A Lifetime Connection

05

Greggy was shocked seeing the door and the gate of his house being open when he arrived home the next morning. His eyes widened realizing that his daughter was still inside. Bigla siyang kinabahan kung ano ang maaaring nangyari kay Vida.

"Vida? Anak?" sigaw niya nang makapasok sa bahay. He immediately ran upstairs to see Vida's room but wala siya doon.

He pressed the button of the intercom that can be heard in the whole house. "Vida? Where are you? Honey? Vida?"

Ilang kwarto na ang tiningnan niya pero wala pa ring bakas ni Vida. He checked his phone and texted his daughter.

Greggy:
Anak, where are you?
Vida?
Mi Vida?
Why aren't you at your room?

Then, he checked his notification, only to see Irene's message. He knew at that very moment that she is raging mad at him. Napaupo siya sa kama ng anak at napahilamos sa kanyang palad. He knows whenever Irene is serious or she's just being sarcasting or joking, but now she's serious.

He tried calling her for a lot of times but it would always get rejected, pati na rin sa anak niya. He knows that he's at fault, pinabayaan ba naman ang anak na mag-isa sa bahay na walang kasama.

Greggy:
Moms, I'm sorry
I shouldn't have left Vida alone, I am so sorry
Can I come to your place? I'll explain
I'm so sorry
At least answer my call

They weren't in contact for weeks! Vida didn't spend her weekends at Greggy's place anymore, Irene didn't let her. At nagtatampo pa rin si Vida sa ama.

Greggy thinks that Irene maybe cooled down, he'll be going to her place after work. Pinalipas niya muna ang isang linggo dahil sigurado siyang pagmumurahin siya nito sa sobrang galit.

Greggy straightly went to Irene's place after work, the guards immediately let him in. Nakita niya si Irene na nakaupo sa couch habang nanonood ng palabas sa TV.

"Irene..." he called. Lumingon si Irene sa kanya at tiningnan siya ng masama. She's still mad.

Irene stood up and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Oh. Anong ginagawa mo dito? Didn't I tell you to not show your face to me ever again?"

Greggy sighed. "I just want to explain... Please?"

"Explain for what? Explanation for leaving your 16 year old daughter alone in your big wide house without no one accompanying her? Not even a single maid? Ang yaman-yaman mo tas wala kang kasambahay? Wow. Saan mo ba ginagamit 'yang pera mo?" malditang sabi ni Irene. Napayuko si Greggy at hindi nakasagot.

"If you think that Vida could handle herself alone just because she's sixteen then you're completely wrong. We got used of her being independent but we shouldn't take advantage of that. I know she's in sorrow, Greggy, kahit hindi 'yan nagsasabi. Alam ko. Kasi nanay niya ako," puno ng gigil na sabi ni Irene.

"I know you're mad but please-" Irene cut Greggy off.

"Of course, I'm mad! Sinong matinong ina ang matutuwa pag nalaman niyang iniwan mag-isa ang kaisa-isang babae niyang anak sa isang napakalaking bahay na walang kasama ng sariling ama ng anak niya?! You didn't even lock the gate?! Paano kung may mangyaring masama sa anak ko?! Can you compensate?! Huh?! Hindi mababayaran ng yaman mo ang anak ko, Greggy!" sigaw niya.

Even the maids were scared, nagsipasok ito sa loob ng quarters nila. Greggy stared at Irene's eyes that is full of anger.

"Matino pa ba 'yang isip mo?! Babae ang anak mo, Greggy!"

"Alam ko, okay? And she's inside the village, Irene! Walang masamang mangyayari sa kanya! Anak ko rin si Vida, hindi lang sayo! You're speaking like ikaw lang ang magulang ni Vida ah!" Greggy fought back.