My Goodbye Girl

My Goodbye Girl Chapter 1

She was a Daddy's girl. Kaya naman nung mamatay ang kanyang Daddy dahil sa cardiac arrest ay nagunaw ang mundo ni Dylan. It was all so sudden. She has just finished the painting she did, her painting she was most proud of, dahil napabilang ito sa mga painting na i-e-exhibit sa isang prestihiyosong art gallery. The exhibit was held annually, just before Christmas. She felt like it was an early Christmas gift. Ipinapakita niya ito sa kanyang Daddy, who was just recovering from his first major heart attack. Akala nya ay tuloy-tuloy na ang paggaling ng ama.

"Dad, pakiramdam ko nasa ere pa rin ako." Natutuwang pagbabalita nya sa ama.

"I'm proud of you, princess. Napakaganda nito." Pagpuri ng kanyang ama sa ipininta niya. Bata pa lang sya ay nakakitaan na sya ng kanyang ama ng angking galing sa pagguhit at pagpinta.

Dylan was a straight A student. Hindi niya kailanman binigo ang kanyang mga magulang. Napakamasunurin niyang anak, napakagalang at napakabait. She wants her parents to be proud of her and she would do nothing to disappoint them. Nagtapos siyang Valedictorian noong Elementary at High School. Noong sya ay magko-kolehiyo na, binigyang laya siya ng kanyang Mommy at Daddy upang piliin ang anumang kursong gusto nya. She made it to one of the country's top universities. Nagpalipat lipat siya ng kurso pero wala syang narinig na reklamo o pangaral mula sa kanyang mga magulang. They just let her be, and she will always be grateful for that. Finally, she stuck with a course she knew by heart. She took up Fine Arts, and she finished it with flying colors.

"Magpagaling ka Dad, gusto ko malakas na malakas ka na, para makaattend ka sa exhibit." Aniya at hinalikan sa pisngi ang kanyang ama.

Hinaplos ng Daddy nya ang kanyang buhok. "No matter what, never stop painting. This is your gift, Dylan. I will always be proud of you. Mahal na mahal kita, anak."

"Oo naman Daddy. I love painting. Nakikita kong masaya rin kayo sa mga accomplishments ko. I won't stop making you proud." Niyakap nya ang kanyang ama.

"Ang mahalaga naman anak, ay masaya ka."

"Masaya ako Dad. At syempre dahil nandyan ka. You're the best daddy in the whole world."

"And I'm proud that you grew up to be the best daughter any parent could ever have."

Iyon ang huling pag-uusap nila ng kanyang Daddy. Kinabukasan ay isinugod na ito sa ospital. Her dad was in a coma for a week and then he succumbed to his illness.

Dylan was very devastated. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin at kung paano pa magpapatuloy sa pagpinta without her dad.

"Dylan, anak, tayo na lang dalawa ang nandito. Ayokong makita kang ganyan. Be strong. Pareho nating mahal ang Daddy mo. Sigurado akong ayaw nyang makita tayong nagkakaganito." Her mother embraced her.

"Mommy, ang hirap po pala kapag wala si daddy." Humihikbing yumakap si Dylan sa Mommy nya. Her mom is an amazing woman. Marami ang nagsasabing kamukhang kamukha nya daw ito. Kaya siguro mahal na mahal din siya ng kanyang Daddy. But now, he's gone. And it's just so hard.

"Kakayananin natin ito, anak. Para sa mga sarili natin. Para sa isa't isa. Para sa daddy mo." Her mother's words were very assuring. Dylan wanted nothing than to be enveloped in her mother's arms. She felt fragile and helpless.

Dumating ang araw ng exhibit. Ito ang pinakahihintay na araw ni Dylan, but now that her Dad was gone, she doesn't feel the way she used to feel about this exhibit. There was an empty space inside her, despite whatever that will happen tonight, it will never be the same without her father.

Her masterpiece is a mirror of her family. Ito ay isang larawan ng masayang pamilya. The happiness in her painting radiates through the heart of everyone who saw it. Sa unang tingin pa lang ay masasabi na ng mga nakakita nito na ang pintor ng larawang ito ay masaya. But now, seeing her painting hurts her soul. Lalo lamang niyang naaalala ang kanyang Daddy. She knew that her family will never be happy like that again.

Hungkag ang mga pagbati at papuring natatanggap niya sa mga tao. Walang saysay sa kanya ang mga ito. Kung hindi lamang nga siya napilit ng kanyang Mommy na pumunta sa exhibit ay mas gusto pa nyang magkulong sa kanyang kwarto. Mula nang mawala ang kanyang Daddy ay mas ninanais na nyang mag-isa.

She knew she needed change.