I angrily stormed the office of my father. Pinigilan ako ng secretary nito pero tinulak ko lang ito palayo. Nakita kong napatigil si Daddy sa pagbabasa sa hawak niya. Perhaps, memo? I don't care. I am so mad.
"What is this, Dad? Why am I not allowed to take fucking entrance examinations sa Ateneo? Even UNC and USI are rejecting me!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.
"Because you are not going to study there." Kalmado nitong wika sa akin.
Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. Is he trying to destroy my future?
"Are you trying to destroy my plans for myself?" Inis kong bulalas sa kanya.
I saw how my Dad clapped his hands, hudyat na galit na siya sa akin.
"You are destroying yourself, little Pascal." He said marking every words with anger.
Hindi ako nagpatinag kay Daddy. I angrily looked at him, "What do you want my friends to think about me? Na hindi ko na afford mag-aral sa private school?" I spat at him.
All my life, I was sheltered. I am currently studying at Brent International School. And God! I am targeting Ateneo because I want to study Tourism!
"You're going to study at BSU. I already had your papers fixed. All you need to do is study there by August." I clenched my fists.
"BSU? What course do you expect me to pursue? Engineering? Architecture? Education?" My father let out a loud laugh.
I felt insulted, "Hija, your grades didn't even meet the required grades for that courses. You're taking up Food Science, there are slots so they put you there." He smiled at me.
"Don't you trust me?" I whispered, accepting defeat.
"You're wasting our money by always having fun. It's time for you to get serious on your life. Hindi kana bata, hija" He said in a low voice.
Pinunasan ko ang luhang nagbadyang rumami. I nodded and walked out in front of him. His secretary just bowed at me. Agad akong pumasok sa sasakyan at saka sinenyasan ang driver na umuwi na.
Walang gana akong pumasok sa kwarto ko. I locked myself there and buried myself with tears. My Dad is the mayor of this city. We owned a lot of business here in Naga. Kilala si Daddy kaya nang tumakbong mayor ay binoto ng marami. He even bought Plaza Rizal with his own money at saka inayos ito. Ika niya'y asset pa raw.
My Mom died when I was thirteen years old. That was the most devastating day of our lives. I saw how my Daddy mourned because of the death of my mother, his true love.
Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko ng mamatay si Mommy. We are the richest family here in Naga. I wasted money having fun with my friends. Napalala ngayong nag edad ako ng seventeen.
I am an incoming first year college student. I am not going to take my dream path because I am not smart and it would be a waste of money for my Dad.
Dad hired tutors for me. It's just that, hindi talaga ako matalino. I had accepted that, a long time ago.
Maganda naman ako. I have this foreign feature. Maputi matangkad, my height is around 5'7, my body is an example of a body goals dahil sa curves ko. I have long eyelashes, thick eyebrows, pumpy lips, perfectly placed cheekbone and jaw. Kinulang lang talaga sa utak. I guess, we really don't get to have everything.
"Ma'am Donna, baba na raw po kayo. Dinner na po." Labag sa loob kong inayos ang sarili ko.
I went down on the dining table. My Dad is busy eyeing me. I smiled at him.
"Sorry, but you locking yourself in your room won't make me pity you, hija." He said the moment I sat down.
"Come on, Dad. I'm here to eat." Walang gana kong tugon sa kanya.
Hinayaan ko na ang mga katulong namin na maglagay ng pagkain sa plato ko. Tinaasan ako ng kilay ng magaling kong tatay.
"For God's sake, hindi ka na bata para magpalagay pa ng pagkain sa plato mo." Napairap na lang ako at saka inagaw na kay Manang ang serving spoon.
I started eating, not minding the looks my Dad is giving me.
"I'll enrol you in a summer class." I stopped eating at saka tamad na tumingin sa kanya.
"I won't get to travel?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.
God! I always do travel every summer! Target ko pa naman ngayon ang Batanes pero mukhang hindi matutuloy dahil sa mga plano ni Daddy para sa akin!
"Summer class, hija. I'll hire a chef to teach you how to cook." Walang gana akong tumayo sa sinabi niya.
"Yeah, summer home-schooled class. What a nice plan!" I sarcastically said.
Matapos kumain ay umakyat na ako sa aking kwarto. My friends are itching to travel with their families. Habang ako, sa bahay buong summer at magluluto. What a life!
I opened my phone and surfed the net. Mapait akong napangiti ng makita ang dream job ko. I won't get to be lost in the skies because I'll get lost with foods.
Ni hindi ko nga alam kung ano ba yang food science na yan eh! Magluluto ba ako diyan? Ni hindi nga ako marunong magbukas ng gasul dito sa amin.
The thought of how I am going to spend my summer has now come to reality.
Labag sa loob akong bumaba sa aking kwarto para mag attend ng 'home schooled summer class.'
Bilib din ako kay Daddy dahil ang kinuha niyang chef ay galing pa sa Apicius - isang sikat na culinary school dito sa Naga.
"Good morning, Miss Pascal." The Chef smiled at me.
I smiled at her, "Hello, Ma'am."
"Ah!" Agad akong napalayo sa kalan matapos makitang umapoy ito.
The Chef smiled at me, "That's natural, miss."
I shyly smiled at her and nodded. Malamang, hindi ko alam, first time nga diba? Kainis! Napapahiya ako eh!
Nasundan pa iyon. Almost everyday ang cooking class ko. Hindi ko nga alam kung kailan ba to mauubusan ng recipe na ituturo sa akin.
There's this time where I am crying while chopping the onions. Fuck! Ang sakit sa mata!
I even got myself burned because of those stupid oils while frying egg!
"I cooked that, Dad." Mayabang kong welcome kay Daddy nang makauwi na ito galing sa city hall.
My Dad looked at me with amusement in his eyes. I cooked tinola for dinner. Syempre, madaling lutuin at tsaka perfect nakuha kong score dito!
"Are you excited for tomorrow?" Dad asked while chewing his food.
I rolled my eyes. Syempre, hindi! Eh hindi ko naman iyon dream school! I'm sure cheap ang mga naroon!
"Yeah! I can't wait to study at BSU!" I giggled when in fact halos masuka na ako para bukas.
Hi, BSU. Make your way for the queen of this city.
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This is the second installment of BSU SERIES!