Simula
I heaved a sigh as I enter the house. My back hurts and I just want to lay on my bed. Pero may kailangan pa akong tapusin na presentation for tomorrow's board meeting.
So, I really need a lot of coffee just to keep my eyes open.
I went directly to the kitchen to drink some water. The house is quite. Baka tulog na si daddy.
I was washing the glass that I've used nang pupungas-pungas na pumasok si dad sa kitchen.
"Hi dad! Sorry, did I woke you up?" I said as I went to kiss his cheek.
"No...no. Bumaba ako when I saw your car. I was waiting for you. You're late again. having hard time sa work?" He asked.
"Did you eat already?" Tumango ako.
"One of my team mate was on leave dahil manganganak ang asawa niya, kaya, I was left to do his work." I said as I put the glass on the cupboard.
"You volunteered?" He guessed, his eyes turning into slits.
"Yes. Everyone's busy with their assigned work, so.." I shrugged. I leaned on the counter.
Napabuntong hininga ito.
"Anak, aren't you working too much? Pwede naman kitang i'assign sa mas madaling trabaho, o di kaya, I'll assign you as the President right away..
"Tutal balak ko naman na talagang magpahinga sa trabaho. I'm already old. I know kaya mo naman nang hawakan ang kompanya."
"Dad, don't say that.. I can still manage naman, tatlong buwan palang naman ako diyan sa trabaho ko." I walked out of the kitchen and went to the living room to get my Mcbook.
Dad's at it again, convincing me to manage the company because he's already old daw. I don't get him sometimes, hindi naman siya mukhang matanda, well, he's already in his 50's but mukha lang siyang nasa 40's. If not because of his white hair that's already showing, ay hindi mo siya aakalaing nasa 50 plus na ang edad.
"Ali-"
"Are we talking about this matter over and over again dad?" I cut him off as I faced him.
He sighed in defeat. "Okay.. but if you change your mind, you can-"
"Dad!" Natatawang nagtaas ito ng dalawa ng kamay as if surrendering. Napairap nalang ako.
"By the way, someone came here earlier, he was looking for you. Manliligaw mo?" His brows moved up and down, teasing her.
"Sino daw?"
"Vincent?"
"Oh! Anong kailangan?"
"Looking for you. Nag'iwan ng bouquet of roses. Nasa study room. Manliligaw mo yun Alira?" Umiling ako. Nope.
"I just met him yesterday while I'm on a jog. He's new in the neighborhood." Kinuha ko ang mga gamit ko and went to the stairs to go to my room.
"Sige na dad. May tatapusin pa ako
for the presentation tomorrow. Night."
Paalam ko pero bago pa ako tuluyang maka-alis ay nagsalita ulit ito.
"Oo nga pala. I forgot. Aalis tayo the day after tomorrow.." I stopped.
"What?" He looked away nang nilingon ko siya.
"We're going to the Philippines.."
"What? No way!" Medyo tumaas ang boses ko. I was stunned for a moment. I don't know how to react when I heard him. Philippines? We're going where? The country's name is familiar and my heartbeat accelerated for no reason.
Dad's reaction when he saw mine was unexplainable. Kaya tinama ko ang sinabi.
"I mean... Why? What are we going to do there? What about work? I mean.." I was lost for words. I don't know what to say.
"Can you explain this dad?" I said intently. Emotions draining out of my face.
He sighed. "It was so sudden. I was also shocked when your mom called me this morning.." he stopped when I raise my hand to stop him. I just want to clarify what he just said.
"My what?" My brows meet as I picture a woman almost same as my features, maybe..
"Your mom, anak." I laughed sarcastically. Emotions completely vanished.
"I don't know that meron pala akong nanay, dad. I almost thought you're the one who gave birth to me." I said coldly. I wonder how can I hate someone I never saw before.
"Alira." His voice was stern. "Don't be like that to your mom. She's still your mother."
Hindi naman lihim sa akin na may nanay pa ako and she's very much alive. I just don't want to talk about her, I just don't understand why did she.. I sighed.
"I know. Sorry dad." I apologized as i look away. Dad seldom use that tone on me.
"It's okay.. Just be nice to her when we go back to the Philippines." He said softly. I nodded.
"I still don't know why are we going there."
"It's about your grandma. You know, she's not getting any younger, and she wished to see you. They wanted to surprise her by having you there. I think it's about time too for you, to meet your mother's side." I heaved a sigh.
Am I ready? Ever since I became aware of my surroundings, my dad is the only one that I can call family.
And knowing that I have a family aside from my dad scares me. To hell.
Kaya naman hindi ako masyadong nakatulog ng gabing yun. After I finished making the powerpoint presentation, I laid on my bed and just stared at my ceiling.
There's so many questions running on my head. Enough for my eyes to stay open the whole night.
If there's one thing that I'm thankful about it is that dad's there for me having lumalaki ako. Hindi ko naman hinangad ang malaking pamilya. Dad is more than enough. Maswerte parin ako dahil may nag-alaga sakin simula ng nagkamulat ako. Unlike those children in the orphanage na wala kahit isa. They grow up with other people looking for them. I'm still blessed after all. Dad gave me everything I wanted. He became both my nanay and tatay. That's why at an early age, I'm already responsible to do things on my own with the guidance of my yayas, kasi minsan ay di na ako natututukan ni dad dahil busy siya sa pagpapastable ng company.
Pero hindi ko naman sinumbat sa kanya ang mga oras na kailangan nandoon siya sa tabi ko. He's working naman for my future kaya nakukuntento na ako na nakikita ko siya once a day.
When I looked at my clock I found that it's already 3am in the morning. I sighed. Hindi na nga talaga ako nakatulog.
I went out for a jog at umuwi lang ng maliwanag na.
"Mag almusal ka na, Alira." Manang Ela said when I entered the dining. She was busy cooking something.
"Morning manang. Where's dad?" I asked as I settled myself on the chair. She immediately prepared food for me.
"Hindi pa bumababa. Gusto mo ng gatas?"
"I'll have a coffee today. Medyo di ako nakatulog e." I said as I started eating.
"Sabi ko naman sayo wag ka masyadong seryoso diyan sa trabaho mo. Nakakalimutan mo na ang buhay pag-ibig mo. Baka tumanda kang dalaga niyan." Sabi nito habang ginagawa ang kape ko.
"Si manang talaga. I can perfectly take care that part of my life. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali." Tawa ko dito.
"Bahala kang bata ka.. concern lang naman ako sayo at..." And she went on talking about married life.
I stopped sipping my coffee when my phone beeped on my jacket's pocket. I took it and found that there was a text message.
As I look at his message. It sent me thinking about going to the Philipines again. I smiled.
I replied his greeting with a single 'Morning' with a smiley emoticon. I hit send and continued eating. One question lingers on my mind as I start my day.
What is he like?
