Chapter 5
Break
"You should've went home earlier para mas nakapaghanda ka ng maaga." inis na sabi ni daddy while we're dealing with the traffic here in EDSA.
"I attended all my classes for today, Dad. My last class was until 4PM." I reasoned out.
Dad took a sharp breath. "Dapat pala hindi ka na pumasok ngayon or just cut that last class."
"Major ko po ang paghuling klase ko ngayon, daddy. May quiz rin po ako doon. Hindi ko po pwedeng i-cut 'yon." dahilan ko.
Magsasalita pa sana si daddy ngunit hinawakan ni mommy ang kaniyang braso.
I can see dad's veins in his arms while he's gripping at the gear stick. Kumalma lang ito nang hawakan na ni mommy.
"Hon, don't blame, Blair." mahinahong sabi ni mommy. "She just followed our orders; to go straight home after her classes for today."
"I didn't know that her class would be until 4PM. If I knew, pinauwi ko na siya ng mas maaga pa doon." sabi ni daddy.
"You heard her earlier. It was her major class kaya hindi siya pwedeng magcut. And besides, we still have time. Pagkalagpas naman natin sa Balintawak, wala na 'yang traffic." sabi ni mommy at hindi na muli pang sumagot si daddy.
I can't help but to smile and feel loved because of mom. She's standing up for me because she knew that I can't argue against my father. He's already a lawyer and I'm still a student in process to be like him in the future. But even if daddy's a lawyer, he can always break his principles when it comes to mommy.
"Great! We're late!" Dad sarcastically exclaimed when he parked the car.
The dinner's meeting time was 7PM and it's already 7:30PM. We're 30 minutes late.
I can feel dad's death glares towards me ngunit hindi ko na 'yon pinapatulan ng tingin. Nakayuko lang ako't sinusundan ko nalang sila ni mommy.
"Reservation for Mrs. Ondevilla." daddy said to the receptionist at agad naalarma ang tenga ko nang marinig ko ang apilyidong 'yon.
Ondevilla... Dad has a friend who has a surname of Ondevilla. I wonder if he's related to Gael... but the possibilities are lower than my patience. Marami ang may apilyidong Ondevilla. And most importantly, why am I even thinking of Gael? Why am I seeking possibilities na sana'y related siya sa kaibigan ni daddy?
"Right this way, Sir. Follow me." the receptionist answered, politely smiling at us.
I can't help but roll my eyes. I know that it's their job to be polite and humble pero kita mong hindi siya natutuwa sa trabaho niya. May mga ibang tuwang-tuwa sa trabaho nila that made their smile towards the guest genuine pero itong isang 'to ay isa sa mga kilala kong peke lamang ang ipinapakitang ngiti. Maybe she doesn't like her job. Maybe she wanted to take up a different career path pero ito ang naging hantungan niya.
"They're not yet here?" tanong ni daddy sa receptionist nang buksan nito ang private room na nakareserve para sa dinner ngayong gabi.
It was a quite big room and elegant. There are six chairs and a table. The room was fully airconditioned and there's also a television. I've been to fine dining restaurants but I've never experienced a private dinner in a restaurant. This would be my first time experiencing this kind of dining.
"Not yet, sir." mabilis na sagot nito kay daddy.
"Okay then. Thank you for leading the way." pasasalamat ni daddy.
Tumango lang ang babae sa amin bago lumabas at isinarado ang pintuan.
"We're lucky that they're not yet here, Blair. Kundi ay nakakahiya sa kanila." sabi ni daddy. "Mas maganda nang tayo ang maghintay kaysa sila ang maghintay sa atin."
Daddy never wants to be late. He always wants to be on time or even earlier. He's very punctual.
Dapat nga lang na ang makakasama namin sa dinner ngayon ang maghintay dahil nilipad pa ng mga magulang ko ang Pilipinas para lang sa dinner na 'to. Mas napaaga tuloy ang uwi nila.
Mom and dad's talking about our firm when the door finally opened again. We immediately rose from our seat in order to pay our greetings when a familiar figure caught my eye.
It looks like he also saw me dahil nabigla rin siya sa pagkakakita sa akin nang magtama ang aming mga tingin.
What a small world... really.
