Hello, readers! This is the last chapter that will be posted here in Wattpad. This story has 3 parts and all three parts plus the Epilogues (50 chapters all in total) are all available to read and Completed on Patreon/Facebook group. Message Rej Martinez on Facebook to join private group with 150/month membership that you can pay using GCash/Maya. You can cut your membership anytime and rejoin the group anytime as well. Thank you for your support!

Chapter 25

Princess

Dahlia

I remember when I was younger, Daddy wasn't always with me. I was entrusted to Manang Julieta and our maids. I was very young and I faintly remember that I once entered Daddy's office study in our home. I was a kid and was just playing around the big house.

Manang got busy and my nanny had fallen asleep in my room when I left her. And no one had seen me entered my father's office.

At that time hindi rin naka-lock ang study kaya nakapasok lang ako nang itulak ko ang pinto. The lights were on and it seemed like someone had been here. Pero noong pumasok ako ay wala pa akong nakitang tao.

Iyon pala Daddy just got out for a while to go to his room to get some important documents for his work. At pagbalik niya ay nakita niyang nandoon na ako sa study niya...

Pareho kaming natigilan. Siya nang kakapasok lang muli at nakita akong mag-isa roon na naglalaro. At ako na may nakitang isang globo na maliit na naabot ko kaya napaglaruan. Natigil lang ako sa paglalaro noon nang marinig ko na ang pagpasok ni Daddy sa office niya.

Growing up I didn't understand a lot of things... Pero unti-unti ko rin iyong naintindihan kalaunan...

"Manang!" Daddy immediately called for our housemaids. After he saw me in his office in our house.

"Sir—"

"What is she doing here? Nasaan ang nanny niya?" He sounded angry.

Pagkatapos ay dumating din ang yaya ko na mukhang nagising na.

"Get her." mabilis na utos ni Daddy at pinakuha na ako sa yaya ko.

I was just innocently looking at him as I was carried out of the room. While he doesn't look at me...

When I started going to school at mas nakakaintindi na ako, I began to want my father's attention more. I also started to notice that he doesn't pay me enough attention, his daughter...

I always look for him. I wanted to do things with him like play and study together. I have a tutor who helps me with my assignments that was hired by Daddy. But I thought that maybe Daddy could also help me with it instead.

"Where's Daddy?" I weakly asked Manang Julieta.

It was my birthday and he wasn't home yet. Although the kids who were invited were happy about my birthday party and praising it. I can't be completely happy with it...

And slowly I realized that Daddy wasn't there most of my childhood... He was always busy with work. At hindi ko rin siya palaging nakikita sa bahay namin. And although he provides me with everything that I need, palagi akong pinupuri ng mga kaklase ko sa school dahil sa magaganda kong gamit sa eskwela. Masarap din ang mga baon ko sa school na palaging pinaghahandaan nina manang at ng mga helpers sa bahay. And I always share my things and food with my classmates.

"Baka mamaya pa si Daddy mo, Dahlia. Late na. Kailangan mo na matulog kasi may school ka pa bukas." kausap sa akin ng nanny ko at ngumiti siya sa akin.

While my lips were still in a sad line. I looked at our house's main door. I still want to wait for Daddy.

Since I saw him in his office that day, I wanted to see him often. Simula noon ay palagi na akong pumupuslit sa office niya. Minsan ay nandoon siya pero mas madalas na wala. Pero kahit ganoon ay palagi pa rin ang pagsusubok ko noon na pumasok sa study sa pagbabakasaling nandoon si Daddy at magkita muli kami.

Even though I was so young and didn't understand it yet, maybe it was my child instinct who just wanted to be with her father...

Naalala ko na noong una ay nagalit pang muli siya na nakapasok na naman ako sa study niya gaya noong una. Pero sa sumunod at kalaunan ay hinayaan niya na lang akong maglaro roon habang tahimik lang siyang nagtatrabaho at hindi rin ako gaanong tinatapunan ng atensyon. I would stop playing and would look at him on his desk but he wouldn't look at me.

One time I saw the maid enter Dad's office with his coffee. And then I stood up from playing—at that time ay may mga toys na rin ako roon sa loob ng study ni Daddy dahil nagdadala rin ako ng mga laruan ko roon. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa desk niya. Napatingin na rin siya sa akin. "Dahlia wants snacks, too." I said.

