#TD02

"You're fat and ugly Trisha," my boy classmate teased and because of that, all of my classmates laughed at me

I glared at him. "Who are you calling fat? You're the ugly one! Sumbong kita kay daddy!" I fired back

They ignored me and their laugh only got louder. I clenched my fist in anger while looking at all of them.

"What? Are you going to cry and call our teacher?" he mocked and went closer to my face

I was about to hit him in the face when someone held my hand from behind. I looked up and saw Kai holding it. Everyone went silent.

I gulped. "Kai.."

He sighed and pulled me away from our classmates. I looked behind and stuck my tongue out at them. Kai and I stopped at the end of the hallway. He faced me, still holding my hand.

"What did I tell you Tris?"

My brows furrowed. "What? I didn't do anything," I answered innocently

He licked his lips. "I already informed the teachers about the bullies. Hindi ka na nila guguluhin pa."

I scrunch my nose. "I doubt that."

"They'll probably get scared of you if you hit one of them," he teased

I pouted. "I don't care if they'd avoid me."

"You seem not affected by them anymore. Are you?"

"Hmm, well just a little bit. I just get awkward when they tease us."

He squeezed my hand gently. "I don't mind. I'm worried if it bothers you."

I blushed and managed to smile. "I'm okay now. Kapag hindi pa sila tumigil, susumbong ko na sila kay papa," I firmly said

He chuckled. "Okay. Do you want ice cream?"

My face lit up. I nodded in excitement. "Yes!"

***

"Daddy. Kailan uuwi si mommy?" I asked him while he's busy reading cases on his desk. I walked around his office and looked at the books on his shelves

"Soon princess."

"Hmm. I miss mommy."

"I miss her too."

"Kailan niyo po siya huling nakausap?"

"I, uh, can't remember. Do you want to call her?"

I nodded. "Yes po."

He put down the papers and took his phone out. I walked towards him and watched him dialed her number. We waited for a few seconds but no answer.

"Hmm, I guess she's busy," dad said

I sighed. "I don't know who is busier than the two of you. I miss our family bondings."

He gently patted my head. "Don't worry princess. I'm sure your mom will come home. Maybe next month? She's still processing some documents."

I nodded. He then went back to working again. I remained standing beside him, taking a peek of the cases in front of him but I was too small to reach for it that some fell on the floor. I gasped and immediately picked it up.

"Oops! Sorry daddy.."

He got the cases from me and arranged them neatly on the desk. "Thank you."

"Daddy. When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer just like you."

He looked at me, amused. "Really? Why?"

I smiled sweetly. "Just because...I want to be like you."

His lips curved into a smile. "Do you even know what and how my job works?"

My lips parted. "Uhm...you read a lot of books and documents."

He chuckled. "That's not the only thing I do."

I snapped my fingers. "Ah! You go to the court and speak!"

"My job, or should I say, a lawyers job is to represent clients in court infront of the judge. We also provide legal advice and guidance," he explained

I slowly nodded in response. "But I haven't seen you in court yet. I hope someday I can. Pwede naman po ako 'di ba?"

"Yes. When I'm not busy, I'll bring you too."

My smile grew wider. "I'm excited!"

"But just so you know, my job is not easy. I spent hours and hours preparing for the case before facing the court."

My excitement turned to curiosity. It made me want to pursue law too. "I want to get to know more about your work daddy. Tell me more."

"I'll tell you more when you grow up so you could understand better."

I pouted.

"You're still young and your dream might change too. May iba ka pa bang naiisip?"

I played with my pigtails. "Hmm, mahilig po ako magdrawing. I could be an architect."

He smiled. "That's a good option too."

"But above all, I want to be like you!" I cheered

A soft giggle escaped my lips when he suddenly carried me and let me sat on his lap. "Right now, I'm going to tell how much I'm proud of you my princess. Whatever you become in the future, I'll always be here to guide you."

I laid my head on his chest. "Thank you daddy. I love you so much!"

"I love you too."

We were then interrupted by a phone call. Daddy picked up his phone on the desk. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw it was mommy. Daddy and I exchanged looks.

"It's mommy!"

He then answered the call and put it on speaker.

"Hi hon."

"Hi mommy! We miss you!"

"Hi love. Hi anak. I miss you too! Sorry hindi ko nasagot kanina ang tawag niyo. Kakatapos lang ng shift ko. Have you guys eaten?"

