Masked

Twenty Four

"Buti naman at naalala mong may anak ka pa," bungad ko kay Daddy na nakaupo sa may gutter ng kalsada.

"Jacky..." Tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin.

"O ano? Pipilitin mo pa rin ako..."

"Come here my princess."

I was taken aback ng bigla akong yakapin ni Daddy. God, I missed my Dad so much. Nanaig na sa akin ang pagmamahal ng isang anak. I hugged him back.

"Dad.. I'm so sorry. Pinigilan ko naman Dad. I tried to fit in to the world I am supposed to belong with but I just can't. Daddy, yun talaga ang mga hilig ko, ang passion ko. I can't live my life lying and pretending to be someone I'm not. Masakit na lokohin ang sarili Daddy. I'm so sorry po," I said when we let go.

"My princess... Believe me, I'm doing the best I could to give you the greatest things in life. Hindi ko namalayang nalalayo na ang loob ko sa'yo. I'm so sorry to cause you so much pain, hija. God, that's the least thing I wanted to give you. Akala ko kasi, akala ko nagrerebelde ka na sa akin, sa amin ng Tita Margarette mo. That's why pumayag ako sa engagement."

"Pero Daddy naman, wala naman po talagang nangyari sa amin ni Terrence. He was just bluffing."

"Akala ko nga na nagbibiro lang din si Terrence, pero he personally went to me and asked for your hand in marriage. Kaya nga naisip ko na baka may konting problema lang kayo and this engagement party is the way to solve it. I did not push you for my business, ang akala ko I'm doing it for you."

"Huh? Eh hindi naman kami ni Terrence Dad."

"That's opposite to what he said and to what I saw."

"Anong nakita mo Dad?"

"Terrence handed me some pictures. You look so sweet and good together. It's very impossible na isiping hindi kayo."

"Langyang Terrence yun ah!" bulalas ko ng makita ang mga larawan. Kuha ito ng minsang nagkaroon kami ng date-datetan para makatakas kay Margarette.

"It's.. It's scripted Dad. It's for the show. Walang nakakaalam sa mga pinaggagagawa ko except Betty. Until that party where you were announcing your project at Thailand. Terrence saw me sneaking at the back with my skateboard and trophy. Kaya nga nagulat ako ng makita ko siya at ipinakilala pa sa akin. I have to do the fastest idea I could ever think of kaysa malaman niyo ang dirty little secret ko."

"And that is to make him your suitor?"

"Yeah. Eh sa yun lang maiisip ko eh."

"Baka you were unconsiously attracted to him kaya yun ang naiisip mo. Hindi mo naman alam di ba? Baka di niya sasabihin yung nakita niya, you just assume. Or you could make him your stalker..."

"Dad!" putol ko sa sasabihin niya.

"Ok ok. I leave that problem to the both of you. Labas na ako jan. Basta Jacky, all I want you to know is. I'm proud of you anak. I will forever be proud. Kahit ano pang gusto mo, naka suporta ako sa'yo. Umuwi ka na sa bahay, anak."

"Pero Dad, paano si Margarette?"

"We had a long talk last night. Parang nakukuha naman niya ang gusto kong iparating pero gusto kong sabihin sa'yo na she'll be having a vacation. A year traveling the world."

"At bakit naman niya gagawin yan?"

"She wants to think and I think she'll be needing it. I guess, we'll be needing that as well. Im just hoping na sa pagbalik niya, she'll change for the better."

"Let's change for the better Dad."

"Simulan na natin ang pagbabagong yan sa iyo. Bumalik ka na sa bahay."

"Of course, magpapaalam lang ako kay Betty."

"I love you hija. Please don't forget that."

"I love you too Dad." Namasa ang mata ko habang yakap-yakap si Daddy.

"Huwag ka ng umiyak Jacky. I hate seeing you cry." Pinahid ni Daddy ang luhang naglakbay sa aking mukha.

"These are tears of joy Dad. At last, di na ako nagtatago. Ang hirap magkunwari Dad."

"Speaking of pagkukunwari. Kailan ba kayo magkakaaminan ni Terrence? You know, I like that young man. He had guts in telling me that he wants your hand in marriage."

"Buti pa sayo sinabi niya, sa akin nga wala," I muttered.

"I heard that. Ayaw mo na kamong magkunwari. What are you doing now?"

"Doing what Dad? Di kita gets," pagkakaila ko. Ayokong isipin ang ibig sabihin ni Daddy dahil takot ako sa maaring malaman ko tungkol sa sarili ko. Sa nararamdaman ko.

"Nevermind. Alam kong alam mo ang punto ko pero labas na ako jan. Basta, Daddy will always and forever be here for you."

I smiled at him. "Since sinabi mo yan. Pwede bang bukas na lang ako uuwi sa atin Dad? Wala kasing kasama si Betty dito."

Ginulo ni Daddy ang buhok ko. "Of course, basta uuwi ka."

"Of course! Love you Dad!"

He waved at me as he made his way to his car. In return, nag flying kiss ako sa kanya.

It's good to have my father back.