“Finally, class is over.” Amber said after namin makalabas ng room.
“Weekend! Yes! So, any plans tonight Vee?” Trisha asked.
“Gonna help dad to pack his things” sabi ko while checking my phone. Speaking of the devil naka-ilang misscalls na.
“Yeah right. Aalis nga pala daddy mo for the entire month” Amber pointed out.
“So, I assume magpapa-party ka!” Excited na sabi ni Mich.
“Of course!” Sagot ko at nag hiyawan sila.
Oh! Im Veronica Smith, 19 years old, a 3rd year college student. My dad owns a company and it requires to travel alot, most of the time I always end up being alone in the house. No big deal. My mom passed away when I was still 5 years old. At sa tuwing aalis si daddy nagpapaparty ako sa bahay. Im excited!
“Hi Vee” bati ni Jonathan, my boyfriend.
“Hi J” I kissed him on the cheek.
“So wanna hang tonight?” He asked.
“I can’t, bukas na alis ni dad and I have to help him pack” sagot ko
“Yeah right. So, hatid na kita?” aya niya.
“Sure, bye girls. Text ko nlng details sa party” sabi ko then umalis na kami ni Jonathan.
Pagdating namin ng parking lot, he kiss me right away, torrid.
“Hmm J people are starring at us” I said as our lips parted apart.
“Hayaan mo silang tumingin” sabi niya then kiss me again. This time, bumaba ang isang kamay niya papunta sa thighs ko.
“Oh.. J wait!!” I slightly push him.
“What?!” Irita niyang tanong.
“I… let’s just go home” sabi ko then pumasok na sa car niya.
He was not talking the entire time na nagdadrive siya. I know his mad but damn, di talaga ako comfortable sa mga ginagawa niya in public. I am not being saint, I am not a virgin and we did a lot of hot and crazy stuff. Ewan ko ba, lately narerealize ko parang ang shallow ng relationship namin, I want something deep… something…. Ewan.
“We’re here” sabi niya without even glancing at me.
“Are you mad at me?” Tanong ko sa kaniya.
No response
“J… come on.. talk t—”
“Nasa labas na daddy mo, bumaba ka na. Alam mo namang ayaw niyang makita tayong magkasama” putol niya sa akin.
“Ugh! Fine!” Pagalit kong baba ng sasakyan niya. Naglakad ako patungo sa bahay namin without looking back at him.
“Hija, don’t tell me hinatid ka na naman dito ng boyfriend mo?” Nakasimangot na salubong sa akin ni dad.
“Dad, not now please. Im not in the mood to do this” walang gana kong sabi.
“I told you, I don’t like that boy!……..”
Di ko na alam anong kasunod, tuloy-tuloy lang akong naglakad papunta sa kwarto ko.
**babe, let’s talk**
**please, I’m sorry**
**J! Answer the phone**
**tell me what to do, anything… kausapin mo lang ako**
Mga message ko kay J. Still no response. Fuck!
**KNOCK.. KNOCK**
“Dad… what is it?” Walang gana kong tanong pagpasok niya sa kwarto.
“What’s wrong anak?” Pag-aalala nitong tanong.
“Jonathan and I had a fight” mahina kong sagot.
He sigh.
“Dad please, I know you don’t like him. Pero pwede next time mo na ako sermunan. I’m tired.” Sabi ko sa kaniya.
“Finee! I just want you to know I love you so much princess. I just don’t want you to get hurt.” Pahayag niya.
Alam ko kung gaano kalaki ang sakripisyo ni daddy para sa akin. Growing up, siya ang tumayong nanay at tatay ko. Itinaguyod niya akong mag isa and I am so proud him.
“I know daddy” sagot ko.
“Okay, enough drama. I need you downstairs” sabi nito.
“Mag-eempake ka na?” Tanong ko.
“I already did. There is someone I need you to meet” sagot nito at umalis na sa room ko.
Sumunod ako sa kaniya. Pagdating namin sa sala ay naka ready na ang mga gamit niya.
“Dad. I thought bukas ka pa aalis.” Tanong ko.
“Well.. my flight got rescheduled, may kailangan pa kasi akong asikasuhin sa New York.” Sabi niya.
“Aalis ka na? How about dinner?” Tanong ko.
Bago pa man nakasagot si dad ay may isang lalake ang dumating galing sa kitchen.
“Let’s go tito?” Anya ng lalaking bagong dating.
“In a minute Mike” my dad said habang nakatingin dito.
Nakatinging lang ako sa kaniya. I was confuse, Michael “mike” Santiago is here. We used to be neighbors before. I remember coming to their house every week kasi magka amiga ang mama ko at mama niya. Two months after my mom died they migrated to states. A year after kami naman ang umalis at lumipat ng bahay. It was too hard for me and my dad living without mom.
“Okay tito” he smiled to my dad and look at me.
I look away.
“Oh! You remember Mike, anak?” Dad asked.
“Yeah..” maikli kong sagot.
“Good. Cause he’ll be living here with you” nakangiti nitong sabi.
“What?! Come again dad? Why?” Sunod-sunod kong tanong.
“Chill, kitten… ayaw mo ba ako dito?” Mike asked.
Kitten, he used to call me that before. Inirapan ko lang siya.
“Dad??” Irita kong tanong.
“Easy princess, Mike just got back here in the Philippines. Wala na silang bahay dito, alam mo yan. So I offer ours. Is there any problem?” dad asked.
I was dumbfounded. Of course there is a problem. Paano na lang ang party na gagawin ko?! Paano na lang ang mga night out namin ng mga barkada ko?! For sure, dad just want him to babysit me.
“If I said yes, will it change a thing?” I asked.
“No princess” nakangiting sagot ni dad
“Now, don’t be rude and stop acting like a child. You were close back then, right Mike?” Baling niyang tanong kay Mike.
“Yes of course tito” sabi nito habang naka-akbay sa akin. Hindi ko napansin nakalapit na pala siya sa akin.
Siniko ko ito sa tagiliran niya. The nerve of this guy. Medyo nakaramdam ako ng pagkailang. Mike is 8 years older than me. I remembered, he used to be this geeky and skinny boy before but now…. damn. He’s hot. Pag siko ko sa kaniya ang tigash ng mushclesh ti! At 27 he is so yummy!
“So… now that everything is settled. I have to go na princess” sabi ni dad and kisses me on my forehead.
“Okay dad. Be safe” sabi ko and hug him.
Sabay kaming naglakad papuntang front door.
“Call me pag andun ka na dad.” Sabi ko pagsakay niya sa car.
“I will, anak.” Sabi niya then he closed the door.
“See you later kitten” sabi ni Mike then he wink at me.
I just nod. Hinintay kong mawala sa paningin ko ang sasakyan ni dad bago pumasok sa loob at pumunta sa kwarto ko. It’s party time! Kailangan ko pa lambingin yung boyfriend ko.
Mich texted me na may party sa bahay nila and Jonathan was there already. I deci…