Unlocking His Past

CHAPTER 25

—BLAIRE'S POV—

Lumipas ang isang linggo. Maraming nangyari, mapaschool man o sa bahay. Dalawang araw matapos ma ospital si Ame ay dumating din si Tito Aldren para sunduin siya at kinabukasan at umuwi na rin sila. While Dad, he's been acting weird since that night that he told me about their so called loved story. I don't know but he became sweet, caring—as if doing what really the father do to his child. He invited me to watch movie marathon, he even bought me chocolates—because he thought that was my favorite. He kept on reminding me to eat, to take good care of myself and even remind me to study and do well with it. And to break the record, for the first time, ay hinatid niya ako rito sa venue ng Senior's Night namin.

"Enjoy the night, Gold. I hope the party will sati—"

"Why are you doing this, Dad?" I cutted off his words.

Halos dalawang linggo na rin akong nahihiwagaan sa kaniya. Wala akong maisip na rason para ganito ang pakikitungo niya. Parang may iba, may nagbago sa kaniya. Nakakapagtaka ang pinaggagawa niya.

"What? Hindi ko ba p'wedeng ihatid ang anak ko rito."

"Exactly! Dad, you never did these things before. Ni minsan hindi ko maalalang ikaw ang naghatid sa akin sa kahit ano pang event iyan. Why are you acting like that now?"

I look at his eyes only through the rear view mirror. I'm sitting here in the backseat while him in the driver's seat. He insisted that he'll drive me here. Ilang sandali ay bumaba siya, hinintay ko lang hanggang sa bumakas ang pinto ng sasakyan.

I was stunned.

Is this really Dad?

Anong nakain niya?

Dahan-dahan kong inabot ang kamay ko sa kaniya saka lumabas na rin ng sasakyan. Maingat pa akong tumapak sa sahig dahil na rin sa halos 5 inch 'tong high heels na suot ko. I am also wearing a tight yet plain black long gown, with a slit in my right leg.

"My baby is now a lady. I'm very happy seeing you like this."

"Dad."

"What?"

"What's with you?"

"Nothing, Gold—"

"Dad!" I warned him.

He sighed as sign of defeat. "Okay, fine! Gusto ko lang bumawi. I realized that your Mom and Silver was gone. All I have is you yet I'm not giving you the attention you deserve. I want to be a father to you. Gusto kong bumawi sa iyo at sa lahat ng pagkukulang ko. I don't want to waste time again. If I could be open to you, I'll do it as much as I can. I don't want to lose you like your twin sister."

Natameme lang ako sa sinabi ni Dad. I could see the sincerity in his eyes and it's giving me happiness. A small hope. All this time. Yes, I hate him but I've been longing this care from him since Mom died. Since things totally changed between us.

Still with his posture, his right hand landed on my right ear, fixing my hair.

"I'm sorry, Gold." He then kissed me in my forehead. "I'm sorry if things ended up this way. I'm sorry if we both lost your Mom and Silver. I want you to enjoy your life, the life outside the Clan. So, go now, I'm letting you do whatever you want but one condition—"

Akala ko okay na lahat, may condition pa.

Walang masidlan ang saya ko ngayon. I could feel my lips slowly formed into a wide smile. After how many years, he's doing his role as a father to me, kaya pala ganoon ang pakitungo niya nitong nakaraan.

"Mag-iingat ka, Gold."

"Yes, mag-iingat sila sa 'kin." I genuinely smile and wink at Dad.

Umiling lang ito saka ngumiti na rin. Hinapit niya ako palapit sa kaniya at ginawaran ako ng isang napakahigpit na yakap. .

"Thank you, my child. We'll talk again later. Just enjoy this night. You should enjoy this night. I love you, Gold."

My heart was overwhelmed as I heard those words coming from the mouth of my Dad. I hugged him back, not minding the stare and attention we got from other people here. Not also minding my make up and hairstye—which was braided in the upper part of my hair, it's like the hair of Rapunzel when her hair was braided, the difference is that, mine is black.

"I love you too, Dad."

Pumasok na ako sa grand hall, sakto lang ang laki nito, kasya ang dami ng Grade 12.

Magarbo. Halatang pinaghandaan ng lahat. Almost are in their gowns and tuxedo, different colors and different faces.

"I hope, I would enjoy this night."

Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang dalawang mokong. Okay na kami ni Dad, tingin ko naman okay na ring maging kaibigan ko ang dalawang 'yon, sa ilang linggong pag iwas ko sa kanila, masasabi ko ring na miss ko mga 'yon.

About what happened in the hospital, I was surprised and little scared that time. I didn't expect him to go there, muntik pa siyang makita ni Dad. Buti na lang naagapan ko bago pa sila magtagpo.

"Blaire," I heard someone called from my back.

I am here sitting in a table, alone tho'. Waiting for my partners. Agad kong nilingon 'yon, medyo na disappoint pa nang bumungad sa akin ang tatlong tao, si Ash 'yong isa. Ashton who is now wearing a gray tuxedo, having mouthed watering, gorgeous face. Literally a handsome heartthrob of our batch.

