“You’ve made a scandal again last night, Cresia”, masakit ang ulo ko dahil sa hang over at nandito si Dad sa kwarto ko. Dinalhan nya ako ng soup at gamot.
“Good morning, too, Dad”, I greeted him with my eyes closed. I was still on my bed feeling lazy.
“Gino was there with you at the bar?”, mas lalong sumakit ang ulo ko.
“He’s with his girlfriend not with me. Nagkita lang kami dun. Hindi ko alam nandun sya. I was with Klaus”, I tried to not sound so bitter. I opened my eyes and it directed to my father’s suspicious eyes.
“You kissed someone. It’s all over the internet since last night”
Agad akong napabangon. Nahilo ako kaya napahawak ako sa aking ulo. Inabutan ako ng ama ko ng tubig. Pilit kong inalala angm mga nangyari kagabi. I was dancing with whoever and with anyone until Gino stepped in saying stupid things. Sinaktan na naman nya ako. And then…
“I kissed someone”, I remembered grabbing someone wishing Gino would just let me be. Dun naman sya magaling. Acting and pretending na may pakialam. Lumapit ng husto si Dad sa kama ko at naupo sa gilid. Naramdaman ko ang haplos nya sa aking buhok. Like the old good times.
“You know how I wanted you to be always safe, darling. Ayokong pigilan ka sa kahit ano’ng gusto mong gawin but I always wanted you safe. I never intended to deprive you of your freedom”, his voice was quite shaky. Kumunot ang noo ko. Why was he telling me this?
“Don’t be like this, Dad. I understand”
His nature of work cut me off some of my freedom. Minsan naiinggit ako sa mga pinsan at kaibigan ko dahil nagagawa nila ng malaya ang mga gusto nila. They have their own privacy. They can go to wherever they want at anytime they want. Akala ng mga tao maswerte ako at pinagpala. They saw the bitch and privileged me. A princess who doesn’t need to lift a finger to get what she wants. No one knows my sufferings except for my Dad. He always knew what I feel kahit hindi ko sabihin. Kahit wala akong sabihin. All I have is him.
“I just love you so much, anak. I will do anything for you and for your safety. Kahit magalit ka sa akin”, he pulled me into a tight hug. A father’s hug. This moment was the moment I would treasure forever.
“Ang aga-aga naiiyak ako, Dad. I love you, too. You’re the only one I have”, yumakap din ako pabalik.
“Eat your breakfast”, itinuro nya ang chicken soup na nasa table sa tabi ng kama ko. Mayroon na ring isang basong tubig, isang basong orange juice at gamot para sa sakit ng ulo.
“I’m late. I got to go. Have a nice day”, he kissed my forehead before going.
Habang kumakain, kinuha ko ang cellphone ko na nakacharge. I opened my social media account at naibuga ko ang iniinom nang makita ang nangunguna sa newsfeed ko.
“The Princess and the Rockstar starting off a hot romance?”
There was a clear picture of us kissing or more like me kissing the man in the sea of people. The man’s eyes were as wide as the saucers. He was holding a drink on his hand and my hands were clasped at his neckline. I zoomed in the picture, my face heated at how hot the kiss looked. It was simple but there was something in there. There was something because I was Lucresia Lopez and he was Zeo.
I scrolled down and there were many shares and posts. Different angles at may mga videos din na tumagal lang ng tig-iilang segundo. Ang dami ding comments. Some were from bashers and more of them were intrigued and pushing through.
Nasapo ko ang nook o ng isara ko ang cellphone ko. Hindi ko muna pinansin ang mga mensaheng natanggap ko. Hindi ko mabilang ang mga messages at kung kani-kanino galing.
At least my issue was not with another son of the opposite political party. Hindi sa kalaban na naman ni Dad. I continued eating peacefully and went on my day like the usual.
I was reading a particular project proposed last board meeting and supposed to be done in Aklan—a hotel project—when my secretary knocked on the door.
“Yes?”
“Ma’am, there is someone here to see you”, she informed me. I lazily looked at the door. Iniluwa noon ang lalaking hinalikan kagabi sa bar. I froze right at my seat while he coolly walked into my office wearing his arrogant aura. His shades was tinted not allowing to reveal his eyes.
“Ms. Lopez”, his voice was the deepest I’ve heard. I collected myself and acted professional.
“Yes? Do you need anything from me?”, I asked. I was proud how I sounded so professional. “Take a seat”, inilahad ko ang sofa kung saan ako tumatanggap ng mga bisita. Sumunod naman sya. Bago ko sya muling daluhan ay nagpahatid ako ng inumin sa secretarya ko.
“Why are you here?”, tinanggal nya ang shades nya at nakita ko ang mga mata nya. It was intense. Now I know the reason why he has captured many women in the nation. Celebrities or not. Nakataas ang kanyang kilay.
“I assume you already know the issue you caused me? It’s all over the internet. A hot topic”
I could sense his ange and annoyance. It amused me. I thought he was just another typical celebrity who loves attention.
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I already talked to my personal advisor and she told me to make a public letter for it to clear the issue”
“And what would you say?”, agap nya. Naghahamon ang kanyang titig.
“That it was my fault?”, may pag-aalinlangan kong sagot. “Which is true. I didn’t know it was you. I absentmindedly just grabbed someone there because I was drunk. Don’t worry, I will make sure to clear your name”, I smiled sweetly. His expression did not change at all.
“How about this?”, itinuro nya ang panga nya. Nagtaka pa ako dahil wala naman akong makita. Nang wala pa rin akong makita sa itinuturo nya, lumapit sya at pinunasan ng panyo ang bahaging iyon. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng makita ang pasa sa panga nya.
“What’s that?!”
“Your boyfriend did this”
“Who? I don’t have a boyfriend”, sagot ko. Nag-isip isip ako kung sino ang tinutukoy nya. Baka naman si Gilbert? Or one of my bodyguards? Wala akong matandaan after the kiss.
“Seriously, hindi mo boyfriend yun?”, mas lalong galit at asar ang ekspresyon nya. He then fished out his phone on his pocket and scrolled something.
“Then who’s this?”, itinapat nya ang screen at ipinakita ang litrato na tinutukoy nya. Kumalabog ang puso ko. I can’t be.
“He… he hit you?”, titig na titig ako sa litrato ni Gino.
“Yeah. And for your information, I hate being hit. Nagalit si Mama sa akin dahlia akala nya nakipag-away ako. I was tipsy pero tanda ko ang mga pangyayari. He suddenly punched me hard in the face. Buti inawat sya ng mga tao at nung isang babae”, kwento nya. Heather maybe. Gumuhit ang sakit sa akin.
“He’s not my boyfriend. I didn’t know him”, tanggi ko.
His eyes narrowed at me.
“Actually, I came here for a different reason, Ms. Cresia. I don’t need you to clear anything. I am here to ask for a favor”, sumandal sya sa backrest ng sofa. His eyes looked determined.
