#ChainedtothePastWP

Chapter 27
Happy

"Everyone, once again, this is my daughter, Clementine Laureen Guillermo." Since there was no positive engagement from the crowd earlier, my mother had to repeat her words.

This time, the hall was slowly filled with the sound of applause from the invited guests. I could see their faces filled with amusement apart from my father. He was still frozen on his feet, while staring at me with disbelief, even when some of his friends were talking to him, probably asking about me.

"Darling, say something to everyone..." Mom smiled and passed me the microphone.

She already told me the things that I should say. It's one of the things we talked about during lunch. She wanted me to just say my name and tell everyone personally that I'm alive and I survived the kidnapping incident. No need to say the details. I have to be vague.

Trying my best not to embarrass myself and my mother, I channeled my mother's grace in my blood and chanted inside my head, 'I'm Caroline Kate Zapanta's daughter, I can do this.' I did that a few times before I decided to speak.

"Hello, everyone," I greeted the guest with a confident smile on my face. "My name is Clementine Guillermo, the daughter of Caroline Zapanta and Napoleon Guillermo―"

Still not through with my words, everyone started to clap their hands after my short introduction. I was just standing on the stage, but it felt like I was teetering on the edge of the cliff, while looking over the sea of people acknowledging my presence here on stage. They were looking up to me like I was some kind of a Goddess.

After a shortwhile, the applause finally subsided. I remained smiling, not showing any sign of nervousness to all these strangers, even when I could feel the whole zoo running around my stomach, and I feel like throwing up.

"Thank you for the warm welcome," I said. "I'm here in front of everyone, the guests and the media, to tell you all that I'm alive." I returned my yearning gaze to my father with tears flowing on his cheeks. "I survived the kidnapping incident. The kidnappers failed to kill me because I was able to escape. It took me more than a decade, but I'm back now."

I'm on the verge of tearing up, while looking at my father.

"I'm back..." I whispered those words as sincere as I could.

Mukhang napansin ni mommy na medyo nagiging emosyonal na ako kaya kinuha na niya sa aking ako mikropono. "As much as possible, I want my daughter's life to be private. And this is the reason why I asked press and media to attend this event," sabi niya sa lahat. "She grew up in a quiet and private environment. She's not used to the exposure. This will be the first and last time she'd be exposed to the media. If I see anyone violating my daughter's privacy, rest assured that I will resort into filing legal charges."

After her reminders and request to the media, mommy turned to me and held my back gently. I leaned towards her to hear her whisper.

"Go with Kalcifer now and return to the lounge."

I nodded at my mother and bid one last smile to the guests before I turned my back on them and started walking out of the stage. Kalcifer was waiting for me to reach him. Determined to go back, I walked faster. But that determination was shuttered when I heard someone shouted, in the midst of my mother concluding her speech.

"Clementine!"

Hearing my father's voice, I stopped on my tracks. The pain on his voice stabbed my heart.

"Clementine, don't go, my princess! Let's talk!"

Unti-unting nanlabo ang aking mga mata. Nawala sa aking paningin si Kalcifer dahil sa paglabo nito at lalo na nang nilingon kong pabalik ang aking ama. I saw him trying to go up on the stage, but Kalcifer's men were trying to stop him from doing so. Another group of men appeared, trying to protect my father. It must be his bodyguards.

My mother was slightly stunned because of the commotion my father did. She was just staring at him. She had completely forgotten her words.

"Clementine!" My father shouted my name again.

Iyon ang nagtulak sa akin para humakbang papalapit sa kanya, pero bago pa ako makagalaw ay hinila ako pabalik ni Kalcifer sa kanya. He went on the stage to get me back. He held my hand tightly.

"Let's go back now, Clem," he told me.

"Kalcifer, si daddy..." Tuluyan nang bumuhos ang luha ko. "S-si daddy..."

"We will take him to you as planned," he said and assured me. "Just go back for now. Please, Clem..."

