A/N: The November rush continues as the updates keep coming!

LORELEI

THE DAY was about to end, but the mysteries kept coming. First, the possibility of Sir Friedrich Rivera being my biological father. Second, my dad Walter fetching me from the restaurant where I met the editor-in-chief of BEYOND Publishing.

Kung iba ang nasa posisyon ko, wala silang makikita na remarkable sa pagsundo ng ama sa kanyang anak. But for me, it's a big deal. This doesn't happen too often. This doesn't usually happen at all.

Kaya ang tanong ngayon sa isip ko: Ano ang nakain ni papa ko?

The feeling's still the same kapag magkasama kaming dalawa. May coldness akong nararamdaman mula sa kanya, literally at figuratively. Parang may katabi akong yelo. That may or may not be a fair description of him, but that's how I saw him in the years that I've known my dad.

Pero may kakaiba ngayon. He looked paler now than before. Matapang din ang amoy ng pabango niya. Parang nabawasan nang slight ang coldness niya. I still felt the shivers, but not so much. Maliban sa pagsunod niya sa akin sa resto, may iba pa siyang ginawa.

Nakapangalumbaba akong nakatulala sa dinadaanan namin. Alam kong preoccupied ang isip ko kaninang hinatid ako ni Sir Rich sa meeting place, pero may pagka-lively ang usapan namin. 'Yong mga nang-iintriga niyang tanong. 'Yong lame jokes niya. Dito sa kotse ni papa, kung nakamamatay ang katahimikan, malamang naospital na ako.

Then the usual silence was broken.

"How's your day, Lorelei?" My dad Walter asked me, putting down the magazine he was reading.

My eyes blinked as I slowly turned to him. Our gazes met. I didn't expect him to start a conversation. Certainly not a "how's your day" topic. We often sat in silence until we got home. Kung may pag-uusapan man kami, seryosong discussion lagi. He's a busy man after all. He had no time for small talk. For him, saying hi or hello was a complete waste of time.

"I'm... good." I was taken aback that it took me seconds to respond to a very simple question.

Something's really off about him. Sorry if I viewed my dad this way. Nasanay na kasi ako na hindi ganito ang pakikitungo niya sa akin. I couldn't help but wonder if he's feeling well or he's been replaced by a shape-shifting alien. No offense to aliens, by the way.

"How about you?" tanong ko. Out of courtesy, I thought I might ask him the same.

"Business as usual." Of course, he had nothing better to do than business. Kung ita-tally ang lahat ng mga salitang sinabi niya sa buong buhay niya, malamang "business" ang number one.

"You mentioned that you met an editor of a publishing house in that restaurant," he said next, averting his gaze to his left. "How did your meeting go?"

My eyes narrowed into slits as I kept my gaze at him. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He's interested in my activities? Really? Was he just faking interest para magkaroon kami ng conversation?

"It went... well," I said. Sumandal ako sa backrest at ini-stretch ang mga paa ko. "They offered me a publishing deal, but I haven't said yes. Gusto ko munang pag-usapan."

"Should you choose to sign with them, have the contract checked by a lawyer first. I have a friend who's good at evaluating contracts. Some companies tend to take advantage of the gullibility and inexperience of their targets."

Now this was getting weirder. Not only did he ask about how's the meeting, he also offered me an advice. That sounded like something that a father would do.

"Do you mind if I ask a question, dad?"

He looked sideways at me. "Ask away."

"What's with you today?" I asked without hesitation. Naramdaman kong napasulyap sa akin ang driver sa rearview mirror. "May nakain ho ba kayo? Masarap ba ang ulam n'yo kanina?"

My dad replied back with a stare that made me feel like he's trying to see through my soul. "You find my concern for you... disturbing?"

"Not disturbing." I shook my head. That's not the word I'd use. "Just... strange. Sorry, hindi siguro ako sanay na nagtatanong-tanong kayo sa akin. You rarely asked those questions before. Ni hindi n'yo nga ako matawagan. You could have checked up on me every week to know how I'm doing. How difficult was it for you to pick up the phone and dial my number?"

Bahagyang tumaas ang aking boses. Ayaw ko siyang sigawan kung pwede lang. I still have respect for him as the man who raised me—oh, scratch that! "Watched me grow up" would be more approriate.

