His Amour [Donny Pangilinan]

one

Beginning

"Are you sure with this?" Pagtanong sa akin ni Cath habang nakatitig sa plane ticket ko. Am I sure with this? Yeah, I think so.

"Ano ba Cath, ngayon pa ba ako aatras?" I uttered before giving her a wide smile. She let out a sigh at biglang umirap.

"Ewan ko sa'yo. I won't be there, your mom won't be there, who would take care of you?" She worriedly asked at nakikita ko talaga sa mga mata niya ang pag-aalala niya.

"My dad." I answered confidently.

"You're not even sure na mahahanap mo siya! Come on, Sey. Let's be realistic here. Napakalaki ng Manila, sa tingin mo mahahanap mo siya doon?" With her voice, pakiramdam ko susukuan niya na ako anytime soon.

She's right. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan exactly si dad. I don't even have his contact number, wala kaming communication. The only thing I know is nasa Manila siya, yun lang.

"I'll just try my luck. 3 months lang naman stay ko dun, kaya don't worry. Kapag hindi nahanap, edi hindi." I said as I look at her.

"You know what, I have an idea." Cath retorted. "I'll just go with you. May ticket pa naman siguro na same day ng flight mo." She added while moving her brows up and down.

Tinitigan ko lang siya at nginitian niya naman ako. I don't think this is a good idea. Feeling ko hindi ko mahahanap ng maayos si dad kung may kasama ako. If I'll do it alone, there's a higher possibility na makita ko siya kaagad. Hindi ako makakapag-focus kung sasama man si Cath.

"Cath, please. Let me do this on my own." I insisted as she took a deep breath.

"Hindi ka talaga nagpapapigil. Fine. Basta magiingat ka dun, ha?" she said.

I just gave her a smile as a response at niyakap niya naman ako. Annoying 'tong bestfriend ko but she really is the sweetest. I couldn't ask for more.

"Well, anyway, what was your mom's reaction when you told her na hahanapin mo dad mo?" Cath asked as she accepted the order from the waiter. She took a sip from her latte the moment she got her order at nagpatuloy na sa pagsasalita. "Is it okay with her?"

"I think so. Hindi niya naman ako pinigilan eh." Sabi ko habang hinahalo yung milkshake ko.

"Are you ready to discover such things? I mean, 'di natin alam, baka hindi na pala kayo yung pamilya." Medyo pigil niya pang sinasabi yun dahil alam niyang masasaktan ako pero anyways, she still said it. Annoying diba? Joke.

"Matagal na kaming hindi pamilya. Hindi na ako magugulat kung may bago man." I closed my eyes heavily, habang sinusubukan tanggapin lahat ng sakit. Wala pa akong nalalaman pero mas okay nang ngayon pa lang, handa na 'ko.

"Well, I know you're strong. Pero tao ka din, you'll get hurt and I won't be there for you, para icomfort ka. So please, 'wag mo masyadong didibdibin lahat ng malalaman mo, kung meron man." Cath said sounding so worried.

Nginitian ko siya assuring her that I will be fine, hopefully. "Cath, you know me, wala akong hindi kinaya." I patted her shoulder before I continued. "I just wanna see my father."

—

Kinuha ko na yung maleta ko na nakalagay sa ilalim ng kama ko. I started to get and compile everything I need before I put it inside my luggage. I'll be leaving on thursday night, and it's already tuesday kaya I decided to fix my things na para hindi ako magahol bukas.

As I was putting my things inside my luggage, biglang may kumatok sa pintuan. After a few knocks, biglang bumukas ang pinto kaya napalingon ako doon.

"Mom." I said before I gave her a weak smile. "'Wag ka na malungkot, 3 months lang naman eh." I said, giving her a tight hug. She escaped from my hug naman agad agad before she talked.

"Paano ko hindi maiiwasang hindi malungkot? Hindi ko alam kung anong pwedeng mangyari sa'yo during your stay in Manila. Plus, we don't have any assurance na makikita mo yung hinahanap mo." She bitterly stated.

Mom really hates dad for leaving us, that's why she always stop me everytime I tell her na hahanapin ko si dad. But this time, pumayag na siya. Wala na siyang magagawa dahil pang-ilang pilit ko na sakanya 'to and I invested time and money para lang dumating ang pagkakataon na mahanap ko si dad.

"Mahahanap ko yun, 'ma. God will help me." I said.

"Bakit mo pa kasi hinahanap yung ayaw magpahanap?" She sounds so bitter, grabe.

"Because that's what will satisfy me." With what I said, ngumiti nalang siya because she knows that her words can't stop me from finding dad. Isa lang naman akong anak na naghahanap ng kalinga ng ama niyang wala sa tabi nya ng dalawampung isang taon. So, I'll try my best to find him and be with him while chances last.

For the last time before she leaves the room, niyakap ako ni mom ng sobrang higpit, like it will be the last. "You're such a strong woman, Sey." she urged before she left.

Reality suddenly hit me hard. Paano kapag hindi kami nagkita ni dad? That would literally break me pero, I really wanna try. Hindi ko alam yung possibility pero malay ko ba kung magpapahanap pala si dad. Alam kong masasaktan ako ng todo kapag hindi ko siya nahanap dun, knowing that I've spent so much money and efforts just to find him. Hay, ewan. Mahirap, pero kakayanin.

Nilagay ko na yung maliliit na mga gamit na dadalhin ko on top of my clothes, then I locked my luggage na. Binuhat ko ito at dahan dahang ibinalabag sa sahig at inilagay sa gilid ng aking cabinet. After that, kinuha ko yung lappy ko from my study table at humiga sa kama ko. I opened my laptop and went to my social media accounts. Heto na naman ako, magbabakasakali na mahanap si dad somewhere.

I tried searching his name sa lahat ng social media accounts pero as usual, hindi ko na naman siya nahanap. Ang tagal ko na siyang sinesearch pero hindi pa din talaga siya nagpapakita. Mas okay sana if mahanap ko siya even in his social media accounts lang, para kahit papaano before I go to Manila, may communication na kami. Pero, wala eh.

I relaxed my head on my pillow, closing my laptop. I heavily closed my eyes and let out a sigh.

Let me introduce myself first before we start this adventure. I'm Season Valentine, 24 years of age. People call me Sey and I don't know where that nickname came from.

I graduated last year sa course na Theatre Arts. Nakatira ako sa Iloilo kasama ang aking ina at lola. Sa ngayon, I'm about to go to Manila to find my dad, obviously. Iniwan niya kami noong 3 years old ako. Everything was so sudden, kahit nanay ko hindi alam bakit niya kami iniwan.

Enough with the storytelling, samahan niyo nalang ako hanapin si dad.

******

hello! so how was the first chapter? hehe i know it wasn't that good pero i'll try my best para gumanda pa yung next chapters. ayun please comment your thoughts, and dont forget to vote! ❤️