Love On Canvas

Canvas 13 - The Color of Love

Matapos kong pumunta sa grocery store ni Chris ay napadaan ako sa may bayan. May nakita akong computer shop. It took me a while to decide whether I will enter it or not. Sa huli ay pumasok na rin ako. Walang ganoong tao kundi si Stephen. Hindi ko akalain na siya pala ang may-ari ng computer shop na ito. Inassist niya ako sa isa sa mga cubicles at tawagin ko na lang daw siya kapag meroon akong kailangan.

Nakatingin lang ako sa screen ng ilang minuto bago ko napagpasyahan buksan ang Facebook account ko. Kaagad bumungad sa akin ang napakaraming message sa inbox ko.

Tumingin-tingin ako sa akin news feed at wala akong nakitang bago. Sina Mom, Dad, Tina at James lang kasi ang friends ko doon at walang movement sa kanilang apat. Pinindot ko ang inbox ko at lahat ng message ko ay galing kay Daddy.

'Baby girl, nasaan ka na?
I know you ran away because you feel suffocated and we understand that but baby, you are still healing physically and emotionally. I really don't think this better idea but...hay...
I know you are wondering why you are not in the news yet. Your Mom called it media black out. Your Mom is really big shot you know.'

Napatawa naman ako sa sinulat ni Daddy at sa emoticons ginamit niya. Kahit seryoso ito ay may way pa rin si Daddy na patawanin ako.

'We didn't let other people know that you run away. We just told them that you are in Sabbatical. But more than that anak kahit ganito kami karelax from the outside, pero sa loob, natatakot ako para sa'yo. On going pa rin ang kaso mo, as Tina, the main culprit and James now stands as a witness. Your Mom and I are handling all things to speed up the case and have Tina in jail. Nakabail ito at alam kong hindi magandang ideya iyon. Natatakot ako kung ligtas ka ba diyan, kung maayos ka ba at kung maayos ang paggaling mo.'

'Kahit ganito si Daddy pero mababaliw na ako sa'yo kakaisip. I don't want you to feel guilty but when I found out the morning after that you run away hindi na ako nakaligo ng tatlong araw dahil sa paghahanap sayo. Pinilit lang ako ng Mommy mo na maligo. Then Joselito spoke to us and told us your plan. Joselito is a good boy and he told us everything pero hindi niya sinabi kung nasaan ka kasi wala daw talaga siyang ideya. Binantaan ko pa siya pero hindi niya raw talaga alam at naniwala ang Mommy mo na wala talaga siyang alam. Alam mo naman si Mommy, close na rin sa bata na iyon. She really likes to have a son but it is too dangerous for her. Buti na nga lang at dumating ka sa amin.'

'I am hoping and praying that this message finds you well. My heart aches for you, baby and what you are going through right now and as a parent I want to be with you 24/7 to help you in everything that I can help you with and to let you under my wings so noone can touch you again. But as someone who loves you to the moon and back, I will let you have this rest. Rest assured that I won't interfere to your plan. Just promise me, promise me baby that you stay close to the people that are trustworthy or if the people there are not move to another place. Please be safe. I want you back healthy, happy and full of life when you're ready.'

Then my father's message ended there for the day. There was another message for another day.

'I am missing you baby girl. Mommy is crying every night because she misses you so much. Daddy's antics don't work for now. I'll try a different one. I'll try my best to comfort her. I thought the macho dance will do the trick but it didn't. I think my age is catching with me, baby. But not to worry, Daddy has a lot under his sleeves.'

There is another message. I think Daddy was writing me messages almost everyday with the amount of private messages I have in Facebook.

'I told Mommy that we should try for another baby but your Mommy threw me her death stare.'

Napangiti naman ako sa message ni Daddy.

'Baby are you eating well? Do you still have enough money? You can give me a call and I will send you money right away. Please just give me a call. I really want to hear your voice so bad.'