"Where have you been?"
Damn! I'm caught. 'Easy zara! Just think some alibis!'
"Ahm.. I was with my c-classmate. we finished our requirements for finals semestre Dad." Shit! I'm f*cking nervous right now!
He looked at me for a second, took a deep breath and nod. And that's my cue! I smiled at him for a while and went upstair. Wooh! malapit nako dun ah! minsan lang maniwala si daddy sakin at nakakapagtakang hindi nya ko pinagalitan, maybe he seems so busy this past few days, and I know it's because of our business.
I went inside my bathroom to clean myself, I felt so sticky! pa'no ba naman ang daming tao sa bar kaya masyadong siksikan. I so hate crowded places! pero dahil birthday ng aking Best b*tch friend ay wala akong nagawa kung hindi sakyan ang trip nya. I Dried my hair after kong maligo and jump to my bed, as usual, I done my routine like magmunimuni and then fell out of sleep.
Pagkagising ko sa umaga ay agad akong naghilamos. I look myself in the mirror and get things done before I go downstair. I saw daddy na may kausap na lalaki habang nakaharap sa piano na binili nya pa from paris. Mayamaya lang ay may pumasok na mga lalaki at dalidaling binuhat ang piano palabas at labis akong nagulat dahil ang sala naming punong puno ng furniture ay malinis at tanging carpet lang ang natira dun. WTF?!
"Dad? W-what's wrong?!" Lumingon sya sa gawi ko and I feel so sad when I saw his eyes look so tired.
"Alona. I'll explain it to you later, Take your breakfast first." He said. hindi ko maiwasang mag-alala, alam kung may kinalaman ito sa business.
"Where's Mom?" I asked dad.
"She's on a v-vacation." He stammered and I know He is not telling me the truth but still, I trust daddy. I know he has a reason.
Nang umakyat si Daddy sa taas ay dumiretso ako sa kusina to eat breakfast but I can't totally eat normally to think that there is something wrong. Damn! and my Mom? I have this feeling na she's not okay... Sa sobrang pag-aalala ay mabilis akong tumayo at pumunta sa taas para kausapin si Daddy.
Kumatok ako sa pinto ng kanyang office and went inside. I saw him look so depressed, nakapatong ang siko nya sa lamesa while his left hand resting on his forehead. I sigh and seat on the chair infront of his table.
"Dad? What is it?" nag-angat sya ng tingin sakin at sumandal sa kanya swivel chair habang magkadaop ang kanyang mga palad.
"I'm not suppose to tell you this--"
"Dad, Please!" I pled.
"Our business is failing now Alona. I tried my best to save it but, it doesn't work the way I want it to be, and the only solution to this is to... to.."
"To what Dad?" nagiwas sya ng tingin sakin "It doesn't matter, anyway" He said. Hindi ako naniniwala! "Dad, Please tell me!" hindi ko na masyadong nacontrol ang tono ng aking pagsasalita dahil sa tindi ng aking pag-aalala. I looked at him at napansin kong parang nagdadalawang isip pa sya kung sasabihin ba nya o hindi pero sa huli ay nagsalita pa rin sya.
"Alona.. I do'nt believe in arrange marrige--"
"W-what do you mean by that, Dad?" Hindi ako makahinga. May ideyang tumatakbo sa isip ko.
"My business partner, Mr. De Loughrey gave me a proposal.. He said he can help save our company by.. you marrying his son." I KNEW IT! "pero anak, hindi kita pipiliting gawin 'to kung ayaw mo."
"No Dad! kung yan ang paraan p-para masolve ang problema, I'll do it!" I firmly said. I saw him shocked for a moment then later on gave me a soft smile I always wanted to see on his face. I love my Dad and Mom so much. I could risk everything with no regret from them, just to see them happy. Even if the exchange of it is my FREEDOM.