"Mrs. Ondevilla." daddy smiled at the middle-aged girl, same age as mom, I guess. "Is this your son?" and he diverted his eyes to Gael who's still looking at me.
I looked away nang hindi niya pa rin pinapaunlakan ng tingin si Daddy na napansin na ang kaniyang presensya.
"Yes, he is." rinig kong sabi ng mommy ni Gael habang nakatingin lang ako sa walang lamang plato na nasa aking harapan. "Gael, this is Atty. Jay Alcoberes."
"Nice to meet you, sir."
I hate how just by hearing his deep formal voice already made me shiver.
"It's a pleasure to meet an internationally known lawyer." he even praised daddy.
"Oh, no need for that compliment, hijo." dad humbly said. "Anyway, this is my wife, Helena Alcoberes and my daughter, Blair Nicole Alcoberes." pakilala ni daddy sa amin ni mommy.
My mom and Gael's mom greeted each by kissing each other on their cheeks and paid greetings. I was surprised to see Gael do the same thinf her mother did to my mom.
"Hello, hija. Such a pretty young lady." she smiled and complimented me before she also kissed me on my cheek for the greeting.
I don't know why but her good compliment towards me made me feel satisfied.
When Gael's mom done with greeting me ay napatigil ako nang makitang si Gael na ang nasa aking harapan.
"Good evening." he greeted me with his deep voice at mas lalong tumindig ang balahibo ko nang dahil doon.
My heart's racing while I'm expecting his next move. Will he do what he dis to my mother as a sign of greeting?
Bahagyang nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang hinawakan niya ako sa aking braso upang maigaya ang kaniyang sarili papalapit sa akin.
"So it's you..." he whispered before I felt his soft lips touched my cheek.
My heart hastened its beat when he kissed me ngunit hindi ko alam kung bakit pero nakulangan ako sa kaniyang ginawa.
"Shall we take a seat now?" nakangiting sabi ni daddy't inimuwestra ang mga upuan.
Gael sit beside his mother who's sitting in front of my father kaya ngayon ay katapat niya si mommy habang ako nama'y harapan ang bakanteng upuan.
"What do you like for dinner, Blair?" mom asked me when the waiter gave us the menu.
"Just order for me, mom. I'm fine with anything." sabi ko kay mommy't ibinigay sa waiter ang menu'ng ibinigay niya sa akin kanina.
Tumango naman si mommy't humarap kay daddy upang pag-usapan ang oorderin nilang mga pagkain.
After we're done placing the orders, Gael's mom immediately started a conversation with dad.
"Nalaman kong lumipad pa pala kayo galing ibang bansa para lang sa dinner na 'to. Nahihiya tuloy ako." sabi ng mommy ni Gael.
"That's okay, Mercy." sabi ni daddy. "We're really flying back here anyway. It's my dad's death anniversary next week. Okay na rin ang mapaaga."
"Maganda rin pala ang timing ko." Gael's mom awkwardly laughed. "Anyway, my son's taking Legal Management in La Salle. He's going to pursue law."
"Oh! What a coincidence! My daughter's also studying in La Salle. She's taking Political Science as her pre-law course." gulat na sabi ni daddy.
Nilipat ko ang tingin ko kay Gael at laking gulat ko nang makita kong nakatingin siya sa akin.
I tried to act normal at nakuha ko pa siyang irapan bago ako nag-iwas ng tingin.
I didn't know that he was taking Legal Management. I thought he's also taking Political Science. But still, he also wants to be a lawyer.
"Oh really?!" bahagya ring nanlaki ang mga mata ng mommy ni Gael at nilingon siya nito. "Are you familiar with her, son?"
Napalunok naman ako't kinakahan ako sa magiging sagot ni Gael.
Is he going to deny that he knows me or not?
"I'm familiar with her..." rinig kong sagot ni Gael.
Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya't nakita ang kakaibang ngisi sa kaniyang mga lagi habang pinaglalaruan ang basong may lamang tubig.
"She's pretty known in the campus... I can always hear her name." he answered.
I just wish him to stop talking right now at baka kung saan pa umabot ang pinagsasasabi niya.
"I didn't know that my daughter's well known in her school." bigla namang pagsabat ni mommy. "Si Ida lang kasi ang alam kong lagi niyang nakakasama. So, I thought na si Ida lang ang kaibigan. I didn't know na marami palang nakakakilala sa kaniya doon and maybe, they're her friends too."