Ba't ang gwapo ng isang 'to, lalo na pag nakangiti?

"Hey, Ash!"

"Wow, you're—just wow!"

Mahina pa akong tumawa sa reaksyon ni Ash. Parang ngayon lang nakakita ng maganda haha. Sabagay siguro nga at nakakapanibago rin mukha ko ngayon, madalang lang ako mag make-up at parating nakapusod buhok ko, masyadong mahaba kasi buhok ko, sagabal pag nagmamadali. Ayoko rin naman gupitan, pangarap kasi namin ni Silver na magkaroon ng abot beywang na buhok. Para saan? Trip lang namin. Si Mom kasi ay mahilig rin sa mahaba ang buhok.

"You're here rin pala," ang nakakairitang boses niya ang pumutol sa titigan namin ni Ash.

"I am a grade 12 student, so I guess I have the right to attend." I bitterly smiled. "By the way, you looked good, Hanieza. Mas maganda sana kung hindi ka parang tukong nakakapit sa lalaking 'yan—"

"Naiingit ka ba, Blaire?"

Mapakla akong napatawa sa sinabi niya. Seriously? Why would I be jealous of her? Last time I checked she almost made a scene because she thought Nerd like me.

"Why would I?" I asked and divert my eyes to Ash. "Ash, where's Nerd?" Hindi naman ugali ni Nerd na magpa-late ah.

Sandaling katahimikan ang namutawi sa amin. Nahagip pa ng mata ko ang bahagyang pag ngisi ni Hanieza na agad kong ipinagtaka. Si Ash naman ay natural na ngumiti lang sa akin at pasimpleng itinuro ang lalaking nasa gitna nila ngayon. Ang lalaking kung kapitan ni Hanieza ay halos dumikit na ito. Ang lalaking hindi ko pinansin n'ong una dahil sa hindi naman ako pamilyar sa kaniyang mukha.

"Binibining Ilthrov." I frozed as I heard his voice.

Don't tell me—

"Masyado ba akong magaling mag-ayos, na hindi mo man lang nakilala si Reiz?" sabat ni Hanieza pero hindi ko binigyang pansin.

Nilingon ko ang lalaking nagsalita. Is that you? The nerd I've known.

Totoo?

He look like Adonis in disguise to a person. Wearing a black tuxedo, his white skin didn't failed to outstand. He's not wearing eyeglasses, I bet he's just wearing contact lens.

Ang gwapo niya. Literal na ang gwapo niya ngayon.

"You're beautiful." My lips automatically curved into smile, as well as his.

"Thank you." Ilang segundo pa kami nagkatitigan nang marinig ko ang boses ni Hanieza na tumikhim.

"I'm still gorgeous than her," she added, me and Ashton just smirked.

Too immature. Wala na sila pero kung makaasta. At bakit magkasama pa nga sila? In fairness, may tinatatong kagwapuhan si Nerd, he's not a nerd na. Nagsimula ang program, introducing of teachers and faculties and people that I don't give a damn care. Nasa iising table kaming apat, ang pagkakaalam ko ay si Ash at Nerd partner ko. Hamakin mo bang ilista nilang dalawa pangalan ko as partner nila ng hindi ko alam. Ang hindi ko alam, kung bakit nandito 'yang Hanieza.

May kumanta't sumayaw sa stage, iba't ibang performance hanggang sa kumain na.

I started to feel the boredom. Patapos na ang lahat pero nakaupo pa rin kami. Tho' the background is really amazing. Everyone seems enjoying.

"So, guys, heto na ang hinihintay niyo! SAYAWAN NA!"

Everyone stood up and yell, as if excited to dance. Actually, this is my first time attending this kind of event. Usually, Dad won't allow me but miracles happened now.

"Halika, Blaire!" pag-aaya ni Ash pero tanging iling lang ginawa ko. He shooked his head and went to the dancefloor.

Naiwan kami ni Nerd dito sa table, umalis si Hanieza kani-kanina lang sa dahilan niyang wala akong pake.

"Why don't you dance?" mahina pero tama lang para marinig ko.

Umayos ako ng upo saka nilibot ang paningin, halos lahat ay nasa dance floor na at nagsasayaw ng kung ano-anong stepping. The music suits the ambiance.

"You know, I'm not into like this—you, why are you here? Buti iniwan ka ni Hanieza rito."

I heard him chuckled. Nasa kanang bahagi kami at nasa hulihan 'tong table namin. Yong dance floor kasi ay nasa harap, just before the stage.

"She asked favor."

Eh?

"Gusto niyang ayusan daw ako, in exchange she'll stop pestering me." I could sense his stare but I didn't mind to look back. "I'm not his partner, if that's you're thinking."

Eh? Pake ko sa kanila.

I was busy entertaining my eyes by the lights, so fascinating. Sounds starts to change, beat and tune, from a party beat to a slow and passionate timing.

"Binibining Ilthrov," I heard him call me with his own endearment to me. "Can we dance?"