Ink in Our Fate

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Secrets

I grew in a far province of Cagayan Valley. My father married my mother when I was one year old. My mommy is a nurse in a hospital where my grandfather, Dr. Louis Suarez, is working. Whereas, my father is a prominent journalist. He is good in writing news about sports, feature, editorial and even, he was once a radio broadcaster in a huge entertainment company.

My father got that passion to my grandmother, Mitchell Nazarenko, a Ukrainian journalist. May kapatid si Dad. Si Tito Konrad, na isa namang mechanical engineer. He married an Australian model, si Tita Miranda. May tatlo silang anak na babae. Si Ate Kelsea na isang instructor sa Van Foster University, si Darcy na kasing edad ko lang, at si Cali na magkasing edad naman kay Mark, kapatid ko.

Sa lahat ng apo ni Lolo Louis, ako ang inaasahan niyang susunod sa pagiging doktor niya. Both my cousins and brother had a different career paths. I wasn't expecting this. Iba ang gusto kong mangyari sa buhay ko. I want to follow my father's footsteps. Ang maging tanyag na manunulat ang matagal ko ng pinapangarap. Kaso... dahil sa nangyari sa aking ama, hindi ko na ito maabot pa.

It was a chilly night. Malamig ang hatid na hangin ng gabi. Malakas ang ulan sa labas. Mistulang galit ang langit dahil sa nakakatakot na kidlat at kulog. I was on my room. I can't sleep.

Agad akong napatingin sa pinto nang bumukas ito. It was my father. He slowly went after me, waking me up. Umupo ako sa kama at nagtatakang napatingin sa kanya. I was six year old that time. I have no idea what was happening.

Napatingin sa akin si Dad, may pag - aalala sa kanyang mga kastyanong mata. "Don't make any noise, Maeve."

Nalunod ang mahinang boses ni Dad dahil sa sunod - sunod na pagkabasag ng mga bagay. The noise creates a creepy and suprising sound. Kamuntikan pa akong mapatili, kung hindi lang tinakpan ni Dad ang bibig ko.

"What was happening, daddy?" I asked.

Isang yabag ang narinig kong papalapit sa kwarto ko. A loud knock made me jump. I can feel my heart starts to race like a wild percussion drum. Bumaling ako sa may pinto. There were dark shadows. Muli akong napatingin kay Dad.

"Lumabas ka na riyan, Michael! H'wag munang ipaghintay si Kamatayan sa pagsundo sa'yo!" A scary voice from the outside of my room.

Hindi ko mapigilang makaramdam ng takot kahit pa wala akong ideya sa nangyayari. My hands and lips were trembling. My eyes starts to swell, a sign of crying.

Mahigpit akong niyakap ni Dad. Isang yakap na tila nagpapawala sa aking takot. My father kisses my forehead as his embrace went tight. He whispered something.

"Can you do me a favor, Maeve?"

Later on, I found myself inside the cabinet. Marami ang mga damit kong nakasampay doon. I've seen some of my stuff toys. Even the pair of shoes were perfectly organized. Muli akong niyakap ni Dad.

I stared at him, confused. "What I am doing here, Daddy?"

"We're playing hide and seek, baby." Kumislap ang mata ni Dad dahil sa nakaambang mga luha. "You will hide here. Daddy will make sure those mean people won't find you 'kay. You stay here."

Naguguluhan ako sa mga sinasabi ni Dad. I was somehow excited and skeptical. Matagal ko nang gustong maglaro kasama si Dad. Si Aiden lang kasi ang tanging nakakalaro ko.

I smiled widely.

"You will be back right, daddy?"

Marahang tumango si Dad. He kisses my forehead again.