The Angel's Agony

"Dad I'll go now" I said as I saw my father walking down on our grand staircase wearing his suit. "Maaga kang umuwi mamaya" he said na nagpakunot ng noo ko. "For what? May lakad ba tayo?" I asked. "Nope. May bisita tayo potential business partner" he said after kissing my forehead. Tumango ako at dumiretso na sa labas kung saan nakaparada ang aming sasakyan. I have my own car but I prefer this way wala rin naman akong pinupuntahan after classes. My phone vibrated kaya kinuha ko iyon sa bulsa ng uniform ko. It's a call from Jai, my boyfriend. I immediately tap the answer button. "Goodmorning sunshine!" napangiti ako sa masigla nyang pagbati. "Goodmorning" I greeted him back. Dinig ko din na medyo maingay ang linya nya, he's probably at school. "Where are you? I'm here at the parking lot" he said. "On the way Jai I'll be there in 15 minutes" I said. "Okay okay I'll wait for you. Take care Ry I love you" he said in a sweet voice. Damn I love this man. "Yes I will. I love you too" I answered before ending the call. I didn't mind the driver hindi sila nakikialam sa personal naming buhay. Dad's strict but despite of being strict, he didn't forbid me to have a boyfriend that's why I have Jai now. He's sweet, caring, loving basta lahat yata nasa kanya na. He's a basketball player sa school namin. Maraming nagsasabi na bagay na bagay kami and we've been together for 5 years and counting, since grade 11 until now that we're both fourth year college. Since then from grade 11 naging suki na kami ng prom and school parties, he's always the prom king and I'm the prom Queen. Halos lahat sa school ay naiinggit sa relasyon na mayroon kami. We're friends back when we're still in United Kingdom kaya kilala na namin ang isa't isa since then. When he heard that we're leaving The UK for good agad nyang sinabi sa Mommy nya na uuwi din sya sa Pilipinas at dito mag aaral natawa lang ang mga magulang nya sakanya at pinayagan naman sya. Alam ng parents nya na gusto nya ako and he confessed to me when we're in Junior High sa UK but I told him na bata pa kami. When we leave the UK at sumama sya saamin without knowing anything about the Philippines I realized that he really love me that's why I gave him chance and let him court me. I love my Dad so much, sya na ang tumayong ama at ina saakin. I have a not so good family background. Mahal na mahal ni Dad ang Mommy ko at base on my Dad's story, mahal na mahal din sya ni Mommy. Dad was my Mom's boyfriend before my grandfather on my Mom's side decided to arrange my Mom's marriage. My Mom was against it as well as my Dad but my Mom's company was on the edge of knife. Pabagsak na ang company nila Mommy non and the only thing they can do to save it is by merging it to other company. Lumayo sila Dad when they both found out that my Mom's pregnant. Nagtago sila hanggang sa makapanganak si Mommy. I was 5 months old when the news about my Mom's father being hospitalized and dying reached us. He was hospitalized right after magtanan nila Mom at Dad. The news didn't reached her because she left all possible ways of communication such as gadgets and her credit cards. One day my Dad heard my Mom talking to someone on the phone they bought. He heard that my Mom was planning to go back to Manila at isasama nya ako leaving my Dad behind. My Dad was hurt so bad that he couldn't think of anything aside from escaping with me. That night, he run away with me while my Mom's asleep. Pumunta kami ng United Kingdom where my Dad grew up. Hindi alam nila Mommy na mayaman sila Daddy kase kung alam nila bakit sa iba pa makikipag merge hindi ba? But because my Dad chose to start from the scratch umuwi sya ng Pilipinas at doon nagtrabaho sa kompanya ng pamilya nila Mommy and that's how they met. We lived in United Kingdom for 15 years. When the news about my Mom leaving the Philippines to stay in California for good together with her family reached my Father at nalaman din ni Dad na