"Yes po. I'm here at daddy's office. How about you mommy? It's night time there right?"

"Yes baby. I'm eating now. Baka masyado mo nanamang iniistorbo si daddy," she jokingly said

Daddy and I exchanged looks. I giggled. "I'm having fun in his office."

"My office is her playground," daddy jokingly said

Mommy laughed. "Oh you two. Baka hindi makapag-focus sa work si daddy."

"When are you coming home mommy?"

She wasn't able to answer right away.

"Hmm, maybe next month princess? Marami pa work ni mommy e. I'm sorry anak. I promise na babawi ako pag-uwi ko. Marami rin akong pasalubong sa'yo."

"Talaga po? All I want na pasalubong is you," I said sweetly

Daddy chuckled. "Ako gustong pasalubong," he said. "Trisha wants you home na hon."

"I'm sure you miss dad's cooking."

"I'll see you both soon, okay? I love you. Ingat kayo lagi."

"Mommy must be tired na," Dad told me. I nodded

"Okay mommy. Ingat din po kayo diyan. Pahinga na po ikaw."

"Stay safe and healthy hon. Don't overwork yourself. I love you," Dad said

"I love you both. Ingat din kayo."

***

"Kai. What's your dream?" I asked him while we're hanging around the playground of our school

"Dream?"

I nodded.

He looked away and thought deeply. "I don't know."

My brows furrowed. "Bakit naman?"

"I just don't know yet."

"But you're good at so many things. How come wala kang naiisip?"

He then sat on the swing next to me. 

"Ako. Ask me what's my dream," I said eagerly

He chuckled softly. "You already told me that countless times."

I laughed. "Bakit ba? Sige nga kung natatandaan mo."

"You said you want to be a lawyer like your dad."

I nodded. "You're right! Do you think I'll be as good as him?"

"Well, I guess so."

"Why are you laughing?"

He looked at me, hiding his smile. "Hmm? I just remembered when I was at your house the other day and your dad cooked merienda for us. At first I thought he was the strict type."

I stuck out my tongue to tease him. "Takot ka ba? Mabait kaya si papa sa lahat ng friends ko."

"I wasn't scared...just nervous that time. I eventually got comfortable around him. He's a funny guy too."

"Oh don't be nervous. I think he likes you," I said and his eyes widened in surprise. "Next time ulit kapag hindi siya busy, invite kita sa bahay. Si mommy ko rin malapit na umuwi. Makikilala ka rin niya. Share ko sa'yo mga pasalubong niya."

He smiled awkwardly. "Uh, I can't wait to meet her too."

"I want to meet your family too. Can I come to your house too?"

His lips parted. "Uhm, I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, lagi silang wala sa bahay. It's always me and my baby sister."

"Then I'd like to meet her."

He gave me a small smile. "Hmm, maybe next time, sure."

***

"Congratulations Trisha. You scored perfect in your math seatwork," my teacher said proudly with a huge smile on her lips. She then handed me my paper showing my score.

My eyes widened in surprise. "Yay! Thank you teacher."

"You also earned a star."

I clenched my fist and extended my arm to her. She then put a stamp of star on top of my hand. I looked at it and smiled widely.

"Thank you po."

"You're welcome. Keep up the good work!" she cheered

Some of my classmates clapped their hands for me and congratulated me. I looked at Kai and showed him my star stamp. He smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I then went back to my seat, still looking at my star.

"Thank you Kai for helping me with math. I finally got a perfect score!"

"You're welcome."

We celebrated each other's small victories and showed the star stamp we got.

"Kumopya lang naman 'yan kay Kai kaya perfect," I heard my classmate whispered

"Oo nga. Baka nag-cheat pa siya," the other one agreed

I frowned, offended by their accusations. I then confronted them. "Anong kumopya? I didn't copy Kai's seatwork and above all, I didn't cheat!" I defended. I felt like I was a boiling teapot that's about to blast off

They looked at me in shock. They were about to speak but Kai stopped them. They went silent all of a sudden. Kai then faced me calmly.

"Enough Tris."

I rolled my eyes at them. "Inggit. Wala kasi silang star."

From the corner of my eyes, I caught him smiling a bit. I looked at him again and his smile quickly disappeared. I pouted and looked at my star stamp instead. My lips slowly formed into a smile.

