CAPTIVATED

Chapter 10

I wore a white simple dress that Janine lent me. Naka slacks siya at tube sa itaas na pinatungan ng kapares nung pang ibaba niya.

"When are we going to meet your family?" She asked while her focus is on the road.

"One of these days, I guess." I just answered.

Hindi ako sigurado kung matatanggap ba talaga kami ni daddy.

Mabilis lang ang byahe. Ni hindi umabot ng twenty minutes. When we entered their firm, people greeted us.

Nauna kami ni Janine pumasok bago ang dalawa niyang bodyguard sa loob ng elevator.

Ibinilin ako ni Janine sa secretary niya. Hindi kasi ako pwedeng sumama sa meeting.

I patiently waited for her at her office. Nakaupo lang ako doon sa couch at palipat lipat ang tingin.

My eyes landed on a black picture frame. It was Janine and her father.

Kabaliktaran sa tatay ko, medyo payat ang daddy ni Janine. She didn't get any feature from her father. Pinoy na pinoy ang itsura ng papa niya na may kaputian.

Janine's mother died when she was seven years old. Namatay sa pagkakapanganak sa bunso niyang kapatid na hindi rin inabot ng isang buwan.

Unlike mine, she experienced such a terrible childhood. Ang sabi ni Janine, hindi na nag asawa pa ulit ng iba ang daddy niya dahil wala itong ibang mamahalin bukod sa mommy niya.

I adore her parent's love for each other. Kinwento niya kasi na guest daw ang mommy niya sa isang elite event noon kaya nagkakilala ang mga magulang niya.

Sa tuwing may sakit, kahit pa sipon lang at ubo, palaging may bulaklak pag uwi ang daddy niya. Sa bawat travel abroad, kahit bata pa siya noon, hindi mawala sa isip niya kung paano sila alagaan ng daddy niya.

My childhood was great. My father owns a resort and we have a grocery store. Mayroon din kaming limang jeep at dalawang bus na araw araw pumapasada.

When I turned 17, my parents used to fight almost everyday. Nakakabingi at nakakainis. Ibat-ibang babae ang binabanggit ni mommy.

I got mad at my mom for accusing my dad of doing something that I believed he wouldn't ever do.

Kung papipiliin ako sa paboritong magulang, no doubt, I'd choose my father.

But... The rumors were confirmed when I saw my father kissing my classmate's mom. It was on my eighteenth birthday.

He tried consoling me with the use of his money. Pinasa sa pangalan ko agad-agad ang resort. Sa mga kapatid ko naman ang transportation business at ipinasara ang grocery store para ipaayos ang bahay.

When I turned twenty one, isang linggo lang ang palugit mula sa graduation ko, lumuwas na ako ng Maynila.

My mother let me. Para na rin daw mas mabantayan ang resort. Sinabi ng mga kapatid ko na minsanan na lang mag away ang mga magulang ko.

I don't think I'll ever forgive my dad. Oo nga't natanggap ko na, pero yung sakit na iniwan niya, hindi ko alam kung mawawala ba.

He was a good father but not a good husband.

Automatiko ang pag punas na ginawa ko sa aking pisngi nang maramdaman ang pamamasa nito.

Kapag galing ka sa hindi maayos na pamilya, papangarapin mong hindi matulad doon ang magiging pamilya na magkakaroon ka.

My classmates used to envy me for having such a wonderful family. Even my best friend, Tiffany, used to tell me how lucky I am.

I can say thay it's my experiences that made me the person that I am today. I tend to make mature decisions for my family.