Haters to Lovers

Prologue

KATATAPOS ko lang kumain when Dad ran down the stairs, wearing a casual outfit. Dad promise me na ipapasyal kami ni Tita Ver sa zoo.

I stood up, rushed to him and hugged him. He hugged me back while patting my head.

"Oh bakit hindi ka pa nagbihis? I thought you're excited?" he asked while hugging me.

"I'm still sleepy Dad eh. I had a hard time getting enough sleep because of my deadlines in school. Ang daming kailangan e pass." I answered.

"No need to tell me. Halata naman eh. Don't push yourself to get tired just for maintaining your goddamn grades." patawang sabi ni Dad. "If your health will not be as good as your grades, then I hardly appreciate it."

Top student kasi ako sa school so I strive hard to maintain my rank. I'm always serious when it comes to my studies but my father wanted to refrain it kasi he always said na I'm missing too much of my youth sa kabababad ko ng schoolworks.

"Dad naman I don't push too much. It's just that I just want you to be proud of me." I reasoned out.

"And I always will." He kissed my forehead. "No need to prove that. You achieved so much in your age and it's time for you to be neutral in your careers."

Dad is right. I am 15 years old and I am busy, not normal to any person in my age. I am also a freelance model to several famous company brands so they think it's hard for me to balance my studies and my modelling job, but I was able to and even successful pa ako in both fields.

"So do we have to cancel this so that you can rest?" pag-aalok pa ni Dad.

Napabitaw ako sa sinabi ni Dad. I pouted and glared at him.

"Ayy Dad no way. Matagal ko itong hinintay na mangyari to. Ngayon ka nga lang nagkafree time para sa amin ni Tita." I childishly said.

Tumawa lng si Dad and he hugged me again.

"But you can't be tired while having a walk in the zoo?"

"I can manage naman, and besides I would never get tired basta kasama kita Dad."

He just laughed. "What if makatulog ka doon? Just like last time when we went there, you sleep soundly near a tree and almost got played by a gorilla?"

Natandaan ko tuloy last time kaming pumunta doon. Wala din kasi akong tulog that time kaya while having a close interaction with monkeys at the zoo hindi ko namalayan na while I was sitting under a tree nakatulog ako. A gorilla came to me daw, hindi ko alam ang full story kasi paggising ko nakahiga na ako sa backseat ng car haha.

"But you don't leave me naman di ba? I know you'll take care of me if that happens." I giggled and hugged him tightly again.

"Syempre naman. I got my eyes set on you, young lady." Such a sly dad.

He just messed my morning hair. Wala pa naman akong ligo kaya okay lang. He kissed me in the forehead.

"Okay tuloy tayo ngayon basta promise me huwag kang matutulog kahit saan sa zoo," he commanded.

"Aye, sir!" I am so glad na matutuloy kami ngayon sa zoo. It's been our bonding together with my Dad. For 6 months, ngayon lang nagkatime si Dad due to his hectic schedules sa company.

My dad has several companies na pinatakbo niya. Hotels and firms ang kay Dad, while airports and a company in China naman sa late Mom ko. Since my Mom died, he single-handedly ran our businesses but not until he got married to Verona Marquez. She's from a well-to-do family and owns some casinos abroad. Naging katuwang na si Tita Ver sa lahat ng businesses namin. She became the right-hand of my father to everything he does.