CHAPTER 3

NAYIEN

I WOKE UP EARLIER than usual. I ready myself for this day and after I take a bath I go to the kitchen to have my coffee and a breakfast also. Naabutan ko si Manang na naghuhugas ng gulay para sa umagahan namin.

"Good morning Manang!" bati ko kay Manang na nakatalikod. Humarap siya sakin at ngumiti.

"Good morning din, Nayien! Ang aga mong nagising ah?" 

Lumapit ako sa coffee maker at nagsalin ng kape.

"Opo. Napa-aga." sagot ko at kumuha ng tinapay at nilagyan ng butter.

"Oh sige mag kape ka muna dyan at magluluto ako rito." sabi niya at isinalang yung kawali sa stove.

"Opo Manang. Mamaya na po siguro ako kakain ng breakfast, practice muna ako." sabi ko at tumayo. Binitbit ko yung tasa at yung tinapay ko.

"Oh sige Nayien bukas na pala yung laban mo ano?" she said and I just smile. 

"Opo. He didn't know that I have  more experiences than him."  I said confidently. 

"Ay oo nga. Marami ka ng napanalunan noong contest." 

"Exactly Manang kaya he better ready himself to accept his defeat." sabi ko at ngumiti ng mayabang.

"I hope so Nayien pero I'm sure na ikaw ang mananalo." sabi niya.

Yeah of coarse! I should be the one who will win even though I felt something I cannot name towards him after what happened yesterday. 

Naglakad ako papunta sa training room at doon ko tinapos ang pagkakape ko. Pagkatapos kong magkape ay nagpahinga muna ako at pagkatapos kong magpahinga saglit ay nagsimula na akong mag ensayo. Tamang praktis lang kasi hindi pa naman ako ganun ka tanda para maging lampa ako at bukod pa doon kahit hindi ako sumasali sa mga contest ay active parin naman ako sa martial arts hindi ko nakakalimutan kong ano ang mga dapat gawin.

I will make sure that I will be the winner of the game he started of. I will show on his face that he's wrong in challenging me as his opponent. I am Nayien Chao the champion for many times in the history of this field. 

I don't care about his reason. Fuck up his damn reason. Whatever it is he will not be successful because I will not let him. Hindi ko hahayaang mangyari iyon lalo pa at may naghahabol sa kanyang mga armadong tao at gusto siyang patayin. And I'm bothered about what he said yesterday, that he is not a good person like what I think though I didn't think that he is really a good person. 

What I think is that how come that I was the one he chose when there's a lot of goodlooking woman that has everything out there? I mean I was just a simple daughter of a business man. Nothing special about me aside from being a martial artist and money. But looks? I'm failed in that matter. I don't know why I didn't inherit my parents genes. They're both handsome and beautiful while me, I don't know.

I was on my depth thought when I heard a voice comes from the door. I throw my gaze there and I saw my Dad standing at the side of the door with a small smile crept on his lips.

" You are already good enough to fight Nayien, but don't be too confident cause he's not just a simple fighter. He is also like you, remember that." 

I stopped throwing hard punches to the punching bag  and I faced my father. 

"Daddy, even if we are on the same level of this category, I know I will be the one to win  because I will make sure of it." I said with a smile.

He just creased his forehead. "Okay. Then be the winner." 

I clapped my hands and answered him."Of coarse Dad. Just wait and see." I said and continue my practice. I throw a job straight and followed up by uppercut which made the punching bag to lose its grip.

I smiled widely and  stop for a while. Lumingon ako sa likod at nakita ko si Daddy na nakaupo.

"No work Dad?" I asked and walked  towards him.

"Meron naman. I just want to rest for a little while. I've been working too much." sabi niya at tumingin sa mga gamit sa loob ng training room.

"Ahm. Nag-away ba kayo ni Mommy?" I asked as I sat next to him.

"Just a misunderstanding. Nothing serious."

he answered and I just nod.

Hindi ko kasi naalala na nag-away sila. Sa loob ng seventeen years kong pananatili dito sa bahay ay hindi ko sila narinig na nag-away. Lalo na nong umalis na ako ng bahay. When I reach my legal age I asked my father to buy me a condo and he did. I want to be independent so I live in my condo alone though bumibisita naman sila sakin doon lalo na si Mommy na sumusulpot lang.

"Then, where is Mommy now Dad?" tanong ko ulit. Kinuha ko yung tasa ng kape ko kanina.

"I don't know. Umalis yon kanina." sagot niya at tumayo.

"Dad, baka gusto niyang pumunta sa fashion week next month? Nakita ko siyang nagbabasa non kahapon. Payagan nyo na Dad. Baka nababagot dito si Mommy." sabi ko.

"Hindi naman siya nagsabi." sagot niya at nagbuntong-hininga.

"Dad, baka nahihiya lang yong si Mommy. Ask her kasi." sabi ko. "Come on, let's find Mommy." hinila ko siya patayo at lumabas kami sa training room.

He just snorted and let me drag him.

"Mommy!" sigaw ko.

