Chapter 19 - The New Daughter
1515 Words
Chapter 19 - The New Daughter
I’m on my way now to the restaurant where Dad would introduce his new family to me.
Great, isn’t it?
It feels like it was just yesterday when Dad called me to go home so he and Mom can talk to me about their separation, in reality that call was already two months ago. When Dad talked to us about it, I knew that they both talked to each other about it already, they were just informing me their decisions that time. They also talked about our business, Dad got the Restaurants and Mom kept the bakeshops and cafés. Dad wanted to leave them all to us as ‘compensation’ but Mom refused and she only took the cafes and bakeshops kasi yun naman talaga yung minamanage niya at doon ang field niya.
I was mad, I admit, until now I still am. I never felt the love from my father yet he could freely give it to her mistress and to the daughter.
I understand Mom why she agreed on their separation, she’s tired and she knows that it’s hopeless to fight anymore. I also believe that it is best for my Mom to let him go already, I don’t wanna see her hurting anymore. After the talk we had, as weeks passed by, I noticed that Mom seems more free and happy now, free from worries and burden. She had her mind free from worrying, and I’m happy for her. But, I will never understand why Dad chose them over me and my Mom, and the fact that he loves her mistress and its daughter than me because he can give her anything she wants is just very insulting and painful for me.
Yeah Dad bought her a car too. VOLUNTARILY. Pero nung ako, pinakiusap pa siya ni Mommy.
I don’t care about material things, but the thought of it is what hurts me.
I entered the Resto and a waiter greeted me.
“Do you have a reservation, Ma’am?”
“Yeah. Under the name of Dovante.”
“This way please.” She guided me to a small room, I guess it is a private room for guests that discuss important and/or confidential matters, or rooms for VIPs.
Narinig ko sila Dad at yung babae niya na nagtatawanan dahil sa kwentuhan nila. They stopped when the waitress knocked and opened the door for me, and they both looked at me as I entered the room and took the chair beside my father, and the woman is sitting on the opposite side of the table in front of Dad.
I did not bother to smile, coz why would I? Call me a b!tch, mean, rude, or whatever you wanna call me, I don’t care.
“We’ll just have to wait for your daughter now.” Ani ni Dad sa babae.
After 5 minutes or so. I heard a knock on the door and they entered.
Archer…. And…
the girl Vince and I saw at the Beastra. I was shocked, nangunot ang noo ko na tumingin kay Archer at bumalatay rin sa mga mata nito ang pagkagulat.
Why is he with her?
What’s their connection?
Who is she?
The hell I care!
After the talk I had with Archer last 2 months, he got busy with his duty, studies, research and…. other… stuffs I guess.
“Mom, I brought Archie with me, is it okay?” ani ng dalaga habang palapit sila sa table
“Of course.” Nakangiting sambit ng babae saka sila umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ng babae ni Dad. This table is actually a six-seater, so they both settled there.
The dishes started to come in pero hindi ko masikmura ang kumain kaharap sila.
Family wrecker.
After taking a small bite, I just stared at my plate, playing with the food using my fork.
Should I stab this to their throat?
I bit my lip to stop myself from chuckling at that thought. That…was… brutal and creepy for me to even have a thought about it. Well, I just saw it from some horror movies, okay? An it’s not like I can do it.
“By the way, Amy, this is your Tita Korina, and her daughter Karylle.” Turo niya sa dalawa.
“And of course, Kean. You already know him right?”
I nodded.
“Korina, Karylle, this is my daughter, Amy.” Pakilala naman sakin ni Dad. They smiled at me but I did not bother to do the same. I stand up and offered a shake hands for formality. I’d rather treat this like a business instead of having connection with them.
“Nice to meet you both.” They took my hand obviously trying to be nice.
I wonder if they’re really nice. Well, the daughter looks…bitchy tho.
I can feel Archer’s eyes following my movement as I sit down.
“How’s your online schooling Karylle?” Dad asked.
Wow, he even asked her, while he can’t even ask me how I’m doing at school.
“Fine, Tito. Kailangan ko nalang pong tapusin ang mga units na hindi ko natapos sa Italy, so I can go to med school as well with Archie.”
“Oh, wow. So you guys will both take up medicine. I see.” Nakangiting sambit ni Dad. He never talked to me like that, he just forced me before to take business course, but I insisted my what I want, my dream, which he labeled as ‘impractical’ because of the current situation of our healthcare system.
“How about you hija?” the woman asked me, she seems nice, but… still a mistress, that’s not going to change.
“Currently in my second year of nursing, po.”
“Hm. So you’re younger than these two. Do you also plan on taking Med?”
“No.” tipid kong sagot saka kinuha ang basong may laman ng tubig at uminom dito.
“Why not?” Dad suddenly asked.
Wow. What’s with him? A year ago he was forcing me to take business, and now….
Why? Is it because his “new daughter” is going to be a doctor?
“Why should I?” I retorted while I played with the food again.
“So you want to be stuck at being a nurse lang? Ba’t di mo gayahin si Karylle magdo-doctor.”
Wait. What? Stuck at being a nurse? Is nursing a very low and indecent job? Ganyan ba tingin ng tatay ko sa pag n-nursing? Ba’t ang baba ng tingin niyo!
“Stuck at being a nurse?” I laughed sarcastically.
Without nurses, Doctors will not be able to finish their jobs. Doctors diagnose and treat patients because of Nurses’ first hand diagnosis! And for the record, patients will not heal just because of the medicines prescribed by a doctor but because of the care from nurses. Sinong nagba-bantay sa mga pasyente? Sinong nag-aalaga at nagche-check sa kanila? Kung walang nurses, kahit ilang gamot pa yang ibigay mo diyan sa pasyente kung walang nurse na maga-assist, tutulong, at mag-aalaga, wala paring epekto yan.
Treatment and curing is not only about drinking medications and undergoing procedures from doctors, but also about care and nurturing from nurses.
Tapos kung makasabi kayo ng “nurse lang”?
“Why? What’s wrong with being a nurse?” I did not bother looking at anyone yet I can feel their eyes on me.”
“Last time I checked, you were forcing me to take up business. What’s with the sudden change of thoughts, Dad?”
“You should at least utilize that Nursing course of yours and take up medicine as well like your Ate Karylle. Or shift to business so you wouldn’t embarrass me in front of my business colleagues for being a nurse.”
What?
“I will be a nurse, Dad. You don’t have to worry about your colleagues anymore coz you already have a daughter who will be a doctor….” I stood up and looked at Dad and Karylle before walking away from the table.
“And oh, by the way, I don’t have a sister to call ‘ate’.” I added before opening the door
“Bumalik ka dito Amira! Wag kang bastos!” sigaw ni Dad nang makalabas ako but I did not stopped and just walked to the parking lot.
“Rain! Stop!” I turned to Archer who followed me outside.
“What?”
“What was that? You’re being childish. Show some respect to Tita Korina as well.” Madiin niyang sambit.
- Writer
