SECRET AFFAIRS' Bound in Love (Ree and Lia)

Chapter 8 Flip

Nagkatinginan kami ng mommy. Her eyes were like blazing in disgust dahil pinutol ni dad ang usapan namin. I know she’s angry with me. Pero wala akong gagawin na ayaw ko, they know that.

Sumunod ako kay dad na parang wala lang nangyari sa amin ni Mom. I don’t know how am I supposed to tell him. Kinakabahan ako sa sasabihin niya. Inayos ko ang sarili ko bago pa man ako pumasok sa opisina niya. This place is where he stays most of the time kapag off work siya. Wala nga siya sa office, but still he stays here almost the whole day.

“Sit down, hija,” alok nito habang siya ay nakatayo sa harap ko at nakapamulsa. Kapag ganito ang tindig ni dad ay tiyak na malilintikan ako.

“Dad..”

“Sit down please,” pakiusap niya.

Taking a long long breath I settled myself in the seat looking at him feeling so tensed of what could happen after this serious conversation with him. Sa lahat ng tao dito sa bahay, only dad would give his time to listen. Paano ako magsasabi ngayon sa kaniya, if I did something to somebody. That was an expensive car, at hindi niya magugustuhan na marinig mula sa akin ang ginawa ko. It is worse than escaping.

Nakatingin si dad akin at tila kinikilatis pa niya ang nasa isip ko ngayon. What is he thinking right now? Should I utter a word? Or should I wait for him to speak? This stupid heart beats intensely and I can hardly catch my breath in front of him.

“I know what you did,” he broke the barrier of silence in between us. I closed my eyes and bit my lip altogether as I cannot stand looking at him now, when he said those words. But I wonder which one does he know? Is it the escaping or the breaking of the window screen of that megalomaniac guy I met earlier. But wait, suddenly a picture of him reminds me, I remember him. Was he the guy I met on the road, that night I was alone? Napalunok ako ng aking laway sa pagkadismaya sa aking sarili ngayon. Bakit hindi ko agad naisip? Lia, youre such a fool and so stupid not to remember him.

“I regret that I haven’t talked to you nor listen to you,” muling sabi ni dad na siyang bumasag sa aking pakikipag-usap sa sarili. “I am sorry, hija,” dagdag niya, nagtaas ako ng tingin sa kaniya.

“Dad I am sorry,” sabi ko na lang. I have to submit to him dahil alam ko ang gulong pinasok ko.

“Hindi ko na-iconsider ang mga gusto mo,” naupo ito sa harap ko at nagtaas ako ng tingin dahil sa luha na ang siyang sumalubong sa nararamdaman ko. I felt so glad to hear this from him. Is this for real? Do I have the chance of not marrying that rude?

“I was so excited for the expansion of our family business. Thinking that Timothy would be the best way to it, but I was wrong, hija. I am sorry, sweetheart,” hindi ko na napigil ang kasunod na luhang bumagsak mula sa mga mata ko. Dad seldom speak to me like this. Pero ngayon ko yata lalong dapat mahalin ang daddy dahil sa namulat siya sa katotohanan na hindi lahat ng bagay ay possible. Lalo na ang tungkol sa negosyo niya. I know how this matters to him, pero sa narinig ko mula sa kaniya, I matter the most.

Lumapit si dad sa akin and I looked at him, “D-dad h-hindi ka galit?” tanong ko rito habang pinapahid na niya ang luha ko gamit ang tisyu. He’s really the sweetest man I know basta lang may panahon siya. “I know what you were thinking, is escaping from us will set you free?” tanong niya.

Nagkibit balikat ako. “No, Dad. It’s not what you think.”

“I know you, kahit hindi ka magsabi,” humugot ito ng kaniyang hininga at naupo muli sa harap ko. “Hinayaan ko lang ang mommy mo sa gusto niya,” sabi nito.

So as I said, tama nga ako sa hinala ko. It is mom who wanted it all. Why is she so cruel to make me marry a man I don’t love.

“Bakit po?” tanong ko. Gusto ko maliwanagan bakit niya pinayagan na mangyari ‘yon. “Don’t I matter to you? Kilala niyo po ba ng lubos si Tim?”

Umiling si dad. “Hindi, but knowing his family, I thought he would be right for you,” sagot niya.

“Dad I can learn business, pero huwag niyo po muna akong madaliin. Aayusin ko po ang buhay ko, I am only twenty three and you want me to be someone’s wife?”

Ngumiti si dad na nakatingin sa akin. “Alright, let’s call this off para wala na akong pagsisihan,” sabi niya.

“What?” nandilat ang aking mga mata at tila lumutang ako mula sa aking upuan sa tuwang nararamdaman sa kaniyang sinabi.

“You heard me, Lia. Let’s call this wedding off,” he said. Those words from him made me feel unleashed. Sabi ko na, he will always be my last hope. Mali pala ang akala ko na wala na akong halaga sa kaniya. He still have a heart for me. Ako lang naman ang nag-iisang anak niyang babae. And I guess among his children, ako lang ang tama sa buhay niya. My dad is not a perfect husband, but I have the loving father to call.

“As your father, your happiness matters to me most,” lumapit siya at humalik sa ulo ko. When I was young, he would jump into my room just before my eyes close and would hug me, and tell me how much he loves me. It only changed when he was so busy with everything.

“Everything I do, I do it all for you and your siblings. Ayoko lang na dumating ang araw na magsisi akong wala akong maiiwan sa inyo,” sabi niya.