Labag man sa aking loob, tuluyan na akong sumama kay Kalcifer pabalik sa lounge para matigil na rin ang paglaki ng komosyon. My heart was bleeding as my father kept on shouting my name until his voice faded as we went farther and farther.

The lounge was awfully quiet when Kalcifer and I got inside. He immediately pulled his phone out to make a call. "Bring Napoleon Guillermo inside the lounge," he instructed his men. "Where's Tita Caroline? Okay, take care of her... I'm here with Clementine. Okay. Bye."

After the quick call, he put the phone back on his suit's pocket.

It had been only three minutes, when the other door bursted open. My eyes darted on the door. I stood up right away when I saw my father being escorted by Kalcifer's men.

"Where's my daughter―" My father stopped when he saw me just standing right in front of him, with only a short distance separating us from each other.

His eyes, which were filed with rage, immediately softened at the sight of me. Another set of tears streamed down his face as he took big steps on his way to me.

I met him halfway, throwing myself to him. I couldn't wait any longer. "Daddy!" I cried out of happiness that I finally got to hug him again after so many years. "I'm sorry, daddy..."

"My princess..." He tightened his embrace and kissed the side of my head. "I love you, darling. I love you so much."

I could feel his sincerity and his overflowing love for me when he said those words. I had never seen my father cry until tonight. I thought he was a very tough men who would never shed tears, but he was crying in front of me. He's crying for me!

Dapat ay makaramdam ako ng galit sa kanya dahil sa ginawa niya sa aming dalawa ni mommy, pero ngayong nasa harapan ko na siya ay mas nangibabaw ang pagmamahal ko para sa kanya. Nevertheless, I still wanted to hear out his reasons. I wanted to know why he did what he did.

Releasing me from his hug, he gently cupped my face with his warm and big hands. He looked into my face like he's memorizing how I look. He's been seriously staring at me until his lips broke into a smile and released my face from his hold. "You're so beautiful..." he whispered in awe. "You look so much like your mother―a classic and timeless beauty."

Hearing my father praised me was like hearing him praise my mother, too.

"Thank God, you're alive..." he whispered again, and his hand touched my cheek. "Thank God..."

I smiled at my father. "I missed you, daddy," I told him. "I'm sorry for not coming back soon."

He shook his head and smiled back. "The important thing is that you're still alive," he said, and his hand traveled down to my wrist. "Seeing you again in front of me in flesh, and I could still feel your heart beating, you don't know how happy I am, Clementine. This is more than I could ever ask for."

"And now that you finally met your daughter again, you can leave now."

The sharpness of my mother's voice filled the room, which made the atmosphere turned cold.

My father's smile faded. I saw a flicker of pain in his eyes before he turned to my mother who was wearing an expressionless face with her head held up high.

"If it's okay with you, Caroline, I would like to speak with our daughter and spend more time with her alone," Dad asked her as formal as he could.

Mom's jaw clenched. "Well, I'm sorry, Napoleon, but it's not okay with me."

"Caroline, please don't be unreasonable," Dad tried to plead my mother. "Clementine is also my daughter. She's our daughter."

"If you want to talk to my daughter, do it in front of me," mariing sabi ni mommy. "Kung hindi pabor sa'yo 'yon, you're free to leave."

Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi. Hindi ako makapaniwala na ganito na ang nangyari sa mga magulang ko. Dati ay ramdam na ramdam mo ang pagmamahal na mayroon sila para sa isa't isa, pero ngayon ay para silang estrangherong magkausap na mayroong samaan ng loob.

"Let me be honest with you, Napoleon." Mom gritted her teeth. "I don't trust you to be alone with my daughter. Hell, if it wasn't for her wishes, I wouldn't even allow you to meet her again. You don't deserve to meet her after letting her down and stop believing in her."

Dad averted his eyes from my mother. He can't look straight at her, and I knew for sure that he was feeling guilty.

