"Hey, love. I missed you so much!" He hugged her tight as soon as he saw her walk out of the airport. He hugged her tighter that she was literally lifted off from the ground. It's been a year since he last saw her.
"I missed you too." Samsam hugged him back.
He took her yellow luggage and placed it on the trunk. He hurried to the passenger side to open the car door for her. She thanked him as she put her seat belt on.
"You're wearing that white rugged shirt again?" He asked as soon as he settled on the driver's seat. "Ang nipis na nyan."
"It's comfortable." Samsam answered with a sunny smile.
"Fine." He sighed. "Sam..." He took one hand from the steering wheel so he can caress her cheek.
"Yes?" She turned to him.
"I really, really missed you. Terribly missed you. Do you know how much I have to control myself everyday para lang hindi kita sundan sa Australia?"
Samsam took his hand from her cheek. She held it tightly.
"I missed you, too, Daddy ko." She smiled at him. "Sobra-sobra."
"That's good to hear."
"By the way, I thought mommy's coming with you? Bakit wala sya? Are we going to meet her somewhere for late lunch?" She took out her phone to check if her mom or sisters texted her.
"No. Tayo lang munang dalawa." Yago answered her calmly.
"Daddy and Samsam day?" Excitement filled her voice. It reminded her of her childhood years.
Samsam and Yago have a special bond between them. Hindi naman maipagkakaila na daddy's girl si Samsam. At hindi rin naman maitatanggi na paborito sya ng daddy nya. Noon pa man, lumalabas na ang mag-ama na sila lang dalawa. Usually, sa beach sya dinadala ng daddy nya. Doon sa beach house nila sa La Union kung saan may glass garden na itinayo ito. Alam ni Samsam ang tungkol sa first love ng daddy nya, but not the whole truth about them. She only found out about it nang nag-usap sila nito noong magpasundo sya isang gabi matapos nyang matauhan sa pagrerebelde nya.
True to his word, Yago picked up Samsam from a cafe outside the city. Tinawagan sya ni Samsam para magpasundo. He's been worrying about his daughter for months already. Ang laki ng pinagbago nito mula nang mahuli nya na may kasayaw itong lalaki sa paintball field. He almost shot the boy. Noon na lang sya ulit kasi nakaramdam ng ganoong kagustuhan na pumatay ng tao. Kung hindi lang siguro ito mabilis nakatakbo, malamang nakapatay na naman sya. Matindi ang naging away nila ni Samsam pag uwi. Noon lang din nya napagalitan ito ng sobra. At noon lang din sya sinagot-sagot ng anak.
Akala nya isang tampuhan iyon na madali lang maayos. Sya ang hero ni Samsam. Idol. Kaya nakakasiguro sya na magkakabati din sila. But what he didn't know was that it was only the beginning of their year long rift. Samsam stopped talking to him. Kinakausap lamang sya nito kapag kinakailangan. Hindi na din ito sumasama sa kanya sa pag punta sa beach. That broke his heart. And just when he thought that their situation couldn't get any worse, kinausap sya nito. She approached him while he was cleaning his guns sa indoor shooting range ng bahay nila.
Akala ni Yago ay magbabati na silang mag ama. Magpapa-party na sana sya. Kaya lang, kinausap lamang sya ni Samsam para sabihin na natanggap ito sa isang university sa Australia at may scholarship grant na ino-offer. Gusto nyang matuwa. Gusto nya ipagmalaki ang achievement ng pinakamamahal nyang prinsesa. Gusto nya tawagan ang mga kumpare nya at lahat ng kakilala pati mga kaaway nya para ipamuka sa kanila kung gaano kagaling ang anak nya. Gagawin na sana nya kung hindi lang sya pinangunahan ng takot at pag-alala. Malalayo sa kanya ang anak, and he can't deal with that. So, with a heavy heart, he told her 'NO'.