“Daddy,” I hugged him tight dahil sa hindi ko na mapigil ang saya sa dibdib ko. Now I am free from being knotted to Tim.

“What about, Mom?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

Tinapik niya ang likod ko. “Leave it, Lia. I will talk to her,” sagot naman niya.

“Mag-aaway kayo,” wika ko. Somehow I am worried and not ready for the fight after this.

“You have to believe that I will win the argument, lady. Or else, you have to walk the aisle in tears,” biro niya at natawa ako ng bahagya. Kumalas ako ng yakap sa kaniya.

“So, tell me now, are you okay?” tanong niya.

I smiled in peace as I dried my tears on my cheeks. Naupo siya sa harap ko at sumandal sa upuan. Looking into me like he is in wonder inside his head. I don’t know what is he thinking, but I guess may gusto siyang sabihin.

“I am happy, Dad. Thank you for making this decision. I know this will be a big shift of your plans,” saad ko.

Gumalaw ang kilay ni dad. “I want to meet that guy you want,” sabi niya.

Nandilat ang mga mata kong tumingin sa kaniya. It felt like everythink moved slowly that even my mind cannot process the thought. What is he talking about? May boyfriend ako, ganoon ba? Wait, hindi ko maintindihan si dad sa sinasabi niya.

“D-dad?” nagsalubong ang kilay ko at halos hindi ko maihinga ng maayos ang dibdib ko.

“I had the chance to talk to some of your friends, and somebody told me that you are seeing somebody,” sabi nito.

“Po?” this left me unaware and I just cant tell him yet. Saan naman kaya galing ito? Are we settled with Tim? But what about this one? Sino ang tinutukoy ni dad? I dont keep a man, and I have no plans for serious relationships. Bakit naman niya naitanong. I should choose the right words then. I need to be safe dahil kung magkamali ako, tiyak problema na naman ito.

Isang katok ang siyang bumasag sa aking pag-aalala.

“Sir may naghahanap po sa inyo?” ang sabi ng katiwala namin si manang Celsa. Siya ang isa sa mga pinakapinagkakatiwalaan ng pamilya namin lalo na sa mga pribadong bagay. I think she knows our family history better.

Tumayo si dad at nagbaling ng tingin sa akin. “I got to go outside and see who’s it.”

“Yeah, you maybe,” sagot ko naman.

Lumabas nga si dad at ako ang naiwan sa loob ng opisina niya. Kita mula sa bintana nito ang frontyard ng bahay kaya naman ay tumungo ako sa bintana para dumungaw mula doon, only to see who’s in there. Baka si Tim or ang parents ni Tim? Well I think hindi sila mapapasugod ng ganito kaaga, unless Timothy would tell them.

Kaya naman ay dumungaw ako at nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa aking nakita. “Damn it,” the very words I uttered to myself and I grind my teeth deep to may jaw. I can feel like my throat ran dry and I just cant help it but squeeze my fist.

“What the hell are you doing?” untag ko. I need to and see if it is really him. It is his car parking outside. Ano ang ginagawa mo? What are you thinking to do? I just had this conversation with my dad and I just felt better, tapos heto at may nagbabadyang gulo? Napahilamos ako ng aking mukha dahil pakiramdam ko binuhusan ako ng nagyeyelong tubig sa kaba.

Does this don’t stop? Do I have to feel all the thrill today? What have I done to suffer this much?

Lumabas ako ng opisina ni dad, but I am surprised to see manang Celsa waiting outside.

“Manang?” sambit ko.

“Lia huwag ka raw muna lumabas,” saad nito.

Lalo akong nagtaka at kaba ang siyang sinisigaw ng dibdib ko.

“What for?” untag ko sa iritang himig.

“Utos ng Dad mo,” sagot niya.

“No, Manang. Why would he?” tanong ko rito. I needed an answer why suddenly he don’t want me to see who’s his visitor.

“Hindi pa raw kayo tapos mag-usap. Pakiusap niyang bantayan ka at huwag hayaan na makalabas,” tugon niya.

“Manang naman, sino po ba kasi ang bisita ni Dad?” mangiyak kong tanong.

“Ang bisita niya? Marahil kilala mo, hija. Sino ba iyon? Kay kisig na bata, at kitang may pinag-aralan,” sabi nito.

I took a long breath to calm myself. My inner self is telling me not to feel this comfortable dahil sa sinabi ni manang. But she speaks so sure about the man she tells me. Siya ba talaga? Maniningil ba siya sa daddy ko? I will be dead now, I will be totally grounded from all the life’s pleasure outside, no card, no car, no bar, nothing at all.

“Nag-aalala ka na naman ban a maghihirap ka?” tanong ni manang Celsa. Nilingon ko siya at hinila papasok.

“Manang please palabasin niyo po ako, hindi ba lagi naman ako pwede lumabas? Tutulungan mo ako, right?” sabi ko na may lambing sa himig.

“Noon ‘yon, ngayon ay ibang usapan na ito, Lia. Sa palagay ko marami kang ipaliliwanag sa daddy mo, masyado ka na marami nililihim sa kaniya.”

“Manang naman, sino ba kasi ang bisita?”

“Hintayin natin ang daddy mo at kayo ang mag-usap.”

Naupo ako sa couch at halos hindi maputol ang nguso ko sa haba. I am so upset feeling like I got to be drowned in my own blood here. Bakit nandito ang hermit na may-ari ng Miura? Damn, he is getting into my veins. Nag-iinit ang batok ko sa lalaking ‘to.