Fierce

Chapter 5

Break

"You should've went home earlier para mas nakapaghanda ka ng maaga," inis na sabi ni daddy habang kaharap namin ang matinding traffic.

"I attended all my classes for today, Dad. My last class was until 4PM," I reminded him.

Dad took a sharp breath. "Dapat pala hindi ka na pumasok ngayon o kaya ay nagcut ka na lang sa huling klase mo."

"Major ko po ang huling klase ko ngayon, daddy,” sinubukan kong magpaliwanag. “May quiz din po ako roon. Hindi ko po pwedeng i-cut 'yon."

Magsasalita pa sana si daddy ngunit hinawakan ni mommy ang kanyang braso. I could see dad's veins in his arms while he was gripping on the gear stick. He just relaxed when my mother held him.

"Hon, don't blame, Blair," mahinahong sabi ni mommy. "She just followed our orders; to go straight home after her classes for today."

"I didn't know that her class would be until 4PM.” Napabuntong hininga muli si daddy. “Kung alam ko lang, pinauwi ko na siya ng mas maaga pa roon."

"You heard her earlier. Major class niya ‘yon kaya hindi siya puwedeng magcut. And besides, we still have time. Pagkalagpas naman natin sa Balintawak, wala na 'yang traffic," sabi ni mommy at hindi na muli pang sumagot si daddy.

I couldn't help but to smile and feel loved because of mom. She was standing up for me because she knew that I couldn't argue against my father. He’s already a lawyer while I was still a student in process to be like him in the future. But even if daddy's a lawyer, he could always break his principles when it comes to my mother.

"Great! We're late!" Dad sarcastically exclaimed once he parked the car.

The dinner's meeting time was 7PM, and we were half past late.

I could feel dad's death glares towards me but I didn’t let it bother me. Nakayuko lang ako at sinusundan ko na lang sila ni mommy.

"Reservation for Mrs. Ondevilla," daddy said to the receptionist.

Ondevilla…

Dad has a friend who has the surname of Ondevilla. I unconsciously wondered if the person was related to Gael, but I knew the possibilities were lower than my patience. Madami ang may apelyidong Ondevilla. And most importantly, why am I even thinking of Gael? Why am I seeking possibilities na sana'y related siya sa kaibigan ni daddy?

"Right this way, sir. Follow me," the receptionist answered, politely smiling at us.

I couldn’t help but notice how the receptionist was faking her smile. Maybe she is just tired or maybe she wants to take up a different career path but she ended up doing something she isn’t happy with. I knew that it was their job to be polite and humble but I could tell that she wasn’t happy with her job.

"They're not yet here?" tanong ni daddy sa receptionist nang buksan nito ang private room na naka-reserve para sa dinner ngayong gabi.

It was a quite big room and elegant. There were six chairs and a table. The room was fully air conditioned and there was also a television mounted on the wall. I had been to fine dining restaurants but I had never experienced a private dinner in a restaurant. It was my first time experiencing it.

"Not yet, sir,” the receptionist quickly replied.

"Okay. Thank you for leading the way," sabi na lang ni daddy.

Tumango lang ang babae sa amin bago lumabas at isinarado ang pintuan.

"We're lucky that they're not yet here, Blair. Kung hindi ay nakakahiya sa kanila," sabi ni daddy. "Mas maganda nang tayo ang maghintay kaysa sila ang maghintay sa atin."

Daddy never wants to be late. He always wants to be on time or even earlier. He's very punctual.

While I was busy on my phone, my parents were busy talking about our firm. But when the door finally opened again, we immediately rose from our seat in order to pay our greetings when a familiar figure caught my eye.

When his eyes darted on mine, he looked a bit taken aback. It’s really a small world, indeed.

"Mrs. Ondevilla." Daddy smiled at the middle-aged woman, the same age as mom, I guessed. "Is this your son?" And he averted his eyes to Gael who was still looking at me.

Umiwas na lamang ako ng tingin nang hindi niya pa rin pinapaunlakan ng atensyon si daddy na napansin na ang kanyang presensya.

"Yes, he is,” dinig kong sagot ng mommy ni Gael habang nakatingin lang ako sa walang lamang plato na nasa aking harapan. "Gael, this is Atty. Jay Alcoberes."

