Tied to a Cervantes

Chapter 10

Abrianna

With my chin held high, I stepped inside the place I ran away from. A familiar scenery immediately greets me: the glimmering staircase infront, a sofa set on the side and a large family portrait hanged on the wall.

Damn. Who would have thought that after nearly three years of running I would truly return back? But why do I even wonder. I am in a family where power highly damn matters. Hindi na dapat ako magtaka pa.

I am about to walk upstairs where I think father is when a maid appears.

"Welcome home po,  Ma'am Abrianna"  Napatingin tuloy ako sa family portrait nang banggitin niya ang pangalan ko at agad napa-ikot ng  mata. That explains why she knows me. Tsk. And welcome home? This isn't home. Never is and never was.

I glance back at her. "Where is father?" I don't intend to stay here long and go around the circles so the earlier I get to see that old man the earlier I will leave this damn hell. 

"Nasa garden po si sir, Ma'am Abrianna. Tara po at samahan ko po kayo"

I immediately raise my hand to stop her. "No need. I can manage" it's not like I don't know my way around. I grew up here for pete's sake kaya alam ko kung saan ako pupunta. Besides, I don't want someone sticking her nose to some people's business.

"Sige po. Masusunod po ma'am" and she bows a little to pay respect. I just left her and proceed at the garden. Wala naman kasi akong kailangang sabihin pa. The heck if I will thank her.

The moment I set foot at the garden I immediately spot father comfortably sitting on the steel chair while reading a newspaper. Napataas tuloy ako ng kilay.  How can this old man chill so damn comfortably like he didn't just ruin someone's years?

"So this is how my father spends his free time" I sarcastically remark and slowly walk towards him. But he didn't even glance at me. He just flipped the newspaper he is reading like my presence didn't bother him at all. Tsk

Well, it's not something new to me though. Ganyan naman talaga siya. He will not speak unless he's done with what he is doing or unless you make yourself worthy of his time. But either of the two, he will notice you only if he wants to. How damn egoistic. Tsaka alam ko namang alam niya na darating ako. He has his ways for sure.

"You finally found your way home. I'm impressed" he says while still reading the newspaper. Inirapan ko tuloy siya. Seriously? Home? He is fooling himself. No one is home.

Hindi ako nagsalita at umupo na lang sa harap niya. I remove my shades and hang it on my bag which I placed on top of the table. Pinagmasdan ko siya hanggang sa dahan-dahan niyang ibinaba ang binabasa niyang newspaper. 

And just like that, I finally come face to face and eye to eye with him.

"It's been a long time, father" I smirk. Nearly three years huh? Nagsukatan kami ng tingin and I noticed that he didn't even aged a little. His features are still the same like nearly three years hasn't passed by.

"What brings you here, princess?"

I automatically raise him an eyebrow. Is he seriously asking that? "You made me come here so why ask me of your own purpose" Tanga ba siya?

As far as I know,  HE MADE ME COME HERE. Yes with damn emphasis because that's entirely true. If I can tolerate being blinded by  Cervantes and Dylan's war,  I would not set my feet here. I would let everything slide like it doesn't fuckin' bother me. But I damn cannot. Hindi ko kayang magmukhang tanga at walang-kaalam alam sa mga nangyayari. Father knows that too well and he made it his fuckin' ace to make me come here. Damn cruel. And I still don't forget the fact that he dragged me back here in the country.