"Your daughter has a pleasing personality, Mrs. Alcoberes." sabi ni Gael.
I can almost hear him objecting to his own words.
"Just call me Tita Helena, Gael." mom dropped the formality with Gael.
"Very well, Tita Helena." he smiled. "As I've said, your daughter's a happy-go-lucky type of person. She does whatever she wants. She's not afraid and full of courage... Maybe that's why she has so many followers."
I don't know that he can make up lies on the spot. Should I thank him after the meal then?
I heard my mom chuckled. "Well... That's my daughter."
Napatingin ako kay mommy when I heard hint of proudness in her voice.
"We let her grew independently kaya siguro ganoon siya." sabi ni mommy. "I'm happy na ganoon pala ang iniisip sa kaniya ng mga tao. I guess, napalaki pa rin namin siya ng maayos."
I bit my lower lip trying to control my emotions. Pinalaki nila ako ng maayos? I'm not kinda sure about that info...
"How about you, hija?"
Napa-angat naman ako ng tingin sa mommy ni Gael when she suddenly asked me.
"Are you familiar with my son?" she asked me.
Nilipat ko naman ang tingin ko kay Gael na nakangisi parin sa akin. When he saw me looked at him ay itinaas niya ang kaniyang kilay like he's somehow challenging me.
I smiled and shook my head. "I'm not po..." I answered at nakita kong nawala ang mga ngisi sa labi ni Gael.
"You're not familiar with my son?" mukhang hindi makapaniwalang sabi nito. "But my son's the student president of your department or institute... It's kinda impossible that you don't know him."
"I'm not usually into organizations and political stuffs in school. I'm a lucky going person like what he said but I'm more of being an introvert person." sabi ko. "Gaya nga po nang sabi ni mommy, I'm always with Ida po, my bestfriend. Marami man pong nakakakilala sa akin but I don't have the mood to gain friends. When I'm in school, I focus on my studies. I also don't go to school or orgs parties so..." nagkibit-balikat ako saka uminom ng tubig matapos ng mahabang explanation ko.
Tumango-tango naman ito sa aking explanation. "So that's why..." sabi nalang nito bago lumingon kay daddy. "Your daughter's lucky because she has you as her father. Paniguradong natutulungan mo siya sa kaniyang pag-aaral."
Gael's mother's words hit me.
One of the reasons why I chose to study a pre-law course ay dahil lawyer si daddy. I'm thinking na matutuwa siya sa akin dahil gusto kong maging katulad niya. Pakiramdam ko'y magiging close kami kapag 'yon ang kinuha ko. Yung tutulungan niya ako sa mga parteng hindi ko naiintindihan but... not everything goes to the way you want it to be.
"I'm pretty sure that my daughter can handle anything about her subjects." sabi ni daddy. "She's a smart kid."
If I'm not smart, if i'm going to purposely fail or bring my grades down... will dad finally notice and help me out?
"I can see that your daughter's smart." Gael's mom said and nodded. "But I hope my son's free to contact you if you're not to busy to help him out lalo na't malapit na siyang pumasok ng law school. They're already graduating on May."
"Of course, it's okay! But I'll be out of the country. He can just call me through social networking sites." sabi ni daddy.
"That'll be my pleasure, sir. Maraming salamat po." Gael thanked my father.
I can't help but to feel bitterness. How is he allowed to call my dad even when he's working overseas to ask about law stuffs samantalang ako'y ni hindi nila matawagan o masagot ang tawag?
Tumayo naman ako bigla sa kinauupuan ko't lahat ng atensyon nila'y napunta sa akin.
"Excuse me po, labas lang po ako." paalam ko.
"But, Blair, hindi pa dumadating ang pagkain." mahinahong pagpigil sa akin ni mommy.
"I'll be back, mom." sabi ko at nagsumikap ngumiti. "Bathroom break."
"Let your daughter go, Helena." simpleng sabi ni daddy.
"Okay..." mom sighed. "Bumalik ka agad ah? Baka dumating na ang pagkain."
"I will, mom." sabi ko nalang at mabilis na tumalikod.
I bit my lower lip as I felt my eyes started to get teary and went outside the room.