Simply Yours (SPG)

Chapter 1

Krista yawns as she finished arranging things related to her business. Pasado alas otso na ng gabi pero heto siya, amoy pawis na't nakakulong pa rin sa kaniyang opisina—good thing Bubbles isn't leaving her.

"Chef, coffee?" Tanong ni Bubbles, habang nakadungaw sa bahagyang nakabukas na pinto ng kaniyang opisina.

Malawak na napangiti si Krista nang dahil sa pagiging maaalahanin ng kaniyang sekretarya.

"Thank you Bubbles, I need that. Is it sweet?" Krista asks with a huge smile on her lips.

"Of course Chef!" Bubbles exclaimed as she enters Krista's office while holding a customized pink mug.

Krista's favorite color is pink, obviously. She founds it very appealing while on the other hand, her cousin Farrah despise it the most—Farrah's favorite color is maroon, because it got the same color of blood and Krista finds it so gross.

"You're the best secretary talaga Bubbles!" Krista exclaimed then giggles as she reaches for the mug and take a sip.

First sip, take all her tiredness away. There's really something about coffee that can make Krista happy and energetic, thou she sometimes palpitate wala pa ring nakakapigil sa kagustohan niya.

Unconsciously, Krista let out a soft moan as the coffee's rich flavor explodes inside of her mouth. Krista's tense and stiff body became relax.

"Is it good Chef?" Bubbles asks while staring at her, smiling.

Krista just nod and smile. "It reminds of my father's,"

"Because he's the one who made it Chef,"

Umawang ang labi ni Krista nang dahil sa naging saad ni Bubbles. Maka-ilang ulit din siyang kumurap at nagpakawala ng hininga upang kalmahin ang kaniyang pusong naghuhumirintado.

"C-come again?" Utal na tanong ni Krista ay mabilis na inilapag ang tasa sa ibabaw ng kaniyang mesa.

"Your father is the one who made the coffee Chef," Bubbles said while smiling widely.

Puno ng galak namang agad na tumayo si Krista at lumabas ng kaniyang opisina. Akala niya'y nagbibiro lamang si Bubbles but to her surprise, her father is really here—leaning on the counter, wearing a black suit, black eye glasses with a beer on his hands na hindi alam ni Krista kung saan nito nakuha dahil walang ganon sa pastry shop niya.

"Dad!" Krista exclaimed in happiness as she fastly walks towards her father's direction.

"My daughter," Her father greeted her with a smile. "Give daddy a hug," her father added that she instantly obliged.

Wala sa sariling napapikit si Krista nang tuloyan niya ng mayakap ang kaniyang amang mahigit tatlong buwan niya ring hindi nakita, sa kadahilanang ito ay abala sa pamumulitika.

"I missed you dad," Krista whispered in her father's arms.

"I missed you too my daughter," Her father replied and plant a tiny kisses on her head that makes her smile.

Krista never let go of her father, instead she just raise her head and smiles at him. Wala pa ring pinagbago, ang gandang lalaki pa rin talaga ng ama niyang 'to.

"Handsome as always dad," Puri niya rito.

"And you're beautiful as always my daughter," tugon nito that makes her grin wide.

Krista's father is Enrico Fortner II. He's the oldest son of Don Fortner, and he's also a good politician—well, it really runs on their blood because the late Doña Fortner is the previous tenth president of the Philippines.

Pasimpleng inagaw ni Krista ang can beer na hawak-hawak ng ama, at iniabot iyon kay Bubbles na tahimik na nanonood sa kanilang dalawa.

"How's your campaign dad?" Paglihis niya pa ng usapan.

"The campaign sails smoothly," her father replied, smiling. "Your brothers and cousins helped me in the whole duration,"

"That's great dad. You got me worried," lumambot ang tono ng pananalita ni Krista, gayon din ang chestnut brown color nitong mga mata na namana niya pa sa kaniyang ina.

"You really takes after your mom," her father replied softly. "I missed her already,"

Krista rolled her eyes because of her father's remarks. She's not against it okay? In fact she found it cute and amusing, sadyang hindi niya lang mapigilan na magbigay ng violent reaction.

"Hindi ba't magkasama kayo in the whole duration of your campaign? You can't really live without mom with you, don't you?" Taas babang kilay na kantyaw ni Krista sa kaniyang ama.

"Of course!" Her father replied abruptly. "Your mom is my air and my life span. Without her I am no one,"

"Gross," lukot mukhang saad ni Krista at bahagya pang hinampas ang matikas na braso ng ama bago pa ito tuloyang pakawalan. "What are you doing here by the way?" Kunot noong tanong niya rito.

"I am here to fetch you my daughter. Your two weeks is already over,"

Nanlanta si Krista nang dahil sa sinabi ng sariling ama.

"Akala ko pa naman nandito ka dahil gusto mo akong makita," Krista pouted. "'Yon pala nandito ka para sundoin ako," naninibughong dugtong niya pa.

