Take Me Down, Professor (El Profesor #1)

Chapter 26

"Then, why not support her financial needs?"

Nagulat ako sa galit na tono ng boses ni dad. He stood up, removed his table napkin from his lap, and walked out. Ni hindi man lang siya tumingin sa akin.

Ganoon din ang ginawa ni mom at Joth. Umalis sila nang bigla. Mabuti pa si Roxsielle na hindi ko kapamilya ay nagpaalam sa akin nang maayos. Nagpasalamat pa siya.

Doon lang nag-sink in sa akin ang sinabi ni dad. Ibig sabihin ba niya ay hindi niya na ako bibigyan ng allowance? Ganoon din ba si mom? After I tried my best to get in here even if I didn't want to?

Napayuko ako. They are really pushing me to the limit. How can they talk like that as if I am not a member of this family? Hindi ba nila alam na ako ang pinaka nag-suffer nang maghiwalay silang dalawa? Ako ang naging magulang kay Joth. Ako ang tumayong ina, ama at kapatid, pero kahit siya'y hindi nagkaroon ng utang na loob sa akin. Nakakainis dahil hindi ako makalaban kahit na alam ko sa sarili kong lumalaban ako.

And now they are telling me to let my professor support my financial needs? Anong klase sila para iasa sa iba ang obligasyon nila? Hindi ba talaga nila ako tinuturing na pamilya? Kahit man lang bilang tao ay hindi nila ako nirespeto. They all talk shit, about me in front of my salad, and I'm losing my appetite even though I know this might be my last expensive meal in my life.

"Miss Alvandra..." Naramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa kamay kong kanina pa pala nakakuyom sa galit.

Nilingon ko siya ngunit pagkakita ko palang sa kaniya ay kusang tumulo na ang luha ko. Mabilis ko iyong pinunasan. "Sorry, you witnessed this."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Miss Alvandra. Shit happens every time, and most of the time it happens when you're with your family."

He caressed my hand, trying to comfort me and make me calm, but as long as I get to remember what just happened a while ago, I can't help but feel really mad. Abot langit ang galit ko sa kanilang lahat.

"I thought I would be happy seeing them complete, but I guess a complete family is not for me," saad ko. "Buo sila when throwing rocks at me, Ismael. They're joining forces. Pero kapag kailangan ko sila, isa-isa silang nawawala unlike kapag sila ang may kailangan sa akin. I don't know what I have done to them that makes them hate me so much. To push them humiliate me in front of you. They even tried to disgrace you. My family doesn't deserve to be called a family," I ranted. Nanginginig ang mga labi kong parang batang nagsusumbong sa kaniya.

Ismael touched my cheek and moved his hand to my shoulder before he caressed it with his thumb. He's not talking but just listening and watching me while taking my time to calm down and breathe fine.

Kung hindi pa siguro dumating ang service attendant to ask if we're finished, ay hindi ako hihinto sa pag-iyak. Why do I always choose to cry in public? This is so not me. Bakit ba parang hindi gumagana ang utak ko kapag kasama ko si Ismael? Bakit umiiyak ako palagi kapag narito siya as if my emotions are all set up front, na konting sagi ay lalabas.

"Your bill, sir."

Nawala ang pagngawa ko nang marinig iyon. The hell? Hindi ba consumable ang reservation ni dad? This is fucking embarrassing.

"Do you accept cards?" tanong ni Ismael. "Yes, sir."

"No, no, no. What are you doing?" pagpipigil ko sa pagkuha ni Ismael sa wallet niya from his coat. "You are not obliged to do this. My father should pay for this. He's the one who made this reservation."

"I apologized, Madam, but Mr. Alvandra had no deposit when he made the reservation, and he also left." Bumaling ang tingin ko sa service attendant. Fuck. What kind of father is he? Iwanan kami ng kasama ko para pagbayarin? At talagang pinili pa nila sa ganito kasosyal na restaurant? Did they plan for this?