Art of Serendipity

27

One thing is for sure. I don't know what does he mean and I'm scared to know. Nahulog daw siya sa sarili niyang bitag? Ano naman kayang ibig sabihin no'n? He is always giving me puzzles that is so hard to solve, so skeptical.

Hay, Velez! You never failed to make me confused in your own little ways.

Bumitaw ako sa kaniya nang may tumunog ang phone ko, indicating that someone is calling. Lumunok ako. Thank the heavens for this coincidence! For saving me at that moment! Dahil kung walang tumawag upang mangistorbo ay hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin ko.

Umiwas ako sa kaniya at pumunta sa mesa upang hagilapin ang phone ko. I looked at the caller's I.D. Ang tumawag ay ang secretary ni Daddy, which I do not know why.

"Hello?"

"Good afternoon, Miss. I just want to inform you po that your dad is asking if you could talk to him," the secretary informed in a formal tone.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "What for?"

"Miss… Uh, he wants to personally say the matter to you when you two meet," medyo naging alanganin ang tono niya.

I sighed heavily. "Bahala kayo. Ngayon na ba?"

"Opo, sana."

"Fine. Where?" I asked boredly. I drag the chair in front of me and sat on it, medyo nawala na sa mood.

"Ang daddy mo na po ang pupunta sa La Vegas, Miss. He is now getting ready."

"Okay. I will go to the hotel now, then."

"Okay, Miss. Thank you. Have a good day."

"Have a good day too, Zarah," then, I ended the call.

Bumuntong-hininga muli ako at nakangusong tumingin sa phone ko.

"What's the matter, Aya?" Levi asked, nasa tabi ko na siya ngayon. Naghila siya ng upuan at itinabi sa akin, he also sat on it.

"What a day. Dad wants to talk to me. He is on the way to the hotel now," I also let him know.

"Then, you should too," iyon ang naging tugon niya.

I glanced at him. "I feel like I am not yet ready to talk to him."

"And when are you going to be ready?" he asked. Tumungo siya sa akin na tila may gustong ipaintindi. "Look, Aya, I know that you are not ready, but when will you be? The chance to talk to your father is now in front of you. Ayaw kitang diktahan, but you must grab it before everything went down. Talk to your father now, so that you won't feel any regret later. Malay mo. After that talk, gumaan ang pakiramdam mo. There is nothing wrong with trying. What wrong is that you did not try, and yet, you will still feel that you failed."

For the nth time, napapangaralan na naman niya ako. He is right. I won't lie if I say that he always choose the appropriate words. Hindi siya magsasalita sa mga bagay na hindi siya sigurado. He will be right, and I do not want to feel any regret later.

"Okay. Thank you." I gave him a small smile. "Hatid mo 'ko?'

He smiled too. "Let us go, then. Your dad must be waiting."

Sa sasakyan niya ay halos naguumapaw ang kung ano-anong emosyon sa puso ko. There is a part of it that I miss him. I miss my father. After all, hindi rin biro ang napagsamahan at napagdaanan namin ni Dad.

"I gotta go now," pagpaalam ni Levi nang makarating na kami sa parking.

Tumango ako at ngumiti ng tipid. "Thank you ulit. Wish me luck."

"Be calm, okay?" paalala niya. "See you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you." I waved. Nauna na akong pumasok sa hotel bago pa man din siya umalis dahil iyon ang gusto niya bago siya umalis.

"Ma'am Ayannah, naroon na po sa office ang Daddy niyo," the receptionist informed me as I got to the hotel.

Kahit alam ko na ay napakunot pa rin ang noo ko. Ngayon lang ako binisita ng personal ni daddy, ah? May kailangan ba siya? He never visited me. Nagpapadala lang siya ng tauhan niya para i-check ako kung maayos ako rito, though, the bodyguards wouldn't bother me but I'm always noticing them. Syempre, kilala ko ang mga tauhan ni Dad.

Nang makarating na ako sa Office ay naroon nga si Daddy, sitting like a king on the swivel chair. When he saw me, his face enlighten and was about to go straight to me. I didn't wait for him to approach me, agad akong umupo sa tapat ng table kung saan siya nakaharap.

