Words I never Tell

Chapter 37

Candice

"So you grew up in Switzerland?"

"Po."

Tinitigan ako ng Daddy ni Hariette bago nito inulit yung tanong nito.

"So you grew up in Switzerland?"

Napalunok naman ako bago sumagot ulit. "Po." I even nod my head for conviction. Baka hindi nya naintindihan.

On my peripheral vision, I saw everyone suppressing their smiles and laughs. Pero nung tinitigan sila ng masama ni Hariette ay nagsipag-iwasan sila ng tingin at nagpretend na busy sa pagkain.

We are all having dinner together kasama ng parents ni Hariette.

"That's Opo, Potato. Not 'Po'." She clarifies. "Just relax and be yourself. You don't have to use that courtesy if you weren't used to it. It won't make you less."

Nag-iinit naman yung pisngi na nagyuko ako ng ulo. Maybe that's why everyone is laughing at me. While Ate Grant is just staring at me with a small smile on her face.

"Yes po, I grew up in Switzerland."

"How long have you been here in the Philippines?" Tanong pa ng Daddy nito.

Parang pinagpapawisan yata ako. Is this how it feels to meet parents? Nakakatakot kasi yung Daddy ni Hariette. Parang kagaya ng anak nito na laging magagalit pag may sinabi kang hindi nya nagustuhan.

"I was here last year for almost two months and went back to Switzerland after my father died. It was just recently when Ate Grant decided to let me live with her here. I've got no other family left aside from her so maybe it's normal."

"That's quite a thick accent." Komento pa nito sa paraan ko ng pagsasalita.

Natigilan naman ako. Importante ba yung tamang accent ko?

"Uhm. Marunong naman ako po magsalita ng Filipino."

Umangat lang yung kilay nito na para bang hindi ito interesado doon.

"Lalayas dito yung tatawa." Banta ni Hariette na ikinalingon ko dito. Kanya kanyang tahimik naman yung mga kaibigan nito.

Hala, May mali ba sa sinabi ko?

"She can speak five languages, Dad. Stop being grumpy. Why are you being too hard on her?" Sita dito ni Hariette habang nagsasalubong na din yung kilay.

Tiningnan lang ito ng tatay nito bago tumingin ulit sakin. "What are your future plans? Do you want to take any courses?"

Inabot ko yung baso ng tubig. Should I lie ba? Dapat ba sabihin ko may plano ako kahit wala? Truth be told, it bores me to study in a classroom style. Maybe homeschooling pwede pa.

Besides, I don't see any reason to go to school. What's the purpose? Learning can be available in all aspect naman, not necessarily sa school lang. Doon lang ba pwede matuto? Ayun ba yung mahalaga sa pamilya ni Hariette?

"I don't want to lie, Sir. To be honest, I don't have plans to take any courses but if you'll require me to have one just to make me worthy for your daughter, then I'll take one."

Hariette's father stops chewing his food. He is just staring at me as if pinag-aaralan ako nito. I feel myself suddenly at unease.

"What course are you planning to take then?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. I hate to brag pero bakit pa ako mag-aaral if I can understand market and economy way better than a commoner who had a piece of paper called diploma?

"Maybe anything business related."

"You don't have to, if you don't want to. It's okay, Potato." Saway agad sakin ni Hariette na halatang ayaw akong pilitin. Naiinis na hinarap pa nito yung tatay nito. "Dad, stop it! Candice doesn't have to do that. She can be whatever she wants to be and I'll still be supporting her."