yung dating kompanya nila Mommy ay pinahawak na sa iba at namatay na ang mga magulang ni Mommy, so basically madalang nang babalik si Mommy sa Pilipinas that's why nagdecide si Daddy na sya na ang magmanage ng kompanya nila sa Pilipinas but he chose to live here in Norchville. Now we're living here for almost 6 years. "Kuya anong oras ka susundo mamaya? Sinabi ba ni Dad?" I asked my driver before closing the door. "4:30 ho Ma'am aalis nako sainyo kaya bago mag alas singko ay nandito na ako" sagot nito. "Sige Kuya itext mo nalang ako kapag nandito kana" sabi ko at sinarado ang pintuan ng sasakyan at tinanaw itong papalayo. "Hey" I heard Jai's voice from behind. Humarap ako sakanya at ngumiti. He's not that tall but he has the body. Hindi sya ganon katangkad pero kasama sya sa varsity team namin ng basketball kase magaling sya. He's not that fair but not moreno either yung sakto lang na kulay. His undercut haircut suits him and he looks really really good. He got hazel brown eyes, narrow pointed nose, thin lips, perfect jaw. He's handsome, and yeah he's my boyfriend. "You're drooling again Ry" natatawa nyang saad bago ako niyakap. "I am not" Natatawa kong sagot. "Let's go" he held my hand as we enter the school gate. "By the way, this coming Saturday we'll have a practice game against MND's Amba sakanila gaganapin can you support me?" Malambing nyang saad. "MND's?" Tanong ko na tinanguan nya. That's a school near us. Ang alam ko magagaling ang mga taga doon. Doon dapat ako mag aaral pero medyo malayo sa bahay namin. Tatlong sunod sunod na bayan kase ito at tatlong sunod sunod na paaralan din una ang School namin dito sa Norchville which is Westview N.V. School. Next is Frostford View School sa katabing bayan at huli ang Crestview MND School sa Emersyn. Tumango sya. "Sabi mo magagaling yung mga yon? Kinakabahan kaba?" I asked but he just chuckled. "Hindi ako kinakabahan kase ang sabi sabi hindi yata maglalaro ang mga Menaide" paliwanag nya. "Huh? Bakit?" Taka kong tanong. Ang alam ko ay marami ang magpipinsan na yon at lahat sila ay nasa basketball team. "May family issues ata" sagot nya at nagkibit balikat. "Manunuod ka ba ng practice namin mamaya o may tatapusin kayo?" Tanong nya saakin nang nasa pintuan na kami ng classroom ko. Hinarap ko sya bago sumagot. "Uhm hindi ako makakanuod ng practice game nyo mamaya e maaga kase akong pinapauwi ni Daddy" sagot ko na nagpakunot ng noo nya. "Bakit daw?" Usyoso nya. "May bisita kami" sagot ko kaya tumango naman sya at hinalikan ako sa noo bago kumaway at naglakad palayo. "Ryleeeeeeeeeeighhhhh!" Halos mapatalon ako nang nagtititili si Maci. "Ang aga aga nilalanggan pambihira" pang aasar nya at may pasundot sundot pa sa tagiliran ko. Ngumiti lang ako at umiling malaki din talaga ang sapak ng isang to. Dumiretso ako sa upuan ko at ibinaba ang bag ko doon bago maayos na umupo. Samantalang dumiretso naman si Maci sa upuang nasa harapan ko at umupo nang paharap saakin saka humalukipkip sa sandalan ng upuan at nakangisi akong tinignan. "Sasama ka sa linggo? Sinasama ako ni Hendrix" tanong nya. Oh yeah boyfriend nya ang best friend ni Jai na basketball player din. "Uh sinabihan ako ni Jai and yeah sasama ako" sagot ko sakanya kaya napapalakpak naman sya. "Anong susuotin mo?" Tanong nya kaya nangunot naman ang noo ko. Dapat pabang paghandaan yon? "Uhm pants and white shirt?" Sagot ko na tila hindi sigurado dahil sa nakangiwi nyang mukha na tila ba hindi maganda ang iniisip ko. "Seriously? Alam kong effortless ang ganda mo girl pero magmumukha kang anak ng may naluging kompanya don't you know?" Nakangiwi nyang saad kaya nagkibit nalang ako ng balikat. "Yun ba ang gusto ni Jai?" Nakangisi na nyang tanong. "Maci you know that Jai doesn't want me showing too much skin and I don't want that either" sagot ko sakanya and she just rolled her eyes. "Uh yeah? Mr. And Ms. Prim and Proper. Whatever" she groaned bago humarap sa prof namin na kadarating lang. Maci's boyfriend, Hendrix