Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE

M I L L E R

From a confused expression Dad looked down, his brows curved upward and eyes seemed in tears. Sa kabila nito ay hindi ako nagpatinag sa ipinakita ni Dad na ekspresyon sa akin.

Ngumiti ako para ipakita na hindi niya ako madadala sa mga paawa niya. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay natahimik si Dad. Mabilis din na nawala ang maluha-luha niyang mata. Sa isang iglap ay nagbago ang buong mood niya.

"If that's what you want. Whether you need anything you can call me anytime. Especially, if you need financial support. I know you don't have a job to support yourself these days."

He knows. Surely, he knows! Pero bakit wala siyang ginawa? Alam kong hindi malambing na tao si Dad. Simula pagkabata ay hindi na niya pinapakita na nag-aalala siya sa akin. Kagaya ng nabanggit ko, he showered me with material things instead of being with me emotionally. Sa palagay ko, if I come with him ay gagawin niya lang ulit ang ganoon na pakikipag-tungo niya sa akin.

I refused to believe this when I was younger, but I guess I have to admit that my father is unqualified to be a parent. Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit gusto pa niya akong kunin kung hindi rin naman siya babawi bilang ama sa paraan na dapat na bumawi ang isang ama.

I know, it's too early to say that kung hindi ko pa naman nasubukan na sumama sa kanya. But because of the attitude he is showing me today, hindi na mahirap na hulaan ang mangyayari.

In the middle of the silence, Dad cleared his throat then told me, "Excuse me. I need to answer this." He showed me his vibrating phone with an unregistered number flashed on the screen.

"Sure, Dad," tugon ko habang manipis na ngumiti.

Agad akong sumandal sa upuan nang makita ang likod ni Dad na papalayo na. Tumungo siya sa direksyon kung saan siya lumabas kanina. He left me in a spacious room with an empty table, all by myself.

I was thinking to tell him that I have to go when he comes back later, yet seconds later after his figure disappeared, I heard footsteps coming.

This must be the waiter serving our food. I was expecting what type of dish they serve here, but a person that is definitely not a staff in the restaurant came.

"Hi! Are you Miller De Leon?" the woman asked me with a soft voice while tucking her hair behind her ears.

She's wearing a formal dress. A suitable outfit for a fancy restaurant like this. A red body con with a deep cut on her chest. She's carrying a pearl white clutch bag with her. Her nails are elegantly clean and long, her hair wavy, and her make up natural. Compared to the types of women I met in the host club, she is rather simple and classy.

"Yes... Is there anything I can help you with?"

The moment I uttered those words, her eyes curved into crescent and her lips lifted up.

"Goodness! I'm glad you're here. I was lost for a minute. I went into a different room."

Uh. Hindi ba parang... parang nawawala rin siya ngayon? Because I have no idea who she is.

I forced a smile as I frankly asked her, "Aren't you also mistaken now?"

She smiled once again. "No. Absolutely not mistaken." Her smile looked stiff and her head moved from side by side as if she's really checking whether she got in the wrong room.

I was about to ask her if there is any way that I know her when Dad came back.

"Oh, you're here now, Amika. What took you so long to come?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. President. I forgot the place's name. I even went into the room next door." Yumuko ang babae kay Dad, tapos ay sunod na pumasok ang isang staff na may dalang upuan.

Napatingin ako sa ama ko na ngiting-ngiti sa babae. As if he is trying to please her.

"Sino siya?" I asked him in a simple and less interrogative manner.

"She's Amika Chu."

"Okay. Why is she here?" I gasped for a sec when I kind of guessed why. "Ah. Don't tell me she's your wom—"

"Oh, no. You got it wrong, Miller. Mr. President, also known as, President De Leon, is my father's friend."

Then why does she have to be here?

Tumango-tango si Dad. "Right. Right. Amika's father is a close friend."

I was going to wonder more, then... another thought came in my mind.

"Dad..." I alarmed him.

Kung hindi niya babae ang Amika na 'to, then ano po ang ginagawa niya rito?

"You don't have to do anything. Just trying to get along with each other, huh." He smiled with all his face. His eyes and lips are carved in crescent. Extremely crafty.

Bakit hindi ko ito nahulaan?

Of course, Dad would want to have me back for this. He is using me for his own benefit.

"Uhm, is it fine?" the girl wondered in a polite manner. Mukhang naramdaman niya ang mabigat na hangin sa loob ng silid.

Nandito na siya. Alangan naman na tumanggi ako. I was about to leave but she just came. Isa pa wala rin akong balak na maging bastos at iwan siya rito para mapahiya. May pakiramdam ako na si Dad ang may pakana nito kaya hindi ko ibubunton sa babaeng ito ang galit ko kay Dad.

A few moments later, a waiter entered the room pushing a food trolley cart. Sa sandaling nakita ito ni Dad ay tumayo siya ng walang pag-aalinlangan.

"I would like to apologize, children. I really want to join your meal yet; I suddenly received an emergency." Nagbago ang tono ng boses ni Dad. It sounded friendlier and accommodating than when we were talking.

"Ah. It's fine, Mr. President. Uh-Uhm," Amika hesitantly looked over at me.

I sighed. "Sure. Go on." I gave Dad a cold shoulder. A scheming old man like him does not deserve my warmth.

He sure is doing well. Wala na akong dapat na ipag-alala pa. In fact he is doing very well na bumabalik na siya sa pagiging tuso niya. Hindi na siya nahiya at nakuha pa rin niya akong lokohin ngayon. He must be thinking na madadala niya ako as long as he bring a woman in my table.

He really did go pagkatapos niyang magpaalam. Naiwan kami ni Amika sa loob ng VIP room.

Two people who just barely know each other are sitting at a table. Now I know why there's a flower on the table and the scenery has to be by the window with the city lights as the scenery.

It's a set-up. A set-up for a blind date.