"But I will do everything for Clementine. I will do whatever it takes to make her happy, even if it's against me..." she said, her every word dripping with pain.

"'Mmy..." Lumapit ako sa aking inang punong-puno pa rin ng galit.

Sumulyap siya sa akin. Her eyes were already bloodshot. I was sure that she was trying her best not to shed tears in front of the man who hurt her. She wanted to look strong in front of him. She wouldn't allow him to see her flaws.

I guess I have no choice for tonight...

Gusto ko mang makasama si daddy nang mas matagal upang makausap siya, pero alam kong hindi ngayon ang tamang oras. My mother was on the verge of breaking down because of anger and pain. Siguro ay hindi niya pa masyadong magamay ang emosyon niya lalo na't unang pagkikita pa lang nila ni daddy na narito ako. She still needed some time.

Since she granted me my wish to invite him into this event and let me meet him tonight, I should repay her for that. Ako naman ang magsasakripisyo para sa kanya ngayon.

"Ma, halika na po..." pag-aya ko sa kanya. "Umuwi na po tayo."

Her lips parted. Maybe she didn't expect that I would ask her to come home, especially when I just met my father after how many years. Well, my mother should know now that I love her more than anything.

I love my father, but nothing can be compared to the love I have for my mother. I was her only family left, so I'll make sure that she would never feel the gap inside her heart.

"C-Clem... No, please, stay..." Dad begged when he heard me leaving.

I turned to him and smiled, giving him an assurance. "Don't worry, daddy..." I told him. "We will meet again. I promise you that."

Looking at his eyes, I could tell that he didn't want me to go so soon. If he could be selfish and take me with him, he would do it even if my mother's against it.

"But for now, I have to go home with mommy..."

He turned to my mother again. Just like when he was looking at me earlier, I could feel his longingness while staring at his ex-wife and ex-lover. Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang sakit at pag-aalala sa kanyang mga mata. I knew he still loves her. Mahal niya pa rin si mommy, pero alam ko rin na kahit ano'ng gawin niya ay hinding-hindi siya mapapatawad nito.

"Okay..." He sighed, giving up his chance.

"Thank you, daddy." I knew he would understand. That's Napoleon Guillermo. He may be a ruthless businessman, but he's a kind and loving man, especially to his family.

"But..." he added and suddenly pulled his phone out. He walked closer and offered his phone to me. "Please give me your number, so that I can contact you."

Nodding my head, I received his phone. His lockscreen was plain black, but I was surprised to see his homescreen because it was our family picture from years ago. This was when we went to Disneyland.

To be honest, I thought he would have Arlene as his wallpaper, but it wasn't. I didn't expect that it would be our picture.

I wanted to ask him about it, but I just bit my lower lip to stop myself, while I quickly typed and saved my number on his phone. Since I gave him my number, there would be more opportunities to meet and talk to him. For now, I'd settle into meeting him again.

My father gave me one last hug and a kiss on my forehead like what my mother always does to me. He also bid thanks to my mother before he finally left the lounge.

Nang makaalis si daddy ay tuluyang bumagsak si mommy sa sofa. Nilamutak ang puso ko ng sakit nang makita ko ang luhang nakatakas sa kanyang mga mata.

"I'm sorry, darling..." she apologized to me. "I ruined it for you. I just can't really control my emotions, especially when I saw you two. Hindi ko mapigilan na makaramdam ng galit at sakit."

Shaking my head, I smiled at her. "Thank you, mommy," I expressed my gratitude to her. "Thank you for letting me meet him. It made me happy."

She nodded her head and pulled me for a hug. "Then everything's all worth it..." she whispered. "You are happy―that's all I want you to be."

While my chin's rested on my mother's shoulder, I looked up to Kalcifer and saw him watching us with a gentle smile on his lips, but as soon as he saw me looking at him, his lips formed into a grim line, and then he suddenly talked to his right-hand man, whose name I would never know.