Forbidden, Yet Allowed (Griyego #1)

Prologue

Afia's POV

Mama:

I'll be boarding now. I can't wait to finally see you, my baby!

I closed my phone as I've read her last message a few days ago. She wouldn't be gone this long. Anong klaseng eroplano naman sinakyan niya at hindi pa siya nakakabalik ng Pinas?

"Relax, Afia, baka naisipan lang maglibot ng Mama mo sa Maynila," Tito Rhys said.

Napairap naman ako sa aking narinig. "Seriously? She's been out of the country for almost a decade, Tito. Surely, mas importante siguro ang puntahan muna ang pamilya rito kaysa maglibot sa Maynila."

"Surely, mas importante na isipin mo rin muna kalagayan ng Papa mo," he said that made stop pacing back and forth and made me glanced at my father who was only quiet.

"Stop doing that, Afia. You're only adding more stress to the situation than it actually is." Napailing-iling na lamang siya at ako naman ay napabuntong hininga.

Tito Rhys is right. Mas lalo lamang mag-aalala si Papa kapag nakikita niya ang itsura kong ganito. I should be calm and think of a way on how to find my mother. But I really couldn't help but show my frustration and worries. Kasi sino bang nasa tamang pag-iisip na kakalma sa isang sitwasyon kung may nawawala na sa pamilya niyo?

Naglakad naman na ako patungo sa direksyon ni Papa at lumuhod para magpantay ang tingin namin. "Pa, please let me do this," I said and held his hand.

"Paano kung ikaw naman ang mapahamak doon kapag pumunta ka ng Maynila? I can't lose you both," Papa said and slowly shook his head.

"I won't. And besides, Rio will be there. Tutulungan niya ako. At pumayag naman siya," I said. Maybe this will change his mind.

Napatingin naman si Papa kay Tito Rhys at nagtaas ng kilay. Tito Rhys, on the other hand, shrugged off his shoulders. "Wala rin akong alam."

"Papa, please.."

"How about your studies? You just can't go MIA on it." Nailing-iling siya.

I sighed. "I already talked with my professors and the Dean regarding about this. Naintindihan naman nila ako. And after this, I'll have to make it up for all the subjects that I'll be missing."

Napapikit naman si Papa. Frustrated with what is happening to us. "Kung hindi lang sana ako imbalido, hindi sana mangyayari sa Mama mo ito. Hindi sana ikaw ang magsasakripisyo rito ngayon."

Pain consumed me quickly as Papa put the blamed to himself. Which he shouldn't. Because it wasn't his fault that made him placed on a wheelchair.

"Yow! Yow!"

Sabay naman kaming napabaling tatlo sa biglaan pagpasok niya sa loob ng bahay.

"Yow, Uncle T!" He greeted my father, which Papa replied with a smile.

"Yow, Megalodon!" Pagbati niya sa kanyang Ama bago nakipagkamayan na akala mo ay tropa lang niya.

"You're a bit late, Rio," I said and stood up facing him.

Lumapad naman ang ngiti niya at nilapitan ako bago niyakap. "You know how traffic it is, baby."

Napairap naman ako. "Now, you have to help me convince Papa to go with you in Manila to find her."

"Of course," he said when we parted.