A Lifetime Connection

16

Patuloy pa rin ang paghahanap ni Greggy kay Irene hanggang ngayon. Vida had started her senior high school year pero may naging pagtatalo pa sila bago ito nagsimula.

Vida didn't want to continue her studies, maraming in-offer si Greggy para lang ipagpatuloy ito ng dalaga. Greggy told her that she can go to boarding school or any schools abroad, but Vida seems so firm about it.

Not until, they had a fight. Vida did not enroll in ISM a week before the class has started. Greggy found out about it and was furious. He wants her to continue what she has started.

Nawalan na ng gana si Vida na ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral, dahil wala nga ang ina.

"Vida, you have to." sabi ni Greggy sa anak sa kalagitnaan ng pagtatalo.

"But I don't want to, Dad! Ayoko nga! Just let me be!" Vida exclaimed. Greggy was startled when Vida yelled at him.

"What about your dreams? Magpapatalo ka sa sitwasyon? Hindi mo itutuloy ang pag-aaral mo? Then, go! Do as you wish! But don't ever ask for my help. And when your Mom comes back, wag ako ang sisihin mo pag nagalit siya sayo, dahil desisyon mo 'yan!" Greggy spat. Vida was speechless, she glared at Greggy.

"Wag mo akong tinitignan ng ganyan! Kailangan kang pagsabihan kasi hindi ka nakikinig!" pinagalitan ni Greggy si Vida.

"I just want the best for you! I am providing the best education you could have, pero ikaw naman itong ayaw! Anong magagawa ko? Sarili mo akong ama pero hindi ka nakikinig sa'kin. Honestly, you're being such a brat, Vida. Napapansin ko na 'yang ugaling 'yan pero hindi lang kita napagsasabihan kasi alam kong magtatampo at magagalit ka!" pinipilit ni Greggy na kumalma.

Vida bit her lower lip. Greggy is just disciplining her acts, pero si Greggy rin ang nagmumukhang masama dahil ayaw makinig ng dalaga.

"If you don't want to do this for yourself or for me, then at least do this for your Mom. She'll go ballistic when she'll know that you stopped going to school. Napapagod rin akong pagalitan ka, Georgina."

She knows that her father is mad when he uses her second name. Vida wasn't able to utter anything. Greggy walked out and went to his room, leaving Vida alone in the living room. She bursted into tears.

The next day, pumunta agad siya sa ISM to enroll. She bought cake on her way home for peace offering to her father. Greggy ignored her before she went out, kahit isang sulyap hindi siya nito ginawaran.

Nakaupo lang si Greggy sa sofa sa living room nang dumating si Vida, he's watching news. Mabagal na naglakad si Vida papunta sa Daddy, afraid that he would lash out on her.

"Dad," mahinang tawag niya. Sinulyapan siya ni Greggy.

"Oh. Saan ka galing?" Greggy said plainly.

Napalunok si Vida sa sobrang lamig nang pagtrato ng Daddy niya sa kanya. "I went to ISM to enroll, I'll start school next week... And I bought this cake for you, I hope you like it..." malumanay na ani Vida.

Tumango si Greggy. "That's good. We'll buy what you need tomorrow... o baka gusto mong ikaw na lang..." he still sounded upset.

Mabilis na nilapag ni Vida ang cake sa mesa at umupo sa tabi ng ama. She shook her head. "No... I want you to come with me..." she bit her lower lip.

"Why? Didn't you want me to just let you be? Oh, hinahayaan ka na." malamig na sabi ni Greggy, nagpipigil ng ngiti. Vida looked regretful and she needs to learn her lesson.

Vida pouted and shook her head. "No... I'm sorry, Dad."

"For what? What are you sorry for?"

Vida sighed. "I'm sorry for not enrolling earlier than I should... I'm sorry for acting so highly that nagmumukhang kaya ko ng buhayin ang sarili ko... And I'm sorry for disobeying you.. kahit na alam ko naman na what you do is just for me."