Chasing Dreams, Losing Her.

Chapter 52 The Long Wait, And Unwanted Re.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Iris's Point Of View

Days turned into weeks. She promised she would come back. She promised no matter what happens, she would find a way to reach me. But as each day passed, all I got was silence....complete, heavy silence.

I checked my phone almost every hour. I opened our messages, read her last text over and over again, hoping na baka may mga text messages siya. But the screen stayed the same. No missed calls, no new notifications, no explanation.

At first, I told myself to be patient. She said it's dangerous, She said no contact is the only way to keep me safe.

But after two weeks, that feeling of understanding slowly turned into doubt, then into pain.

It's been a long day of work, I won another case this morning. But that win didn't even made me smile kahit sandali lang.

I drove back home, with the hope na sana pag-uwi ko mamaya ay nasa labas siya ng bahay ko. I decided to change route, dadaan muna ako sa bahay niya.

Their subdivision is quite huge, so I could drive around kahit sandali lang. I drove past some big elegant houses, before I finally reached her house.

While waiting for her, binuhos ko ang lahat ng oras ko sa trabaho just to I could forget the time. Every night after work, I would purposely drive around here in their neighborhood. Nagbabakasakali na nakauwi na siya, but her house was just surrounded with dim lights.

And just like any other nights, ganon pa rin. Walang pinagbago, she's still not home.

Balak ko pa sanang pumasok, but my stomach told me not to. I haven't eaten anything today, and I think the next day nalang siguro ako papasok sa bahay niya. I've been constantly going in and out of her house for quite some time, I have her spare key with me.

Napulot ko lang 'to before when I was about to leave her house, nakita ko lang malapit sa garden. So I picked it up, I was about to give it back pero she insisted na itago ko nalang daw. So incase I would miss her, I could just go here.

I just took another quick glance to her house before driving away.

The drive was quiet, just the sound of the engine and the soft music playing on the car. My mind was still full of thoughts, kung kailan ba siya babalik? Or is she ever gonna come back? And that feeling again, na parang may nakasunod. But I tried to ignore it, focusing on the road instead.

After a few minutes, I saw the familiar sign of 7-Eleven up ahead. It was the nearest one, just a short drive from my place. I slowed down, signaled to turn, and parked the car in one of the empty slots near the entrance.

I turned off the engine, took a deep breath, and looked around quickly. As usual, wala naman akong nakikitang nakatingin ng direct saakin, but I noticed that same dark vehicle I've seen before parked a little further down the street, far enough to not be obvious, but close enough to stay in sight.

Every time I went out, whether to buy food, mag lakad-lakad, go to work, or just sit in the park, I felt it.

Parang may nakatingin. Not in a scary or threatening way, but constant.

When I looked around, there was no one staring directly at me.

But I would notice the same black van parked a few houses away, or mga taong naka shirt na parang naghihintay lang or nagtetext sa phone nila.

Whenever I tried to walk closer para makita kung sino sila, dahan-dahan lang silang aalis o tatalikod agad, as if they don't want me to see them clearly.

At first, I thought I was just imagining things. But I never felt in danger, actually. It was the opposite, I felt strangely safe, like nothing bad could happen to me. But that only made it more confusing.

May kakaiba. There was something off, but I couldn't point out what it was. So I just let it slip in my mind, hinayaan ko nalang at hindi na inisip ba.

I just went inside of the store and picked some pre-cooked meals I could just eat while driving.

_____

A week later.....

She should be home anytime soon. It has been almost three weeks already. I kept repeating what Zarya told me it will only take two to three weeks, then she'll be back.

So every single day, I waited. I expected her to arrive anytime soon. Baka ngayon, maybe tomorrow...or another day. But one day turned into another, and wala talaga. Not even one call, not even a short text.

I was still sitting at my desk in the office, trying to focus on my work, pero nasa kaniya ang isip ko. My eyes kept going back to my phone placed right beside my papers.

Every time the screen lit up or made a soft sound, I get excite. Only to feel disappointed when it was just a work update or a random notification.

"She promised," I whispered to myself. She said she will come back. She said it's just to keep me safe. But the longer the silence lasted, the heavier my chest felt.

Questions keep running through my mind, kung babalik ba talaga siya, or iniwan ulit ako for the second time?

I didn't even notice that my eyes were getting blurry until a tear fell straight onto the paper I was reading. I quickly wiped them with the back of my hand, trying to pull myself together.

Ang bigat sa pakiramdam. It felt like waiting for something that might never come, and I had no one to ask or talk to about it.

When it was time to go home, I packed my things slowly, still feeling empty.

I walked down to the parking area and found my car in its usual slot.

The place was quiet na, most people had already left.

Beside my car was a black sedan, which is pinagtaka ko because it should be Attorney Gomez's car.

Hindi naman sa kaniya 'to, his car is white bmw.

I was just about to open my car door when suddenly, a strong hand grabbed my arm and pulled me away. Before I could even shout, he pushed me toward the black car parked right beside mine.

"Bitawan mo ko! Let go of me! Who are you?!" I struggled, trying to pull my arm back. My heart was beating so fast, dahil sa kaba.