is Jai's best friend. Matagal na sila ni Maci I can still remember how they both kept their relationship a secret dahil ayaw pa ng mga magulang ni Maci dahil sobrang bata pa nya. Maci's the first one to talk to me mula nung mag aral ako dito. She's the first and the last, may mga nakikipag usap pero hanggang don lang walang nagtangkang makipag kaibigan. Siguro dahil mukha akong boring kausap. They even labeled Jai and I as Mr. And Ms. Prim and Proper. "Seryoso kaba sa susuotin mo?" Nakangiwing tanong ni Maci. We're here in cafeteria for lunch and she's not yet over with my chosen outfit for this coming sunday. "Yeah" maikli kong sagot that made her groan. "Come on Ry alam kong babagay sayo ang highwaist skinny jeans dahil sobrang ganda ng hubog ng hita mo at pamatay ang balakang and also your butt kaya katanggap tanggap yon pero white shirt? Plain white shirt? Ano ka nag aapply na saleslady?" She said na tila naghihisterya. I laughed a little dahil medyo napapalingon na saamin ang mga katabing mesa. "What do you want me to wear then?" I asked without looking at her. Kaming dalawa lang dito sa table dahil may tinatapos na project si Hendrix at Jai kaya sa library sila naglunch. Nag angat ako ng tingin sakanya nang hindi sya nagsalita. Naabutan ko syang nakangiwi. "I really hate your accent I feel like I'm talking to peppa pig" lalo akong natawa sa sinabi nya. "Maci I was raised in The United Kingdom what do you expect?" Natatawa kong saad na inirapan lang nya. "Whatever. Let's shop some clothes" she said giggling. "I have clothes" mataman kong sabi pero tinignan lang nya ako na parang may nasabi akong masama. I mouthed "What?" "Magshoshopping tayo sasama ka sakin no buts" she said with finality. "Pinapauwi ako ng maaga ni Dad may bisita kami" ssgot ko sakanya. "Bisita? Who?" She asked habang naka kunot ang kanyang noo. "Potential business partner?" I said casually pero nagulat ako nang mabitawan nya ang hawak nyang kutsara. "Potential what?" Gulat nyang tanong. "Potential business part-" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko nang padabog nyang ibinagsak ang kamay nya sa lamesa kaya nagulat ako napatingin naman saamin ang mga katabing table namin. "May anak bang lalaki? Kasing edad mo? Dinner daw ba? Wala bang nabanggit si Tito na may ipapakilala sya?" Sunod sunod nyang tanong na nagpakunot ng noo ko. "What do you-" nahinto ako nang unahan nya ako. "Sabihin mo nga sakin Ry, kailan kapa isinama sa business dinner ng daddy mo? Kailan pa sya nagdala ng businessman sa bahay nyo?" Tanong nya kaya lalo akong nagtaka sa pinupunto nya. "Wala pa? That's because he said na he won't force me to handle the company. He doesn't want me to inherit his business and he wants me to create my own name without his help" I said matter of fact. "That's it! Isn't it suspicious that he's involving you in some business related dinner now?" She asked again. "What are you-" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko at namilog ang mga mata kong nakatingin kay Maci when I realized what she meant with that. "No... No...." Hindi makapaniwala akong paulit ulit na umiiling "He can't do this to me. Maybe... Maybe... Oh my, is this serious?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. "It's just my speculation Ry but that's the only thing I can think of" she said. Paulit ulit kong iniisip ang mga sinabi ni Maci kanina habang naglalakad at tinititigan ang text ni Kuya Jack yung driver namin. Kaninang 4:55 pa sya doon at late ako ng 20 minutes dahil late nagdismiss ang teacher namin. "Ma'am akala ko po sumabay kayo kay Ma'am Maci" salubong sakin ng driver at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto saka umikot at pumasok sa may driver's seat. "Sorry kuya late po nag dismiss yung last prof namin e. Natext nyo po ba si Dad?" I asked him habang hinihintay ang ID ko na iniabot ko sa guard para mairecord na nakapag out nako. "Ayos lang po Ma'am at opo naitext kona po ang Daddy