"Nice to meet you, sir."

I bit my lower lip hard. I hated how just by hearing his deep formal voice already made me shiver.

"It's a pleasure to meet an internationally known lawyer,” he even praised my father.

"Oh, no need for that compliment, hijo,” Dad humbly said and chuckled. "Anyway, this is my wife, Helena Alcoberes, and my daughter, Blair Nicole Alcoberes,” he introduced us as a part of the introduction part of the meeting.

My mother and Gael's mom greeted each by kissing each other on their cheeks and paid greetings. Gael did the same thing to my mom.

"Hello, hija. Such a pretty young lady." She smiled and complimented me before kissing me on my cheek for the greeting.

Ngumiti na lamang ako pabalik. Hindi ko talaga alam kung paano ang gagawin kapag may ganitong pagkikita kaya panay ngiti lang ang lagi kong ginagawa. When Gael's mom was done with the greeting, Gael also stepped forward to meet me.

"Good evening," he greeted with his baritone voice and a small smle.

I raised one corner of my lips and said, “Evening.”

Napakunot bahagya ang kanyang noo dahil sa pinakita kong ugali sa kanya. Pagkatapos ko siyang batiin ay nag-iwas ako ng tingin at lumayo sa kanya agad. I could still remember the words he told me at the parking lot. If he thinks I’ll act like nothing happened and smile courteously at him, then he’s wrong.

"Shall we take a seat now?" nakangiting sabi ni daddy at inimuwestra ang mga upuan.

Gael sat beside his mother who was sitting in front of my father. Bumalik ako sa dati kong upuan katabi ni mommy.

"What do you like for dinner, Blair?" mom asked me when the waiter gave us the menu.

"Just order for me, mom. I'm fine with anything," sabi ko kay mommy at ibinigay sa waiter ang menu na inabot sa akin.

Tumango naman si mommy at humarap kay daddy upang pag-usapan ang oorderin nilang mga pagkain. And after we were done placing the orders, Gael's mom immediately started a conversation with my father.

"Nalaman kong lumipad pa pala kayo galing ibang bansa para lang sa dinner na 'to. Nahihiya tuloy ako," sabi ng mommy ni Gael.

"That's okay, Mercy," agap ni daddy. "We're really flying back here anyway. It's my dad's death anniversary next week. Okay na rin ang mapaaga."

"Maganda rin pala ang timing ko." Gael's mom awkwardly laughed. "Anyway, my son's taking Legal Management in La Salle. He's going to pursue law."

"Oh, what a coincidence! My daughter's also studying at La Salle.” My dad was genuinely surprised and excited to hear that. “She's taking Political Science as her pre-law course."

Nilipat ko ang tingin ko kay Gael at laking gulat ko nang makita kong nakatingin siya sa akin. I tried to act normal. Nakuha ko pa siyang irapan bago ako muling nag-iwas ng tingin.

I didn't know he was taking Legal Management. I thought he was also taking Political Science. But still, he also wanted to be a lawyer like me.

"Oh really?!" Bahagya ring nanlaki ang mga mata ng mommy ni Gael nang nilingon ang anak. "Are you familiar with her, son?"

Napalunok naman ako at napainom sa tubig. Kabado ako sa magiging sagot ni Gael, ngunit hindi ko iyon pinahalata sa aking kilos.

Is he going to deny that he knows me or not?

"I'm familiar with her..." Gael hesitantly answered after a fleeting moment of silence.

Napa-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. Nakita ko ang kakaibang ngisi sa kanyang mga lagi habang pinaglalaruan ang basong may lamang tubig.

"She's pretty well known on campus…” he continued. “I can always hear her name."

I just wished for him to stop talking. Baka kung ano pa ang masabi niya na hindi dapat malaman ng aking mga magulang.

"I didn't know that my daughter's well known in her school," bigla namang pagsingit ni mommy, mukhang interesado sa impormasyong ibinigay ni Gael. "Si Ida lang kasi ang alam kong lagi niyang nakakasama. I thought Ida’s her only friend. Hindi ko alam na marami palang nakakakilala sa kanya doon."

"Your daughter has a pleasing personality, Mrs. Alcoberes," sabi ni Gael.

