"Are you having difficulty finding money to pay the bill for your Tatay?"
I nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. What is your proposal?" I paused. "Kaya ko po'ng mag-trabaho sa inyo sa loob man yan ng bahay mo or sa kompanya mo, Ma'am. I can do all that."
"You can do anything?"
I nodded. "Yes!"
"Okay then." She smiled. "I can pay for your father's bill. I can discharge him right away, kahit ngayon pa 'yan." She paused. "Layuan mo lang ang anak ko."
"Ma'am... Hindi ko po 'yun magagawa."
"Bakit?" She laughed. "Akala ko ba kaya mong gawin ang lahat? Bida bida ka eh diba?"
"Ma'am... Please. Mahal na mahal ko po ang anak mo." I cried. "Mag trabaho na lang po ako sa inyo."
"No. I want you and my son to break up. Now. I want him to marry someone from the elites, para hindi lang umaasa kay Nico." She smiled. "You're not one of the elites, hija. Tignan mo nga lang ang tinitirahan mo oh. Papatirahin mo ba sa ganito ang anak ko?"
"Ma'am..."
"Don't Ma'am me. Do you accept the offer, hija?"
"I love him, Ma'am. I can't accept the offer."
"Okay." She smiled. A devilish smile. "So, gusto mo ba'ng tumagal pa ang Tatay mo sa hospital? At tumaas ang bill?"
"Babayaran ko na lang po ang utang ko, Ma'am. Wag lang po 'yung pinapagawa niyo."
"Hindi mo ko mauuto, Laura. Alam kong hindi ka makakabayad."
Ayoko man tanggapin ang pinapagawa ng Mommy niya, pero kailangan. Para ito kay Tatay.
"Ma'am.?"
"Yes?"
"I'll do it."
"Good. I want you to break up with him. Now. And I'll give you the money."
Siguro nga hindi kami para sa isa't isa. Ang dami ng sinasabi ng mundo na tumigil kami. Pero eto pa rin ako lumalaban. Kumakapit. Kahit marami na ang hadlang sa amin.
YOU ARE READING
Afternoons in Dapitan
RomanceLaura Marie Santos is a Behavioral Science student from University of Santo Tomas who also works as a fishball vendor in Dapitan. Her reason for working is for her to help father pay the bills. Many students buy Laura's fishball - it is because of t...
