Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

M I L L E R

My father and I were never close with each other. Palagi siyang abala sa pagpapalago niya ng negosyo niya. Para ngang si Mom na lang ang nagpapalaki sa akin. She was a hands-on mother. Although she had a weak body, hindi siya nagpatinag at patuloy lang akong sinusuportahan. She was always present pagdating sa mga school events para punan ang butas ng espasyong gawa ni Dad.

Akala niya siguro ay sapat na ang mga mamahalin niyang regalo. At a young age, I already have everything I wanted. I felt so invincible at eight. And I thought I was perfect when I was fifteen. But I also had my own share of challenges. I had my heartbreak at seventeen, maybe it was the result of my arrogance.

May mga nakarelasyon ako noon, pero hindi ako naging seryoso. Only that was the only time I truly wanted a person in my life. Yet, I was arrogant and self-centered, and she was a simple girl. In fact, she was in a middle class family. Smart and beautiful. She was someone who didn't need anyone to do what she wanted. Headstrong and independent. Kaya naman hindi ko siya nakuha sa pera ko then eventually lost her.

My days as a young master of a rich household lasted for at least two years after that heartbreak. I just entered college. I was one of the popular ones. Matagal na akong hindi mahilig makipag-salamuha sa iba, sadyang may mga lumalapit lang talaga sa akin para kaibiganin ako dahil sa pera. Kahit hindi ako magsalita ay balot na balot ang buong katawan ko ng mamahaling bagay.

My presence screamed gold, packed and designed by high end brands. Mula damit hanggang sa pinaka unnoticeable na suot kong bagay kagaya ng mga panyo ko. Everything was of expensive brand names. I even had my first car in my first year in college. Regalo ito ni Dad sa akin.

Wala namang problema sa akin kung dikit sila nang dikit. As long as they don't over step any abuse of me, ayos lang.

Masaya ako. Syempre, mas malaya na ako noong college. I can do everything because I was eighteen, rich, and learned a few lessons in life. I feel like a virtues person for having my eyes open and lost my arrogance. Nagsisimula na nga akong magtanong kina Mom and Dad about sa negosyo namin. Nagsisimula na akong maging interesado at maging responsable.

However, just when I was becoming a little bit better of a person, father confessed that he messed up. He was too greedy and invested a big amount of our business' money into a project. Marami nga raw kasi sila. Kaso, it ended up to be a scam. Malaki ang inilugi ng kumpanya pero hindi ito agaran na bumagsak.

"The company isn't that small. We still have profits from our other investments. Mababawi rin natin ang nalugi sa atin." Ito ang naalala kong sabi ni Dad kay Mom when we were having our dinner in a long dinner table.

We still had our maids back then. Nihindi ko pa alam kung paano magbanat ng buto noon, at iilang putahe pa lang ang alam kong lutuin.

Naging kampante ako dahil sa sinabi ni Dad. Ngunit, isang araw umuwi ako lulan ng mamahalin kong sasakyan at nadatnan na lang si Mom sa pinto ng bahay. Umiiyak siya habang hinahatid si Dad palabas.

Wala naman talaga dapat kakaiba sa sitwasyon na iyon. Wala dapat. Then, I noticed that the car Dad was using was not ours, there were suspicious guys in black assisting him, and he was not as confident as he used to be.

"What's happening?" tanong ko kay Mom saka ko hinimas ang likod niya.

Malinaw na malinaw sa ala-ala ko na hindi humihikbi si Mom, she stopped as soon as she saw my car coming. Pero hindi niya naitago ang malungkot niyang boses nang sumagot siya sa akin.

"N-Nothing... They are friends at your dad's work."

"And where are they taking Dad? Why are you crying?"