Dad looked at me as if he were a sassy mean girl, complete with his hand now on his waist as he popped one hip out.
“Look, dad. I respect you. I respect our relationship, and I know all of this has been out of character for me. That you’re not used to me being this open with boys, and love. I know you look at me and still think I’m your little girl. In some ways, I would still be. But I’m going off to college soon, and I’d rather not have to keep things secret from you just to avoid feeling like I’m disappointing you,” I said, getting it off my chest.
I thought back to the night that I confessed to him, introduced my guys to him, and sometimes, I would wonder if under everything, maybe he was still questioning my choices.
Apart from the three, Dad was the next person I can think of to whom I can share my secrets too. Maybe we wouldn’t be as close as real best friends do because I’d rather die than let him be privy to my sex life, but I want him to be someone I can trust, knowing he wouldn’t judge me.
At the look on my face, he sighed, kneeling down in front of me as his own expression softened. “You’re not disappointing me,” he said, cupping both my cheeks in his palms, tapping them softly in a fatherly way. “If anything, I’m disappointed that maybe I’ve been too focused on work that we haven’t had a heart-to-heart talk in forever. You used to tell me about cute boys in school, you know? I’m not sure you remember, but you would, when I take you to Jodi’s and buy you a milkshake.”
Surprisingly, I do remember.
“Yeah, but that was in middle school. Even if you bribed me with milkshakes from Jodi’s now, don’t expect me to start talking about my guys like I would with a girl friend.”
My dad only chuckled, nodding and putting his hands on the couch on both sides of my knees. “Maybe not. But I do want to be the cool dad you talk to when you want to ask what kind of gifts one of your boyfriends would want for their birthday. Or when you need to cool down after a fight with them and you need meto pick you up. I realize now that by being strict, well, it might just push you farther away. Am I right?”
I pursed my lips, really thinking about it before I shook my head. “Maybe? I doubt it. You know I’m way too much of a people-pleaser. Though, I’d appreciate it if you trusted me to become my own person and explore.”
Dad broke into a smile at that, no doubt appreciating my honesty. “Good. I guess I don’t completely have you wrong,anak.”
He stared at me for a long time, then he nodded, spreading his arms wide. I took the cue, leaning in for a hug, and for once, I felt like the puzzle pieces in my life were falling into place.
Because a part of me always worried that I’d have to keep my dad and my guys separate. That this whole polygamy thing would be a problem, not with strangers who I don’t care about, but with my dad, who was an important part of my being.
“I love you,anak. I am always here for you, and please, just… just be safe,” he muttered to my temple, and I nodded, my hug around him tightening.
“I love you too, dad. Trust me when I say, you’re part of the reason I vow never to settle with men who won’t treat me right. How could I when I have a man like you as my dad?”
Instead of melting at my sweet talking, dad only laughed, pulling away, and turning around to walk back to the kitchen where he was cooking our dinner. “Ikaw talaga, mambobola ka. Sige na,you can go to your weekend thing.”
“Love you,” I sing-songed, standing up and heading up the stairs to start packing my overnight bag.
Out of habit, I looked out of my sheer curtains, seeing Nero topless, doing the same thing.
And all I could think about for the rest of the day was how I’m thankful that I had made no kind of promise to dad that we’donlybe studying.
32
COSETTE
“It’s 2.92.”
Nero was looking at me like I grew a second head, his brows furrowing, which made my blood boil.
What is up with him?
“It’s 4.30,” he countered in a flat tone.
“This is not working at all,” Dex spoke up, eyes flitting between Nero and me.
“What isn’t?” I asked through gritted teeth, even though my angry stare was still on Nero.
“Siege and I are not learning because you and Nero keep going at it with all this sexual frustration between you two.”
“That’s not what’s happening,” I snapped, looking his way when Siege decided to knock some sense into me.
“You’re not even using the right table, little vixen.”
I was about to protest, to ask what the hell he’s talking about, but then it dawned on me.
