He Who Loved The Monster (V Series #1) (PUBLISHED)

XXXIV - Her Dad

Tanya's POV

It's already quarter to eight when I got home. Ang aga ngang natapos ng classes ko but the traffic is so heavy kaya late pa rin ako ng uwi. I sometimes go home later than that but these past few days have been filled with stressful events kaya I think I really need some rest.

I headed to the dining room pagkapasok ko. Sobrang gutom na rin ako and I want to eat early para makapag-pahinga naman na ako. But I was stunned when I saw kung sinong kasama ni Mom. Both of them just looked at me when they saw me. Walang nag-salita sa aming tatlo so I decided to break the silence.

"Good evening po, Sir Victor." I greeted him then I turned to my Mom. Lumapit ako sa kanya, kissed her cheek then sat beside her. Nasa harap namin pareho si Mr. Tuazon ngayon. "Hey, Mom."

"Are you hungry? Manang Lorna's about to serve the dinner." She said and smiled at me like there's nothing unusual about this dinner. After a few minutes, our maids served the dinner. We started eating pero wala pa ring nagpapaliwanag why Mr. Tuazon is here.

"Talk, Victor." Mom broke the silence. "My daughter's waiting."

I can't help but feel relieved dahil hindi ko na kailangan magtanong. Mom really knows me well. She already knows what I am feeling or thinking just by looking at my eyes.

Tito Victor sighed then he talked.

"I'm sorry, Tanya," was the first thing he blurted out then when he looked at me, I saw the tears pooling in his eyes. "I didn't know. I'm sorry for not being a Father to you. I'm sorry, anak. I'm really sorry."

He started crying. Tumingin ako kay Mom then she held my hand. "It's alright. Go hug your Father, Tanya."

Nag-isip ako kung susunod ako sa kanya or if it's really the right thing to do. Then I decided that it's not so I shook my head. She gave me a questioning look but instead of explaining to her, I turned to the man in front of me.

"Look, Tito Victor," I started. "It's okay. You don't need to apologize. I'm not mad at you or something."

Pareho silang nagulat sa sinabi ko but then after a few seconds, Mom smiled at me.

"My Mom already explained everything to me." I told him. "And no offense but I can't imagine my family kung kasama ka namin while I'm growing up. Because for me, my family's already complete with just me and my Mom in it."

His eyes widened but before he could even say something nagpaliwanag na ulit ako. "But don't get me wrong. Like I said, I'm not mad at you. It's just that, I don't feel anything towards you. Love or connection, parang wala talaga. I admire you, though, for molding Viniel to be the man that he is today. Even if he's not your real child, you treated him as your own."

Tears started falling down from my Mom's eyes too but when I looked at her, I saw her smiling. Tumingin ulit ako kay Tito Victor. He wiped his tears then he nodded like he understands exactly what I mean.

"Thank you for that, hija." Tito Victor said when he finally recovered. "You might not see me as your Dad but always remember that I'll be here if you need one. . . anak."

A smile formed in my lips when he called me that. Totoo 'yung sinabi kong wala akong kahit anong nararamdaman na connection kay Tito Victor pero kung meron man akong nararamdaman ngayon, I think it's happiness. Kasi kahit alam kong may ibang pamilya siya, he still acknowledge me as his child.

"I'll keep that in mind." I replied then I smiled at him. "Thank you, Dad."

Pareho silang napangiti sa sinabi ko then we continued eating. But this time, our dinner was filled with stories, smiles, and laughters.