Angel With A Shotgun

Chapter 9

9.

"You're going to work? But we already talked about it, right?"

Nalingon ko si Dad ng marinig ko ang boses niya. He's already dressed up for today's office hours. Nakasunod sa kanya si Mommy na agad nag-alala ang mukha.

"Kaye. What's the meaning of this?"

"I'm eating breakfast before heading to work, guys." Hindi ko pinansin ang mga naging reaksyon ng mga magulang ko at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

"Pero anak... Hindi ba mas magandang magpahinga ka muna? Akala ko okay na tayo na magpapahinga ka muna? You don't have to come to the office right now. Laishah can do everything for you, for the mean time. Habang nagpapahinga ka." Mom explained after she seated infront of me. Dad's place is beside Mommy.

"Why are you suddenly so eager to go to office? Did Daniel reach out to you? It's better if you'll stay away from stress for the time being, Kaye. Let me handle the Marcaydas because they have to do something about what happened. Until now, hindi pa rin sumasagot sa tawag ko si Rafael.  And if I have to go to their place, I will."

Matigas talaga ang ulo ni Daddy.

"Dad, you don't have to do something. Never nagreach out si Daniel after what happened and I'm sure he will never try. I really don't want to deal about this anymore. I want to forget everything. I want to move on. I want you guys to move on. Let's move forward from this. I'm thankful because nothing bad happened to me. I know what he did is so wrong and I know you are worried about how I feel but trust me, I'm trying my best to handle it the way it should be handled."

They're both looking at me with the same worried face I saw yesterday. Akala yata nila, 5 years old pa rin ang anak nila. Bakit ba kasi hindi na nila ako nasundan? Bakit nag-iisang anak lang ako? Bakit isa lang ang anak na ginawa nila?

"We're just afraid that you're being too hard on yourself which you shouldn't be." Sabi ni Mommy.

Umiling ako. "No, Mom. I'm okay. I can get by. This is my way of moving forward. If I don't have anything to do, I'll just think of what happened. And I don't want that. Let me move on by going to work, doing the same thing I'm doing before. And please, don't worry. I'm fine."

Mom take a deep sigh and Dad glanced at her.

"Maybe we can just trust her this time. After all, it's her feelings. We will respect that."

"Of course, I will respect that. But you can't just stop me from worrying about her, I'm her mother. "

"Babe, I know. And it's fine. But I think it's also best for her if we will let her do what she wants to do for her to move on from what happened."

Hearing this from Dad makes me want to hug him so tight because I know his willingness to trust me and letting me do the things on my own way.

"Why don't you go with us in Palawan? Mas makakapagunwind ka dun, Kaye." Mom suggested.

"What? But it's your vacation, 'di ba? Ayoko pong sirain ang bakasyon niyong dalawa so no, I will not join you guys. Isa pa, may kailangan din po akong asikasuhin kaya kailangan kong magstay."

"Something important?" Tanong ni Daddy.

Tumango ako. "It's Laishah's birthday next week. I'm planning a surprise party for her. And my birthday gift as well, which I need to consult to you. Or at least have your say."

"And what is it?"

"Oh, wow! Pagbalik na lang namin ang regalo ko sa kanya, ha. Sakto naman, eh. Kailan ba?"