Ngayon lang yata nagma-manifest ang daddy issues ko. I have a feeling that today's revelation might have had something to do with it. Kaya ganito ako maka-react.

Ipinatong niya sa ibabaw ng magazine na nasa kanyang lap ang mga kamay niya. "I see where you're coming from and I understand your confusion clearly. I must admit that I have been busy all this time."

Lumang script na 'yan, dad. I snickered. Lagi niyang ginagawang dahilan 'yon. Wala na bang bago? "So why are you here? Why are you acting like a father to me now?"

I don't want to sound disrespectfully, but I'd rather not beat around the bush. I wanted to know what's causing this late onset fatherly gestures.

He drew in a sharp breath and looked away. "A friend of mine gave me an appropriate amount of scolding. She said that I should see it as a parental responsibility lecture. You've already met Frigette, haven't you? The mother of Lucian and Louis."

Tumango ako. Hearing the Mendez matriarch's name was surprising. "She told me that you and her were classmates in college, I think?"

"We were." My dad sighed. "I learned that her son Lucian got poisoned and almost died last week. Another schoolmate of your was also hit by a car and passed away unfortunately."

Sandaling napapikit ang mga mata ko sabay balikwas ng aking ulo sa kabilang direksyon. Pinaalala na naman niya sa akin ang masakit na tagpong nasaksihan ko. I always feel a stabbing pain in my heart whenever I remember Maggie's face and Loki's tears. That would be forever etched in my mind.

"She advised me to ask how you're doing amid all of these tragedies," my dad went on. "These tragic incidents might have been too much for you handle psychologically and emotionally. My presence as your father might be warranted to give you the support that you need."

"Thanks for the concern." I couldn't emphasize the last word enough to express how much I appreciate him gatecrashing back to my life and acting like a concerned parent.

"That made me worried," he said. "So I decided to schedule this trip and see how well you're doing. I went straight out of the airport from my business trip in Cebu."

Really? My left eyebrow arched. "That's why you're here? To console me? Maybe if you came here last week when everything's still fresh, I would have appreciated your caring gesture more. It's been a week since the tragedy struck. I'm already on the process of healing and moving on."

"Still here I am," he said. Our eyes met for a brief moment. "Better late than never, I suppose?"

Parang proud pa siya na late siyang dumating. He's like the policemen in action movies who arrived after the fighting was over. He could have cut his business trip short so he could attend to my emotional needs. Pero gaya ng inaasahan, hindi niya magagawang isakripisyo ang kanyang trabaho.

To be fair to him, the thought still counts. Mahirap sumingit sa busy schedule niya. He must have cancelled a number of his appointments this week to make it here. And he doesn't do that very often, especially not for me.

So in a way, I felt special. Just a little.

"I do not want anything unfortunate to happen to you," my dad spoke after a moment of silence. "You're my daughter."

"On paper," I thought to myself.

"You may have not my blood, but you have my name. You are the sole heir of mine. Should something happen to me, you shall inherit everything that I built so far. My legacy. My father's legacy. And his father's before him."

He said the exactly same thing when I confronted him about not being my real dad. He's so obsessed with preserving the family and his legacy. He'd do anything for them, even offering his own daughter as a bride to his friend's son so he could strengthen their business relationship.

"Why don't you remarry?" I asked in the gentle way possible. I know that he still loved my mom despite that thing. If not, matagal na sana siyang naghanap ng ibang partner. Biyudo na siya nang mahigit isang dekada. "If you want a true heir who will not only bear your family name but also your blood, you can still have a child with another woman you can love."

I'm not an expert in human biology, pero sa tingin ko, kaya niya pang magkaanak. Hindi pa siya gano'n katanda. Well, why hasn't he thought of that? Was it due to his undying love for my mom?

His eyes looked down as he flashed a faint smile. "Even if I did remarry, I wouldn't be able to sire a child. The Rios bloodline ends with me."

Then there was a silence. Dahan-dahang kumunot ang aking noo hanggang sa mapagtanto ko kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. I stared at him with widened eyes. That couldn't have been so easy for him to admit.

Nakaramdam ako ng awa sa kanya. We were not that close, so I did not know his struggles. I may not be a man like him, but the thought of not being able to have a child would be heartbreaking.

