Mr. Billionaire's Proposal

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

Ahmet's POV

“Papa!” a high-pitched tone of voice from a girl shouted as I arrived at the venue.

Agad kong hinanap kong nasaan iyon, sabay kaming napalinga ni Jenny sa venue. Medyo marami kasing tao sa auditorium ng school. All of the parents were excited to meet their child and watch for their ballet recital, and I am one of them. Everyone seems excited and cheering the young ones. Humigpit ang hawak ni Jenny sa akin at maging siya ay hinanap din ang bata.

“Momma! Papa!” muling tawag ni Amber sa amin.

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay nakita na namin siya. Mas naunang siyang tinakbo ni Jenny at kaagad na binuhat bago niyakap. Amber kissed Jenny’s cheeks and Jenny did the same to her. Nang makalapit ako ay kinuha ko ang aking anak.

“Papa, you came late again,” she said in a sad voice before she sighed and pouted.

Medyo nalungkot din ako, pero ayos pa rin dahil nakaabot ako at hindi pa nagsstart ang program.

“Where’s my kiss?” I said in a sad voice.

Isang matunog na halik ang iginawad niya sa aking pisngi bago sa aking noo. Mas lalo akong nanggigil dahil sa ginawa niya. Hinalikan ko rin ang pisngi niya at ang kanyang noo. I heard him sighed again.

“My lipstick smudged on your cheeks now and I don’t look pretty now because you kissed me so much,” angal niya sa akin.

Lihim akong natawa sa ka-cute-tan niya. She’s not a grumpy kind of kid, sa totoo nga ay masayahin talaga siya pero pagdating talaga sa sarili niya ay gusto niya maayos lahat. She grow up in hospital, pangalawang bahay na nga niya iyon ayon sa kanya. Kaunting galaw lang niya dati ay palagi siyang nagkakasakit at kapag hindi talaga namin naagapan kaagad ay mas lalong lumalala. When it comes to her health she is very obssess.

At the age of six, she said she could take care of herself but of course, hindi ko siya pinapabayaan. I’m more hands-on with her than in my work. Ngayon lang talaga ako na late sa ballet recital niya dahil masyadong maraming ginawa sa opisina. Even Jenny was late because she had a lot of meetings. I kinda don't like our set up because the two of us are working but I can't deny the fact that this our reality.

Hindi ko naman pwedeng pabayaan ang trabaho ko. Hindi ko naman pwedeng sabihan si Jenny na huminto sa trabaho niya. We are just like this and we can't change anything but we can adjust.

Dalawa talaga kami kaya wala kaming choice kung ‘di ipasa siya sa isang katulong namin sa bahay kaya nakaabot sila sa make up artist dito sa venue. And she is cute with her pink lips, pink cheeks, and shimmer eye shadow. Yep, I knew it all. Inaral simula noong naging curious na siya sa pampaganda. With the help of Jenny, I knew how to apply each make up steps in her face.

“Ugh, good thing I bring my lipstick,” she said as she opened her cute little bag.

“Should I apply it to your lips?” alok ko.

“Can you Papa?” she smiles.

Kinuha ko sa maliit niyang kamay ang lipstick. Nilapag ko siya sa sahig at lumuhod ako para magpantay ang aming taas. I can’t help but to smile when she opened her mouth to give me more access to swipe the lipstick.

I heard a camera shots, halos nahiya ako dahil kinuhanan kami mismo ng official photographer ng school nila. But I’m not that embarrassed to delete the photo, I would love to buy a copy of it.

“You looks so pretty, my baby. Napakabilis mo namang lumakit…” sabay yakap ko sa kanya.

The first time I hold her she was a baby, now she grew so fast. Hindi ko talaga alam kong ano magiging reaction ko kapag may dala na siyang lalaki sa mga sumunod na taon.

“Papa, tawag na kami. Watch me dance, okay? Momma, take a photo of me please…” sabay beautiful eyes niya kay Jenny.

Ngumiti si Jenny. “Of course, darling. I would love to take a lot of photos of you.”

Sumama na si Amber sa teacher niya habang kami ni Jenny ay naghanap ng magandang pwesto para manood. Everyone was greeting me, especially those who work with me before. I enrolled my daughter in one of the best schools, halos lahat dito ay may kaya halos nakatrabaho ko ang mga kasama ko rito. I sat and waited for their performance.

“Amber did good last recital, hindi ko lang talaga kaya na baka maulit ang nangyari dati…” I heard Jenny whispered beside me.

“It was her first performance, Jen. She’s healthy now.” I assured her.

