JAC 5

Taphney stumbled into a large mansion, holding her head. She had just had the best night of her life at a party and lost track of time. It was already late, and she was sure everyone in the house was already asleep. Despite her headache and dizziness, she tried her best to be quiet and slowly made her way to the second floor of their mansion.

As she was about to grab the doorknob of her room, she heard someone approaching her. She squinted her eyes to see who it was.

"Dad?" she asked, puzzled, with a furrowed brow.

"Where have you been Taphney Louins! I've been waiting for you since earlier!" her father exclaimed, grabbing her arms tightly.

Taphney was surprised by her father's overreaction. Did something happen?

"Why? You told me to go to my cousins, and I did what you said-" she tried to explain.

"I've been calling your number for how many million times, anak. You didn't answer. I thought something might have happened to you," her father said, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

Taphney shook her head and quickly checked her phone in her pocket. She lifted it and showed it to her father.

"Dead battery, dad. I'm sorry. Wait, daddy, why are you acting weird? Is there something going on? Why are you acting like that?" she asked him directly.

"It's nothing, anak-" her father tried to reassure her.

"Stop lying, daddy. I know when something is wrong with you. I'm telling you right now that you don't seem okay to me. I have a feeling that something bad is happening to you or in this house. Tell me, dad, so that I will know. So that I won't feel lost here," Taphney said, one after the other.

She couldn't take it anymore. If she missed it the other day, she wouldn't let it go this time. She was in such a good mood when she came home, and her father was now making her anxious. He could tell her everything; she was his daughter! They were the only ones left in the house, and her father was hiding something from her.

She couldn't help but feel annoyed and upset. She was worried about her father, and he was keeping things from her. He was the only one she had left after her mother left them, and some of their relatives treated them differently. That's why she avoided them as much as possible. She was only there because her father had asked her to come.

"Dad, please. I'm not a child anymore. I'm sure I can understand whatever is bothering you. Come on, I'm a grown-up lady now," Taphney said again, minutes passing by with no response from her father.

Her bad feeling only grew stronger when her father sighed deeply for the second time. She felt something was seriously wrong.

"Dad-"

"Let's go to your room first, anak. I'll tell you there."

"Are you okay?" Taphney asked, with a sincere voice. She was not used to seeing her father like this.

He looked like he was carrying a lot of problems on his back. Taphney felt guilty for partying and drinking all night.

"Come inside first, and I'll tell you everything," her father said.

Taphney didn't say anything else and just nodded her head firmly. The dizziness she felt earlier seemed to have dissipated.

Her father was the first to enter her room, followed shortly after by Taphney herself. Vergara, the elderly man, sat at the far end of the bed while Taphney remained standing only a few steps away from her room's door.

"Tell me now, dad. What's happening? Are you okay? Is the airlines okay?" she asked in a hurried voice.

"Our airlines are facing a lot of trouble now, Taphney. We've had two planes crash, fortunately with no passengers on board, and the pilots survived. But the owner of the damaged property is asking for a huge amount from us," her father began.

Hearing those words broke Taphney's heart into pieces. She didn't even know anything about it. She had no idea that they were facing such a problem, not only her father but also their airlines.

"How about our company's attorney? I'm sure he can find a solution. Have you talked to him?" Taphney tried to raise her voice to give her father some courage.

She could hear that he was losing hope. "I don't think so, Taphney. Besides the problem with the airlines, I have another problem. I can't tell you-"

"Oh, come on, dad!" Taphney couldn't help but slap her forehead. Of all times, now her father was going to act like this, when she was almost losing her mind trying to figure out what was going on. "...just tell me everything! I want to know. I am your daughter. I am the only family you have left. It's just the two of us, let's work together. Why do you need to hesitate about telling me that damn problem?!"

"Taphney, my child-"

"Dad, if you plan to keep repeating my name, spare me. Maybe next time, but for now? Just freaking spill what the problem is. You've been driving me crazy-"

"I've lost a lot in the casino-"

"How much? I'm sure you didn't go all out and waste all the money-"

"Hundreds..."

"Hundreds of thousands? That's okay, it's nothing to us-"

"Hundreds of millions, Taphney. I'm sorry."

The last thing Taphney's father said was like a bomb exploding in her head. What the hell?! A hundred million? That's too much! How could her father spend that much money? What kind of gambling did he do?

"D-dad, this isn't true. This can't be true. How? Oh, jeez, tell me this is a joke. That you're just trying to be funny. Dad?" Taphney's father's heavy sigh made her realize he wasn't bluffing. He really lost that amount of money gambling. Unbelievable!

