روايات وقصص ضمن My Father's Dragon

"Bakit mo naman sinunod ang mga magulang ni Draken?" tanong muli ni Mama. "Because they took care of me since I was a child. Malaki po ang utang na loob ko kina tito at tita kahit na minsang nakakainis din dahil gusto nila akong itulad kay Draken. My father died and my mother is with my half-brother. I don't know where they are now. Hindi ko na po inalam because they don't care about me," paliwanag pa ni Richard.

It's possible that my memory is inaccurate or greatly exaggerated. Si Daddy ay isang taong mahilig manigarilyo. I remember the moment, the exact moment where he always lounging outside smoking. Sa totoo lang, hindi kailanman ako kumontra o nakipagtalo sa bisyo na ito, sa halip ay lubos kong naunawaan ito dahil alam kong hindi niya ako pakikinggan kapag tumutol ako sa bagay na ito. He also enjoys it so I can't really do anything. Gamit ang aking gintong lighter, I always light his Gurkha Black Dragon Cigar as he reads magazines or the papers, or tells the same tale over and over in our manicured lawn while sipping Black Cristal as well. It's the unfettered lifestyle of a dandy. Getting high a

alam kong palaging kakampi sa akin si Daddy. " Naku, ikaw talaga! Kaya lumalaki ang ulo ng batang iyan kasi lahat ng gusto binibigay mo, Christian!" yamot ba wika ni Mommy. Mukhang lalabas na ang pagiging dragon kaya mabilis ko itong nilapitan at hinalikan sa pisngi. Bye, Mommy...thank you Dad! See you tomorrow po!" sambit ko at mabilis na hinawakan ang kamay ni Neilson at hinila paalis.

“And at the time, we all thought Anthony Salvador was the better man. Mas magaling magtago ng kasalanan ang demonyo, anak. And Drako was used. Manipulated.” “But you suffered because of it,” giit ko. “We all did.” “Yes,” sagot ni Daddy. “But that was never Drako’s intention. And when I found out the truth—when I saw how broken he was after everything—I couldn’t blame him. I couldn’t hate a him because he's like a son to me.” Nanlaki ang mata ko. “What?” Ngumiti si Daddy. “His father, Drake Valderama… he's one of my closest friend. Drako was like a son to me. I watched him grow. I promised I’d look after him when hi father died.”

kunway nag-isip pa si Dad saka muling bumaling kay Drake “How are you related to Mr. Jorge Samaniego, the owner of Samaniego estate?” ‘Kilala ba niya ang Daddy ni Drake?’ “ He is actually my father, sir!” sagot naman nito Tumango lang si Dad saka tumingin sa akin. “So my daughter is your friend?” Tumango si Drake sa Daddy so nagtaka naman ako sa sinagot niya? Well was I expecting na iba ang isasagot niya? “Actually po, I am courting her, sir! Naging girlfriend ko na po siya dati pero nagkaroon po kami ng di pagkakaunawaan, but I am planning to win her back because I truly love your daughter so much!”

sagot naman ni Alexis, may labis na pag-aalala sa kanyang boses. "Alam ko kasi na stressed ka na sa nangyari sa anak mo. Ikakasal ka pa kaya hindi agad kita nasabihan. Isa pa, akala ko kasi ay may magagawa agad kaming paraan ni Daddy, pero wala," sagot ni Lance.

,maya halong inis kong saad sa kanya. "Matagal na akong may sakit Bleu, it was only recently nang malaman kong hindi na ako magagamot kaya bumalik ako ng Pilipinas para dito nalang ipagpatuloy ang treatment ko. Umaasa pa rin ako kahit malabo na... Your Dad knew about it." "Anong ibig mong sabihin?", mas naguguluhan ako, anong kinalaman ni Dad? "Remember what I told you sa park? Your Father isn't as bad as you think. He's someone who loves you so much."

"Kind of..." "Can he attend Anya's school's event, Mommy?" she asked. Napalingon ako sa kaniya. "What school event, baby?" "Father and Child, Mommy." Oh... Natutop ko ang bibig ko. Right. Malapit na nga pala ang Father's Day kaya magkakaroon na naman ng event sa school nila. Ngunit dati naman ay hindi niya hinahanap si Roscoe, ah? Sapat na sa kaniya na ako ang uma-attend bilang father niya. Nagd-disguise pa nga ako as a man na nagpapasaya naman sa kaniya.

Umiiyak kong sabi. Kitang-kita ko ang stress at pagkalito sa mukha ni Dad. Halos hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin at nakatingin lamang sa akin ng blanko. Para siyang tinakasan ng kaluluwa. "I am your father, Miguel." Nas-stress na bulong ni Daddy at parang pilit na ipinapaintindi ito sa akin pero wala akong pakialam. "I am you biological Father, hindi lang step father o kung sino man lang diyan anak,"

mahinahon niyang sabi ngunit ang bawat salita ay bumagsak na parang hatol sa buong silid. Huminto siya sandali bago muling nag-angat ng tingin at sa unang pagkakataon ay nakita ko ang kapangyarihang matagal niyang itinago sa likod ng pagiging ama. “The Underworld called me the Crownless King…” mababa niyang sambit. “Because I never needed a throne to rule.” And in that moment, I finally understood the truth that had been hidden in plain sight all along... My father was not merely a part of the Underworld's legend. He was the legend itself.