"What's on your mind, and you managed to run away just to party? My God, Bettina and Zariyah!" Mommy was preaching to us.
Yes, it's true. They found out that we were not at home. Bettina and I didn't realize that someone had seen us earlier. I'm still feeling dizzy right now, and I still can't get the man I kissed earlier out of my mind. I didn't even have the chance to know his name!
I don't want to make my mother's head hurt more because I know she has a lot on her mind right now, but I also know that she won't allow me and Bettina to go out if we inform them.
"How many times have you made that escape? I don't know what to do with you! Especially you, Bettina! You're still the eldest!" Daddy added.
Bettina kept her head down and was only looking at the tiles below. She is afraid of disappointing Mom and Dad, but I know that she also wants to have fun.
"I didn't even know how you girls learned how to fool your parents! Do you really want that? To fool us that you're always at home, but the truth is you're out partying?!" Daddy continued preaching.
My eyes almost rolled in secret because of what he said.
"While you are still in my house, you have no right to deceive and lie to us!" he added.
I couldn't stop laughing, and I saw his eyes quickly turn to me. I even noticed the shocked look from Bettina.
"Z," she said softly, but I shook my head.
I thought I was the one to turn on Dad's anger, but he spoke again.
"And because of that, you two are grounded!"
"Dad!" Bettina whined.
"What?! What will be your excuse again, Bettina?" he asked angrily.
I looked at Bettina and saw that she was almost crying while shaking her head. We both know how strict our dad is. It's not just that his punishment for us is arbitrary, but I don't care. It's either he cuts our cards or closes our bank accounts. The worst part was that more bodyguards followed us, and actually, after class, we went straight home.
"I'm sorry, okay? I have training and still have group projects."
"I don't care! Also, those excuses of yours won't do anything to the punishment I will give you!" Dad answered, and his voice showed the finality of his decision.
Bettina almost started crying, so I just shook my head and held my breath. I can't see her crying like that! In my annoyance, I just stood up.
"Let her out of this, Dad! I'm the one who forced her to go to the party, so I'll be the one to get punished!"
"Sit down and shut up, Zariyah!" he yelled at me, then pointed to the sofa.
I shook my head and bravely faced him.
"Z!" Mommy called me as if she were warning me.
"And after I sit down, Dad? What? What will you do? Only you have the right to speak? Only you should be listened to? Only you should be believed? Only you tell the truth, and we are the only liars?" I asked him one after another.
I could see the slight surprise in his eyes because of my answer. Mommy immediately came to me to stop me, but I gently removed her hand.
"No, Mom! Stop pretending that you don't know anything! You know Dad is just fooling you, but you choose to listen to his lies."
"Zariyah!" Mommy's voice sounded like thunder when she called my name, which is also why I stopped.
"How dare you accuse me like that, huh, Z?" Dad asked in his calm voice.
I'm familiar with the tone of his voice, so I shook my head.
"You can't manipulate me again, Dad. I saw you! And you know yourself what I saw!" I answered and couldn't stop crying.
He didn't answer right away, while Mommy continued to calm me down as if she heard nothing from me.
"I don't care if you punish me! Back then I didn't believe it, but now, yes! Because that's the truth! You're a cheater!" I screamed.
He closed his eyes tightly as if he were holding his breath, but I didn't care anymore. I'm brave because what I'm saying is true. Add to that the alcohol tolerance I gained tonight.
"Z! Stop it!" Mom said.
Daddy took a deep breath before opening his eyes and speaking. He pointed at me, and I could see his rapid breathing, so Mommy immediately approached him. I just exchanged looks with him and waited for what he had to say.
"From now on, you'll continue your study in the province. So, you better start packing all your things now. You've violated my patience, Z... and that's your final punishment!" he said angrily, then left us in the living room.
I just fell on my forehead and shook my head before plopping myself down on the sofa.
"What did you do, Z? I hope you didn't answer! Don't worry, I'll try to talk to him. Go to sleep," Mommy said calmly and then left to follow Dad.
"You shouldn't have done that, Z!" Bettina came to me now.
"And what should I do, then? Just shut up, Bettina! I told you that I saw him with his cheap mistress!" I answered her.
She shook her head at me as if there was nothing she could do.
"We both know that he's serious about what he said, Z! Do you think you can afford to study in the province?" she said to me one after the other.
I stopped for a second because I just realized the punishment that Dad wanted to give me.
"Do you think Mom can convince Dad? No, Z! I hope you didn't argue with him," she added.