nyo nandon napo sila Mr. Fritz" sagot ni Kuya. Fritz. Hunter Fritz owner ng pinaka malaking pagawaan ng baril sa Pilipinas at sa Japan bakit magiging business partners sila ni Daddy? Our business is in winery so why? Do we need guns while making wines? Pagdating namin sa garahe ng bahay ay agad akong bumaba. Pagpasok ko sa loob ay agad akong sinalubong ng isang kasambahay. "Miss Ry kabilin bilinan po ng Daddy nyo na wag na kayong hayaang umakyat at magbihis, dumiretso na daw po kayo sa dinning area at nakakahiya daw pong paghintayin ang bisita" sabi nito nang nakayuko. "Ang aga pa ah?" Takang tanong ko dahil anong oras palang at kakain na kami? "Marami daw pong pag uusapan kaya mas mabuting maagang kumain" sagot nito kaya medyo nakaramdam ako ng kaba. Tumango ako sakanya at diretsong naglakad sa papunta sa dinning area habang ang kanang strap ng backpack ko ay nasa kanang balikat ko at ang isa ay nakalaglag lang. Tunog ng stilleto ko ang nagpalingon sa mga nasa hapag. Si Dad ay nasa usual spot nya sa kaliwang dulo ng lamesa at sa kaliwang side nya ay isang matandang lalaki na nasa mid 40's, katabi ng matanda ay isang nakangiti at sopistikadang babae na sa tingin ko'y kaedad nya, katabi ng ginang ang isang lalaki na naka sky blue long sleeves na nakatupi hanggang siko, malinis ang pagkaka gupit ng buhok, matangkad, maputi, malambot ang feature ng kanyang mukha mula sa naka kunot na makapal at maayos na kilay, mahabang pilikmata, light brown na mga mata, matangos na ilong, manipis at mapupulang labi. Sa kabila ng malambot nyang feature ay matigas na tingin ang ipinupukol nya saakin. Bigla akong kinabahan nang maramdaman ang titig nyang nakaka intimidate at naalala ang mga sinabi ni Maci kanina. Is this what she's talk- "Mr. And Mrs. Fritz this is my daughter, Ryleigh." Naputol ang titigan namin ng nakababatang Salazar at ang paghihisterya ko sa isip ko nang magsalita si Dad. "She's so beautiful" komento ng ginang habang palapit ako kay Dad. I reached for my Dad's cheek to kiss him saka hinitak ang upuan sa gawing kanan nya. Tumayo si Dad at hinawakan ako sa balikat. "Thank you" mahina kong saad. "This is my daughter Ryleigh Valeria Agreste" pagpapakilala sakin ni Dad. Tumayo silang tatlo. The man in mid 40's extended his hand, "Hunter Fritz" Nang magbitaw ang kamay namin ng matanda ay inextend din ng babaeng nasa mid 40's ang kamay nya, "Reeze Fritz" she beamed at me at binitawan nya ang kamay ko. The man maybe tha same age as mine extended his hand too, "Rage Archer Fritz" he said in a cold tone at binitawan ang kamay ko. "Before anything else, why don't we eat first?" Natatawang sabi ni Dad kaya nagsiupuan na kami. "Uhm I'm sorry for being late, my last prof took 20 minutes overtime" paghingi ko ng paumanhin. "It's fine hija" natatawang sagot ni Mr. Fritz. "I like her accent Rysous" namamanghang sabi ni Mrs. Fritz kaya natawa si Daddy. "We lived in The UK for 15 years kaya hindi na nya maalis alis yung accent na nakasanayan nya, but she can speak Filipino" paliwanag ni Daddy habang ako naman ay tahimik na kumakain. "Oh..." Sagot nalang ni Mrs. Fritz at nagpatuloy na kami sa pagkain habang nag uusap si Dad at ang mag asawang Fritz about sa business habang ang ako at ang anak ng mag asawang Fritz ay tahimik na kumakain. Nang matapos kaming lahat kumain ay tumikhim si Dad. "Anong tinetake mong course hijo?" Tanong ni Dad habang nakatingin kay Rage. "Mechanical Engineering Sir" sagot ni Rage. His voice is deep and baritone. He has a built bigger than Jai's but he's fairer than him and he looks more mature than Jai because of his stubbles. Kung tutubo siguro ng mas mahaba ay balbas nya ay magmumukha syang arabo, Zayn Malik vibes ganon. "Oh that's impressive" puna ni Dad at tumawa ng malakas. "He also wants to be a pilot" natatawang saad ni Mr. Hunter. "Oh..." namamangha syang tinignan ni Dad. "How about this gorgeous lady?" Nakangiting tanong ni Mrs. Fritz habang nakatingin saakin. "Uhm I'm taking