Chapter 1
1010 Words
Shine’s POV
It’s my eighteenth birthday!
The function hall was adorned with twinkling fairy lights, freshly imported flowers, and elegant decorations, creating a magical ambiance for this very special evening. Half of the room was filled with guests—my family, relatives, close friends, and classmates.
All eyes turned on me, into the center of the function hall, to where I was standing. I was feeling radiant in my flowing blue gown. My eyes sparkled with joy. Naghahalong kaba, pananabik, saya, naluluha, namamangha. Actually, nahihirapan akong i-explain yung nararamdaman ko, halo-halo ang emosyong nakapaloob sa puso ko ngayon. I was overwhelmed.
Soft music began to play. It was “Dads and Daughter by Marynn Taylor”, a song that is so close to my heart.
♬♫ Ten little toes. She has his nose
And the blue from her mother's eyes
His hands were shaking. Round that pink blanket
He hoped he was holding her right ♬♫
Unang linya pa lang ng kanta ay napanguso na ‘ko upang pigilan ang pagpatak ng mga luha sa mga mata ko. Ginala ko ang paningin sa paligid agad na hinanap ng mga ko ang Daddy. Nabaling ang tingin ko ng huminto ang spotlight, napangiti ako when it landed to Daddy. The host introduced him followed by a loud applause from the guest.
He stood up. He fixed his suit. He dressed in a classic black suit and tie, dashingly handsome for his age. As his daughter I couldn’t help but feel proud. Sinong mag-aakalang ang layo ng agwat ng edad nila ng mommy ko. He looks as young as mommy. And of course, ang ganda rin ng mommy ko—she always mistaken as my elder sister.
Daddy gazed at me as he started to walk closer. He approached me with a warm, proud smile. My heart swelled with emotion. When it comes to my parents, ang babaw talaga ng luha ko.I always get emotional.
Dad will be my first dance tonight. He extended his hand, I smiled as I gently placed mine in his palm. I held the side of my gown with my other hand, tilted my head gracefully and slightly bent down like a real princess.
As we moved to the center of the dance floor, the guests fell silent, anticipating the heartfelt moment. Daddy placed his other hand on my waist, and I rested my other hand on his shoulder. The music swelled, and we began to dance.
Our movements were slow and graceful, in perfect harmony with the melody. Daddy’s eyes never left my face, filled with love and pride.
“Ang bunso ko dalaga na.”
I pouted my lips in response.
“But it doesn’t mean that you’re at a legal age, you're allowed to have a boyfriend, studies first,” pangaral niya sa’kin.
“Yes sir!” Masiglang tugon ko.
“May nagpaparamdam ba?”
“Na! They are all scared of you.”
“They should be!” At dama ko yun. Daddy can be the sweetest father in the world, but also the scariest once you break his rules. Wag na talagang subukan, ikakasira talaga ito ng buhay mo.
“Tularan mo ang Ate Abby mo,” dugtong niya pa. He is always so proud of Ate Abby. All of us are. She graduated with Latin honors and is now starting medical school.
We continued dancing. Ngunit habang sumasayaw kami’y bigla akong nag-alala ng makita ang lungkot sa mga mata niya habang pinagmamasdan ang aking mukha.
“Daddy, why?” I asked.
“Nothing, It feels like just yesterday… When I first held you in my arms; you were so tiny back then. I was even afraid to hold you. It feels like just yesterday, the first day I walked you to school. It feels like just yesterday when you used to ride on my back, when I witnessed your first steps and the first time you called me, Dad…” Hindi ko na naawat ang pagsilaglagan ng mga luha sa mga mata ko habang nakikinig kay Daddy. Each moment flashed vividly in my mind, one by one.
“Daddy…”
Nakangiting ingat na pinunasan niya ang mga luha ko.
“Time flies so fast you’ve grown up so fast…” He added.
“But I’m still your baby!” I pouted my lips. “I will be forever daddy’s girl!”
“Of course! You will always be daddy’s girl. You will always be daddy’s bunso, our baby,” natatawang saad ni Daddy.
Niyakap ko siya sinandal ko ang pisngi sa dibdib niya. I cried on his chest. He wrapped his arms around me and gave me a heartfelt embrace. His hand on the back of my head kasabay ng paghalik niya sa tuktok ng ulo ko. I feel so loved.
“And no matter how old you get, you will always be Daddy's little princess.”
“Promise?” I said, as if I had returned to my childhood.
“Promise…” I felt the sincerity of a father making a promise to his child.
♬♫ Dads and daughters. They go together
Like boats and water. They're meant for each other
Through wind and the waves. They'll sail away from the storm
And make it to shore. There's nothing stronger
Than a love between dads and daughters ♬♫
Sinabayan namin ang kanta. Mas lalo lamang akong naiyak dahil mas naiintindihan ko ang bawat linya ng kanta. Tumatagos ang bawat salita sa puso ko.
“I love you, my princess.”
“I love you so much, daddy.”
Around us are friends and family watched with smiles, some dabbing their eyes with tissues. It was a poignant moment, a father and daughter sharing a dance that marked the passage of time, from childhood to the brink of adulthood.
The song drew to a close, and as the final notes played. Applause erupted from the guests, but for that brief moment, it felt like we were the only two people in the room, sharing a memory we would both cherish forever.
- Writer