I washed my face with both palms and stood up to walk to my room. I don't want to think about it now. My head hurts more and more!
I don't know how I slept that night. I just woke up the next day because of a series of knocks on my door. I still haven't forgotten what happened last night. That's why, when I woke up, I felt my headache even worse.
"Z, wake up! Open the door." I hear Bettina's voice.
I just held my breath, and even though it was hard for me to get up from lying down, I just forced myself.
"What?" I asked.
It was as if I woke up even more when I saw Daddy standing there with Mommy and Bettina. I saw the worry on Bettina's face when our eyes met.
"Z, you should apologize to your dad," Mom said.
"Apologize or not; I still insist on the punishment," Daddy said coldly.
My eyes widen as I remember what he said last night. It is in my province that I will continue my studies.
"Zandro, you don't have to do this to your daughter. We both know the life in the province," Mommy pleaded.
"Yes, you're right, Ria. That's why she needs to learn... And you, Bettina. You'll stop that cheer dance! You should focus more on your business classes!" he turned to Bettina now.
"Dad, no!" Bettina almost begged.
"You can't do this to us, Dad. I-I'm sorry, okay," he cut me off.
"My final answer is a no! You should face the consequences of what you did! So you, Zariyah, start packing, because tomorrow I will send you to the province!"
And that's it! I know he's serious about what he's saying, and nothing can stop him from taking me to a province I've never been to! Of course, he is always the one to follow in this home!
"Mom, I don't want to go there. I can't!" I'll talk to Mommy, please.
Daddy left, and Mommy was left with us. I was crying a while ago because I couldn't imagine myself living in the province alone.
"For now, just obey your Daddy. You can't stand it, can't you?"
"Really, Mom?!" I asked, annoyed.
If you just endure the battle, Dad will be victorious.
"You'll go to the province like your dad said for a while. While you're there, I'll convince him every day just to get you back here from there," Mommy said one after the other.
I shook my head because, no matter what she said, I couldn't feel better. I love Daddy, but it's exhausting sometimes, especially when he does this to me.
I just forced myself to believe what my mother told me. I will hold on to that, because I know they won't let me live in that place for a long time either.
"I ordered Sister Gina. She's the caretaker of our house there. She's kind, and I trust her. She'll take care of you there," said Mommy.
It seems that I have no hope of getting out of Daddy's punishment because the next day our SUV is ready to send me to the province.
I had no energy that day. I just frowned after waking up, even though my two sisters cheered me up.
"Call us every day, okay? Don't worry. Maybe after one week, Dad will call you to get you back here," said Bettina.
I just nodded to them and tiredly got into the car. I haven't seen Dad since I woke up, and I don't plan to see him either. If Mommy hadn't insisted on sending me my car to that province, I would have really fallen. I'll just think I'm on vacation and out of the strict lifestyle.
I still don't know how to feel. When I think that no one is watching over me, I feel happy, but when I think that I am far from my sisters and friends, I can't help but feel sad. I'm not afraid to meet new people I'll meet, but I'm afraid because I might have a hard time living there.
I brought all my things, including all my gadgets. I will no longer wonder how it will be possible to immediately continue my studies in my province. I know my father well, and it is not impossible for him to do that immediately.
While I was on my way, I just looked at the road while listening to music on my iPad. At first, I was able to enjoy the road, but when I saw almost no cars on the road, I just got bored because it seemed like I was far away from the city.
I opened my social media just to scroll, and I received a lot of messages from my friends asking if I'm okay. I don't answer one of them, and for sure, later or tomorrow, they will know that I am in the province. Even from my siblings, I received many messages asking if I was really okay. I don't want them to worry anymore, so I just replied to make them both feel at ease.
"Ma'am, Zari. This is your car key," my bodyguard, who drove my car, said.
"Thank you!" I answered, then looked at the big house in front.
They helped me carry my suitcases, and Manang Gina greeted me right away.
"Your room is ready, Ma'am Zariya. I also prepared a snack because that's what Madam instructed me to do," she told me.
I smiled at her and nodded while looking around the whole house.
"Thanks, Manang Gina, but I'm going to rest first. Only the bodyguards will eat first, because they will be leaving later," I answered her.
She didn't force me, and she guided me to my room. The house is big, but our house in Manila is more than big. The house is made of wood, from the flooring to the top. I didn't know that we had a house in this province, but I know that Mom and Dad have many properties in different places.
The area is quiet, and there are no neighbors. It seems that my anxiety will be triggered here because I'm not used to being alone in one place, but I have to fight it.
I have to face the consequences of being a daughter of del Real!
