Kabanata 28
WHEN I WAS a kid, my father taught me always to be kind.
Naalala ko noong bata pa ako. Inaasar nila akong mahirap at walang nanay. During family day, I couldn't join the activities because I had no parents to accompany me.
Tatay would always drive to work, para may makain kami, para may pang-aral ako habang si Nanay ay 'di pumunta kailanman.
They kept pushing me, teasing me, mocking me. It hurt, but I told myself I had to endure it.
Tatay taught me to be kind, always. Even if the people you show kindness to don't deserve it. He said cruelty should stop with them, na huwag akong magtatanim. He reminded me never to let the pain they gave me taint the love I carried.
Maybe that's why I grew up holding on, why I never easily gave up, no matter how fate played with me.
"Thank you, 'tay..." I whispered, caressing his tomb.
Habang nakatitig doon ay 'di ko na napigilan ang pagkawala ng luha, miss na miss na siya.
I promised to be a better person, 'tay. Para kay Miggy, para kay Nanay, para sa mga mahal ko sa buhay. Para sa 'yo at para kay Mama d'yan sa heaven. Magsisikap ako.
˚ˋঌ˖˚ˋঌ˖˚ˋঌ˖
"BINABAWI ko na, one year ka manligaw!" I glared at the annoying engineer.
"Praktikal lang dapat!" He laughed, catching my hand and pulling me down onto his lap. "My wallet's still with you, anyway," he whispered.
Nilingon ko siyang kunot ang noo.
"Akala ko ba akin 'yon? Bakit doon ako kukuha?" I raised a brow.
He laughed again, cupping my chin to steal a quick peck. I pulled away and flicked his lips.
He pouted. I eyed him sharply while his dark brown eyes danced with amusement.
"Mahirap lang ako, Serafine." He grinned.
"Wow, daddy!" I groaned. "Coming from you?"
"Totoo!" he exclaimed, laughing, tightening his hold on me.
"Oh, eh, bakit noon? Noong umalis ka, I tried giving back the wallet to you pero hindi ka naman sumasagot sa messages ko. Even the money! I deposited it on your account, and the next day, the same amount was deposited back into mine!" I confronted him.
His lip twitched as he leaned back on the sofa, still holding me close.
"I gave that to you, so..." He shrugged. "Bayad ko sa isang taon, remember?"
I rolled my eyes. "Ewan, Miranda. 'Di ako maka-recover! Imagine my face when I heard that! Yabang ko pa, niyayabang ko pa! Inaamoy ko pa 'yong bulaklak mo tapos COD!" I exclaimed.
He burst out laughing again. Annoyed, I smacked him repeatedly, but he caught my hands.
"Kailangan ko na ring magtipid, wala na akong pera—"
"Package mo para sa akin tapos ako magbabayad?!" I hissed. "Scammer!"
He laughed harder. I gritted my teeth.
"Hindi na, good boy na ako." He surrendered and caught my chin again. "Kiss na lang ako."
Lumapit siya pero bago pa maka-score ay lumayo na ako.
"No kisses! You're such a bad, old daddy!" I spat.
"Sige na, isa lang." He pouted his lips.
"No. Baka saan na naman mapunta ang kiss." I shook my head. "Tapos ano? Ano na namang sisirain natin, huh?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Dancing With Fire (TO BE PUBLISHED)
Fiksi Umum[REVISED EDITION, 2026] Lost Island Series #4: Dancing With Fire "A love that risked everything, knowing it might leave ashes behind, yet choosing to burn anyway." Money. For Serafine Veronica Mendez, money is everything. A self-proclaimed rich ki...