"They say that having a child is a woman's happiness," he went on. "I failed to give your mom a child of my own flesh and blood. That could explain her unhappiness in our marriage. Which led to... you."

There's something in the way he looked at me. I couldn't say if it's disappointment or resentment. It's hard to read his thoughts through his face or tone of his voice.

"When did you find out?" I asked after a few seconds went by.

"Immediately after your mother died," he answered. "When I learned that you aren't my child. I couldn't believe it so I had you undergo DNA testing. When the result came, I had myself tested."

"I'm sorry." My eyes looked down on my feet. I did not know he had to wrestle with the truth that way. "But you can still have treated, right?"

He smiled bitterly. "Isn't a little too late for that? Instead of finding another woman to marry, I'd rather focus my remaining energy on building my legacy. A legacy that you will inherit in the future."

If I were a greedy bastard, I would be jumping up and down already. Ikaw ba naman ang maging tagapagmana ng isang Walter Rios. You could buy anything that you want. You could do anything that you want.

I felt like I don't deserve it. Maybe if I were her real daughter, it would make everything easier to swallow. My only issue would have been the way he treats me.

"Our honest conversation last time opened my mind," my dad said. "Of course, I had to think about it over and over. It turned out that I have to fully accept the inescapable truth that you are my heir. I have to let go of my negative feelings toward you since you weren't the one who sinned against me. I have to give you everything that you need. Even paternal love, which, as you have surely noticed, I struggled to offer."

Napangiti ako sa huling sinabi niya, pero may kaunting kirot sa puso ko. He told me before that every time he sees me, he's reminded of my mom and her unfortunate infidelity. That's why he always regarded me coldly. He treated me like a bargaining chip he could use to further his so-called legacy.

"Given the dangers around you, I am committed to making sure that you are well protected and that you will succeed me when the right time comes." He stared at me right in the eye. "I will not let anything happen to my daughter."

I smiled at him.

"Hence I thought of pulling you out of Martha's apartment."

My smile vanished instantly. "What? Bakit naman ho?"

"Frigette's son got poisoned in the comforts of their own home," he began explaining. "Imagine how easy it would be for any bad person to sneak into the apartment and hurt you in the most creative of ways."

I liked how the conversation started, but I don't like where it was going. Gusto niyang umalis ako sa lugar na naging comfort zone ko matapos ang kamalasang nangyari sa akin sa Manila. Yes, that place may be just an apartment, but it's more than that to me. It's my second home.

"Have you seen the condominium where Alistair is staying?" he asked. "We can rent you a unit there until you graduate from Clark High or decide to go back to Manila. The security there is tight. There are surveillance cameras in every floor and in every corner. No one can sneak in without being noticed. You will absolutely feel safe there."

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. "Are you trying to pair me up with Alistair again? Hindi ba't sinabi ko na ho sa inyo na itigil n'yo na ang pagpa-partner sa amin? Or are you still keen on making that arranged marriage happen without my consent?"

"That's already off. I respect your wishes so the engagement has been cancelled the day after we talked," he answered. "I have no ulterior agenda here. All I seriously considered in making this decision is your feeling of comfort within the proximity of your friend. Alistair can make you feel protected."

"He's not a bodyguard."

"Of course, he's not." My dad nodded. "But I'm certain for a fact that he'd be more than willing to protect you from any harm. As his childhood friend. I can have it arranged immediately."

I looked out of the car window and shook my head. "No. I may feel safe there, but I might not feel comfortable. Mas gusto ko pa ring mag-stay sa apartment ni Tita Martha."

"Is it because of your roommate Louis?" he asked, making me turn to him. "I can talk to Frigette and ask her if she can have her son transfered to the same condominium that I spoke of. Of course, you will no longer be sharing the same unit with him."

Kumurap ang mga mata ko sa kanya. He made it sound like he could wave a wand and—voila! Mangyayari na ang sinabi niya.

"I can't speak for him," tugon ko. "Pero kung ako ho ang susundin, ayaw kong lumipat. Mas malapit ang apartment ni Tita Martha sa campus. As for the security, kahit na hindi well equipped ang tinutuluyan namin, we always remain vigilant. Look at Lucian. The Mendez residence is well secured, isn't it? Pero may nakalusot pa rin at nagawa siyang lasunin."