Her father chuckles and raffles her brown curly waist length hair. "Don't be silly Krista," her father laughs. "Of course I am here because I missed you and because I want to see you,"

"'Di nga?"

"Hmm," her father hummed and nod that put a smile on her lips.

"Let's go home dad, I want to see lolo and my other cousins real' bad."

"How about her?" Pagtukoy nito kay Bubbles na tahimik at nakangiti lamang sa isang gabi.

"Oh shoot!" Krista shouted and scratches her neck. "I forgot about you, sorry Bubbles."

Umiling naman ito at ngumiti. "Wala 'yon Chef ano ka ba," bahagya pa itong tumawa.

"To make it up to you, ihahatid ka namin ni Dad pauwi. I don't take no as an answer Bubbles," naniningkit mga matang babala ni Krista.

Nagpakawala naman ng isang malalim na hininga si Bubbles dahil wala na siyang magagawa. "Okay Chef,"

"Nice!" Krista shouted in glee. "Let's go!"

Tulala, iyan ang kasalukuyang kalagayan ni Krista sa loob ng mamahaling itim na kotse ng kaniyang ama. Naihatid na nila si Bubbles na kanina lamang ay ka-chismisan niya.

"Are you okay my daughter?" Her father asks while glancing at her direction from time to time.

Krista heave a sigh and open the car's window for some fresh air, and look at her dad who's busy driving. "I'm okay dad, it's just that hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko kay lolo. For sure nagtatampo 'yon sa 'kin,"

"Don't overthink things my daughter. Isang yakap at ngiti lang bibigay agad 'yang all mighty lolo mo," tugon nito na siyang kinatwa ni Krista ng husto.

"You think so dad?"

"Yes," mabilis nitong tugon. "You, and your two girl cousins will always be your lolo's favorite apo. Kumbaga sa picture, nasa photo album at picture frame lang kami—kuya mo at ang ibang pinsan mong lalaki, samantalang kayong tatlo nakalagay sa tarpulin."

"Seriously dad?" Pigil tawang ani Krista.

"I'm dead serious here daughter of mine,"

Krista just tilt her head in disbelief and stares outside the car's open window. She saw blinding city lights from afar and it's somewhat soothing and relaxing, idagdag mo pa ang presko at sariwang hangin na tumatama sa kaniyang mukha.

Saan nga ba sila papunta? They're going to Pampanga, which is their hometown. Kilala ang angkan nila roon, at sa hindi pagmamayabang halos lahat ng lupain doon ay pagmamay-ari nila—kaniyang lolo.

She misses their townhouse—yes, a townhouse which exclusively made for them, para sa mga apo lang ng Don at wala ng iba.

Muling binalingan ni Krista ang ama at sinabing. "How about Farrah and Piper?"

"Piper is already in her way as we speak. She's together with your uncles, other cousins and aunties, while on the other hand—we got no news where Farrah is," her father replied.

Krista snorted in the last part of her father's statement. Inaasahan niya na ang bagay na 'yon mula sa pinsan niyang si Farrah, wala namang bago.

"Lolo needs a freaking battalion to bring Ate Farrah home," with that, her father laughs. "What's funny dad? Tama naman ako ah?" Salubong kilay niyang tanong.

"You are my daughter. It's just that, your lolo and uncle's devastated face appears on my mind," her father replied, laughing.

Napakagat labi na lamang si Krista at mahinang natawa ng bigla ring lumabas sa kaniyang isip ang hindi maipintang mukha ng kaniyang tito at lolo. Walang duda, mag-ama nga silang dalawa.

"Why don't you facetime your mom?" Her father suggested.

"Gusto mo bang mapagalitan tayong dalawa dad?" Taas kilay niyang saad, na siyang kinaputla naman ng kaniyang ama. "Dahil kung gusto mo handa naman akong tawagan si mom ura mismo,"

"f**k!" Her father hissed that makes her laugh harder. "Huwag na pala, makikita at makakausap ko rin naman ang mom mo pagkadating natin. Right?"

"Pft, you're right dad," Krista keeps on giggling.

In the whole duration of their trip, wala silang ibang ginawa ng kaniyang ama kundi ang magkwentuhan at mag-asaran.

She do misses her mom and dad. Hindi lang talaga siya vocal sa feelings niya, unlike her older brother but deep inside she's screaming in joy and giggling like a child.

In the middle of their nonsense conversation, Krista's stomach loudly growl that make things so awkward. Even thou she's just with her dad ay hindi pa rin maipagkakailang siya'y nahihiya lalo na't dalaga na siya.

"My daughter's dragons are hungry aye?" Her dad teases her na siyang kaniyang kinatameme. "Let's eat then. Hindi puwedeng magutom ang prinsesa ko na 'yan," her father added and even pinches her cheeks, and god knows how much she wants to get eaten by the car's seat.

What a day.