"Okay, let's do it this way, Dad. You're thinking that I'm going to be mad at you, right? Let's just forget about it. It's over now, let's move on. Let's focus on the bigger problem, the two planes that crashed-"

"Taphney, it's not just that. I didn't lose hundreds of millions in a snap. T-that's not my money-"

"What?!" Taphney's eyes widened.

What the hell?! What other revelation was her father hiding from her? What other problem would he throw at her?

"Well, whose money is it? Don't tell me it was the investor's money?"

"No, my child-"

"Is it the airlines' money?"

"The airlines are almost bankrupt, Taphney. So many investors pulled out their stocks after they found out about the incident, they-"

"F*ck them all!" The girl couldn't help but curse. "...after they've taken advantage of us, they'll just leave us hanging? And now, when we need them the most?"

"Taphney, you don't have to curse. Don't be angry-"

"Well, f*ck them all, daddy. When the airlines bounce back, they shouldn't even think of coming back and asking for their investment back. I might not be able to control myself and slap them one by one..."

Taphney inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm down her nerves. She was annoyed. Angry. Why do bad things have to happen to them one after another? Is it because she wasted a lot of money before? Even on worthless things? Or is it because instead of helping in running their family business, she just indulged in alcohol?

"Daddy?" the girl called her father's attention.

It was only now that she noticed tears on her father's cheeks. She quickly went over to him and wiped his face full of concern.

"Ssh dad, please. Why are you crying? Tell me. We can find a way, it's just money. We can still recover-"

"Taphney, the money I lost in the casino is not our money. We barely have any money left. I don't know how we can recover from the foolishness I've done," her father said while sobbing.

Taphney felt like her heart was being pierced repeatedly by what she saw. Seeing her father hopelessly crying is the least she wants to see. She felt weak seeing her father like this.

"Whose money was it, dad? Tell me, maybe we can plead-"

"I don't think so, hija. It was from Mr. Santocildez, the owner of the casino-"

"I'll talk to him-"

"We've already talked. He came here..."

"What did he say? Did he give us more time? Tell him I'll do everything just to bring his money back, just give me enough time," Taphney insisted, trying to gather her courage even though she knew she had no idea where to find that hundred million pesos.

She didn't know anything. She didn't even have any job experience yet, even though she had graduated almost two years ago. Her time was spent just bar hopping. In short, she just had fun and didn't help in their business.

So, how would she handle this situation to pay off her father's debt of one hundred million?

"H-he gave us an extension..."

"Good, I'll try to find a way, dad. I'll look for a job first. Or maybe I'll work as a secretary for Tita Daniella, just to pay off your debt-"

"One week, Taphney. He only gave me a whole week..."

"What the f*ck?! Is he freaking serious? How and where are we going to get that much money in just one damn week? Is he kidding me?"

The girl pulled her hair in frustration. She didn't know what to do. Even if she sold all of her designer collections, it wouldn't reach one hundred million.

"I'm sorry, anak. I'm really sorry..."

She quickly shook her head and approached her father again.

"No, dad. It's okay. Let's just leave it. Maybe we can still find a way. Maybe we can borrow from your siblings-"

"You know them, Taphney. They'll just ridicule us, especially when they find out about my incompetence and negligence-"

"Why did you even fall into gambling again, dad?! I thought you quit..."

"I'm sorry anak, I'm really sorry."

Automatically, the anger the girl felt towards her father dissipated upon hearing his loud sobs again. No matter how big or serious her father's mistake was, she couldn't bear to see him like this.

"I'm sorry, dad. I'm also stressed. I never expected us to reach this point, where we have to worry about money-"

"I'm sorry, Taphney. I'm really sorry. I hope you can forgive me..."

"Dad, it's okay. We can still find a solution. Don't be too hard on yourself. We'll get through this-"

"No, Taphney. I don't think you can forgive me. About hearing what I'm going to say..."

The girl felt a strange nervousness. Her father still hasn't said everything? What could it be?

"What do you mean by that, dad? Tell me-"

"Mr. Santocildez gave me an ultimatum... "

"And that is?" Taphney couldn't wait any longer. She was getting anxious! Her headache was getting worse. She didn't know if it was because of the alcohol she drank or the problems she's only finding out now.

"I have to give his hundred of millions back or else..."

"Or else what daddy? Stop prolonging the agony-"

"He'll have you as the payment."

What the hell?! Is Mr. Santocildez freaking serious? No fucking way!