One

“Dad! Pleaseee just hear me out.” She’s begging. Ayaw n’ya sa ideyang lumalabas ngayon sa bibig ng kaniyang ama. “Anong mapapala ko sa pagpapadala mo sa akin sa probinsya na kahit kailan ay hindi ko alam na nag-eexist!” Alam niya sa sarili niya na nag-aalburuto na siya sa galit ngunit pilit n’ya itong nilalabanan.

Matamang tumingin sa kaniya ang kaniyang ama habang nakasalikop ang mga kamay. “You will learn a valuable lesson there‚ young lady!” madiinang ani ng kaniyang ama.

Nagpahagalpak siya ng sarkastikong tawa‚ “Valuable lesson? Dad‚ wake up! Ano pang valuable lesson ang dapat kung matututunan aber? I know everything kaya kahit pagtagpi-tagpiin mo man ako ay ayaw kung sundin ang sinasabi mo.” matapang niyang tutol sa ama.

“You may know something‚ but not everything and sometimes‚ you tend to forget what that something is! There are still things that you should learn and you should relearn‚ because it seems that you already forgot about those or you simply don’t want to practice it because you’re too spoon-feed with these earthly desires that you have right now.” kalmadong ani ng kaniyang ama pero puno ng awtoridad.

“Relearn things?” tumawa siya ng napakasarkastiko‚ “Just like what?” panghahamon niya sa ama.

“Discipline.” kalma pa rin ito at tumayo‚ naglakad papunta sa bintana at sumilip roon. “You see‚ I didn’t expect anything from you to begin with.” tumingin ito sa kaniya “kasi una‚ I don’t want to put pressure in your life. Second‚ I don’t want to disappoint myself. Since tinuruan kita na you are not bound by the expectations of other people‚ that you have your own will to follow ’cause I taught you about principles. Yet‚ you’re projecting the otherwise and now‚ you’re provoking my patience‚ Sephora!” dagdag nitong pumukaw sa kaniyang atensyon.

“Really‚ Dad? Discipline pa talaga?” panghahamon n’ya ulit rito. “But of course‚ you raised me into an independent woman.” nakangisi niyang turan rito.

“Alam mo kung bakit disiplina ang dapat mong matutunan ulit?” mapanudyong tanong nito sa kaniya.

“Why?” Alam niya nacucurious siya sa itinuran nito.

“Because you fvcking lose control over your life!” sigaw nito na ikinagulat niya nang sobra kasi this is the first time na sinigawan siya ng kaniyang ama and worst‚ nagmura pa ito. “Squandering money to your heart’s content? Stepping others just so you could get what you want? Doing reckless stuffs just to feed your ego? Do you really think na hindi ko alam ang pinag-gagawa mo‚ Sephora?” walang ni katiting na ekspresyon ang gumuhit sa mukha ng kaniyang ama.

“You’re not as independent as you think and I didn’t raised you for nothing!” madiing ani nito sa kaniya. “You know that I can’t and I don’t tolerate such inappropriate actions‚ young lady. Kaya whether you like it or not‚ you’re going to the province even it means that I’ll forcedly drag you there by myself.” Bumalik ito sa pag-upo at mataman siyang tiningnan.

“You are unbelievable! H-How could you do this to me?” puno ng hinanakit na tanong niya sa ama.

“You know that I only want what’s best for you‚ Sephora and I would do anything... anything so you could just have a good life. One day‚ you will understand me and possibly thank me.”

“I-I don’t want you to interfer in my decisions since this my life!” madadamin niyang ani sa kaniyang ama.

“Hindi kita pinakikialaman sa mga desisyon mo‚ alam mo iyan. At habang nasa puder kita‚ habang buhay pa ako ay gagawin ko ang alam kong tama... at least for once‚ let me do something that could make you remember me in this lifetime.” ani ng kaniyang ama na may pagsusumamo. “I gave assurance to your mother na I will do anything just so you could have a good life‚ and I want to fulfill that.” dagdag nito.

“I know that you’re only yearning for what’s best but I know how to handle myself.” tangka pa rin niyang pagdedepensa sa sarili.

“I already made up my mind‚ Sephora but if you want an option‚ I will gladly give you one.” nakangiti nitong ani at alam niyang may binabalak ang kaniyang ama.

“And that is?” tanong niya pa rin kahit alam na niya kung saan ito patungo.

“I have proposition for you.” nakangiti nitong ani at pinagsalikop ang mga palad. “You see‚ I have a dear friend of mine that has an undatable son—

Pinutol niya ang sinabi ng ama‚ “Oh no‚ dad! No! I know kung saan patungo iyan. Don’t me! I would rather go to that province na sinasabi mo than marrying someone. You know that I don’t want to be tied down.” malaking tanggi niya sa preposisyon ng kaniyang ama.

Nakita niyang ngumiti ito‚ ngiting nagwagi “we’re settled then.”

“I can’t believe this!” malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya at mariing pumikit. “That was a bait‚ isn’t it?” tanong niya at tiningnan ng masama ang ama.

“Yet still‚ you took it.” nakangiti nitong ani.

“You gave me an option pero clearly wala akong maayos na pagpipilian!” naiinis niyang ani sa ama.

“But still‚ nakapili ka.” nakangiti pa ring turan ng kaniyang ama.

“How could you do this to me‚ dad?” Tila nagtatampo niyang sabi sa ama.

Hinawakan ng kaniyang ama ang kaniyang mga kamay‚ “I’m not doing this just to cause you harm or pain. Ginagawa ko ito kasi I know you can benefit from this kahit sasabihin mong masama akong ama.” ani nitong ngumiti.

She can’t believe that her father just made a drastic act para mapasunod lamang siya sa gusto nito pero at some point of her life‚ she can feel the genuineness of her father’s intention. But somehow‚ she is still doubting of her father’s motive kung bakit bigla-bigla siyang ipapadala sa probinsyang hindi niya alam kung totoo ba ito‚ and even  uses her vices against her for liqour’s sake.

“You should pack your things‚ dear since aalis ka bukas ng umaga.”ani nito at binawi ang mga kamay mula sa kaniya.

“WHAAAT‽ Why so soon?” gulat niyang tanong at napatindig.

“The earlier‚ the more things you’ll learn.” nakangiting ani nito at kumuha ng alak.

“Hindi ko alam kung bakit mo ako minamadali sa bagay na ganito.” kunot-noong tanong niya sa ama.

“Hindi kita minamadali‚ hinahanda lang kita sa mga bagay na maaaring mangyari sa hinaharap.” seryoso ito at tinunga ang alak sa kopita nito.

“I don’t understand. Nalilito na ako sa iyo‚ dad!” naiinis niyang turan dito.

“One day‚ you will. Trust me.” anito’t kinintilan ng halik ang kaniyang noo. “Have a nice trip there and enjoy!” dagdag nito bago umalis sa naturang opisina nito.

“But dad‚” habol niya sa ama.

“Yes?” tanong nito’t huminto sa paglalakad.

“Before I go‚ can we at least have a dinner tonight?” nakangiti niyang tanong sa kaniyang ama.

“Sorry‚ Sephora but I have a meeting tonight.” tanggi nito sa kaniya na ikinapanlumo niya.

Yumuko siya‚ trying to hold her tears from falling.

“M-Maybe when I get back?” tanong niya pero wala na sa kaniyang harap ang ama.

I love my life! Damn!