The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

Sign

"Hello, Dad?" I started, venom dripping from my voice.

It was Thursday and the second day of Midterms already ended. Sinamahan ako ni Atlas buong umaga kanina sa Bistro ngunit pagkatapos no'n ay kinailangan niya nang bumalik sa kampo. I was walking toward the parking lot when I saw Daddy's caller ID on my phone. Napangiti ako ng mapait. So he knew how to call me, huh? Akala ko ba'y 'di nakarehistro ang pangalan ko sa cellphone niya?

"Good afternoon, hija. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," I replied flatly.

"It's your second day of Midterms, right? I hope you did well."

"Don't worry. You don't need to remind me of that."

He sighed. "Anyway, pasensya kung 'di ako nakauwi kahapon. I have a lot to care of even as we speak. Malapit na rin kasi ang pagsusulit ng mga kadete."

"It's fine." I tried not to croak. "Why did you call?"

"Well, I received a very important mail today and I can't drive back to our house because my hands are full. Marami kaming dapat pagtuunan ng pansin dito sa kampo. Daanan niyo na lang muna 'yon ni Kiro sa bahay at saka mo ibigay sa 'kin dito sa opisina. Do it as soon as possible."

"Alright, Dad. Is that all?"

"Yes."

"Bye, then."

"Bye, hija. I love you."

Natigilan ako sa gitna ng quadrangle. Before I knew it, hot tears pooled at the sides of my eyes. My Dad wasn't just a cheater, an abuser, a rapist, but also... a fucking liar. As much as I wanted to cut the call, I knew he would call again until I would return the three words.

Ganoon siya palagi. Kapag mahal niya kami, dapat mahal din namin siya. Kapag galit naman siya, 'di kami pwedeng magalit sa kaniya. He was unfair like that.

"I love you too, Daddy."

They say hate the sin, not the sinner.

Well, in the past, I used to live by that saying, until I realized that no, it's not right... People know exactly what they are doing. Some hurt others because they were hurt themselves, but some hurt others solely because they take pleasure in doing so. At kahit ano man ang rason natin, 'di pa rin mabubura no'n ang katotohanang may nasaktan tayo.

My father wasn't dumb. He knew that cheating is bad. It always will be. He was against the deed, mapasimpleng bagay man tulad ng eksaminasyon o kahit sa malalaking bagay tulad ng relasyon. But people change. Humans are prone to temptations and sometimes, the other side wins. 

"Can I ask something?" 'di ko na napigilang itanong kay Kiro habang bumabiyahe kami papuntang kampo.

He glanced at me once with his brows furrowed. Nang ibalik niya ang mga mata niya sa kalsada'y binaling ko naman ang akin sa labas ng bintana.

"What is it?"

"Are we cool?"

"Of course, Yona. We're cool," he casually replied.

Napalunok ako. Yona, huh? Tangina.

"Yet you're calling me by that name?"

"Well, it's who you are now. I figured it'd be counterproductive if I kept calling you by a nickname that you don't go by anymore."

Nilingon ko siya sa 'di-makapaniwang mukha. He remained his eyes on the road like it was a big thing to look at me by the eyes too.

"I don't believe you."