Missing Chances

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

I smiled at myself in the mirror. I brushed my long black hair and let it settle on my back smoothly.

Suot ang isang simple pero eleganteng dress ay nakontento na ako. I took my small bag, wore my favorite black heels, and walked out of the room.

"Anong oras matatapos ang group work n'yo, Darshana?" ani Papa nang makita akong pababa, mukhang kagagaling sa trabaho, seryoso.

My heart thumped, muntik pa 'kong madulas sa hagdanan pero ngumiti ako at marahang bumaba.

"Hi, Papa! Mabilis lang po, maybe by seven or eight po."

He nodded, his eyes roaming from my face down my outfit. His lips protruded, tilting his head.

"You don't look like you're doing a group work, Daru." He noticed kaya nanlaki ang mata ko.

Fuck!

"Uh..." Hinawi ko ang buhok. "S'yempre, Pa, dapat maganda palagi, right?" I smiled cheekily.

His eyes lingered onme a bit, mukhang 'di pa ata naniniwala kaya mas tinamisan ko ang ngiti ko.

"Come on, Papa. Hindi ba dapat maganda palagi ang princess mo?" lambing ko at nang bumuntonghininga't tinanguan na ko'y nakahinga ng maluwang.

He was still wearing his blue uniform from his overseas flight earlier, his clean-cut hair made him look a lot like Kuya Marcus. Panigurado akong sobra ang pagkakahawig nila ni Kuya if he'd reach Dad's age.

Just like how I'd be for my mother.

"Alright, school ka ba?" he asked. I hesitated for a while before nodding and smiling at him.

"Opo, Pa,"

"You should be back before nine okay, princess? Text us so we can monitor you."

"Si Papa naman, I'm already eighteen." I chuckled. "I'm almost nineteen na nga, eh."

"I know but you're still our baby, okay?" He mumbled gently before messing with my hair. "Of course, we'll be overprotective of you, baby. Sasabay ka na ba sa akin? I'll fetch Mama Kaia today, nasa klase pa."

"No!" I exclaimed, nang manliit ang mata niya ay ngumisi na ako at natawa. "It's out of the way, Papa. Isa pa, my classmates and I will meet to have a dinner in a resto po muna before going to their house for the group work."

"Alright, message me and the driver, okay? Kapag pauwi ka na, h'wag magpapagabi." I smiled and nodded, inihatid ako ni Papa sa kotse. He kissed my forehead goodbye.

When I went inside the car, my heart was already racing in excitement and nervousness. In anticipation while on the way to the restaurant.

It's true that I have groupmates for a group work but I'm done with my part since yesterday, sinadya ko talaga iyon dahil may agenda ako ngayong araw. I'm bad for lying but wala na akong maisip na kahit anong dahilan para payagan akong lumabas.

I'm almost nineteen for pete's sake pero hindi pa rin ako pinapayagang umalis kapag hindi ako nagpapaalam. Though, I truly understand my parents. They are concern and they loved us kaya naiintindihan ko naman, miski nga ang Kuya Macky nagpapaalam pa, lalo na kay Papa.

When our parents said no then, okay, no.

Pero ngayon, kailangan ko talagang makalabas. Ngayon lang kami muli magkikita ni Chance at magkakausap ng maayos after almost a month of not seeing each other. We didn't even text or call! Ayaw niyang naiistorbo ako sa pag-aaral pero 'di niya naiisip na mas naiistorbo ako dahil hindi ko siya nakakausap!