A Lifetime Connection

04

Ang araw na pinaghahandaan ni Greggy ay dumating na. His daughter will be meeting his new girlfriend. Kanina pa siya abala sa paghahanda kahit na mamayang alas-singko pa naman darating si Anne.

"Dad, nahihilo na ako sayo, kanina ka pa lakad nang lakad. It's still 1 you still have three hours." sabi ni Vida sa ama.

"Naghahanda lang,"

"Eh, you just ordered from a restaurant lang naman, darating din 'yun mamaya."

"I just want everything to turn out well, anak. No palpaks allowed," sabi ni Greggy at naupo sa harap ng anak.

"Chill out, Dad." sabi ni Vida at nagpaalam sa ama na pupunta sa kwarto para matulog saglit.

She's not excited neither thrilled. It's just like an ordinary day. Maybe because she isn't really looking forward for this day. Ilang beses na rin naman na may pinakilala sa kanya ang Daddy niya, but those relationships didn't last.

She's not really sure if this wouldn't last too, her Dad seems so serious about this.

She's happy for her Dad, truly. Nakikita niyang nagniningning ang nga mata ng ama sa tuwing binabanggit ang pangalan ni Anne. If Anne really makes her father happy, then who is she to be against it?

Kahit masakit sa kanya... Kahit hindi niya tanggap. Kahit umaasa pa rin siyang magbabalikan ang Mommy at Daddy niya... Lulunukin niya ang sakit, makita lang ang mga magulang niyang masaya.

It was always their happiness over hers. Always them over her.

Come to think of it, in her whole life, ang dami nang pinakilala ng ama niya sa kanya. Lou, Sean, Cha, Sel, and now, Anne. There were a lot of girls that she met, hindi naman nagtagal sa buhay ng Daddy niya. While Irene has never introduced a special someone to her. At wala din naman siyang nabalitaan na may nobyo ang ina.

'O baka naman hindi lang nagkwe-kwento sa kanya.

Agad na naligo at nagbihis si Vida nang gumising. She's wearing a black ribbed knit bodysuit top and a crossover-strap high rise linen white trousers with her Bottega Veneta pumps. She paired it with her hoop earrings and a twin of her mom's necklace. Tryna keep her presence around.

She saw her Dad looking so dashing when she came downstairs. Naka itim na polo ito at naka leather jeans. He looked so handsome with his clean haircut, at galing pa lang sa hagdan, amoy na amoy na ang panglalaki niyang pabango.

Mukhang pinaghandaan talaga.

"Wow! Pogi ah!" Vida complimented her father. Sinuklian siya nito ng matamis na ngiti. He looked so happy.

"Gwapo ba?"

"Naman! Pangit sana ako kung hindi ka gwapo, Dad." sabi niya at lumapit sa ama para ayusin ang kwelyo nito.

She felt her father's stares when she was fixing his collar. Pinagpag niya ang polo ng ama sa bandang balikat.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" nagtatakang tanong ni Vida sa ama.

Greggy smiled a little. "You look like your Mom so much."

Agad na napangiti si Vida. That would be the compliment she would never get tired of hearing. It's an honor for her.

"Uy! Iniisip si Mommy!" asar niya sa ama. Greggy tweaked his daughter's nose.

"Napagtanto ko lang habang tinitignan ang mukha mo, anak... And can you do me a favor?"

Natigil si Vida at napatango na lamang. "Can you stop teasing me about your Mom when Anne arrives? I don't want her to get uncomfortable, she's been really looking forward on meeting you." pakiusap ni Greggy.