Dad Says Yes

Ate Rosa walked to me with a smile on her lips. Halata sa mukha niyang may maganda siyang balita.

I tilted my head and tried to guess.

Pinayagan na ba ako ni dad na pumunta sa Palawan? Last time, I told him that Georgina invited me to spend a week with them. It's a birthday treat for her. Barbara and Mark are on board. Ako na lang ang kulang at makukumpleto na kami.

Halos isang buwan din akong nagpakabait just to make it easier for dad to allow me in this trip. I didn't give him any reason to decline as I constantly work my charm and behave.

Gabi-gabi kong ipinagdadasal na sana um-oo na si dad kahit para dito lang. Last time was a trip to Hongkong but I didn't even need to ask dad to know na hindi siya papayag. Kaya hindi ko na sinubukan pa. But this one is different dahil domestic travel lang naman kaya I'm hoping that the stars will align for me.

"What is it ate?" excited na tanong ko sabay lapit sa kaniya. Hindi na makapaghintay sa susunod na sasabihin niya.

"Sus. Ikaw talaga Lily." she pats my hand and guides me to sit on the bed. "Bukas na ang balik nila sir." masayang sabi niya expecting me to be happy with her news.

"Sir? Do you mean my dad? I thought next week pa siya?" pagtataka ko. Dad attended a seminar sa Mindanao. It is to provide them with new knowledge for security purposes. Sila kasi ang mag-iimplement nito dito sa campo. Kasama din niya ang dad ni Georgina dahil opisyal rin ito.

"Ang mga kapatid mo. Tinawagan na ako ni Sir Lazarus. Nagpapahanda ng paborito niyang adobo." she calls my kuya sir. Pinilit ko lang na Lily ang itawag sa akin. Matagal na din naman kasi siya sa amin, simula pa noong mawala si mom.

"Really? Dapat sinabi nila sa akin!" agad kong tinawagan si kuya pero nakailang ring na ay hindi pa din niya sinasagot.

Ang daya talaga. I'll text them na lang. Baka makalimutan pa nila ang pasalubong ko.

I missed them. Kami na lang ni dad ang naiwan dito sa bahay. My three brothers are now college students. Sa Manila sila nag-aral. Paminsan-minsan lang din ang uwi tuwing magbabakasyon.

I prepared myself. Nagwax na din para hindi tuksuhin ng mga kapatid. Georgina bought one for me last time. She adviced me not to shave, nakakaitim daw kasi iyon. Well, this is one of the girl's problems.

Matagal na din kaming magkakasamang apat at dahil dito ay mas naging close pa kami sa isa't isa. Maluwag na din si dad kapag may request sila. Nasanay na din kasi siguro.

Sila madalas ang bisita sa amin. Ate Rosa loves it dahil umiingay daw at nadadagdagan ang tatrabahuhin niya. Naiinip na siya sa kakaunting ginagawa para sa amin ni dad.

"Kuya! Diko! Sangko!" mabilis kong tinakbo ang distansya namin. I hugged them tightly. Inhaling their scent, I already felt calm.

"Lily, tumaba ka." biro ni sangko. Kinurot ko lang siya sa tagiliran. Hanggang ibaba lang ako ng baba niya. I'm already 5'7" pero tinitingala ko pa din sila.

"Let's see." sabay inspeksyon sa akin ni kuya. Tumango lang siya. Sinimangutan ko sila.

Hindi pa din sila nagbago pagdating dito. I'm glad na we always find that common ground. It's as if we didn't spend months apart.

"You can at least lie to me." sabi ko. "Diko, I got prettier, right?" I blinked my eyes at him, trying so hard to make me look somehow cute. Well, I guess I failed.

Tinawanan lang niya ako sabay abot ng pasalubong. Good thing he did one thing right.

"Strawberry glazed donuts!" I walked up to him and pecked him on the cheek. "Love you diko."

"I'm the one who bought it." sabi ni sangko.

"But he's the one who gave it to me." I flipped my hair.

Umakyat na sila sa kanilang mga kwarto para makapagpahinga. Medyo malayo din kasi ang byahe. Mang Delfin is off duty right now. Sila kuya na ang magdadrive kung sakaling may pupuntahan kami.

Georgina called. Alam ko na ang sasabihin nito. Mangungulit na naman at hindi pa ako pinapayagan. This Saturday na kasi ang alis papuntang Palawan.

"Lilliana, any news?" tanong niya.

"Well, hello to you too." bati ko. "I can't contact my dad. Alam mo namang busy siya." hinihintay ko lang ang tawag niya kapag ganito. Madalas kasing may kasama siyang ibang opisyal. Tuwing nasa official business sila, the only time that I can disturb him is when it's really an emergency.

"Pero malapit na ang alis natin" she sighed. Halatang namomroblema.

