A Love To Remember

Chapter 13: Distance

Chiara

Two months had passed and I tell you, marami ang mga nangyari sa loob ng dalawang buwan na 'yon.

Well unfortunately, hindi ko pa rin nakakausap si Tita Analaine. I don't have any idea kung saang lupalop ng mundo siya nababahagi ngayon.

On the other hand, fortunately, Dad and I became a lot closer than we were before. Can you believe it? Ang buong akala ko, magkakaayos lang kami ni Daddy kapag end of the world na— and the chance na magkaayos kami is around 3%, knowing me na mataas ang pride and him na walang pake sa 'kin.

Kahit papaano naman, nag-improve  ang pakikitungo namin sa isa't isa ngayon. I chose not to talk about me being his adopted child for now and Dad is acting like he's the best Dad in the world, which is, gustong-gusto ko naman.

Lumaki akong kulang sa attensyon mula kay Daddy and now that I have it, I'm way more ecstatic.

"Stop smiling, Dad. You actually look like a complete fool, tbh." I commented habang nakatitig kay Daddy na kanina pa nakangiti, hindi ba sumasakit ang panga niya?

He arched an eyebrow at me as he took a sip at his coffee, "What's tbh?" he asked curiously.

Oh c'mon, he's Aga Muhlach. Hindi pala uso sa kanya ang social media and all those popular abbreviations!

"It means to be honest." sagot ko, "'Yan kasi, you should start to explore social media more often, outdated ka na tuloy!" dagdag ko pa.

Umiling lang siya while smiling, exposing his dimples.

"Well, you should stop exploring social media more often, na-aapektuhan na ang grades mo Chia, and it's not good." wika niya na ikinanguso ko, card day pala namin kahapon.

Ano naman kaya ang sinabi ng chismosa kong adviser kay Daddy? Sa pagkakaalam ko, maayos-ayos naman ang grades ko ah!

"Well, sadyang mahirap lang po ang lessons namin, Dad." 'yon na lang ang naisambit ko.

"Really? Baka nag bo-boyfriend ka na, subukan mo lang at puputulan ko ng ari ang lalaking 'yon." he joked at umakto naman akong nasusuka, boyfriend? Ew. Mas gugustuhin ko pang tumanda ng dalaga kesa pumasok sa mga relationships na 'yan!

You see, hopeless romantic ako. I hate boys, including Eros, they all suck! At saka, it's not like pangit ako, hello, I'm Chiara Isabel Muhlach!

I have a lot of suitors pero ni isa sa kanila, 'di ko pinansin. I actually have a box full of chocolates, flowers and teddy bears.

"Don't worry, wala 'yan sa dictionary ko Dad." I said, giving him the assurance he needed.

Talking about my social life, si Daddy nga matanong kung kumusta ang buhay niya. He's always busy at hindi pa tapos ang taping ng gaganaping reunion movie nila.

"Eh ikaw Dad, how's life?" I asked, arching an eyebrow. He chuckled as he crossed his arms.

"You look like Lea when you ask me that." he uttered na ikinakunot ng noo ko. Paano napasok si Tita Lea sa usapan?

"What do you mean?" ulit ko rito.

"Wala.."

I just shrugged it off.

"Ba't palagi kang masaya? Is there a special someone na ba?" I asked again.

Ilang beses kong tinanong ang sarili ko kung matatanggap ko ba na if ever, what if magkakaroon ng bagong girlfriend si Daddy? Papayag ba ako?

Well, I won't. I'm still hoping and forever wishing na babalik pa si Mommy, kahit na sinabi niya na hindi niya ako tunay na anak, kahit papaano, pinalaki niya akong puno ng pagmamahal at pag-aaruga mula sa isang Ina.

"Eh kung meron na nga, payag ka ba?" instead of answering me, ako pa ang tinanong niya and my mood automatically changed  when he asked me that.

Hindi ako manhid, I know that there is someone special in Dad's life. Palagi siyang umuuwi na may ngiti sa labi and it's really unusual.

"Never mind." I said as I stood up upang umakyat na sa kwarto ko, I'm acting like a brat again.

Without waiting for Dad to say a word, umalis na ako at dumiretso na nga sa taas.

Aga

Napailing na lang ako while looking at Chiara, who's now making her way upstairs. She didn't answer my question and it means one thing, she doesn't want to talk about it even tho she's the one who started the topic.

After drinking my cup of coffee, tumayo na rin ako as I made my way outside our house. It's Sunday at wala kaming taping tuwing linggo, I could've asked Chiara na lumabas kami ngayon but knowing my daughter, she'd rather stay here.

"Kuya!" it's Kate, running towards my direction.

"May kailangan ka?" I asked her, hindi naman siya pumupunta dito unless may kailangan siya or what.

Pumaymewang siya as she raised an eyebrow at me, "I saw you last night with Lea. Saan kayo galing?" she asked frankly na ikinanlaki ng mga mata ko.

Nakita niya kami? Well technically yes, I was with Lea last night. Hinatid ko siya pauwi after our tapings then nag-aya siya na kumain kami ng dinner sa isang restaurant malapit sa condominium na tinutuluyan niya.

"Paano mo kami nakita?" tanong ko and that's a pretty stupid question, malamang may mga mata siya kaya niya kami nakita.

"I visited a friend of mine who's actually living next to Lea's unit." she said at parang nandidiri pa siya while mentioning Lea's name.

Ewan ko ba dito, they used to be friends— cloese friends actually pero parang bula ring naglaho ang pagkakaibigan nila and I don't even know why.

"Ah.." 'yan na lang ang naisabi ko as silence eloped for a minute or so.

"Kuya?"

"Hmmm?"

"I know there's something between you and Lea back then pero Kuya, please, ikaw na mismo ang lumayo sa kanya bago ka pa magkasala. Clara's not here physically but she's still your wife and Chiara, baka ano pang magawa ng batang 'yon sa sarili niya kapag nalaman niyang pinalitan mo ang Mommy niya so please, stay away from Lea." habilin niya and it seriously slapped the truth out of me.

She's asking me to stay away from Lea and it feels like a deja vu dahil 'yan din ang sinabi niya sa 'kin, 16 years ago.

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