His To Own

Chapter 2

PAGBABA KO NG KOTSE umakto muna akong papasok sa gate ng Science Academy at nang makumpirma na nakaalis na si Daddy ay saka ako gumilid. Habang pinagmamasdan ko ang mga estudyanteng nagmamadaling makapasok sa loob ng Academy. Hindi ko mapigilan ang sariling umirap. I still can't believe that I'm one of them now and I'm actually wearing their poorly-designed school uniform.

If this is a nightmare, I'd pay hundred thousands to people who'll wake me. I cannot!

Nang maramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone sa bulsa ng aking palda. Kinapa ko muna 'yon saka nilabas. Aven is calling me, that's when I remember that I'm supposed to meet her at Port Chester's main gate today for our enrollment.

Damny!

"We're on our way? How 'bout you?" her monotonic voice said it swiftly. I glimpse at my surrounding and then starts walking like a crab until I find myself on the corner of the street, hailing a cab.

"On my way too. I'll see you later." I ended the call and keep my phone on my pocket before she can even ask me about my noisy background.

The moment I see an approaching taxi. I instantly position myself in order to get in as soon as his passenger gets out.

"Ouch!" daing ko nang mabangga ako ng babaeng bumaba roon. Inayos niya ang salamin na suot saka mabilisang humingi ng dispensa sa 'kin bago ako tuluyang nilampasan. I hate her. Ang laki na ng salamin, hindi pa nakikita nang maayos ang paligid niya? It's not as if I'm blocking her way. She's just a plain shunga.

Hinabol ko pa 'to nang nanlilisik na tingin bago ako tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng taxi driver. Agad kong napansin ang tingin nito. Siguro ay iniisip niyang magka-cutting ako.

"Manong, sa Port Chester University po." I smiles at him awkwardly.

At dahil punong-puno rin ako nang pagdududa. Pasimple kong pinicturean ang info nitong taxi at ng driver na nakatatak sa may pinto. Sinend ko 'yon kay Aven tapos nag-selfie rin ako na idnim ko sa kaniya sa twitter.

Nang makita niya ang mga 'yon. Una 'tong nagsend ng tatlong emojis na naluha na sa kakatawa saka ang words.

From: Aven Costello

Nag-taxi ka, why? Ang dami niyong kotse.

To: Aven Costello

Yes, I'll tell you about it.

Just in, another message from her pops in my screen.

From: Aven Costello

Wait, are you wearing Philippines Science Academy's uniform?

"Unfortunately yes."

Nagreply pa ulit 'to sa 'kin pero sineen ko na lang. Bukod sa hindi kasi ako nakapag-charge ng cellphone kagabi at wala akong dalang powerbank. Gusto ko ring bantayan ang rutang dinaraanan namin. Baka kasi mamaya nililigaw na 'ko ni Manong.

I didn't mean to be doubtful, I just have too. For safety.

"Hija? Hindi ba ikaw 'yung kumakanta at sumasayaw sa mga tv shows?"

Oh, he do knows me. Napangiti na ako nang kaonti at naalisan ng isang tinik sa dibdib. Baka 'yon ang dahilan kaya siya tingin nang tingin sa 'kin. Kilala niya pala ako. Who wouldn't? I'm Somi Montefiore, the biggest thing in Philippines' showbiz industry.

"Yes, that's me po." Tumango-tango s'ya. Pabalik-balik pa rin ang tingin ni Manong sa 'kin pero mas matagal nang nakababad ang mata niya sa kalsada ngayon.

"Iyong anak ko, fan mo. Puro picture mo nga 'yung kwarto niya tapos noong isang araw. Bumili siya ng album mo sa mall, nagpasama sa 'kin."

"Talaga po?" she has good taste, I'd love to add but keep it in my mind instead.

"Oo, iyon pala 'yung pinag-iipunan niya ng ilang buwan. Buong summer din siyang nagpart time sa grocery store sa may amin para mabuo 'yung perang pambili niya," anito.

And although I feel happy and overwhelm by his daughter's support. A spang of guilt, began attacking  me. I didn't get to realize that I have group of supporter like his daughter until now.

