Sapphira (Grandeza Series #2)

Chapter 22

Daddy went out, I am still crying and I can barely breathe which is why I asked daddy to buy me chocolates.

Everytime I cry daddy would give me chocolates and I didn't know that obsession of mine would help me. Nakita kong naiwan ni daddy ang phone niya.

I quickly texted the person I know who'll help me.

Call me

I instantly deleted the text message. I made sure na walang bahid ng message na yon.

"Hello dad"

"Zipporah" I muttered. My voice are still shaky at halatang umiyak ako.

"Ate?"

"Yes. Please Zipporah listen to me. Daddy is planning to take me away. Gusto niyang tumira ako sa ibang bansa so I wouldn't be with Thaddeus. Nasa gasoline station kami ngayon sa Pampanga. Malapit sa clark airport" I hurriedly said.

"Wait wait--you're speaking too fast"

"Zipporah this is important! Tell Thaddeus to pick me up in the gasoline station near the airport in Pampanga. I'll escape daddy, I don't want to live in America. Sabihin mo sakanyang aalis kami, that's if he wants to runaway with me"

"Woah! You're eloping?"

"I don't have a choice. Daddy is now bringing me to the airport. He's not listening to me. Gusto niya akong ilayo kay Thaddeus at Zachariah. Wala akong magawa Zipporah. I can't let him do this. I'm so sorry"

"Shh don't apologize. Alam ko ng hahantong sa ganito. He's not that easy to get kaya alam kong mangyayari to"

"Please do it for me. Hindi na kita matatawagan. I'll just wait. I'm so sorry if ate chose this"

"It's okay ate. It's okay. Choose your happiness, I'm here to support you. I love you so much" lalo akong naiyak ng marinig ang mga salitang iyon.

Zipporah is not that expressive about her feelings unlike me. Mas pinipili niya ang cold treatment kaysa sa lambing. And now hearing those words assure me that I am doing the right thing.

"I love you so much. Tell Chastity and mommy that I love them so much" narinig ko ang pagsinghot niya sa kabilang linya.

"I'll inform Thaddeus"

"Thank you. Malapit na si daddy, I'll drop the call. I love you" hindi ko na inantay na sumagot si Zipporah at pinatay na ang phone. I deleted the call log and make sure na nilagay iyon sa pinagkuhanan ko.

Pagpasok ni daddy ay nakatalikod ako sakanya.

"Breathe my love, here's your chocolates" hindi ko siya pinansin. I just looked away the window. I need to do this, I kept on telling myself.

I know this would hurt daddy but it's also hurting me. How can he decide for me? Why would he push me away when I don't even want it.

"I need to go to the comfort room dad" I tried to remain calm and now show him any of my emotions so this could work.

"Alright my love. Please stop crying" hindi ko siya pinansin at lumabas na. He also left the car kaya medyo nataranta na ako.

"I have my period, can you buy me pads?" malambing kong sabi. Nanlaki naman ang mata ni daddy at natatarantang tumango.

"Period! Good good. Wait my love ah. Punta ka na sa cr" nang makita ko na siya sa loob ng convenience store ay bumalik ako sa kotse. I got his wallet. I took all of his cash. Makapal kapal din to. I also got my bag.

I fixed myself. Kailangan maayos pa din ang itsura ko para paniwalaan ako.

Lumapit ako sa parang office ng gasoline station. I knocked and a woman opened the door.

"Yes ma'am"

"Can you help me? I'll pay you don't worry. I'll pay ten thousand basta sumakay ka sa sasakyan. Magdrive ka lang hanggang sa mahabol ka ng isang lalaki. Wag mo masyadong bilisan, hayaan mo lang siyang humabol. You understand?"

"Po?"

"That's my father" pinakita ko ang ID ni daddy na kinuha ko sa wallet niya.

"Eto naman ako. That's my ID" binigay ko sakanya ang ID ko.

"Prank kasi to para sa vlog namin. Kunwari inaway ko siya tapos aalis ako, walk out ganun tapos hahabulin niya ako pagkakita niya ibang tao pala tapos lalabas na ako para sabihing it's a prank"

"Nagvlovlog kayo mam" excited na tanong ni ate.

I'm very very sorry for lying but I needed too. Kailangan kong makaalis.

"Oo pero wag ka maingay. Prank nga eh! Baka mahalata. Basta gawin mo yon ah. Eto ten thousand sayo na yan. Pati ID nung daddy ko at ID ko ibigay mo na lang sakanya ha" tumango tango naman ang babae. Hinayaan ko siyang mag makeup dahil gusto daw niya maganda siya.

"Basta ibalik mo yung sasakayan sakanya pagkasabi mo na it's a prank. Wag mo nakawin ate, nasa akin ID mo at may video kami"

I still have to make sure that daddy can come home.

"Oo naman mam noh. Mag trending pa ako" I tried to smile para mapaniwala ko pa siya.

I'm very very sorry ate but I have to fool you.

Nagtago na ako sa office niya just like what we planned. Paglabas ni daddy sa convenience store ay sabay na pagtakbo ng babae. She's now wearing what I'm wearing. Nagpalit kami ng damit para mas maniwala si daddy. I heard the engine roar.

Kitang kita ko ang paghabol ni daddy. He's very athletic kaya kinaya but I know in his old age, mahihirapan siya. I cried hard seeing the scene. I don't want to do this to daddy but I have no other choice.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras ang lumipas. I can't still see Thaddeus car or Daddy's car. Patuloy lang ako sa paggawa ng trabaho ng babae para hindi mahalata ng ibang empleyado. Madali lang naman sumukli at gumawa ng resibo. I'm used to this dahil sa cafe at flower shops ni mommy.

I quickly hid when I saw my daddy's car. He stopped in front of the gasoline station. He talk to a gasoline boy, I think he's describing me. The way he moves his hands makes me believe so.

He was accompanied by a gasoline boy, I think they're going to the comfort room. I covered my mouth to suppress my sobs. Seeing daddy like this makes me sad.

Why did we even got to this point daddy?

I cried more when I saw him calling other workers so they could open the bathroom. I saw the woman who I changed clothes with.

"Mam galit daw po si ser. Hindi daw--" I was about to answer her when I saw Thaddeus' car.

He came!

"I'm so sorry" that's all I've said, I'm wearing different clothes and only got my bag on yet I ran towards Thaddeus.

I knocked on his car impetuously. He unlocked the car and without looking back I entered it.

"Hurry!" I cried in frustration, disappointment and pain.

I covered my face with my hands so I wouldn't see daddy the last time.