She is very protected when it comes to Amber’s health. Maging ako ay gano’n din naman but my daughter want to explore. She wants to be a normal girl kaya halos lahat ng gusto niya ay maayos sa akin basta hindi lamang siya magkakasakit.

She has weak immune system according to our doctor and she has asthma too. Noong una ay nag-aalangan talaga akong isubok siya sa ballet lalo na sumasayaw iyon at may training pa, baka mas lalong lumala ang kanyang nararadaman. Her first recital was a little bit rough, she was four that time. Nawalan siya ng malay sa kalagitnaan ng sayaw at halos lahat nag-alala sa kanya. Hinahabol din niya ang hininga niya sa mga sumunod na araw at halos iyak lang din siya nang iyak, kaya hindi rin ako nakatulog ng mga araw na ‘yon.

But them my girl never give up. After that incident, she drink her medications, her vitamins, and eat healthier than before. I was surprise dahil sobrang picky talaga niya pagdating sa foods, lalo na sa mga hinahanda ko sa kanya ay ayaw talaga niya. Pero pagkatapos no’n lahat ng nilalahad kong gulay sa kanya ay kinakain na niya. And I was a proud dad because everything i cook, she ate it.

“By the way, did you talk with your father, Ahmet? He called a while ago, you are not answering your phone daw?” Jenny opened another topic.

I have been ignoring my father since then. When the time he heard I had a daughter, he was eager to meet her. Naalala niya ang pinakasunduan namin dati. I will give him a grandchild and he will give me his company because in that way he can continue his legacy through me. And even Peter was challenge by that, pero hindi iyon ang focus niya. He just want the company in some ways, pero ako kumagat ako sa plano niya. I was blinded by money and accomplishment, and during that time I wanted to be the first trillionaire in the family.

Gusto kong taasan si Peter, gusto kong humigit sa kanya, gusto kong maapakan ang pangalan niya, gusto ko ako palagi ang nauuna. Uhaw na uhaw ako ng mga araw na ‘yon.

I don’t want to be a real father. All I want is to have a child to make my father proud and to get his company, but after all that it takes to make my princess healthy, I don’t want it anymore.

Though I still need money to maintain her health but I don’t want it from him. I want it from my own pocket. Kaya sa halos anim na taon, ilang beses niya lang nakita ang anak ko at nilapitan. Ayaw kong lumapit si Amber sa lalaking iyon dahil alam kong may gagawin siya sa anak ko.

“And your Mom too, did you block her or something?” Jenny continued.

I face her. Sa lahat ng pag uusapan ito ang pinaka ayaw ko. My mother is still obssess with my father’s wealth. She is his first wife pero ni isang property ay hindi nakapangalan sa kanya at nasa mommy lahat iyon ni Peter kaya gano’n na lang siya kung makautos sa akin dati.

She is in Germany right now, with my Dad. I still don’t know what is going on with them. Nang umuwi sila rito ay sobrang saya naman nila nang makita ang anak ko, especially when they saw me with Jenny. My mom even threw a party because of it.

“Iniiwasan ko lang. Can we please just focus on our daughter’s recital?” mariin kong ani dahil ayaw ko talagang pag usapan iyon.

Kita ko ang paglunok ni Jenny. Muling bumalik ang tingin ko sa stage. Ilang minuto pa ang nakakalipas ay nagsimula na iyon. Agad kong nilabas ang cellphone ko kahit ang sabi ni Amber ay ang momma niya lang ang kukuha ng larawan para sa kanya.

I’m still amazed that my daughter is with us. She was battling life and death. And that opened my eyes. I was not a religious person. I don’t even believe in God. But after seeing her almost lose her breath, I prayed to make her life longer. Kaya kong ibigay ang lahat, pagalingin lamang si Amber.

Kahit na halos lahat sila ay nagduda kung talagang anak ko ba talaga ang hawak hawak ko dati, kahit na palagi nilang sinasabi sa akin na ipaampon ko ang bata dahil hindi ko naman daw anak ay hindi ko ginawa iyon. She has my eyes, lips, nose and even mannerism. I can really tell that she is mine! I don’t need the DNA.

Kaya gagawin ko lahat para sa kanya, if death will visit our door, I want to go first. I don’t think I can bury my own child. The heaviest coffin is the smallest one.

“Go baby Amber!” I shouted because everyone does it, why I can’t?

My baby smile because of it. Mas lalo niyang pinag igihan ang pagsasayaw. Halos thirty minutes din ang sayaw nila bago natapos iyon. Muli kaming naghintay sa panibago niyang sayaw at ibang kulay naman ng tutu ang suot niya.

