is there any problem with that? By the way, don't tell anyone about this, will you?" Dad asked and even though they are still look puzzle they nodded and I admit that they look funny.

"Thank you, by the way. Thank you for attending my mother's wake." Shawn and Zyon bowed their head while saying the word,

"Nakikiramay po kami, sir." Papa nod at them and he taps Zyon's shoulder.

"Pauwi na ba kayo?" Papa asked and the two nodded their heads. I forgot na nasa labas na pala kami.

"Uuwi na po kami." Maamong sabi ni Shawn and Zyon smiled at me but I just stared at him. He didn't even change, he's still the Zyon who never get tired of smiling that's the thing I like from him.

"Okay, take care." Yumuko sila ulit bago tumalikod para pumunta sa kanya-kanya nilang sasakyan. Yeah, rich guys indeed.

"Let's go daughter?" Papa asked and I nodded in response. Thank God that this is not an another worst day for me and if this day will be an another bad day, I think I will going crazy. I look at them and give the two a look that saying that 'I am okay and they can now go'.