Legal Management Ma'am" sagot ko. Nakita ko ang gulat sa mga mata nya, maging ang anak nyang parang walang pakealam ay napatingin saakin. "That's great!" Natutuwang saad ni Mr. Fritz. "Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit law ang gusto nitong kurso e mukhang mahirap" natatawang sabi ni Dad. "I think she can reach that naman. Mukhang kayang kaya nya" sagot ni Mrs. Fritz. I smile at her. "Actually, I think you're right Reeze. You know, I'm so proud of my daughter, she's a consistent topnotcher at hindi sya mabarkada and also she's not into jewelries and fancy things." Nakangiting pagmamalaki ni Dad. That's true but damn, hindi na nya kailangang sabihin yon. "Oh.... Parehas pala sila ni Rage." Natutuwang sagot ni Sir Hunter. "She's beautiful Rysous, I think men kneel in front of her" komento ni Ma'am Reeze kaya dumagundong ang malakas na tawa ni Dad sa buong dinning. "I'm sure she knows what to prioritize" sagot ni Daddy sakanya. "So wala syang boyfriend?" Tanong ni Sir Fritz. I look at Dad nang binalingan nya ako. This is what I'm waiting for, kung anong patutunguhan nito. "Wala" sagot nya kay Sir Hunter na nagpalaglag ng panga ko. Ramdam ko rin ang paninitig ng anak ni Mr. And Mrs. Fritz saakin probably reading my expression. "That's good" sagot ni Mr. Fritz at bago pa makasagot si Daddy ay nagsalita na ako. "Sorry for interrupting but can we cut the chase and talk about the real agenda of this meeting." Mataman kong saad kaya ilang saglit silang natahimik at biglang tumawa si Sir Hunter. "Sweetheart what are you talking about?" Tanong ni Dad saakin sa malambing na tono. "Dad stop fooling around. As far as I can remember, the last time we talked about business, you told me not to be dependent on our company and build my own name from scratch that's why you're not involving me in any business related agenda. So why should I be here now?" Tanong ko habang nakatingin sakanya. Lumingon ako kay Mr. Hunter at may sumilay na ngiti sa labi nya. "Well. What should I expect from you?" Nakangising saad ni Dad. "Beauty and Brains" I heard Mrs. Fritz said. "We're planning to merge the two companies by arranging your marriage" sagot ni Daddy. I looked at him seriously then laugh sarcastically. "Is the company falling? No offense Mr. And Mrs. Fritz most especially to your son Mr. Rage Archer Fritz" I look stared at his cold emotionless eyes. "But I have a boyfriend and I would rather be poor than being ruled by someone else." Mataman kong sagot. I saw how Rage's lips rose a bit. "Ryleigh" madiing sabi ni Daddy. "Dad look I'm sorry to disappoint you but I can't handle another broken family for this stupid arrange marriage." Malamig kong saad saka tumayo. "Now if you'll excuse me." I said saka yumuko ng bahagya at pag angat ko ng tingin ay namamanghang nakangiti si Mr. And Mrs. Fritz saakin. "Ryleigh sit down." Madiing saad ni Dad kaya nalipat ang tingin ko sakanya. Sinunod ko ang gusto nya at muling naupo. "Rysous I'm hella sure she'll be a great lawyer someday" puri ni Sir Hunter. "Yes Hunter not a single time I won an argument against her" sagot ni Dad. "Look Ry this is for your own good." Pag aalu saakin ni Dad pero hindi ko tinanggap. "Arrange marriage ruined our life. Walang dulot na maganda 'yon tell me if you're against my statement" sagot ko sakanya habang ang mga mata naman ng pamilya Fritz ay pabalik balik saakin at kay Dad. "She's right Rysous" sagot ni Mrs. Fritz. "My son Rage doesn't have any say for this because he's not a fan of marriage, but your daughter's different. What she said was true, I'm sorry hija for being insensitive about what happened to your parents" she added. Hinawakan ni Dad ang kamay ko kaya napalingon ako sakanya. This time naobserbahan kona sya. He has some white hair and wrinkles on the side of his eyes, a visible proof that he's not getting any younger anymore. I sighed. "Let us think about it. We're still young." Sagot ko habang nakatingin kay Rage.