It took an hour before the recital was finally over. Pagkalapit niya sa amin ni Jenny ay kaagad ko siyang binuhat. Hindi na siya naka tutu at naka kulay pastel pink na siya na dress.

“Where do you want to eat, darling?” Jenny asks first.

Agad ko siyang tinignan ng masama at natawa naman siya doon.

“Can we eat in Jo-lli-bee please? It’s been a while since I eat there… It been two years noong nagkasakit ako, baka pwede na akong kumain ng unhealthy sa isang buwan.” she pouted and held both of my cheeks.

Napatingin ako kay Jenny. I was scared for a moment. We never let her eat in fast food chains. We always eat in restaurants when we are outside our house. Mas mabuti kasi iyon keysa sa mga fast food chain.

Though, the little princess is right she is now a strong and healthy girl but I can’t afford to risk anything again…

“Promise Papa, kapag may nafefeel ako na hindi maganda magsusumbong agad ako. I feel energize now because I dance, my immune system is getting stronger,” she said like a brave girl.

Wala akong nagawa kung di ang magpakawala ng malalim na hininga at payagan siya. Once a month or should I say, once a year dahil alam kong makakalimutan niya din iyon.

Nasa likuran sila ni Jenny dahil marami raw siyang kikukwento sa ina niya. Masyado siyang madaldal sa likot habang kumain ng vegetable gummies. Good thing malapit lang ang mall sa school niya kaya hindi kami masyadong na traffic sa daan.

When I finally park the car, binuksan ko ang sasakyan at kaagad siyang lumundag papunta sa akin at muli siyang binuhat papunta sa loob ng mall. Jenny’s hand was on my other shoulder. When we spotted the fast food chain, pumalakpak kaagad si Amber.

“Finally, Papa. I heard from my friend that they serve good spaghetti.” kwento pa niya.

“What about mine?” may pagtatampo sa boses.

“Yours is my favorite, pero kapag mas masarap dito baka pangalawa lang ang sa ‘yo.” she teased.

Sumimangot ako bago kiniliti ang kanyang tagiliran at halos napasigaw siya sa loob ng mall. Halos natawa kaming dalawa ni Jenny at nahiya dahil sa ginawa niya. Nagmadali kaming pumasok sa loob ng fast food chain, mabuti na lang talaga at kaunti lang ang tao kaya nakakuha kaagad kami ng puwesto.

Naunang umupo sa amin si Jenny para siya ang magbantay. Habang ang bata naman ay ayaw magpa iwan at gusto ata ma experience ang mag order sa counter dahil doon daw siya excited.

“Wow, they have ice cream too. I never knew that!” she commented.

This is her first time seeing the menu. Noong pumunta kami dito dati ay sobrang bata pa niya at hindi na siguro naalala ang lahat kaya parang gulat na gulat siya sa lahat.

“Lower your voice please,” I told her.

“I’m excited, Daddy. I want that spaghetti, fries, and the ice cream. They got toys too, I want one please…”

She is so cute that I was hypnotize. Tumango ako sa kanyang mga gusto. When our turn came, inorder ko kaagad ang gusto niya. I add more for me and Jenny, hindi naman gano’n kadami dahil alam kong hindi mahilig si Jenny sa ganito.

“Oh my gosh, I’m so excited!” she said.

Muli kong sinuway dahil masyado na namang tumaas ang kanyang boses.

My baby girl is so excited.

“I think I need to pee, where is the comfort room, Papa?” hinanap ng mata niya ang cr.

Maging ako ay hindi rin alam, dahil ito ang unang punta namin sa branch na ito. Nagtanong ako sa staff at tinuro naman sa aming ang daan. Dumiretso kaming dalawa doon, hila hila niya ako papunta sa CR hanggang sa may nabangga siyang bata na mukhang may hinihintay.

“Sorry po…” ani Amber sa maliit na boses.

Ngumiti ang bata. “Ayos lang.”

Parang nagsitayuan ang balahibo sa katawan ko nang tuluyang makita ang buo niyang pagmumukha. The little girl is wearing a pink tshirt with animal print, denim skirt, and a plain sandals. Nakalugay lamang ang buhok niya at ngunit may headband siyang kulay itim.

Umuwang din ang kanyang labi nang makita ako, nawala iyong ngiti kanina kay Amber ngunit kaagad niya ding iniwas ang kanyang mata sa akin. Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ng taong hinihintay niya sa cr ay kaagad na nanlaki ang mata ko.

Parang bumalik ang alaala ko dati ngunit kaagad ding nawala ang gulat at napalitan iyon ng galit. The woman who use me for money, the who-re in angelic face, Georgina!