Reincarnated Hearts 1: MY 1905 SENIORITA

Seniorita 2

Seniorita 2

"You can never cross the ocean unless you lose sight

Of the shore."

–Anonymous-

Selina:

What the hell? My head was aching. Pati na rin ang likod ko. I was sleeping here? Of course alam ko kung kanino Condo 'to! A, gosh.. He really let me slept here?

Bastard!

Ever since naman talaga he'd acted like one—a hot bastard. At akala niya talaga, gusto ko rin ang planong pagpapakasal namin? So anachronistic! Pero what to say in front of my ill father? Syempre, I need to nod my head and affirmed!

Sa tingin niya talaga gusto ko siya?

Jeez! Pero ang mga walang hiyang kaibigan ko—humanda kayo Briana at Jhaine! They dropped me here and forced me to knocked right in front of his door. I knew kahit lasing ako!

They waited for this—they always bridged me to him pero boring nga si Lutther. Being with him was like eating a plain cake without an icing and sweets! At alam ko rin na may girlfriend siya 'no.

"Glad you wake up. Out now, Selina." Nilingon ko ang kung sinong bigla-bigla nalang nagsalita sa likuran ko. Lutther was standing behind the couch, crossing his arms and all painted with gray and black.

Naiinis akong tumayo. "Arg, you know what, Lutther? Baka mag-expect ka na gusto kong makasal sa'yo, huh? Of course not!" Maldita kong sabi rito. I grabbed my porch and damn, I was still wearing my sandals. I was a total mess while sleeping in this stupid couch!

"And why you shamelessly knocked and noted yourself as my future wife last night? You looked damn pathetic, lumabas ka na nga." Aba't! How dare him! Rude! So f***ing rude!

He widely opened his door. Gumalaw ang mga panga nito. Damn his face! Suddenly, I remembered my father's words. Nilingon ko siya ulit.

Nagbuga ako ng hangin. "If it was not about my father, I would never allow anyone to intrude my private life—especially a boring man like you, Lutther." At bago pa man siya makapagsalita ay tinalikuran ko na siya. Hush! Binaybay ko ang patungong elevator kahit hindi naman talaga ako pamilyar sa building na 'to.

As I entered inside I leaned against the wall. Too damn tired! Meron pa akong hang-over plus that sick guy bugging around! "Ako pa talaga ang pathetic? Damn you, Lutther!" I murmured. Hanggang sa makalabas na ako ng building at tinungo ang parking area.

"Miss Selina! Over here, please!" Paparazzis! Oh f**k. I wore my shades and got inside my car. Hanggang dito ba naman? Rascals!

"Miss Selina, kayo na ba ni Lutther Monte Carlo? Totoo bang ikakasal na kayo? Are you excited?" Sunod-sunod ang tanong ng limang paparazzis na panay ang kuha ng mga pictures. Inirapan ko lang sila and closed the window.

Excited?

Bwesit na bwesit—oo!

I remembered last night Briana and Jhaine coaxed me to have a conversation with Lutther. Those b*tches told me a great suggestion which led me to his condo!

Kung ayaw ko rind aw na makasal sa kaniya—I better open a conversation with him kahit hindi kami comfortable sa isa't isa.

Well, when was the last time I had a conversation with him back in college days? None! As in—even a hi or hello or even hand gestures? Wala! Sa mga kaibigan niyang yes na yes pero sa kaniya? Tsk!

Simple. He got a leech girlfriend!

"Hija, hindi ka na naman nagpaalam na hindi makauwi kagabi. Where were you?" Sinalubong kaagad ako ni papa Fred pushing his own automatic wheelchair. Nag-mano ako and kissed my dad's cheeks. I hugged him tight.

"I'm sorry, papa. I..was—was at Briana's flat. Babalik na kasi siya ng Paris anytime this week so yeah, I spent a night with my girls. Sorry.. Kumain ka na? Did you take your meds already?" Malambing kong sabi saka tumayo. I pushed his wheelchair patungo sa favorite place niya dito sa mansion. Mama's garden.

"Yes, I did, hija. Later this evening—maghanda ka.. My comrade, Monte Carlo's family will be here." What?! My feet froze thinking that this was still about the planned wedding? Ayst! I love my father so much—at sa kaniya lang talaga ako mabait!

But I loathe the feeling na hindi man lang nila tinanong kung anong opinion namin ni Lutther sa plano nila—for Christ's sake we hated eachother!

That's the only mutual thing we have.

"Pa.. Hindi mo ba itatanong kung—kung okay lang ako sa plano ninyo ni tito Fernando? This is somewhat my life, papa.." Kalmado ko namang binitiwan ang mga salitang yun but I knew—those were heavily built! Hope my dad would be able to feel how burden this situation for me—and for the rest of my life.

I sat on the wooden bench and looked at my dad's sad face. He's already in his 60's. His white hairs were all grown and those wrinkes told me stories on how strong he was upon raising me alone—nang mamatay si mama Fe when I was only fifteen.

"Selina, anak—hindi mo rin ba itatanong kung ilang araw nalang akong mabubuhay?" That question seemed like a huge comet that crashed my soul. Why would he believed that!? Namuo 'agad ang mga luha ko saka ako lumuhod and held his hands.

"Papa, your doctors are stupid and dumb and liar—hindi ka mamatay, okay?" My tears fell. One by one. Si papa Fred lang naman talaga ang nakakakita ng mga luha ko—I was known to be a tough woman in public.

But hell—I am a human when it about family matter..

Papa just smiled and caressed my cheeks. He then wiped away my tears pero mas I sobbed. Naiinis ako sa kaniya! "Why are you always insisting this? You still have a long life, papa! You know, doctors are just there to—"

"Hush, hija.. I don't insist—that's the truth. I am sick, you know that. Pero I will make sure na bago man lang ako mawala—nasa mabuti kang kalagayan." Oh God. Ang sakit sa dibdib marinig.. I bowed my head and pillowed against my dad's thighs. Ayoko.. Hindi pa ako handang mawala si papa! Napapikit ako.

"I am not thinking about the company, hija—alam kong kaya mong palakarin ng mag-isa ang mga negosyo na'tin. You're smartest as your mom.." I tightly shut my eyes to resist all these flooded tears. "..but I want to see someone who could take care my baby for the rest of her life—at wala akong ibang makita kundi ang anak ng tito Fernando mo. Would you give me a chance to see you in good faith, anak? I want to walk you down in the aisle—as your proud father." Oh Jesus.. Napahagulhol ako ng iyak saka ko niyakap si papa ng mahigpit. Naiintindihan ko naman talaga lahat, e.. Kaya lang—it was always about Lutther.

If I hated him—the feeling tripled. But I love my papa Fred so much. Siya nalang ang natitira sa buhay ko. He did not even replace mama Fe—that's how he loved her and me..

Guess, I need to talk to Lutther again.

Papa Fred did everything for me—naging ama't ina nang mawala si mama Fe. He handled all the businesses and didn't skip giving his quality time for me even when I was still schooling. 'Pag may school activities na involved ako—he was always at the audience cheering for me. Shouting na anak niya ako.

Lahat ginawa niya. And the best of all—hindi niya nagawang palitan si mama sa puso niya.

Guess now's the time to repay my father..

Kahit sobrang labag sa loob ko—kahit ayoko.

Para kay papa!