Behind Her Innocence (Hughes Series)

Chapter 35: Tears of Joy

Aaron's POV

Maaga akong nagising kahit alam kong lunch time pa naman kami ni Rosetta magkikita. Actually, hindi talaga ako maayos na nakatulog kasi sobrang excited ako sa mangyayari mamaya.

I took a shower and dressed up presentably. Sobrang kinakabahan ako habang palapit ng palapit ang oras na makikita ko ang anak ko.

"Pam."

"Hello. Good morning, sir," bati ng assistant ko nung tinawagan ko siya habang pasakay ako ng kotse ko. 

"Is everything okay there? I know that I gave you a short notice to cancel my appointments. I hope they took this lightly at hindi nagalit." Marami kasi dapat akong ka-meeting ngayon but those were less important than meeting my daughter.

"Hindi naman, sir. Halos lahat naman pumayag na e-reschedule natin sila."

I nodded like she saw me. "That's good."

"Sigurado po ba kayo, sir, na hindi niyo kailangan ang tulong ko jan ngayon?"

"Hindi na, Pam. Thank you for your offer though. Marami ka ng naitulong. Tama ng sa office ka lang magfocus. I have other people to help me prepare for this."

"Okay, sir. Good luck po." I smiled. She knew what was going to happen today kaya ako nag-absent sa office.

"Thank you so much."

Gwen and I planned to meet up at lunch time. Pero nine AM palang ay pumunta na ako sa lugar kung saan kami magkikita. It's a restaurant of a friend of mine na pinasadya ko pa talagang i-rent para siguradong kami lang ang tao mamaya. I wanted to be alone with my daughter and I wanted her to feel special.

Napalingon ako sa entrance ng restaurant nung narinig ko na bumukas ang pinto.

"Dad."

Ngumiti siya sa akin. Dad looked so happy. Iba ang saya niya ngayon. Actually, pareho kaming masaya. Alam kasi niya na ngayon na kami magkikita ni Rosetta, and he's excited for me.

"Hi, son."

I was glad dad came to check on me but he was not supposed to be here. "Dad, why are you here? We already talked na kami muna ng anak ko ang magkikita. I know you're excited to meet her but wag muna natin siyang biglain."

Dad laughed and shook his head. "I know, son. Nandito lang naman ako para ibigay sayo ito." Inabot niya sa akin ang isang box. "You know how much she likes cake kaya bakit mo kinalimutan dalhin yan? Pasalamat ka at nakita ko yan sa ref kundi minus points ka sa apo ko."

"Yeah, I forgot about this kasi sobrang excited akong pumunta dito. Thanks for bringing it, dad," I sincerely told him and gave him a manly hug.

Dad always has his own ways of showing me that he's supporting me.

Niyakap ako ng mahigpit ni dad. Siguro tumagal ito ng isang minuto. Nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba sa yakap na yun.

"Good luck, son. I am so happy for you," madamdamin niyang sabi.

I almost cried hearing my dad's words.

Nung naghiwalay kami ng yakap ay nagulat ako nung nagpunas siya ng mga mata. He just laughed at me after he wiped his tears to conceal his cries.

"Siguraduhin mong pagkatapos nito ay makikita ko na din ang apo ko, Aaron. Hindi na ako bumabata at matagal ko na siya gustong makita. Puro pictures nalang at kwento ang naririnig ko tungkol sa kanya. Kaya dapat galingan mo ngayon, Aaron," dad kind of warned me but in a teasing way.

I laughed lightly. "I will do my best, dad. I will do my best for things to work out."

Tumango siya. He sighed deeply before he put his hands inside his pockets. "I have to go. Hindi naman kasi ako invited dito."