Ten Thousand Hours

Chapter 35

I was able to sleep very tight despite not being familiar with the place. Nahihirapan kasi ako makatulog sa mga lugar na ngayon ko palang napuntahan. Especially knowing na ako lang mag isa sa kwarto.

Masaya ako ngayon. Kasi ngayon, kilala ko na kung sino talaga yung totoo kong tatay. Pwede ko nang maranasan yung isang pag mamahal na matagal ko ng gustong maramdaman.

Someone knocked at the door. I looked at it. Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang daddy ko. He's wearing his smile. I smiled at him.

Dahan dahan siyang lumapit sakin. He sat on the edge of the bed. "How are you, beautiful?" He asked. Napatawa naman ako sa sinabi niya. Beautiful daw? Haha! Hindi marunong mag sinungaling daddy ko ah. Chos.

Lumapit ako para yakapin siya. "Okay naman dad." Ani ko. The atmosphere seemed awkward for us. I don't know why.

"Oh, let me introduce myself to you first." Aniya at inayos ang suot niya. He cleared his throat. "I am Jerson Ramos, in the mid 40's of age. Better not to say it. But, I'm your dad." He offered his hand. I accepted it. "I'm Hanna Gandler, 20 years old. Your daughter." I said and nag shake hands kami. We were laughing all the time while introducing ourselves.

"Hmmm, Ramos fits perfectly to you. Let's just change it." He said. I smile and nodded at him. He asked me to have a breakfast with him. While we were on our way, he keeps looking at Dave who is beside me. Natatawa naman ako sa reaction ni Dave kasi pilit niyang inaayos yung lakad niya.

Habang nag be-breakfast kami, he asked if I can tell him what happened to me for the past years. It's hard pero unti-unti kong kinwento sa kanya. Lahat, as in lahat lahat. He almost started crying again but I said, "No more tears dad." He laugh at me and said, "Okay."

"You can tell me if you want me to train you in my company, and after that you can take it over." He said. Ito na, shookt na naman ako. "In that way, you can work with less physical activities." Aniya. Nako, iba po kasi yung plano ko.

"Uhm, dad." I said. "Hm?" He answered. "I'm sorry. But I can't do that." I apologized. "Why?" He asked. I smile at him. "I am currently taking psych dad, in short po. I want to be a psychologist. Not a business woman." I said. "I'm sorry po." Ani ko. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararamdaman niya sa mga oras na 'to. I felt that Dave is holding my hand.

"No. You don't have to be sorry. I will hundred percent support you in your plans. I can even build a hospital for you." He said. Muntik na akong mabilaukan sa mga sinabi ng daddy ko. My goodness.

"But, if you don't want it... I will give it to your cousin then." Aniya. Napatingin kaming dalawa ni Dave sa kanya. "Meron akong pinsan dad?" Tanong ko. He nodded at us. "Yes, he's Dwight. I thought you met him already? Because I told him to get close to you the moment I've found your informations." Aniya.

Syet, si Dwight? Pinsan ko?

Buti nalang talaga hindi ako nag ka-crush dun. Yuck, kung sakali!

Pero napatingin ako kay Dave nang siya naman ang mabilaukan. Anyare dito?

"Okay ka lang, Dave?" Ani ko habang hinihimas himas yung likod niya. He just nodded at me. Uminon siya ng tubig at inayos ang pag kakaupo.

"I've really missed you." My dad said. The way he say it? I really feel the loneliness in his voice. And that feeling when you are longing for someone.

"Thank you, dad. For finding us." Pag papasalamat ko. Dahil kung hindi naman niya kami hinahanap? Our life would be still the same, pain will still be there.

"I'm sorry for taking so long before I found you." He said. I hold his hand. "It doesn't matter dad. But what matter is you're here now." Ani ko. We continued eating. Until pumasok sa isip ko yung laro ni Dave.

"Ay, dad! Dave is having his first game on saturday, are you free? Can you come with me?" I asked him. Baka kasi busy siya eh. "Of course. I also want to see this young guy play. So, yeah." He answered. Pilit kong pinipigilan ang tawa ko dahil namumutla si Dave.

Hindi naman siya natatakot diba?