EVER SINCE WE WERE TEN

CHAPTER 14

"Nasa study ang daddy mo Rian." salubong ni ate melai sakin pagdating. Hindi ko na siya nagawasng batiin sa kabang nararamdaman ko.

Habang paakyat, mas lalong lumalakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Pinagpapawisan ang mga kamay ko, at parang nanlalamig ang buong katawan ko. Hindi ko na pinatagal pa ang takot na nararamdaman at nagmadali akong makarating sa library.

"Miss Enrique" pagbati nang secretary ni daddy. Tinanguan ko lang siya at pumasok na. Nakaupo lang si daddy habang nagtitipa sa laptop niya.

"Dad, what do you want to talk about?" hindi na ako nagpaligoy ligoy pa. Ayaw kong magtagal sa iisang lugar kasama siya, kahit pa nuon ay hinihiling ko na gusto kong magsama sama kaming tatlo nila mommy. 

"Sit down first young lady." he coldly said motioning me to sit. Hindi niya man lang ako tiningnan o binati.

"Ano po ba kasing kailangan mo dad? Hindi ka naman uuwi if it's not about your business" I blurted out. Totoo naman kasi. Ang business niya lang ang iniisip niya. Yes, he feeds me. Yes, he gives me money. Yes, he is working for us to live. But hell, he's losing us because of his business.

"Watch your mouth Brianna. Anyway, hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa." umayos siya nang upo at sawakas ay hinarap na ako,

"We're leaving to US." 

"W-WHAT?!" para akong nabingi sa narinig. US?! bakit? No, I can't leave my home! I can't leave my friends!

"Our business will be transferred there. Therefore, we have to stay there, for good." mas lalo akong nawindang sa narinig.

"No dad! P-pwede naman ikaw lang diba? You were used of leaving us alone while you were running business matters around the world! Why now!" I'm getting hysterical. He decided again, without considering my feelings. Without considering us, his family!

"You are coming with me Rian. And that's final. Besides, there will be a merger between our company and Miller Hotels and Restaurants." Miller? One of the wealthiest family in US. What does it have to do with me?

"And? What do I care about your merger? It's not like I can be of any help." I asked him sarcastically. This is absurd! 

"You will be a great help, young lady. You are marrying the Miller's heir, Shawn Miller" he said as if it was nothing. Me? marrying that man?! God, NO!

"What the fuck?! Dad! You can't do this to me! How can you sell your own daughter?!" I started crying as I stood up and started shouting at my father.

"This is for the greater good, Rian. This is a great help for the company. I am only doing this for you." This is impossible! I can't believe he is saying those words coolly. 

"You are doing this for your own good! You are so Impossible dad! I can't believe you're doing this to me! What about mommy, huh? I know she will not agree with this. Does she know?!" I am crying real hard. Things are starting to cloud my mind.  Kyle and I are not good, and now this?!

"Dad, please. Listen for me just this once, please. I'm begging you. Don't let me leave this place. This is my home, this place makes me happy. Please" kneeling on the floor, pleading, begging. He let his daughter beg, how funny. The greatest dad of the year indeed.

"Stand up, Brianna. My decision is final. This talk is over. I still have a meeting. Get ready, were leaving in 2 days" he stood up and his secretary followed him.

"No Dad!" Hinablot ko ang kamay niya.

"How about mom? Does mom know? Please, please dad. I want to talk to mom, please." 

"Stop looking for your mom Rian. She already left us. She ran away with her man" he said emotionlessly and continued walking out. Naiwan ako sa study niya nang nakaluhod at umiiyak.

I can't believe this. My mom. Mommy left me already. She left me here. She ran away to be happy, but she left me here in this hell. How can she do this to me?

I just stayed in my room whole afternoon, curled up in my bed. I don't know what to think. why would dad do this to me?! Noon, umaasa pa ako na kahit papaano ay may pagmamahal pa si dad sakin, pero I failed. He never loved me and mom. He is a selfish bastard.

I'm tired. I'm exhausted. I looked around with tears still pooling my eyes. I'm leaving this place in 2 days. I'm leaving home. And I'm getting married with someone I never met. I need Kyle. Kyle will help me. He will protect me right? I can't leave him. I know he won't let me leave too. 

I immediately ran towards their house. Nadaanan ko pa si ate melai palabas, nag-aalala. Pero wala na akong ibang iniisip ngayon kung hindi si Kyle. I need him right now. I'm so exhausted. What did I do to deserve this?! Everything started to go wrong when I confessed. Right, I shouldn't have done that.

Still crying so hard, I pounded their front door, calling for his name. Pero si tita Anna ang bumukas nang pinto. I tried drying away my tears, but failed.

"Rian, what happened to you?!" she's shocked. She immediately pulled me to a hug.

"Tita si Kyle po?" I asked in between my sobs. She just kept on caressing my back, comforting me.

"Hindi pa siya umuuwi Rian. He had somewhere to go. Baka bukas pa daw uuwi. Do you want me to call him? hmm?" my heart sank. Kyle never spent a night somewhere else. I need him the most right now, but he's not here.

"Wag na po tita. Sorry po sa istorbo. I'll just go back to our house na po." I wiped off my tears. Kumalas na ako sa yakap at ngumiti ng pilit.

"It's ok Rian. You can spend the night here. Come in" she said sweetly. Worry is visible in her eyes, pero isinawalang bahala ko nalang 'yon.

"Thank you po sa lahat tita. You became a famity to me, napamahal ka na po sakin. Please keep Kyle happy always tita. I'll go now" I hugged her for the last time and ran back home.