My dad probably didn't know that Luthor poisoned himself for the sake of his plan. There's no security breach in their home. But he doesn't need to know about that, does he?

"I understand your point," my dad replied. "But the option is still open in case you change your mind. Just tell me."

My eyebrows furrowed as I gave him a scrutinizing look. For the second or third time, hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig ko. "You won't force me to do what you want? You won't have me dragged out of the apartment and locked me away in that condo unit?"

One end of his lips moved as if he was about to smile. But it froze halfway. "After our serious talk a month ago, I realized how terrible of a father I am by imposing my will on you. I wanted to control your life. I wanted to dictate your future. I didn't consult you in anything. I didn't—"

His face twitched as he took a sudden pause. Napahawak siya sa kanyang tagiliran—sa kanan—at napapikit ang kanyang mga mata.

I inched closer to him. Nakaramdam ako ng matinding kaba.

"A-Are you okay?" nababahalang kong tanong. Palipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanyang mukha at tagiliran. Maging ang kanyang driver, napasulyap sa kanya. He looked like he was in pain.

Wasn't that the area where he was shot when he took a bullet for me during his birthday? I remember the doctor telling me that the bullet almost damaged his liver. Kumikirot pa ba hanggang ngayon? Hindi pa ba naghihilom ang sugat niya?

"Don't worry about me." He drew in a long breath. Muli niyang iminulat ang kanyang mga mata. "The pain will go away in a bit."

Inalis ko ang magazine sa kanyang lap at ipinadiretso ang kanyang mga paa. Tinulungan ko rin siyang sumandal sa backrest.

"Baka kailangan n'yo munang magpahinga?" I looked worriedly at him. I may have a not-so-good opinion about my dad. I couldn't help but feel concerned about his health. "Dapat kasi hindi muna kayo dumiretso rito pagkalapag n'yo sa airport."

"I wanted to see you as soon as I could," he replied, letting out a long breath. "Again, you don't have to worry about me. I have the best doctors at my disposal. They won't let my health fail."

He may have all the money in the world, but when it comes to health, that doesn't guarantee he'd be fully well. E 'di sana wala nang mayayayaman na namamatay sa kanilang sakit?

"I want you to make decisions for yourself from now on," he said to me after taking a pause. "This may come a little late in our relationship, but I hope it's a step in the right direction."

"Thank you for considering my feelings," I replied. That was not just a step. That was a leap. "Pero huwag muna kayong magsalita, okay? Ipahinga n'yo na muna ang sarili n'yo."

Naging tahimik ang loob ng sasakyan sa mga sumunod na minuto. I don't want to tire him by keeping him on talking. Gusto ko sana siyang tanungin kung may update ba siya tungkol sa totoong ama ko. Last time, he offered to hire investigators to find out who my biological dad is, but I declined. Maybe I could save that discussion for another time.

Lumipas ang ilan pang minuto bago kami nakarating sa tapat ng apartment ni Tita Martha. The driver pulled the car to the side. Agad siyang lumabas para buksan ang pinto ko. Uunahan ko na sana siya nang magsalita ang papa ko.

"Lorelei," he called me. I twisted in my seat to face him. He looked better now than he was moments ago. "While I'm in this city, I hope we could have lunch or dinner together. We haven't had eaten together in months. Look at it as another step in the right direction."

I beamed at him. Again, that wasn't a step, but a leap. "Sure, dad. I will make myself available."

"Thank you." He patted my shoulder. "Take care always."

"You too, dad."

Lumabas na ako sa sasakyan pagkabukas ng driver sa pinto. I shot one last glance at my dad as the driver shut the door. Tumayo ako sa tapat ng gate at hinintay na makaalis ang kanyang sasakyan.

"Miss Lorelei, galing siya sa ospital, hindi sa airport. Naospital siya noong nakaraang linggo kaya hindi niya kayo agad napuntahan."

I looked at the driver who hastily went back to his seat. He spoke as fast as he could. Ayaw niya sigurong mapansin ni papa na may sinasabi siya sa akin.

Natulala ako habang pinagmamasdan ang pag-alis ng kotse niya. All I could think of right now was his health and safety.

q.e.d.

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