Nong walang sumagot ay pinaghintay ko muna si Daddy sa sala dahil maliligo muna ako. Sa restaurant nalang ako mag-be-breakfast. Mabilis akong naligo at nagbihis agad ng romper suit. I tied my hair into ponytail and put some light pink lipgloss. 

"Dad? Let's go." sabi ko at hinila si Daddy na nakatingin sa mga pictures na nakahanger sa dingding namin. He's looking my mother's solo picture. Mommy was smiling very sweetly in her white button red long sleeve dress. 

"Come on Dad. We all know that Mommy is beautiful." sabi ko habang naglalakad kami palabas ng bahay. 

Lumapit sa'min yung driver ni Daddy na agad kong tinanggihan. 

"I will drive Manong. Don't worry." nakangiti kong sabi at sumakay sa driver seat. Si Daddy naman ay sumakay sa passenger seat. 

"Okay po Ma'am. Ingat po kayo!" 

"Thank you Manong. Dad? Ready?" tanong ko at pina-andar yung kotse.

He just smiled.

I smiled and drove away to find Mommy.

I will treat them today for their date. I giggled while thinking that they're going in a date.

"What's with the giggle, Nayien?" biglang tanong ni Daddy kasi kinikilig ako knowing that after so many years  they will have their date.

"Dad, I was just happy." I answered.

"For what? Because you're getting married?" tanong niya which made me step on the break.

"Dad! I will not get married, okay. I will win." I said and rolled my eyes. I don't feel on getting married to him. I don't see myself getting married.

"Hay! Why don't you just marry him and let him do the rest. Let him do what is the best for everything in the world he is right now." he said. I looked at my Dad and he is looking outside. What does he mean by what he just said earlier? 

Nakarating kami sa bahay ng kaibigan ni Mommy na si Tita Joyce. I just assumed that she's here.  Dito lang naman siya madalas pumupunta.

Nagdoor bell ako at hinintay na pagbuksan.

"Nayien, I think she's not here..." sabi ni Daddy.

"Daddy dito lang siya madalas pumupunta tsaka saan naman siya pupunta eh wala naman kasi yung kamag-anak niya ay nasa abroad." sagot ko at pinindot ulit yung doorbell. Kainis naman! Bakit ang tagal naman atang pagbuksan nito.

"Nayien let's just go. She will come home before this day ends, trust me." Dad said. I can sense something on his words today. It's weird. I saw him murmured but I didn't hear it. Aalis na sana ako pero bumukas na yung gate nila Tita Joyce at bumungad sa'kin ang mukha ng kasambahay nila.

"Ano pong kailangan nila, Ma'am?" tanong ng unipormadong kasambahay.

"Ah, magandang umaga po. Nandyan ba si Mommy Elizabeth sa loob?" tanong ko.

"Wala po. Wala po dito yung amo ko kami lang mga kasambahay ang nandito sa bahay Ma'am. Nag out of the country sila Ma'am Joyce." sagot niya.

"Ah, okay. Thank you po, sorry sa abala." sabi ko at bumalik sa kotse.

"I told you Nayien. She's not here. Just let her be with herself for a while, she cannot survive a day without coming back home." he said as I sit back in the driver seat.

I looked at my Dad who's looking at the outside of the car but I immediately went back my eyes on the road. What's wrong with him and Mom? It seems like they have a big misunderstanding.

I parked my car in a French restaurant and we both entered there.

We sat next to the window and the waiter come to get our order. I ordered a breakfast meal and Daddy too.

"Nayien, are you..." he uttered slowly. I almost didn't hear it.

"What is it Dad?

"Are you not attracted to Sam?..." tanong ni Daddy na nakapag-palaki ng mata ko.

"What? Daddy I'm not. I am older than him. My God!" sagot ko at uminom ng tubig kasi parang bigla akong nauhaw.

"Why? Age doesn't matter naman diba?" tanong niya. Agad akong umiling.

"No thanks, Dad. I don't even know him." I answered.

"You have a lot of time to get to know him, Nayien." sabi niya.

"Hindi ganun yon Dad." 

Dumating yung order namin at kumain na kami. Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng pagkain namin ng magtanong si Daddy.

"Nayien, what happened yesterday?" tanong ni Daddy na nakapatigil sa pag-nguya ko. How did he know about it? I didn't tell him because I don't want him to get worried about me. 

"We...ahm...Sam and I accidentally met yesterday and when we're already in the parking, there's a man who wants to shoot him but it didn't happen because I pulled him downward and after that we got inside the car and ayun nakikipag-patentero kami sa mga humahabol sa kanya which is I don't know why? Seriously Daddy, what is his work aside from your business partner. I'm sure na hindi siya hahabolin ng mga iyon kung walang rason." 

Daddy just looked at me but he didn't answer. He just continued eating.  I confused what's happening? Hindi ko nalang iyon pinansin at nagpatuloy narin ako sa pagkain. After we ate in the restaurant we go back to our house and sleep. When I woke in the afternoon, I practiced again. I will make sure that I will win tomorrow.

—HoneylynBlue