"Amara! Answer me! " came her father's annoyed voice again.
She is playing with the hem of her shirt from nervousness. She can't even look her dad in the eye. She is not used to saying lies but..
"Honey? Bakit mo sinisigawan ang anak mo?" Asked her mother who is always her savior.
Kunot ang noo nito habang papasok sa kwarto niya. Her father sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. Bago lumakad papunta sa balcony. Naramdaman na lang niya na hinawakan siya ng ina sa balikat.
" Napano kayo anak?" tanong pa nito but she didn't answer her.
Busy siya sa pagdarasal na hindi madiskubre ng ama si Brad. The latter is armed. Hindi maalis sa isip niya ang palaging banta nito. She doesn't want her dad hurt.
Binuksan nito ang balcony at lumabas para tanawin ang nasa baba at paligid. At pagkatapos, ang banyo naman niya ang pinasok nito . She was holding her breath and kept praying when he also checked her walk-in-closet. He roamed his eyes inside for several moments and then walked towards her bed.
"May tinatago ka ba?! " yamot na tanong nito habang itinaas naman ang comforter at bed cover para silipin ang ilalim ng kama.
" I know that fucking scent! L'eau Serge Lutens!"
Amara think fast! Utos niya sa sarili.
Kailangan niyang makaisip ng isasagot if ayaw niyang mabuko sila.
"Ano ba ang ginagawa mo honey?! Why are you invading your daughter's room? What do you think you are doing NICHOLAS ALCANTARA?!” may lakip na din ng inis ang boses ng mommy niya which finally made her dad stop searching her room.
Her father straightened and looked at her with sharp eyes. Binasa niya ang mga labi as she tried to meet his eyes. She has to do this. For her daddy's sake and for their sake. She has to train herself na magsinungaling lalo ngayon na boyfriend niya si Brad Lopez. Tumingin ang ama sandali sa mommy niya bago ibinalik ang mga mata sa kanya.
"I know that you are hiding something! I can feel it! Or is it someone?!” malamig na tanong nito.
"A-Actually.. meron nga dad.." mahinang sabi niya as she stares at the floor.
"I knew it! Fucking Hell!" galit na mura nito na pinanlakihan naman ng mata ng mommy niya before she transferred her eyes to her.
"Amara? What is going on? Tama ang kutob ng daddy mo? May itinatago ka? " tanong naman ng ina.
She raised her eyes at her mom then her dad.
"I-It's not what you think... I- I was keeping it a secret because I want to surprise you." sabi niya sa ama na kumunot ang noo.
"Surprise me? What do you mean?" tanong nito.
She slowly came closer to him and she took hold of his hand. She has a small smile on her pretty face.
"Hindi na nga sorpresa because of your super sensitive nose. Para kang may bioic nose daddy. " she laughed lightly. "Isa kaya sa gift ko sayo yun para sa birthday mo. Alam ko you like that scent so much.:" pagsisinungaling pa din niya.
Huminga ng malalim ang mommy niya at unti-unting nawala ang lukot ng noo ng kanyang daddy na sinamantala naman niya. She kissed him on the cheek bago malambing na yumakap dito.
“Kung ano-ano ang naiisip mo daddy eh!” kunway may hinanakit na sabi niya.
"Yun naman pala! Hay naku honey! Wala ka na yatang lunas talaga! Pati sa anak mo gawain mo yan! Palagi na kitang sinasabihan na tangal-tanggalin mo nga yang pagiging paranoid mo! Halos wala na ngang social life yang anak mo dahil sa higpit mo! At nandito na nga sa bahay naggagaganyan ka pa?! Ang mabuti pa bumaba na tayo para sabay-sabay na tayong kumain. Sumunod na kayo ha?" her mommy said before going out.
Hinagod ng ama ang likod niya at hinalikan ang tuktok ng ulo niya bago nito inilayo ng bahagya ang katawan to see her face. Maganda na ang ngiti nito.
"Hindi mo na ako dapat ibinili. I have plenty of scents for men. Para naman hindi masayang ang iba, dapat gamitin ko lahat. You are like your mom. You like showering me with gifts. Anyway, thank you our princess. I am sorry kung madalas sobrang protective ako sayo. Naiintindihan mo naman hindi ba?”
Tumango na lang siya.
"You are our only princess kaya ingat na ingat kami sayo. And I am sorry anak if I am too much sometimes okay?" malambing na sabi pa nito.
She chewed the inside of her bottom lip. "Dad, mali naman ang adverb of time mo eh. Dapat most of the time or all the time." she joked.
Her father chuckled at kinabig na lang siya uli nito towards him.
"I love you our princess." he murmured against her head.
"I love you daddy." sagot naman niya.
(Brad)
He frowned. Maingat na binuksan niya ang isa sa closet ni Amara. Nangalay na siya. Because of his hunky and tall frame, sobrang hirap na isiksik niya ang katawan sa cabinet ng nobya na punong-puno ng damit.
Even his woman's clothes inside the closet smell so good. He couldn't help sniffing them. May ibinulsa na nga siyang isang lingerie nito. Nakita niya ang mga ito kaninang naghahanap siya ng pwede niyang pagtaguan.