I could almost hear him objecting to his own words.

"Just call me Tita Helena, Gael." Mom dropped the formality with Gael.

"Very well, Tita Helena." He smiled. "As I've said, your daughter's a happy-go-lucky type of person. She does whatever she wants. She's not afraid and full of courage... Maybe that's why she has so many followers."

I didn't know that he could make up lies right on the spot. Should I thank him after the meal, then?

I heard my mom chuckle. "Well... That's my daughter."

When I heard a hint of proudness in her voice, I turned to her. She had a smile on her face which warmed my heart.

"We let her grew independently kaya siguro ganoon siya," sabi ni mommy. "Masaya ako na ganoon pala ang iniisip sa kanya ng mga tao. I guess, napalaki pa rin namin siya nang maayos."

I slightly lowered my head and bit my lip. Napalaki nila nang maayos? Ayaw kong maging bastos ngunit parang hindi ko magawang sumang-ayon doon.

"How about you, hija?" Napa-angat ako ng tingin sa mommy ni Gael at natigil ang pag-iisip nang bigla niyang tawagin ang aking atensyon. "Are you familiar with my son?"

Nilipat ko naman ang tingin ko kay Gael na nakangisi pa rin sa akin. When he saw me look at him, he shot his brow up, like he was somehow challenging me.

Wanting to piss him off, I smiled and shook my head. "I'm sorry, but I’m not really familiar with him.”

"You're not familiar with my son?" Mukhang hindi siya makapaniwala. "But my son's the student president of your department or institute. It's kinda impossible that you don't know him."

"I'm not usually into organizations in school. I'm a lucky going person like what he said but I'm more of an introvert," I reasoned out. "Gaya nga po ng sabi ni mommy, I'm always with Ida po, my best friend. Marami man pong nakakakilala sa akin pero hindi ako mahilig makipagkaibigan. When I'm at school, I focus on my studies. I also don't go to school or org parties so..." Nagkibit-balikat ako saka uminom ng tubig matapos ng mahabang explanation ko.

Tumango-tango naman ito sa aking explanation. "So that's why..." sabi na lang niya bago lumingon kay daddy. "Your daughter's lucky because she has you as her father. Paniguradong natutulungan mo siya sa kanyang pag-aaral."

Gael's mother's words hit me hard.

One of the reasons why I chose to study a pre-law course because my father’s a lawyer. I was thinking that he’d be happy because I wanted to be like him. Ang akala ko noon ay magiging close kami kapag 'yon ang kinuha ko. Naisip ko rin na maaaring tutulungan niya rin ako sa mga parteng hindi ko naiintindihan pero... I guess not everything really goes the way you want it to be.

"I'm pretty sure that my daughter can handle anything about her subjects," daddy said to avoid the topic. "She's a smart kid."

If I'm not smart... If I’m going to purposely fail or bring my grades down, will he finally notice and help me out?

"I can see that your daughter's smart," Gael's mom said and nodded. "But I hope my son's free to contact you if you're not too busy to help him out. Malapit na silang pumasok ng law school. They're already graduating on May."

"Of course, it's okay! But I'll be out of the country most of the time. He can just call me through social networking sites," sabi ni daddy.

Gael smiled at my father. "That'll be my pleasure, sir. Maraming salamat po.”

I couldn't help but to feel bitterness. How is he allowed to call my dad even when he's working overseas to ask about law stuffs samantalang ako'y ni hindi nila matawagan o masagot ang tawag?

Tumayo naman ako bigla sa kinauupuan ko. Lahat ng atensyon nila ay napunta sa akin.

"Excuse me po, labas lang po ako," paalam ko.

"But, Blair, hindi pa dumadating ang pagkain," mahinahong pagpigil sa akin ni mommy.

"I'll be back, mom," sabi ko at nagsumikap ngumiti. "Bathroom break lang po."

"Let your daughter go, Helena," simpleng sabi ni daddy.

"Okay..." Mom sighed. "Bumalik ka agad, ah? Baka dumating na ang pagkain."

"I will, mom," sabi ko na lang at mabilis na tumalikod.

I bit my lower lip as the corners of my eyes heated up and quickly went outside the room.