"I know." I really want to go with them. Unang gala namin ito ng walang kasamang guardian. Lumilibot naman kami pero balikan lang. Most of the time may kasama ding bodyguard kahit isa lang.

"We're already 16! Should I plead this case to my dad para siya na ang kumausap kay tito?" naniniwala akong gagawin niya nga basta bigyan ko siya ng go-signal. This girl has guts.

"Not as of the moment Georgina. I'll try to ask him again later. Baka tumawag at nandito na sila kuya." I'll just ask for their help. Bakit ba hindi ko naisip iyon kanina pa?

I heard a noise on the other line. Georgina cursed as she bumps her head.

"You should have told me!" she shrieked. "Edi sana pumunta ako diyan ngayon."

"Oh no. Let them rest Georgina." she likes my brothers.

'They look so good. Ano ba ang pinapakain ng dad niyo sa inyo?' sabi niya.

"Maybe I can go there tomorrow? I just bought this black bikini." tukso niya. I was with her when she bought it kaya naman napilit niya akong bumili na din. Mine is a bit conservative to allow me to move freely. Medyo magaslaw kasi ako kumpara sa kaniya .

"Please madam. Spare them" I humor her.

"You have three of them. Can I have one?"

"No." tanggi ko. I know Georgina won't really cross the line. Nahihiya pa din siya kila kuya. Magaling lang magpanggap at napapaniwala ang iba.

"Okay. Just Joaquin then." nasamid ako sa juice na iniinom. I wipe my baby blue laced-blouse. This is one of my favorites pa naman.

Narinig ko ang pagtawa niya sa kabilang linya.

"See. You're still affected Lilliana."

"I am not!" I rolled my eyes.

"You just rolled your eyes." bakit ba lagi siyang tama? "Stop denying it baby. You better be honest to yourself or you'll forget the truth and believe the lies you've uttered." I can feel her sincerity despite her trying to pass it as a joke.

"You can have him if you want." sabi ko sa kanya. Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko sa pagpoprostesta, hindi nagustuhan ang sinabi ko.

"We both know you don't mean it. Isa pa, I don't date guys that my friends want" yeah. That's one of the things na nilinaw namin. No sharing. We should be honest sa gusto namin lalo na kung seryoso ito to avoid any conflict of interest.

Hindi ko na siya kinibo. Ang tagal na din noong huli ko siyang nakita. Last time was their graduation - kuya and him. Both of his parents attended.

He has his father's impenetrable eyes - magnificent but fierce - his mother's elegantly straight nose and thin lips. Para bang napagdesisyunan ng kunin niya ang magagandang features ng mga ito.

Buti na lang at mahigpit ang security ng school. Only a few people know that his mom is Alexandria kaya naman laking gulat ng iba ng makita ito. She walks as if the world is her runway, wearing her cream-colored sheath dress and nude stilettos.

I thought they're not close dahil hindi naman niya nababanggit ang mga ito but from what I see, natural ang mga kilos nila. Walang halong pagpapanggap.

Nagmovie marathon kami ng mga kapatid ko sa mga sumunod na araw. Wala pa din kasi silang maisip na gawin. Nabanggit ko naman ang pagpunta namin sa Palawan. Kuya says he'll try to convince dad sa susunod na tawag nito.

I was busy moping in my room when kuya walked in.

"Lil." nilingon ko siya. "Guess what."

"I'm not in the mood kuya." as I covered myself with my pillow, begging not to be disturbed.

"Okay. I'll tell dad kami na lang ang pupunta sa Palawan." akmang aalis na. I stopped him.

"What did you say?" I tried to shake him but I can't.

"Dad says yes but you need to bring us." turo sa sarili. I should have expected this. Hindi papayag si dad na wala akong kasama ni isa sa kanila. But this is progress!

"I don't care. What about the tickets?" ang alam ko kasi nabilhan na ako ni Georgina.

"Idinaan na ni Ate Lucia yung iyo kanina. Si Zach na ang bahala sa ticket namin." that's settled then. Ate Lucia is their maid. Buti nga at hindi naintimidate sa kasungitan ni Georgina. She's one of the few people who can make her listen kaya naman kinuha na ni Tito Greg.

I texted my dad saying thank you and promising him we'll be careful. I understand this is how he show his love to us - by keeping us safe. Buti na lang at nasaktong umuwi sila kuya kung hindi baka hindi pa ako makasama.

I shoo kuya away and rummaged through my clothes. Maybe a mini suitcase will suffice. Isang linggo lang naman kami doon. Bibili na lang kung may kulang.

Hindi ko muna sasabihin kila Georgina na pinayagan na ako. Let them think na sila lang ang makakasama. I want it to be a surprise.

Sea, here I come.