'Til I Fall For You

Chapter ONE

CHAPTER ONE

"How's your day?" bungad ni Dad sa akin pagkauwi ko galing sa school. I went straight to our living room. I just want to take a rest for a while.

"I'm good Dad. Kinda tired. But I'm okay." sagot ko sa kaniya. Batid kong ramdam niya ang pagod base sa pananalita ko.

"How about your study? I hope you're doing fine." nakatitig at nakangiting tanong niya sa akin. Alam ko na kung saan papunta ang usapan na 'to.

"Yes, I am. We're just busy right now. You know, malapit na ang 1st Quarterly exam namin. Tadtad ng activities, projects at quizzes." nahihikab na sabi ko. Inaantok na ako gosh!

It was my 2nd year in high school. Grade 8 ako nito since naabutan ko ang K-12 Curriculum. Kung ikukumpara ko ito sa nakaraang school year, obviously mas mahirap ngayon. 1st Quarter pa lang pero ang dami na naming ginagawa. Dagdag mo pa yung fact na mas marami ang terror na teacher namin ngayon kumpara last year! Walang rason para magchill. Especially that I am aiming for a top. Since elementary, palagi akong nabibilang sa honors. Hindi man top 1 pero ayos lang. As much as hindi ko nabibigo ang parents ko, especially si Dad.

"Well, ngayon pa lang na nasa high school ka pa lang, you should know how to manage your time wisely." pagpapaalala ni Dad.

"Yeah, I know. Thank you for reminding me that." ngiting tugon ko.

"And speaking of reminders, alam kong sawang-sawa ka nang marinig sa akin 'to. Pero hindi ako mapapagod na ipaalala sayo na wala munang boyfriend as much as possible until you finished your college. That's the least thing you can do for me. Don't disappoint me please? Diploma muna, bago boyfriend. That's not a favor, it's a rule. Understand Crissa?" mahinahon ngunit maawtoridad na ani papa. He looks very serious!

"Ofcourse Dad. I know my priorities." paninigurado ko sa kanya.

This is the usual conversation that I am facing almost everyday with my father. Well, I'm used to it. I'm used to all reminders that he keeps on telling and putting on my mind. I'm just thankful that I have him in my life. I mean, hindi lahat nabiyayaan ng ganito karesponsable, kathoughtful at kaprotective na ama. Well, nasobrahan nga lang siya sa pagiging strikto to the point na minsan nakakapressure na. But it's okay, this is for my own good naman.

Pagkatapos naming mag-usap ni Dad ay kumain lang ako ng merienda. It's already 5PM when I decided to go to my room to have some enough sleep. Magpapagising na lang ako kay Manang Lety pagdinner na. Gustong-gusto ko talagang bumawi ng tulog! 3 consecutive days na akong nagpupuyat dahil sa pagggawa ng projects namin sa dalawang terror kong teacher! Pareho pang major subjects! Buti na lang at natapos ko na. Bukas ang deadline ng pasahan.

"Crissa, anak wake up. We'll eat our dinner na. C'mon! I have something for you!" panggigising ni Mom sa akin. Napatingin ako sa orasan sa tabi ng kama ko, it's already 8PM! Manang probably forgot to wake me up!

Bumangon na kaagad ako. Ayokong paghintayin si Mom na obviously kakauwi lang from work. She's working in a well-known bank for almost a decade. Supervisor na siya doon. Well, that's the fruit of her labor! She's very hardworking, nakita ko 'yon for the past few years until now. Pero alam kong nagpaplano na rin siyang magretire, maybe soon? I don't know. Para makapagfocus na rin siya sa business naming restaurant. Magtutulungan sila ni Dad na mas mapalago yun. We already have 2 branches here in Antipolo City. My dad's hometown.

"Finally you're awake! Gigisingin ka na sana ni Manang Lety pero itong Mommo biglang dumating kaya siya na lang ang nanggising sayo. May pasalubong daw siya sayo." ani Dad pagkababa namin sa dining table. Naamoy ko agad ang ulam! It's my favorite caldereta!