I can't wait to show this to daddy!

When I got home, I immediately searched for daddy but all I saw was yaya in the kitchen. 

"Hi yaya! San po si daddy?" I asked after putting my bag on the sofa

She faced me. "Trisha. Andito ka na pala. Nasa office ang daddy mo, as usual," she smiled

I then showed her my paper and star stamp on my hand. "Look yaya oh! I got a perfect score sa math and my teacher also gave me a star!" I said proudly

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Wow! Good job Trisha! I'm happy for you. I'm sure matutuwa din ang daddy mo kapag nalaman 'yan."

I nodded. I noticed she was making coffee on the counter so I tipped my toes and watched her. "Is that for daddy?"

She nodded. "Oo."

"Pwede akong magtimpla? Can you teach me po? I want to learn para ako nalang ang magtimpla sa kanya."

She looked down at me. "Talaga? Pero baka kasi makabasag ka o-"

"I won't. I'll be careful po. Please, yaya?" I pouted and gave her the puppy eyes

She smiled. "Okay. Hindi rin naman kita matitiis."

I clapped my hands in celebration. "Yay!"

We then sat down to the dining table and she began teaching me how to make coffee. I focused and tried my best to remember the instructions. I felt proud of myself after making one. I took a sip and it tasted good. I smiled and looked at yaya.

"It's pretty easy," I said. "Thank you po."

She gently caressed my hair. "You're welcome."

"Ako na po magdadala nito kay daddy sa taas."

Carefully, I held the cup of coffee and went upstairs to daddy's office. My hands were shaking a bit since I was nervous I might spill it. Finally, I've arrived in front of his office. I noticed it was opened. I slowly went inside and smiled upon seeing him.

"Daddy-"

"Let's just reschedule the hearing. Inaasikaso ko pa ang kaso ni Mr. Aquino. I told you. This is important. We can't mess this up attorney," he sounded angry while talking to someone on the other phone. His back was facing me. He sighed in frustration and ran his fingers through his hair. "Call them immediately for God's sake!"

I swallowed hard. I then slowly placed the coffee on top of his desk. "Daddy?"

He didn't notice my presence and got busy with the call. I noticed that his office was a bit messy. 

"Fine. I'll do it myself. Hindi na 'to kailangan patagalin pa. My wife is coming home soon."

Finally, he turned around and was surprised to see me. I smiled at him.

"Daddy-"

He shook his head. "Not now princess. I'm busy. Hindi ka pwede dito."

"But I have something to tell you-"

He sighed. "I said not now Trisha!"

I startled when he raised his voice at me. My lips parted. He looked at me for a brief moment then turned his back on me. He then continued to talk on the phone. I bit my lip to prevent my tears from falling. Slowly, I took a step back and quickly went out of his office. I went to my room and closed the door.

Daddy must be stressed with work. I shouldn't have entered his office. My timing was wrong. I hope he'd still drink the coffee I made for him.

I sighed while staring at my diary. If only I could call mommy and tell her what happened to my day today but I didn't know her number. I guess the only thing I can comfort me is my diary.

Dear Diary,

I don't know if I feel sad or happy. I got a perfect score in math with the help of my bestfriend Kai. I was excited to tell it to my daddy. I even made him coffee but things turned out pretty badly. He got mad at me. I hate it everytime he gets mad. I didn't mean to. I almost cried. 

Nonetheless, I must understand him. I thought maybe he's just stressed from work. I'm sure the next day, masaya na ulit. I just have to think positive. Malapit na umuwi si mommy at soon, makokompleto na ulit kami. Right now, iniisip ko na ang mga lugar na pwede naming pasyalan. I can't wait! 

I smiled after writing another day on my diary. The sadness that I was feeling a while ago automatically disappeared. I felt happy again. It made me look forward to the next days. I looked at my small calendar and counted the days left until mommy gets home. 

I closed my diary and yawned. My eyes were getting heavy but before I decided to sleep, I went out of my room to check on daddy. It's quite dark in the hallway. I walked silently towards his office. I knocked three times first before opening the door slowly.

"Daddy?" my voice echoed

The room was dark. I looked around to find him but got confused when he wasn't there. I called him again but no answer. That's when I knew he was gone. He must have left for work or maybe there was an emergency cause sometimes, he'd do that no matter how late it is. I sighed and closed the door.

Never thought that would be the last day I saw him..