Love Me on December

Kabanata 9

Kabanata 9: Christmas Day

"Dad!" I quickly ran towards my father, waiting for me outside from the terminal gate and embrace him into a hug.

My tears immediately fell down my cheeks and I buried my face on his shoulder. He hugged me back and his palms stroke my back to hush me down.

I thought I won't shed tears once I get home again here in Sydney. Pero sa maling akala, mapapaluha na naman pala ako dahil sa lahat ng mga nangyari sa bansang iyon.

"It's okay, sweetheart... We will move on..." Pagpapatahan niya sa'kin, mula sa ala-alang ibinaon ko sa Pilipinas.

I tried to compose myself, para makaalis na kami rito sa airport at para makausap ko na siya ng maayos.

"Let's go, Dad. Ayoko nang bumalik sa bansang 'yon." I said in between my tears and a pain throbbed inside my chest.

"I know. I'm sorry, I let you face there alone." He said in guilt, but I assured him with a smile.

He drived us home with our car. Buong biyahe nanatili lamang akong tahimik. No words can explain of what happened to me on that country, I better keep my mouth shut unless my father would ask about it.

Nang makauwi na kami, doon ko pa naramdaman ang buong pagod. Doon ko pa naramdaman na sobrang pagod pala ako sa buong mga nangyari, at ang makita ang buong bahay na tahimik ay parang doon pa ako nakaramdam ng kaginahawaan.

"I cooked you some food." Dad said, that it surprised me.

"Really, Dad?" I faced him with confusion.

"Of course, I always cook food for you." He said smiling at me.

Bigla akong nagtaka. I wonder why my Dad became like this? Why does he become calm and hopeful? He wasn't like this before I got away, but he was like this a few years ago.

Hindi ko na lamang iyon inalintana, at dumiritso na kaming dalawa sa dining. I became suspicious towards my father, at nakatutok lamang ang mapanuri kong tingin sa bawat galaw niya.

He cooked me food, at hinainan pa niya ako ng pagkain sa aking plato. Mas lalo lang ako naging mapanuri sa'king ama.

"What's going on, Dad? What is this all about?" Hindi ko na napigilang magtanong.

He paused, and slightly laugh over my reaction. "Oh, come on, sweetheart. Your Dad has always been like this, serving his only princess." Magaan niyang tugon.

But why? Nagbago na siya noong umalis at iniwanan na kami dito ni Mom.

"Is there something wrong, Dad?" I asked carefully, that might piss him off.

Ibinaba niya ang kaniyang hawak na kubyertos, at hinarap ako ng maayos. "There's nothing wrong, Rita... I just miss spending time with you, sweetheart." And he sighed.

I smiled quietly at him, and I later realized that maybe my Dad is so full up with all the anger and hate towards Mom. That made him miss our family doing normal things like this.

"And by the way..." He spat in between his food.

"I'm transferring the properties to your name, and our company will be managed by your Tito for now while you're still schooling. Soon you'll continue to manage that business that I started and built for you." He said out of the blue.

Akala ko ay pag-uusapan na namin ngayon ang tungkol kay Mom doon sa Pilipinas. But why does he start this conversation about his business? Why? Is he going to take a break muna?

"W-why are you talking like this, Dad?" I probed.

"I'm confused. Are you taking a break? Or business trip?" Dagdag ko pa.