"How are you, my princess?" he asked in a very sweet tone. Halo-halo rin ang emosyong nakikita ko sa kaniya ngayon. Masaya, malungkot, pangungulila at sakit.

I crossed my arms. I badly want to roll my eyes but no, I can't do that. After all, that's not the right thing to do. He's still my father and I respect him, I love him a lot. Even if he slapped me, even if he hurt me. I will still love him.

"I'm fine, Dad," as much as I wanted to make my voice sweeter, nagiging cold talaga kapag hindi ko nagugustuhan ang nangyayari.

He smiled. "I'm glad you're doing fine-"

"What are you doing here, Dad?" I asked, straightly. Hindi ko na kasi kinakayanan ang gulo ng utak ko.

Huminga siya ng malalim. "I know how much grunges I put on your plate, anak. I'm here to apologize... for everything I did. I was wrong when I hurt you, when I judged you, and most especially, for letting Donna ruined our relationship. I'm sorry, sweetie."

The sincerity in his voice send signal to my mind and eyes to be softer. Hindi ako nakasagot agad. The thought of him apologizing to me is very relieving. Kapag dating talaga kay Daddy at Mommy ay napakarupok ko. Agad nawawala ang galit ko pagdating sa kanila. A simple sorry and I already forgave him.

Especially, he said sorry about Tita Donna. Not because he was on Tita's side but because he knows now what Tita Donna is doing.

"Dad..." I called him. Iyon na lang ang tanging lumabas sa bibig ko. Marami akong gustong sabihin sa kaniya, mga hinanakit ko sa kaniya but I guess, hindi na kailangan pang isatinig iyon. Naririnig at nakikita ko na ang pagsisisi niya, that's enough.

"Also, I want to tell you that I know that Donna is cheating on me. I knew it beforehand."

My eyelids grew bigger. Alam ni Dad? "And you just let her, Dad?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

He chuckled a bit, showing his wrinkles, bakas ng katandaan. "I let her have an affair behind my back..."

"And you let her waste your money?! Why, Dad? You love her, don't you?" I said in a very frustrated tone. Hindi ako makapaniwalng hinayaan lang ni Daddy ang lahat ng ito. He's smart, I know that. His intelligence is undescribable but...where is it now?

"Ah, my daughter. Do you think I'm that idiot? I didn't let her, okay? Ang perang winawaldas niya...ay pera niya. Well, she knows that it's my money but little did she know, I'm playing everything. Hawak ko ang mga money accounts niya, wala kong dinadagdag doon at sigurado akong dahil sa mga luho niya, ubos na iyon ngayon."

Wow, just wow! Naisip ni Dad iyon? Nagawa niya iyon? Ah, ako ata ang idiot dito! My Dad is smart! I judged him so easily, stupid me!

My eyes blinked rapidly. "But you love her, right?"

"I tried to love her as genuinely as I can but..." Umiling-iling siya. "No one can surpass my love to your Mom, my dear. I hope you know that."

I smiled widely. Hear that, Mommy? Daddy loves you so much and I'm so happy! Ang tanging nagpapakilig na lang sa akin ngayon ay ang pagmamahalan nila ni Mommy. A pure love I wish I can have.

"Then why did you marry Tita Donna?" a bit of dissapointment in my voice is heard.

"Para tumigil na siya. Alam kong alam mo na matagal nang naka-abang si Donna sa 'kin. When your Mom died, she immediately grabbed the chance. I'm just a little bit scared to refuse her because I'm afraid she might use her power against us, I'm worried about your safety because her Dad was a Soldier, I bet he was in a highest position."

"Ano naman po kung sundalo nga ang tatay niya? Bakit po kayo nag-alala?"

"He is a kind of soldier who are abusive of power, hija. He can manipulate everything, without anyone noticing. He can kill anyone with his bare hands without getting jailed. Mahal niya ang anak niya kaya kung sakaling mang tinanggihan ko siya noon, marahil ay magkakasama na tayo ng mommy mo ngayon."

I clenched my fist. "Why the hell did that man became a soldier, then? Dad, this is not right. You married a wrong woman. Tita Donna is a freaking spoiled brat. Ano 'yon? Porke sundalo ang tatay niya, ayos lang po lahat? Kahit ang pagpatay?"

~~~