Hindi na muling nasundan pa ang maliit naming pag-uusap ni Manong hanggang sa marating na namin ang destinasyon ko. I took a five hundred bill from my pocket and handed it to him before I step out from his taxi.

"Keep the change, Mister and please say my uttermost thank you for your daughter's support." Isang beses pa akong kumaway rito bago ko isinarado ang pinto ng taxi at gumilid. Hinintay ko munang makaandar ang taxi bago ko kinuha ang cellphone sa palda na suot para imessage na ulit si Aven.

Bumungad sa 'kin ang panibagong dm ni Aven na six minutes ago pa lang.

"Nasa Ruffus kami ni Kuya. Diretso ka na lang dito. Ikinuha ka na namin ng form." I look up to the other side of the busy street where I can find the said shop for beverages.

I was about to cross the street when a familiar fancy car blocks my way. Much to my horror, the door of the driver's seat opened and Daddy came out looking so fed up. Isang beses akong napaatras.

Paano niya nalaman nandito ako? Paano niya ako nasundan.

"Get in the car now, Solar Mirabella." Kahit pa halata na kinokontrol niya ang galit sa boses. Pakiramdam ko pa rin ay bigla-bigla na lang 'yon sasabog kaya naman hindi ko hinintay pang ulitin niya ang sinabi. Kumilos na kaagad ako.

Nang makabalik na rin si Daddy sa loob. Pinaandar niya na kaagad ang kotse. At base sa rutang tinatahak naming dalawa, mukhang sa bahay niya ako ibabalik ngayon at hindi sa Science Academy.

Damny, I'm screwed.

"Dad, I can explain..." salubong ko rito pagbaba namin ng kotse pagdating sa bahay. Dumire-diretso siya sa loob ng bahay at wala akong ibang nagawa kung hindi sundan ito.

Unconsciously, I played with my fingers to distract myself a little from my incredible fears of him.

"What else do you plan to do, Solar? Smoke, do drugs? You're not a little child anymore. I'm sure that you know what is wrong and right the way you know how to play and fool around. You're a teenager, I know. You're on the stage of your life where you want to experience every adventure that you can, I can relate to that. I used to be like that but I never did things that will put my future at risk!" he shouted.

Dahil doon ay napababa si Mommy mula sa second floor. Lumapit 'to sa 'ming dalawa para pumagitna. "Luthor, what's happening?" bumaling naman s'ya sa 'kin. Pinipigilan ang mga luhang yumakap ako kay Mommy at tinago na lang mula sa galit na galit pa ring Luthor Zacharias Montefiore ang aking mukha. In the end, no matter how hard I try to supress it, I weep.

"Hindi ba't nasa Academy ka na dapat?" kalmadong pang-uusisa ni Mommy.

"She ditched her first day  class. I was right, she'll do it. Buti na lang talaga at trinack ko ang cellphone niya." Nanlaki ang aking mata. I wanna tell Daddy that what he did is against my privacy but I'm sure he'll use his 'I am your Father' line.

"Solar, from now onwards. You're not allowed to go anywhere except our house and school." Binuklat ni Daddy ang palad niya. "Your phone."

I shook my head and hide myself more. "Daddy please."

"Luthor, just let her have it. Kahit 'yon na lang."

"Hindi, Thlaine. Kukunin ko ang cellphone niya, ipad pati na rin ang laptap. Ang laptap ay makukuha niya lang kapag kailangan niya para sa school at kung gagamitin niya at ng tutor," may pinalidad niya nang anas.

"That's too much," I whispered.

Mommy rakes my hair and sweetly whisper in my left ear that I should go to my room and take break for today. I oblige to her willingly with pieces of my broken heart.

"Ate?" Zachary showed himself from the corner where he's hiding himself. My eight years old brother and Daddy's junior hugged me. He signal me to crouch and I did. Using his thumb, he wipes out my tears and kissed both of my cheeks.

"Ikaw kasi. Masiyado kang pasaway," he said. Napaismid na lang ako. Akala ko pa naman sa 'kin siya kampi, kay Daddy pa rin pala.

"I'll buy your favorite milkshake when I get back home in the afternoon!" habol niyang sinabi sa 'kin.