But the man did not answer. He did not even look at me properly, and I couldn't see his face. He was wearing a glasses and face mask. He just opened the back door of his car and pushed me gently but firmly inside.

"Move," he said in a low, flat voice.

I had no choice but to slide further inside. I felt strange, parang may kung anong bigat. My mind kept telling me I should run. I have to escape. I don't know this person, and I need to get out of here right now.

But something felt off. There was this strange, heavy feeling inside me, parang may pumipigil sa akin na hindi ko alam kung ano.

I wanted to move fast or fight back, but myself was keeping me from doing so.

It felt like I couldn't control my own actions properly.

Hindi ko maipaliwanag, pero it's really a strange feeling.

Then he got in too and closed the door, locking it from the inside. Now we were sitting next to each other in the backseat.

"What do you need? Who are you?" I asked, my voice shaking a little, trying to sound brave.

He turned his head slightly toward me, and for a moment, there was silence.

At bigla siyang nagsalita...and his words hit me like a punch to the chest.

"I need my daughter."

My whole body froze. That voice... it was so familiar. I knew this voice. I had heard it many years ago, but it was something I tried so hard to forget, something I refused to hear again for the rest of my life.

My eyes went wide. I stared at him, my mind racing.

No... it can't be him. Not after all this time.

"Dad...?" I whispered, barely able to make the sound come out.

Slowly, he reached up. First, he took off his dark eyeglasses. Then he pulled down the black face mask covering his mouth and nose.

And there he was, malinaw na malinaw. Eric Valenti....The father who walked out of my life.

The moment I realized it was really him, my first reaction was to get away. I immediately reached for the door handle on my side, trying to pull it open and get out as fast as I could. My hands were shaking out of anger.

Pero bago ko pa man mabuksan ang pinto, his hand quickly reached out and gently but firmly held my wrist to stop me.

"Chiara, please...let's talk," he said, his voice calm but serious.

I pulled my hand away sharply, as if his touch burned me. Ayaw kong madikit man lang sa kanya. I turned my face away, looking straight ahead instead of at him.

"There is no need to talk. We have nothing to talk about, Eric." I answered, cold and sharp.

He let out a small sigh, like he expected this reaction. "Is that really how you talk to your own father?"

"You are no dad of mine. I grew up without a father, and honestly? I am happy about it. I learned to stand on my own two feet without you." I let out a short, bitter laugh, still not looking at him.

"Chiara, I am sorry," he said, and for the first time his voice sounded softer, like he really meant it. "I know I left you and your mother, and I know it was wrong. But I came back now because I want you to come with me. Go back to the US with me."

Finally, I turned my head to face him, my eyes burning with so much emotion. Anger, pain, and confusion all mixed together. Hindi ko maipaliwanag kung gaano kabigat ang nararamdaman ko.

"Pathetic," I said clearly. "Where did you even get the guts to show up here?

After how many years? I couldn't even remember exactly how long it's been, because you were gone for so long it felt like you never existed at all.

And now you just appear out of nowhere and tell me to go back to the US with you? Just like that?"

"Chiara, listen," he said, leaning forward a little. "I have everything now. I built a name, I have money and resources. I can provide you anything you want, anything you could ever need. I just need you to stay by my side, learn every step I took."

I shook my head fast, not letting him finish. Ang lakas ng loob niyang sabihin 'yan sa akin.

"There is no need," I said firmly. "Where were you during those times when I actually needed everything?

When we had nothing, when I was struggling just to finish school and put food on the table?

You were gone. And now? I can give everything to myself.

I can provide for everything I need on my own.

I don't need your money, your name, or your help.

Why did you even show up out of nowhere?

What made you think I am still that dumb little kid who would just happily follow you? "

"I know I made a mistake," he insisted, looking straight into my eyes. "But now I have built something big, and I want you to be part of it. Because you are my daughter too."

I stared right back at him, no fear in my eyes anymore, only truth.

"Yes, maybe biologically I am your daughter.

But you are not my father. There is no father and daughter bond between us anymore.

I couldn't even remember what it feels like to have a father, because you left before I even got to know what that means. "

"Chiara, you have a brother," he said, trying another way to make me understand. "Together, you two could make our name even stronger. You and your brother will be the legacy of everything I worked for."

That only made me more annoyed. Parang gamit lang ang tingin niya sa akin??

"First of all," I said, raising my voice just a little.

"don't you even dare use me as a foundation for your own gain.

I am not a tool to make your name look better.

And second? I don't care if I have a brother.

I am an only child to my mother. I don't have any siblings, and I don't want any.

I don't need to babysit or get along with anyone...

especially not the son of my father's mistress. "

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, nag aantay lang for his defense, but deep inside I already knew na kahit anong sabihin niya, it would never be enough to fix all the years he was gone.

Ramdam ko agad na seryoso ang usapan, pero hindi ko pa rin alam kung dapat ba akong maniwala sa kanya o hindi. My heart was still beating fast from the shock of seeing him again after so many years.

"I just want you to come with me. That way, you will be safe. I only want to keep you protected, Chiara." He looked at me straight in the eyes, his voice calm but firm.

