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1219 Words
"Hey, dad, what's up?" I said as I answered the phone while we were walking. " Meet me at the nearest coffee shop in your school," napatigil ako sa paglalakad at gano'n na rin sila duke dahil ako ang nasa harapan nila. "Why, is there a problem, keir?" Duke asked me.
"Wala naman, you can go ahead na, I'll just go somewhere," they both looked at me with their worried eyes. I nodded at them and smiled. "Kunwari ka pa, sige na! Your moment," I winked at her and she just shook her head, while duke was weirdly looking at us, not getting a hint.
"Go na!" I pushed them so that they can go away na. I watched their shadows fade before I completely went to the nearest coffee shop here. Nagulat lang talaga ako na nandito si dad kaya I'm nervous.
"Hey dad," I kissed him on the cheek before sitting down in front of him. "Why did you call me dad? Is there any prob?" Dad raised his hand to get his order first. "One Iced-Americano, how about you?" They both looked at me so it was uncomfortable for me. "Cupcake and macchiato," I said while naiilang.
"Okay, that's it." The waitress left.
"So, uhm..." tumikhim si dad not knowing where to start the conversation. Hinintay ko lang si dad mag talk baka kasi important 'yon.
"We will not be home, for like a couple of weeks," dad refused to look at me not wanting to see my reaction to it.
I didn't speak, so we stayed quiet until the food arrived. "Thank you," dad said to the waitress.
We just eat silently. I still didn't respond to what he said earlier. I don't know how to respond to it. Maybe, some 'okay' will do? I don't think so. Okay, fine. Kung ano nalang lumabas sa bibig ko.
"Why?" Ayun kaagad ang lumabas sa bibig ko. I asked that while still eating, dad's too. "Business," I knew it. Why is that still to be questioned? I sighed and then place my fork down. "But before that, we want na i-pagshopping ka muna, to bond! specifically," bigla akong napalingon kay dad at biglang tumayo. "Oh gosh, dad! Why you didn't tell me sooner?" Dad got up too then laughed. "I guess, it's a surprise, hon," it made me excited. Ngayon na lang kami ulit makakapah shopping after three days, gosh. I got out first while dad was still busy paying the bills, "keep the change." I heard before I hop in the car.
Bago pa man mapa-andar ni dad ang car, someone called him. Before he answers it, he looks at me first. I nodded to him and smiled. Dad got out of the car and patiently waited for him. As minutes passed by, still now may kausap pa rin si dad. They were taking so long, I wanted to go shopping na ha. I looked at dad to see that he was so fuming mad. Parang kaaway niya 'yung kausap niya. I guess it was part of his business, so I don't care.
~~
Finally, tapos na sila mag-usap. Pumasok si dad and he let out a loud sigh. "Hey dad, you okay?" I asked dad. "Yes I'm okay, Shall we go?" Kahit hindi pa ako kumbinsado I just nodded my head and then rested my head on the window and closed my eyes, to get some sleep. Because the three girls from earlier stress me so much.
Nagising ako dahil may umaalog sa'kin. "Wake up, we're here already, keir." Dad woke me up. I scrub my eyes and then look around, dad's right, we're here at Zamora's Mall. Dad named that mall after me, so it was mine already. Dad wants me to take business management but I want to take another course. I was in senior high.
I can't believe that I'm surviving this. Although I wasn't listening to the lesson.
"Your mom was on your favorite clothing brand already, waiting for us," Dad said while were walking towards the mall.
"Really?" I asked in a shocked tone. I don't know that mom was going to be there too. I expected that she would be dating the papers again in her office.
"Yeah," he said in a happy tone. It's been a while since we bonded. I honestly miss shopping with my mom.
~
"Hi, mom!" I exclaimed as I ran towards her and then hugged her so tight like we had never seen each other for a long time.
"How are you, my beautiful daughter?" Kumawala si mom sa yakap then look at me with her beautiful smile.
"I'm fine mom," I chuckled.
"So, we have new arrival here, get what you want, keir." My mom smiled at me. I nodded to her. My favorite here is that I own this mall and I get what I want.
Mom and dad step out for a bit to talk, probably. I choose bags, heels, and clothes that I want. I was thinking to throw a party in the house since my birthday was getting near. Sounds great. I should tell this to my mom and dad.
Naglakad ako papalapit sakanila but they still didn't notice my presence. I heard them talking. "You have to keep that or else kapag nalaman nila ang ginawa mo, the company will fall." Galit na sabi ni mom. What are they going to keep? Out of curiosity, I listen more to their conversation.
"Yes, yes... I know." Dad sighed.
"We need to go back there bago pa tayo hanapin ni keir." Mom said. Nauna na akong bumalik do'n and pretend that I didn't heard anything. What was their hiding from me? from the company?
Mom and dad smiled at me as they went inside the shop. "Is that all you want?" I was still not sure about these clothes, ang onti.
"Can we try another shop mom?" I asked my mom.
"Sure, pack this. We'll get back here later." Mom said to the counter.
"Yes, ma'am." The lady bowed at us.
"Mom, my birthday is coming na," I looked at her while her hands were holding me. "So, what's your plan?" Dad was just behind us, following.
"Can I throw a party at the house?" They both stop walking.
"You want to do that?" I nodded.
"Sure, but no boys!" My mom reminded me. Tumango naman ako bilang pag sang-ayon. Gano'n ang patakaran do'n, if I want to throw a party there, there should be no boys.
"Wait, but how about duke, mom?" Pagpigil ko sa paglalakad niya dahil ngayon ko lang naalala. "How many times do I tell you na except duke? I knew duke so much so pinagkakatiwalaan ko siya." Pagkasabi ni mom. Si dad sa likod nagmumukhang bodyguard namin kaya umusog ako para gumitna siya sa'min.
"Dad, halika nga dito, you look like a bodyguard when you're just following us from behind," paghahatak ko kay dad. They both chuckled.
"Okay, okay... Let's go to your next favorite clothing brand... may I heard what is it?" Nilapit sa'kin ni dad ang tainga niya hinihintay ang sagot ko at si mom naman ay gano'n din. They were holding hands while waiting for my answer.
I chuckle before I answer it. "Gucci!" I exclaimed like a happy kid.
~~~
- Writer
