What does my father mean by that?
"Daddy..."
"Tangi, stop chasing that man. If he loves you, he will come to you--"
I interrupted my dad, driven by the emotions I was feeling.
"Dad, he did! H-He was there earlier. Luther told me he didn't tell Rozzean I was at the bar. And he lives in Tagaytay; it takes hours to get here. M-M-Maybe he followed me earlier? M-Maybe he was there watching m-me?"
I sounded desperate, hoping that Rozzean was actually there earlier for me. I don't know... I'm clinging to hope. It hurts, but I'm really hoping he was there for me. Even just that...
"Or it's just a coincidence that he was there and saw you. What if he happened to meet someone else, and that's why he was there, and he just happened to see you?"
"M-Meet someone else?" I asked. My hope was shattered by Dad's words. I didn't even consider that possibility. Who could Rozzean possibly meet here?
"Rozzean saw and saved you because that's the only thing he could do to clean his image for me. And also because he has no face to meet me after what he did to you?"
I stopped in my tracks at Dad's words. If Rozzean did that for him and not for me, then... it hurts. It hurts because I thought it was for me.
Mommy held Daddy's hand. My mom had a serious look on her face as she did that.
"George, you are hurting your daughter. Stop it."
"The truth will really hurt her, Thatiana. I think Rozzean's love was not that deep; it was shallow. He doesn't love Tangi that much. Because of our daughter's mistake, the love he claimed to have is gone. Earlier, Rozzean might have done that just to clear his image with me because I am one of the major investors in his company--"
I stifled a sob.
"D-Daddy... p-please stop," my lips trembled as I spoke. I wiped my tears while looking at my father.
"I am still h-hoping for our relationship to get better. I-I don't see anyone else to be with forever except Rozzean. I-I love Rozzean so much. Maybe I assumed that he was there for me, but who knows what's the real reason? Even if that's all I thought, that he was there for me, please let me believe it."
"I-If he really doesn't love me anymore, I will find a way to bring back that love. He's my happiness; he showed me the meaning of love... a-and if not for Rozzean, I won't love again."
"Tangi..." Thes held my hand tightly as I cried.
"I n-never fall for someone. This is the first time I've fallen in love. Now I know how hard and painful it is. I made a mistake; I was the one who ruined Rozzean's trust. I was the reason all of this is happening. That's why you got angry with him because you saw me getting hurt."
"Maybe you're still mad at him, that's why you're saying that to me, but I'm thankful for you, Dad."
"I appreciate everything that you are doing to protect me, Daddy. I..." I paused because of the pain I felt in my chest. I couldn't bear to hear from my father's mouth that Rozzean and I have no hope and that he doesn't love me anymore.
"I know that you are just protecting me, but... I still hurt so much. The physical pain I got when I had an accident was nothing compared to the pain here..."
I placed my hand on my chest, "It's painful, really painful."
I saw a change in my father's expression. He wasn't angry anymore. His face softened while looking at me.
"But he's the reason why you are hurting right now. You regret it. You tried to fix it, but what did he do?" my father asked.
I shook my head repeatedly.
"Daddy, you shouldn't blame Rozzean for his decisions because we decide differently when we get hurt. In what I did, I know that Rozzean was deeply hurt. I saw his reaction, and I understand him. He has been through a lot of pain, and he trusted me so much with his story. It's really painful to find out that the person you love and trust so much is actually deceiving you."
"We all have our own emotions. We cannot say that Rozzean should act like this or that he's being shallow because he cannot forgive me after the things that I did. I hurt him, Dad. He lost his trust in me because I fooled him, so I did what I could to regain that trust."
"Maybe he is thinking right now, wondering if he forgives me, will I deceive him again? We all have different views, Daddy. I'm not saying this because I love Rozzean and I'm defending him; I'm saying this because we don't all handle situations the same way."
"But because you're all worried about me, I gave up. What I gave up was just finding a way for Rozzean to forgive me, but I will never give up my love for him."
I saw my mother smile. She gently hit Daddy's arm.
"You are like your daughter when we separated before we got married, George. You also fooled me, you did your best. You did a lot back then to reconcile with me."
I heard Daddy clear his throat and avert his gaze from us.
"Even so, my case was different. My daughter, Thatiana, is a girl. I don't want her chasing after a man. Let Rozzean be the one to approach her now."
"All right, let's all go inside."
My father looked at me, his face less serious now.
"I will let you do what you want this time, aside from going to Rozzean's place to seek his forgiveness again. I understand what you're saying, Tangi, but you did enough. Let Rozzean come to you this time. Don't make any moves. Let him be."
After Dad said that, he turned away from us.
"Your hair color suits you, darling. Oh, and, someone sent you chocolates! I placed them in your room!" Mommy said and winked at me before following Daddy.
Chocolates?
"Tangi, why do I feel that your Dad knows something?"
I looked at Thes when she said that.
When we entered my room, I saw the chocolates Mommy mentioned. They were in a small black paper bag. There was no name indicating who they were from.
"Oh, gosh, I really thought Uncle George was going to kill me! I was so nervous!" Thes exclaimed.
I looked at her; she had just come out of my bathroom. I lent her some spare clothes. She composed herself. I told her what happened earlier, and she vaguely remembered almost having an accident.
"You disappeared from my sight! Turns out, you were just on the dance floor! There were so many people there!" Thes said to me.
"I'm really sorry, Tangi. We were supposed to enjoy the party."
Thes ran her fingers through her hair. The effects of the alcohol had completely worn off on her.
I scowled at her, "You're the one who enjoyed. I was surprised because you suddenly disappeared."
She just grinned and flashed a peace sign. I shook my head at Thes.
"It seems like your Daddy really doesn't like Rozzean now, huh? But I felt something different in Uncle George's words earlier. He said that Rozzean's love was shallow, and he doesn't love you anymore, but he also said to let your baby come to you this time."
I don't really understand Daddy. Maybe it's because he was angry when I had the accident. Perhaps he still hasn't calmed down.
"It's tough, Thes, but I'll follow Dad. I won't make any moves."
She grabbed my arm, "Yes, girl! Don't do anything! What you did was enough, but... what if Rozzean purposely went to that bar? Or what if he was really following you since earlier? How would he notice you if you changed your hair color? You look different now than before! You became hotter and sexier!"
"Also, it makes sense. Rozzean lives in Tagaytay; he drove and went to my bar to drink alone? It's fishy."
I swallowed hard at what Thes said. Luther was right; Rozzean doesn't usually go out to drink alone.
"S-She has a point..." I unconsciously touched my hair. It used to be black, and now it's vanilla blonde.
"When he also attacked the man who harassed me, he came from behind..."
"Oh, right?! I think he's following you! Rozzean was there in my bar watching you!"
Before I could respond to Thes, my cellphone rang. I picked it up and saw that the caller had an unregistered number.
"Hello?"
No one spoke on the other end.
"Hello? Who is this?" I asked.
I was about to hang up when my hand stopped hearing that very familiar voice.
"Thaliana."