Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

M I L L E R

I cut ties with my dad. Well not the severe type of cutting ties. Ayaw niya pa rin kasi akong bitawan. Ang ironic lang dahil siya itong unang nagpabaya at iniwan ang pamilya niya.

Mukha kasing may pakinabang pa siya sa akin. Mabuti na lang at kinausap siya ni Amika. She told him that no matter what he is planning it will be futile.

"Even if Miller agrees, I still won't cooperate. Besides, I've told Daddy about my boyfriend."

"How's it?"

"He was mad of course, especially when I confessed about my pregnancy."

Sa sandaling ito ay nagbago na ang malamig na ekspresyon ng mukha ni Dad. His calm brows wrinkled and his eyes widened. Naiintindihan n ani Dad na hindi na niya magagawa ang nauna niyang plano.

"I thought you were an obedient child," sabi ni Dad kay Amika.

"I was an obedient child, Mr. President. But I've grown up. No longer a child. I can decide on my own now... and that also goes the same with your son."

Pagkatapos ng rebelasyon ni Amika ay kalamado na silang nag-usap ni Dad. They discussed how to maintain good business between her father kahit na hindi man sila maging tunay na pamilya. In the end, Amika's father arrived to reprimand his daughter. He bashed her. He called her names as if being in love with the man he did not choose for her is a seen. Dad and I was there, watching their quarrel. Hindi rin kasi nanahimik si Amika.

Lahat sinabi niya sa ama niya. How much she endured being used by him. Pakiramdam niya raw ay binubugaw siya ng sarili niyang ama. Her arguments are personal and has deep origin. She was crying while spouting all the feelings and thoughts she had for father for many years. Hindi rin nagtagal ay may dumating na lalaki na nagpakilala na nobyo ni Amika.

To be honest, Amika's boyfriend is a decent guy. He seems kind and sincere. Mukhang nagmula rin siya sa mayamang pamilya. Just how important is business for Amika's father to even exploit his own daughter's freedom to choose?

In the end ay umalis si Amika at ang boyfriend niya. Habang ako naman ay naiwan kasama ang dalawang matanda. The white old man is a stranger to me, while the other one is my father who has estranged me for many years.

"Where are you going?" tanong sa akin ni Dad nung napagpasyahan ko na umalis na rin.

Ano pa ba kasi ang gagawin ko sa VIP room ng isang bar?

"I'm going home."

"Home? Do you really have a home?"

Nang marinig ko ang tanong na ito ay biglang dumaan sa isipan ko si Axel.

With a smile, I confidently answered, "I do, Dad. I found my new home."

"What? But you don't have the money to buy a new home, wait..." tumigil siya sa pagsasalita at ngumisi, "don't tell me you're living in a run-down house in a squatter's area? Is that why I can't find you? Did you really manage living in that kind of place?"

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng init ng ulo sa narinig ko. Hindi man ako tumira sa squatters' area but I am basically at the same shoe. Naghirap din ako. At ironically, the very man insulting me for living poorly was the reason why I had to experience such hardship.

"Akala ko nagbago ka na, Dad. Akala ko mababago ka ng pagbagsak mo. Pero eto ka pa rin, mas lumaki pa ata ang ulo mo."

"Lumaki ang ulo? How dare you talk to your father like that?"

"You are just my father by name, Dad. You never really acted as one... I am very disappointed. I don't want to be involved with you anymore."

"What!? How dare you disown me! You are just my son. You can't even have a decent home! You were living in an old apartment near the red light district, weren't you? You are poor! You don't have money!"