One Night Love

Kabanata 54

Antonio's PoV

Kanina pa ako naiinip, naiinis. I cant contact my daughter. Hindi siya sumasagot sa mga tawag ko. She didnt even reply on my texts. Nagulat na lang ako nang makauwi ako ng bahay, wala na siya.

I keep on asking on the maids, and all my workers here if where is Lorice. Pero ni isa sa kanila ay walang maisagot.

"Violet, where's my daughter? Nasaan si Lorice?" tanong ko.

"Ewan ko. Siguro, bumalik iyon sa pinanggalingan niya. We dont know kuya. Maybe she dont want to live here."

I sighed. "Nasaan si Gail?"

"Nasa kwarto. Oh, I forgot kuya. Kahapon pa siya umiiyak, walang ganang kumain, and her room is locked. I'm so worried kaya I think you need to talk to her."

I immediately went to her room. Pero, hindi mabuksan ang pinto ng kwarto niya. Kaya naman, ginamit ko yung duplicate, and it opened. I entered Gail's room. And I saw her. I just saw her room, so messy. Nag alala ako ng sobra. Baka, maulit ulit yung nangyari dati.

That trauma.

Nakita ko na lang siyang nasa terrace. No! She's gonna kill herself again! May hawak siyang kutsilyo at kaunting tulak na lang siguro, mahuhulog na siya.

No!

"G-gail! Gail! Dont do that again-- ano bang nangyayari sayo?! Tell me!"

She's just crying, attempting to stab herself. I keep on begging her not to do it. Goodness! All that memories are coming back!

"No! Dad! Its better to kill myself! Wala na akong rason para mabuhay!" iyak ng iyak si Gail. She's just 19! Bakit nangyayari ito sa anak ko?

Sa takot na mapano ang anak ko, we decided to bring her in a private hospital in U.S. And one day, her friend talked to me, if what happened to her.

Her boyfriend broke up with her.

She's depressed, and wants to kill herself but I dont want it to happen. Kaya naman, nagtagal pa siya sa U.S. bago makabalik sa Pilipinas na fully recovered.

After all of that, I disagree on her relationships with other men. Dahil yun lang ang nakakapagbigay ng trigger sa kanya.

And now, wala akong ideya kung sino ang karelasyon niya, or the one that she likes.

"Gail, let's talk, my daughter, please. I dont want to see you like that. Come on, umalis ka na diyan. You know that dad loves you so much, right?"

"Dad...." my younger daughter.

Dahan dahan siyang naglakad papunta sa akin. She's still holding the knife. Nang makalapit ay agad ko siyang niyakap, and slowly hold the knife.

Now, nasa akin na ang kutsilyo. Itinapon ko iyon at niyakap muli ang anak ko. "Dad can do anything for you ,right?" she nod. "Then tell me, what's your problem hija?"

"Dad... He's getting married. He's getting married dad!"

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

"Who's that man? Tell me, Gail."

"Ford..." she said, and cry again. Si Ford? He's Lorice's boyfriend. Getting married? Naalala kong engage na sila. There's no way I can ruin it, if it is what Gail wants.

Anak ko rin si Lorice.

"But Gail, he's your sister's boyfriend--"

"I want him! I WANT HIM!" agad siyang nagpumiglas at tumakbo papalabas ng kwarto.

"Gail! Come back here! Gail!"

"Aaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!"

"Gail?" kaagad kong pinuntahan si Gail at nagulat na lang ako nang makita ko si Gail na nakabulagta sa sahig.

I saw my daughter, with blood, at walang malay.

"Gail! Violet! Humingi ka ng tulong!" pinuntahan ko kaagad si Gail.

"Gail..."

"MR. TORRES, THE PATIENT IS NOW OKAY. PWEDE NIYO NA PO SIYANG BISITAHIN." thank God, she's okay.

Kaagad na akong nagpunta sa kwarto kung nasaan siya ngayon. And when I entered the room, she's still asleep.

"God, thanks she's okay."

"Dad?" she's awake!

"Gail, nandito lang si dad--"

"Dad? I want him. Siya ang gusto kong maging asawa. Diba, you said you'll do everything for me?"

"O-oo naman, oo."

"And I want him. Us, together. Married."

Married? What?!

Hindi na ako sumagot pa. I just look at her. Paano na to?

I'm still finding Lorice, and now ito naman. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang uunahin ko. Napakahirap magdesisyon, lalo na at ayaw kong may masaktan kahit isa sa kanila. Pero, sino ang uunahin ko? At sino ang dapat magparaya?

Hindi ko alam, kasi ako mismo, ayaw kong parehong umiyak ang mga anak ko.