When Amara’s father opened the closet’s door, he was not even scared to be seen. Kung siya ang masusunod, mas maagang malaman nito na sila na ng anak nito, mas mabuti.
But he remembered what his own father said, which he thinks actually makes sense..
Flashback..
"You have to hold your horses. Ang importante naman girlfriend mo na. Hindi natin pwedeng biglain si Nicholas. Basta do it the way I am telling you. Luck is on our side anyway. Nabanggit ko kasi kay Fernandez na alam mong pinagkakatiwalaan ko sa mga bodyguards ko si Nicholas. I was asking him to get me more information about that business magnate. . Nagkataon, pinsan pala nito si Cruz. Bodyguard yun ng asawa ni Nicholas at paminsan-minsan bantay din ng nobya mo. Remember nung nangailangan ng malaking pera si Fernandez na agad ko namang ibinigay at hindi ko na pinabayad? Ginamit pala yun sa nagkasakit na tita nito na ina naman ni Cruz . NowI remember that I even met him once. Nung sumama ito kay Fernandez to thank me personally. At sakto naman ngayon, he works for the Alcantara family. Isa lang ang ibig sabihin niyan anak! Nicholas's daughter is really for you. Ang galing ng tadhana! She is destined to be yours kaya hinay-hinay lang muna. Pero kung gusto mong akyatin sa kwarto niya bukas, walang problema! Madali na yun. Cooper can take care of the cctv at ako na ang bahala kay Fernandez. He will talk to his cousin. Alam mo naman ang pinoy anak.. marunong tumanaw ng utang na loob…" nakangising sabi ng ama.
End of flashback..
He grinned and shook his head from side to side while slowly getting out of his hiding place. He walked near the door. He wants to hear what they are talking about and maybe take a peek kung ano na ang nangyayari sa loob. Mabuti na lang hindi pala isinarado ng todo ng ama ni Amara ang pintuan ng banyo.
(Amara)
She unwrapped her arms around her dad.
"Akala ko nasa work ka?" tanong niya dito.
"I was pero hindi ako mapanatag. You looked sick this morning. Did you take your pain reliever again? Alam mo na kung ako lang ang masusunod ayaw ko ng gamot na yun. It makes you groggy and look unwell. Napano ka ba kagabi? Bakit inatake ka na naman ng migraine mo? Sabi ko naman sayo na isarado mo na ang eskwelahan. Dito ka na lang sa bahay. Mas panatag ako. I will try to spend more time with you and your mom. We can travel anywhere you want."
She sighed bago lumayo sa ama at lumakad palapit sa kama niya. She made her bed para may gawin ang mga kamay niya at makapag-isip siya ng maayos. Seeing her father's eyes as she tells him lies is making her feel guilty. Although alam naman niya that she is just doing this for all of them, she is hoping na hindi magtatagal titigilan na ni Brad kung ano man ang tinitira nito para mabasawan ang saltik nito sa ulo. Para naman pag nangyari yun, tatantanan na siya nito at babalik na sa normal ang buhay niya.
" Daddy, you know I love that school. And hindi naman kasi maiiwasan ang stress. Okay lang ako, promise. It's probably the heat. Matagal na din naman akong hindi inaatake di ba? Kagabi lang dahil ang init kahapon." she told him habang ang mga unan naman niya ang inayos niya.
Dinig niya ang malalim na bunting-hininga ng ama.
"Okay! Okay! Basta anytime na gusto mong isarado, just tell me! Tama na yan. Let the maids do that. Come here. May sasabihin ako sayo." sabi nito.
(Brad)
He smiled as he flexes his neck and shoulder. He is behind the bathrooms’ door. At least ngayon alam na niya kung bakit hindi sinasagot ng nobya ang tawag niya kagabi. May valid reason naman pala. And knowing that a certain kind of pain reliever can make his woman feel sleepy and groggy made his smile broadened. Magagamit niya yun in the future. Nailing na lang siya when an image ran inside his head. Amara in her lacy white undies while on the bed and she is looking at him with smoky eyes...
Muntik na siyang mapamura nang mahina with his as usual lustful thoughts..
(Amara)
Medyo kunot ang noo niya na lumapit sa ama.
“What is it daddy? Is it something bad?” tanong niya na may kaunting pag-aalala sa boses.
Humugot muna ng malalim na hininga ito bago sumagot.
"Princess, mas maganda siguro na sabihin ko na bago tayo bumaba. " seryosong sabi nito.
“You are making me nervous! Ano yun daddy?” hindi niya maiwasan na hindi kabahan.
"Honestly anak, ayaw ko sana talaga but I have to accept na sa ayaw at sa gusto ko, mangyayari ang ganito. I will still be very protective. Pero hindi naman kasi natin maiiwasan..." tila hirap ang daddy niya na ituloy ang sasabihin.
" What is it daddy? Please sabihin mo na. " pakiusap niya while she touches his arm and raised her face to look at him because like Brad, her father is also very tall.
Huminga na naman ito ng malalim.
"It's just an introduction. Romualdo's son really wants to meet you. They are coming for dinner."
Brad heard everything.
Naikuyom nito ang mga palad.
"Fucking son of a bitch! " he cursed.