"Safe from what? Protect me from who? I have been doing fine on my own all these years. I built my life here peacefully. I don't need anything from you, not even your protection." I frowned and shook my head, annoyed by his words.

He let out a slow breath, like he expected me to say that. Lumapit siya ng kaunti saakin, and stared at me straight in the eye.

"My name is getting bigger. But the higher I rise, the more enemies I make. They will dig into every part of my life just to find something to use against me. And sooner or later, they will find out about you."

My jaw tightened. Parang gusto ko nang tumakbo at umalis, pero may kung anong bigat sa dibdib ko na nagpapaisip sa akin. Was he telling the truth? Or was this just another excuse to interfere in my life again?

I reached for the door handle, ready to open it and leave. "Don't drag me into the mess you created for yourself. Please...do not ruin my life again, Eric. You already hurt us enough when you left."

Before I could pull the handle, he spoke again. this time, his voice was deeper, and it made my hand stop moving.

"Think about your mother too. If they find out you are my daughter, they will not only come after you. They will go after her as well. She is the closest person to you, and that makes her the easiest target."

My whole body froze. Parang may dumagan sa dibdib ko nang marinig ko 'yun.

My mother—the only person I cared about more than anything in this world. The thought of her being in danger made my head spin.

I turned to look at him, confused and torn. Gusto kong isipin na nagsisinungaling lang siya, pero paano kung totoo? Paano kung mapahamak talaga siya because of the blood running in my veins?

I felt trapped, like no matter what I did, there was no way to completely separate myself from who he was.

"Please." I said, my voice shaking a little from the mix of anger and fear. "Do not drag me and my mother into this mess. We have nothing to do with your business, your name, or your fucking enemies. We lived without you for so long, and we can keep living without you. Just... leave us alone."

I didn't wait for him to reply. I pulled the door open quickly, at lumabas na agad. I walked fast back to my own car, my legs feeling a little weak.

When I got out of his car, I noticed a few men in the parking area. Wala namang tao dito kanina except saamin, how did they get here? But I did not bother to press further, they looked casual naman. Nothing big of a deal, hindi ko nalang din pinansin.

Once I was inside and locked the doors, I leaned my head against the steering wheel. Ang gulo ng isip ko. Part of me wanted to believe that he was just trying to scare me so I would go with him.

But another part of me knew deep down, wala naman kaming kinalaman sa mga problema niya, pero sa mata ng ibang tao, we are still connected. I was his daughter, and that fact alone could put us both in danger, whether I liked it or not.

I started the engine, but I didn't drive right away. I just sat there, feeling more confused and worried than ever before.

I drove all the way home, but my mind was completely somewhere else. Hindi pa rin nag sink in sa isip ko na nakita ko na naman siya. After all those years, our path crossed again. I was still mad, still shocked, and everything felt like a bad dream.

When I reached our house, I stopped right in front of the gate. Hindi muna ako bumaba ng kotse. I just sat there, gripping the steering wheel so tight.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck! Why does he have to come back?

" I screamed under my breath, frustration building up inside me.

"You never really bring anything good into my life.

All you ever bring is chaos and pain. Bakit ba kailangan mo pang bumalik dito?

Why do I have to see you again? I never wanted any of this to happen! "

It was just too much. I was already waiting and worrying for Zarya, she promised to come back, but until now, hindi pa rin siya nagpapakita.

And now, on top of that, my father suddenly appears out of nowhere, saying things that make me scared for my own mother.

All that worry, anger, and confusion hit me at the same time, and before I knew it, tears started falling down my face.

Hindi ko na napigilan, everything felt heavy.

Then suddenly, I saw movement from inside. The gate opened, and my mother walked out.

In a split second, I forced myself to calm down. Agad kong pinunasan ang mga luha ko and composed myself. I rolled down the window, trying to look normal as if nothing happened.

"Good evening, anak. Sobrang busy mo ba at ginabi kana" she said gently, smiling at me.

I didn't answer right away, I just nodded slowly, drove the car inside, and parked it in the garage.

Before I stepped out, I glanced at the rearview mirror and saw her closing the gate behind me. Bigla akong kinabahan, parang takot that something might happen. Terrified na baka mawala rin siya sa akin. The thought that she could be in danger because of my father's enemies made my chest feel tight.

I got out of the car, and as soon as she came closer, I pulled her into a tight, warm hug like I was making sure she was really there and safe.

She was surprised but patted my back gently. "Bakit? Okay ka lang ba? Masama ba ang pakiramdam mo?"

I pulled back a little, forcing a small smile. "I'm fine, ma. I'm just hungry. Did you cook dinner?"

I tried so hard to act like everything was normal, parang walang nangyari kanina, as if I haven't seen the man who ruined our life.

She laughed softly and nodded. "Oo, pinagluto kita. Kanina pa 'yun, iinitin ko na lang para sa'yo. Tara, pasok na tayo. Maligo ka muna, parang pagod ka, at amoy kalsada ka na eh."

I let out a soft, bittersweet laugh. It didn't feel completely happy, but being near her made the heavy feeling a little lighter. We walked side by side into the house, and I promised myself I would do everything to keep her safe....no matter what.