Napatingin si Daddy sa kape niya at bumaling sa kasambahay na naghatid ng coffee niya roon. "Get her some snacks. Sabihan mo sina Manang." utos niya sa kasambahay. Agad naman itong tumango at umalis na.

Nang makabalik ito ay may dala na itong biscuits at milk para sa akin.

"Here," I touched the top of Daddy's desk.

Tumingin pa ang katulong sa kay Daddy pero marahan din na nilapag doon sa mesa ang snacks ko. Pagkatapos ay umikot ako at tuloy tuloy lang na umakyat sa lap ni Daddy at umupo doon bago ako kumuha sa biscuit ko.

Hindi pa agad nakaalis ang kasambahay at mukhang kinabahan pa na tumingin kay Daddy. Nagsimula lang naman akong kumain sa snacks ko. "It's delicious. I like it." I said while I enjoyed my food.

Umalis din ang maid at naiwan kaming dalawa ni Daddy. Kumuha ako ng isang biscuit at biglang nilapit iyon sa bibig niya. "You want some?" I smiled cheekily.

Bahagyang napaatras si daddy ng ulo niya at mukhang nagulat sa ginawa ko. While I was just smiling innocently while offering him my food. "Dahlia likes Oreo cookies!" I said.

And then Daddy slowly opened his mouth and accepted the oreo na sinubo ko sa kaniya. I smiled more and I beamed happily!

Pagkatapos tumango-tango siya habang nginunguya iyon.

"More?" I asked him and offered another of my biscuit for him.

But he took one biscuit at ako naman ang sinubuan ngayon. "You should eat more." He emphasized.

Ngumiti lang naman ako while I chewed on my food.

And then I heard Daddy arrived. Agad akong tumayo mula sa sofa namin at tumakbo papunta sa pintuan. Tinatawag pa ako nina Manang Julieta pero excited lang ako na makita si Daddy at nalaman kong nakauwi na siya.

"Daddy!" I loudly called.

And then I saw him entering the house with a box with him. Natigilan pa siya nang makitang gising pa ako. While I was just smiling widely as I welcome him home.

"Manang, bakit gising pa siya? Anong oras na." Daddy said like he was reprimanding our maids.

"Pinagsabihan na namin pero kanina ka pa hinihintay na makauwi." Manang Julieta tried to explain.

Daddy sighed and then he looked at me. Bahagya siyang lumuhod sa harapan ko para magpantay kami. I saw Kuya Roger, Daddy's bodyguard, smiling behind Daddy while watching us. Pagkatapos binuksan ni Daddy ang may kalakihang velvet box na dala niya at pinakita ang laman niyon sa akin.

"Wow..." narinig kong reaction nina manang nang makita rin ang bagay sa loob.

While my lips parted and I was in awe to see that it was a pretty little crown for me... Daddy had it personalized for his birthday gift for me. And it has real diamonds and jewels in it.

Kinuha iyon ni Daddy, and gently placed it above my head. The crown was a bit heavy but it wasn't uncomfortable to wear. "Happy birthday my Princess Dahlia..." Daddy said.

I smiled widely. And then I almost jumped to hug daddy on his neck. He just chuckled a bit. "Thank you, Daddy!" I said as I hugged him more.

And then I felt him hugging my small frame back. And I felt so happy. I realized that despite his lack of time for me... I know that Daddy loves me. And he just failed to make me feel his love for me sometimes. But I know and I'm sure now that he cares for me. And I care for him, too. I want to take care of daddy because he looked sad sometimes...

"I love you, Daddy." I said as I was hugging his neck.

I felt him gently patting my back. "I love you, too..." He gently said like a whisper to me.

And I closed my eyes and prayed that I'd be enough to make Daddy happy...

—

Again this is the last chapter that will be posted here in Wattpad. Read the rest of the chapters until end on Patreon/Facebook group. Message me on Facebook Rej Martinez to join for 150/month that you can pay using GCash/Maya. You can cancel your membership anytime and just rejoin the group at anytime, too. Thank you for your support for me and my stories!