"Malubha po yung kalagayan nya, Mam." The voice on the other end sounded strained and sad and Alexa could not help but feel sorry for the old man who used to fetch her from school and personally delivered hers and her mother's monthly allowance.
"But he'll be okay." Alexa said in a cheerful voice trying to soothe the old man's obvious distress. "Wag kayong mag-alala, si Atty. Carbonel pa, walang makakatalo dun."
"Umuwi na lang po kayo, Miss Lianna. Kailangang-kailangan nya po kayo dito." Manong Eduardo's voice quivered and Alexa looked at her cell phone in puzzlement. He needs me? Since when did Atty. Leandro Carbonel start needing someone? Alexa thought as she tried to swallow the lump in her throat. Thinking of her father brought back many memories, mainly about her mother who died with a broken heart waiting for the one she loves to return to them. "Miss Lianna...?"
"Okay..." Alexa finally replied tucking the sadness away. Dadalaw naman talaga ako sa kanya, it's not going to hurt if my visit is three days earlier than planned. Besides, huling kita na namin bago ako lumayo sa anino nya ng tuluyan. She inwardly thought. She gave herself a break after the bar results came out. Gusto nya ng bagong start. Gusto nya na ayos na sya at napatawad na nya lahat ng kailangang patawarin bago sya magsimula sa bago nyang career. She didn't realize that it take months. Hindi nya akalaing buwan ang gugugulin nya bago sya magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na bumalik ng Pilipinas.
"Nakapagpa-book na po kami ng flight para sa inyo, bukas po ang lipad nyo pabalik dito ng ala una, check-in nyo po, mam alas diyes. Na send ko na po sa email nyo yung flight confirmation, ipi-print nyo na lang po yun, Mam. Pagdating nyo po dito, may sasakyan na pong maghihintay sa inyo sa airport." Manong Edgardo said in a relieved voice and Alexa could not help the smile that tugged at her lips. Manong Edgardo - always organized and prepared. Some things never change. She thought.
"Thank you po, Manong. I'll see you tomorrow then." Alexa said.
"Miss Lianna, hinihintay po kayo ng Daddy nyo. Inaasahan po namin ang pagdating ninyo, Mam."
"Alam ko po. I'll fly to Manila tomorrow." Alexa replied before the call ended. She stayed inside the restroom to brood over the news. Her father - the one who left his wife and daughter for another woman is sick; the one who made her mother into a broken woman is looking for her; the one she does not care seeing needs her.
Daddy. Alexa thought, and as usual, the word brought uneasiness to her system. Her mother's last words rang in her mind -- He may not be a good husband, Alexa but he is a good father.
A good father? A good father never leaves his family for another; a good father never misses birthdays, graduations, and other important events; a good father does not give you a car when you pass the Law Entrance Exams because he couldn't be there to congratulate you himself. Good and father are not the words to describe Atty. Leandro Carbonel.
Sighing, Alexa exited the restroom and smiled at the other girls she passed by. The news dampened her spirit and she walked towards their table despondently. She sat down and motioned the waiter for a glass of iced tea. No, not iced tea. I need something stronger. She thought as she opted for a double scotch on the rocks. She gulped the contents of her glass in one go and shivered at its bitterness. She ordered for another. Sana nalulunod ng alak yung sama ng loob ng isang tao, siguro mas masaya ang buhay. She gloomily thought. She toyed with the napkin holder in front of her unaware of the eyes that followed her every movement. She glanced at her watch and groaned. Eleven twenty na at ala una ng hapon ang flight ko! Nasaan na ba yung mga babaeng yun? She mumbled to herself as she craned her neck to look for her roommates.
Alexander snorted in disgust as the girl beside him let her hand linger suggestively on his thigh. He was more disgusted that the nitwit is only sixteen and game. Mga kabataan talaga ngayon. He thought shaking his head as he ordered another glass of brandy. His brother had given him a week off to relax but knowing Nickolai, it was his way of making Alexander forget the 'incident.' More of the accident. He grumbled with irritation. He stood up prepared to leave when someone caught his eye. The girl was wearing a snug-fitting plain white shirt, a pair of faded denim jeans and she looked as bored as him. Mukhang may hinihintay to. Alexander couldn't help but think as the girl's shoulders droop after searching the dance floor again. Sino kayang kasama nya? Mukhang naligaw lang yata dito sa loob ng bar. Alexander observed as he tried to see the features of the girl as much as the dim lights inside the club would allow. Shaking his head, he stood up to walk towards the club's exit and saw her bow her head in what looked like a sign of obvious defeat. Changing his mind on the last second, he turned and walked towards the girl's table.
Chapter 1:5
Start from the beginning
