Forbidden, Yet Allowed (Griyego #1)

Chapter 5

FYA - Visit

Nakailang mura na siguro ako habang naglalakad dito. Pakiramdam ko parang na high blood ako sa sinabi no'ng hayop na iyon sa akin. 70k. Fucking 70k. Saan ako pupulot no'n? And he just decided it like that without even discussing with me about the scratched on his car. Tinaas niya ang bayad dahil hindi ako nakipagkita sa kanya? And what made me even more furious was that he never picked up my call after telling me those! Abuso siya!

Wow! To hell with his car! Mas importante ang pakikipagkita ko kay Tita Nevaeh kaysa naman sa kanya.

When I heard my phone ringing, I immediately answered the call without seeing the caller.

"Hoy, gago!" I almost shouted.

"Afia! Bakit mo ako pinagtataasan ng boses at minumura?" Papa's voice thundered from the other line.

Natikom ko naman ang bibig ko at sinilip sandali ang caller, and it was Papa. Tangina mo, Asa. You really are a certified misfortune in my life. Kapag natapos kong i-settle ang bayad sa 'yo, magdadasal ako lahat sa santo na 'wag na 'wag nang magtatagpo ang mga landas natin.

"Sorry, Pa, I thought it was Rio," palusot ko na lamang.

"Nag-away na naman ba kayo?" Kumalma na ang boses ni Papa.

"No, he was just pestering me." Napairap na lamang ako dahil si Asa ang tinutukoy ko.

Napabuntong hininga naman siya sa kabilang linya. "Hindi ka na masyadong napapatawag, Afia. I know you are doing your best there to find Abigail, but please know that I get worried for you."

I suddenly fely guilty that I haven't called Papa recently. Masyado rin kasi magulo ang isipan ko sa paghahanap kay Mama, dumadagdag pa ang isang hayop na nambulabog sa akin. Hindi rin kasi ako makatawag dahil hindi ko rin alam kung paano sasabihin kay Papa ang mga nalaman ko at mga naisip namin na nangyari kay Mama. He has been through worse and I don't want him to get more worried about me and Mama.

"Sorry, Pa." That was all I could say.

"M-May balita na ba kung anong nangyari kay Mama mo? Is there any lead to where she could be?" Papa's voice was calm but I could definitely feel the worry and longing for Mama.

Napakagat naman ako sa aking labi. "The van that took her was last seen in Laguna," I answered honestly.

"L-Laguna? So, what... what happened?"

I sighed. "They're still investigating it, Papa. Huwag ka na rin masyadong mag-alala, I'll find Mama. We'll find Mama."

"K-Kung hindi lang sana ako nagkanito... I should be the one finding her. I'm sorry to put the burden on your shoulders, anak," he said apologetically and a bit shameful.

I heaved another sighed for I've felt how deeply guilty Papa is for what happened to Mama even if he shouldn't.

Papa was an engineer. And back in the time that he was still working, he was actually the head engineer of the construction site he was at. Papa was successful, until an unexpected tragedy happened. They were all currently working on the site when the earthquake happened. Nasa pangalawang palapag noon siya kasama ang mga katrabaho niya. And as the ground was shaking, some of the equipments and steel were falling down. At dahil medyo tanga ang isa nilang engineer, imbes na gawin ang basic na earthquake drill, he panicked. And Papa being the most noble man he is, he saved the person from getting hit by those falling steel causing for him to get hit instead. Which were his spinal cord got injured—getting the paraplegia.