Adult Teenager's Matters (YOUNG ADULT SERIES #1)

Chapter 12

"Gabrielle! Come here, my daughter!"

Nagising ako sa reyalidad nung narinig ko ang boses ng ama ko. Agad ako lumapit sa kaniya at pilit na ngumiti sa mga taong kausap niya.

"Wow, is that you, Gabrielle? You've grown up, kiddo," one of my Dad's business partner son's said. Ngumiti nalang ako ng tahimik kasi hindi ko naman siya kilala at dahil gusto ko na rin umuwi kaso baka papagalitan ako ni Daddy pag nagpahatid kaagad ako pauwi. 

"Are you okay? You look pale, hija," sabi naman ng asawa ng business partner ni Daddy.

Tumango at mas ginawang genuine ang peke kong ngiti. "I'm fine po."

Mas lumapit sa 'kin si Daddy at bumulong. "Umayos ka, Gabrielle," he firmly said kaya napaayos ako ng tayo.

Nag-usap pa sila ng kung ano ano na hindi ko maintindihan. I just stood there like a statue, unbothered by their talks. Ramdam ko rin na panay rin tingin sa 'kin ng anak ng business partner ni Daddy na I assume his name was something like Xen or something.

Sumasagot din naman ako sa mga tanong ng mga kaibigan ni Daddy pag tinatanong ako pero pag hindi naman ako tinatanong, tahimik lang ako. Unlike the Xen or something guy is always speaking like he knows everything going on about business. Well, good for him and bad for me because taking over the company wasn't really my passion.

"I heard your daughter rank down on their school. Buti pa ito si Xenon e palaging nauuna at varsity pa 'yan!" Pagmamayabang ng kaibigan ni Daddy. I almost rolled my eyes but my Dad look at me with fire in his eyes kaya napatahimik naman ako.

"She's sometimes pain in the head—"

"Uhm, can I excuse myself? I need to use the comfort room," I interrupted their talk.

"Yeah, sure," Dad's friend smile.

I just smile and walk towards the comfort room. Kaya ayaw ko pumunta sa mga gantong event, e!

I stayed at the comfort room for a couple minutes bago ako lumabas. I was just peacefully walking when suddenly may humila sa 'kin papasok kung saan and then I just heard someone lock the door.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I push the Xenon guy nung namalayan ko na siya pala yung naghila sa 'kin. I gasped when I realized na nasa men comfort room ako. "You're insane!" I yelled at him at lalabas na sana kaso hinawakan niya yung braso ko at tumama ang likod ko sa pintuan.

"Wait lang," he said, getting irritated.

"You have the freaking guts to be irate at me kahit ikaw naman yung nanghila sa 'kin dito, the audacity, bro!" Tinulak ko siya ng malakas.

"Stop yelling!"

"So want me calm?! Don't you think your actions are weird, Mr. Xenon?! You just pulled me here tapos nilockan mo pa ang pinto! Ni-hindi nga kita kilala yet you want me calm?!"

Napahilamos siya ng mukha at tinignan ako ng masana. "Shut your mouth, Gabrielle," he said. "i have a... Weird favor to ask."

Gulo siyang tinignan.

"I—"

I rolled my eyes. "I don't want to hear that favor and I'm not interested so bye—"

"Can I kiss you—"

Inis ko siyang tinignan, next thing we knew, he was already on the floor, holding his jaw.

"What the hell?!" He shrieked.

Napahawak ako sa kamao ko, "Napalakas," I said and unlock the door. "Attractive ka oo, pero hindi yun rason para umakto ka na parang lahat ng babae papatol sa 'yo. Just girls, not womens."

***

I was drying my hair when my phone lighten up from the table. Kinuha ko iyon at inopen yung message.

'Good evening students. I'd like to announce that our recognition will be on next month and the announcement of top students from each sections and whole school will be on next week. Have a good night, students.'

Napabugtong-hininga nalang ako at nilapag ang phone ko sa table. Sinandal ko ang ulo ko sa upuan at tinignan ang sarili sa salamin. Kung ano ano naman pumapasok sa isip ko habang tinitignan ang sarili ko.

Ayaw ko pumasok next week or next month.

Alam ko na kasi yung resulta, e. Kahit anong aral ko ng mabuti, Yahwi was twice greater than me and it's started to scare me.

"Hija, tawag ka ng mga magulang mo sa ibaba. Kakain na daw."

Napatayo ako at inayos ang mga gamit ko. "Sige po, pababa na po, Manang," I replied and I heard footsteps away from my doorstep. Pagkatapos ko mag-ayos ng sarili ay bumaba na ako para kumain.

"Sweetie, sit here," my mom smiles while patting the chair besides her .

Uupo na sana ako nung yung mata ni Daddy ay tumama sa 'kin. My body froze there until he look away and continue to eat his food. Parang naging jelly yung tuhod ko ay kaagad na naupo.

Tahimik ang bawat isa sa 'min habang kumakain and I love it, kesyo naman na grades ko yung pinaguusapan. I was silently chewing my food when dad suddenly called my name.

"I saw earlier that Xenon was attracted to you," my dad said.

I confusedly look at my Dad. "W-what do you mean, Dad?"

"I want you to marry him after you graduate college."

"Martin!" My mom yelled. "Don't you think Gabrielle was too young for that? Marami pa siyang maabot sa edad na 'yan kaysa magpakasal sa taong hindi niya naman mahal—"

"Shut up, Grace! Baka nakalimutan mo na arrange marriage din tayo!"

Napahilamos ng mukha si Mommy at tinignan ng masama si Daddy. "Pero hindi ibig sabihin nun ay ipaparanas mo rin 'yon sa anak mong babae, Martin!"

"Don't tell me what to do, Grace!" My dad pointed my mom's face. Malakas na binaba ni Daddy ang utensils niya sa plato kaya naman napatalon ako sa kinauupan ko bigla. "We both grew up in a very traditional family, Grace! Alam mo 'yan. The legacy of our family must go on!" Tumayo si Dad. "I lost my appetite."

I watch Daddy walk to his study room and heard a bang of a door. Tinignan ko si Mommy nung bigla siyang napahawak sa noo niya at ininom ang tubig niya.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

Tumango siya habang umiinom ng tubig. Nung matapos siya ay tinignan niya ako. "I hate your daddy."

Tipid lang ako ngumiti. "Are you sure you're alright?" Tumango siya at hinawakan ako sa braso. "Then, I'll be in my—"

"Sweetie," my mom cut me off. "Promise me that you'll live a wonderful life out there. Don't be like me, don't be a slave to your dad's order. It will never ever bring you happiness," she pointed my chest. "Follow what's in there. I know, you still don't know what's in here but follow it once you'll know. Follow your heart, follow your dream, chase your dream. Be happy, live your life. You only die once, Gabrielle. You live everyday, each day you've been giving a chance to choose if what life you want to live."