Thomas' POV
Bumalik ako kay Ara matapos kong i-end ang call. I kissed her forehead at nagpaalam sa kanya.
"Baby, I'll be back ha."
I left a note para naman hindi siya mag-alala. Ipinaalam ko na rin sa mga nurses na bantayan si Ara.
Kinakabahan talaga ako. I know my dad. He's really serious when he says he is.
Hours later, nakabalik na ako sa Manila, particularly sa house namin. I immediately went sa room ni Dad to talk things over.
"Dad?"
"Son, finally." He placed his glass of wine sa desk niya. "Take a seat."
I took a seat and asked, "Ano pong meron?"
"Ah ayun ba," He started by giving a sigh. "Do you remember when you were still on your high school days? You always wanted to be a lawyer."
I nodded. Totoo yun. I wanted to be a lawyer kahit noon pa. Lawyer kasi si Mom kaya I wanted to follow her footsteps. But I guess, hindi pagiging lawyer ang destiny ko. It is to be a basketball player, a professional one.
"Yes, Dad. Bakit po?"
"Well, paano kung sabihin ko sayong matutupad na ang pangarap mo?" He asked with a hint of excitement in his voice.
"T-talaga po? How?" I asked.
"Remember your Mom's sister? Your Tita Andrea." Sabi niya. "She is granting your scholarship, buong years mo, sa Law School!"
Lumaki naman ang ngiti ko. "Seriously, Dad?!"
"Yes."
"Saan po? Ateneo Law School ba? DLSU College of Law? UP College of Law? PUP College of Law?" Sunod sunod kong mga tanong. My dreams are becoming real, natutuwa ako!
"Nope. Wala sa mga yan." Sabi ni Dad.
Huh? Kung hindi dyan, saan? Yan na mga best schools na nag-ooffer ng Law.
"Saan po?" I asked.
"Harvard Law School." He said. "Harvard University, son. The best school in the world!"
"What?!" Gulat kong tanong. Harvard? Sa America yun ah!
"Yes, Thomas. And the university is also offering you to join their Basketball team kaya hindi ka na mamomroblema sa career mo."
I was speechless. These all sum up to one thing--I'll leave this country. Iiwan ko lahat para doon. Oo, pangarap kong maging lawyer and, at the same time, basketball player. But I never really imagined this kind of set-up. Hindi pwede, lalong hindi pwede ngayon dahil sa kalagayan ni Ara. I need to be with her. She needs me.
"Ilang years ka sa America, Thomas. You'll be leaving next week kasi mag-eenroll ka pa." Tumayo siya sa upuan niya.
